Radio software
Encyclopedia
Almost all radio stations today use some form of broadcast automation
. Although some only use small scripts in audio players, a more robust solution is using a full Radio Automation Suite. There are many commercial and free radio automation packages available.
). Usually the radio stations stores all advertising campaigns and most of the music in hard disk. Then, instant replay of all the recorded material is done from a keyboard or with a click of the mouse. Now the PC is part of every AM & FM broadcasting, webcasting or podcasting
system around the world.
Radio software not only reproduces audio. It is possible to create a “playlist” that can reproduce automatically, without a board operator
, a complete radio program, including meteorological announces, advertising campaigns, music tunes, satellite network connection, etc. Then, 24 hours radio stations are possible, also in small towns that can not afford to have operators and speakers all around the clock. Standard PCs are connected in a LAN network to be used on the Master Control Room, Production, News, Administration, etc
This technology is claimed to be invented in Buenos Aires by Oscar Bonello in 1989. The first radio software for automation, using lossy compressed digital audio codecs, was named Audicom
and was internationally introduced at the 1990 National Association of Broadcasters
Convention in Atlanta, USA. The world's first radio station to use it was one in San Francisco, California. The basis of the Audicom was the first application, targeted at radio automation, of the audio bit compression technology used to reduce the amount of data. Bonello delivered the first radio automation working technology using the masking curves published by Richard Ehmer.
See also earlier developments of a music scheduling system
such as of the US Company Radio Computing Services
in 1979.
Nowadays with invention of the MP3
bit compression technology and standard audio cards there are a lot of automation software providers at the market. Some systems includes Administration facilities for the traffic department, Disc Jockey schedule, Live Assist windows and even Artificial Intelligence automation control.
Broadcast automation
Broadcast automation incorporates the use of broadcast programming technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a broadcast network, radio station or a television station, it can run a facility in the absence of a human operator...
. Although some only use small scripts in audio players, a more robust solution is using a full Radio Automation Suite. There are many commercial and free radio automation packages available.
Radio software history
Radio software allows AM & FM broadcasting to reproduce music and voices from the computer’s hard disk instead of using CD, tape recorders or the old cartridge tape (see FidelipacFidelipac
The Fidelipac, commonly known as an NAB cartridge or simply cart, is a magnetic tape sound recording format, used for radio broadcasting for playback of material over the air such as radio commercials, jingles, station identifications, and music. Fidelipac is the official name of this industry...
). Usually the radio stations stores all advertising campaigns and most of the music in hard disk. Then, instant replay of all the recorded material is done from a keyboard or with a click of the mouse. Now the PC is part of every AM & FM broadcasting, webcasting or podcasting
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
system around the world.
Radio software not only reproduces audio. It is possible to create a “playlist” that can reproduce automatically, without a board operator
Board operator
A board operator or board op is a particular type of operator at a radio station, television studio, or at a live production such as a theater or concert venue and provides live event support...
, a complete radio program, including meteorological announces, advertising campaigns, music tunes, satellite network connection, etc. Then, 24 hours radio stations are possible, also in small towns that can not afford to have operators and speakers all around the clock. Standard PCs are connected in a LAN network to be used on the Master Control Room, Production, News, Administration, etc
This technology is claimed to be invented in Buenos Aires by Oscar Bonello in 1989. The first radio software for automation, using lossy compressed digital audio codecs, was named Audicom
Audicom
Audicom stands for: Audio en Computadora . Released in 1989, it was the world's first PC-based broadcast automation system to use audio data compression technology based on psychoacoustics....
and was internationally introduced at the 1990 National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
Convention in Atlanta, USA. The world's first radio station to use it was one in San Francisco, California. The basis of the Audicom was the first application, targeted at radio automation, of the audio bit compression technology used to reduce the amount of data. Bonello delivered the first radio automation working technology using the masking curves published by Richard Ehmer.
See also earlier developments of a music scheduling system
Music scheduling system
Music scheduling systems are employed to sequence music at radio stations. Although these systems were originally implemented by manual index card methods, since the late 1970s they have exploited the efficiency and speed of digital computers...
such as of the US Company Radio Computing Services
Radio Computing Services
Radio Computing Services, also known as RCS Inc., is a provider of scheduling and broadcast software for radio, Internet and television stations. The company was established in 1979 by Dr. Andrew Economos. On January 26, 2006, Clear Channel Communications purchased RCS as a subsidiary...
in 1979.
Nowadays with invention of the MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
bit compression technology and standard audio cards there are a lot of automation software providers at the market. Some systems includes Administration facilities for the traffic department, Disc Jockey schedule, Live Assist windows and even Artificial Intelligence automation control.