Net Talk

Hi!

Our stations are currently using the WideOrbit/SS32 automation system, which works fairly well all things considered. We have five stations with three of them running Windows 7 but our central server, two other stations and two production rooms are all XP. Of course, XP is no longer supported and the machines don't get along well with the machines running different operating systems. To say the cost of upgrading the older machines is excessive would be an understatement.

So, I'm wondering would we be better off switching to a new automation, and, if so, what are the options available? With one exception, our stations are live and local with music formats. Then, there are the associated problems of transferring/losing music libraries, commercial inventory and so on that I don't think the management actually understands.

Sometimes I miss the old tape automations then I remember the finger I almost lost to a cart carousel. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Larry.

Since you have different computers that don't talk to each other too well, you can always make them independant. Run a program like simian (Radio automation software. not a plug just a suggestion.)
Also use a remote access system for each computer. You'll have to download whatever you want played to each computer remotely but it works. Radio automation software has become much easier to use than in the past. You can now load a show weeks in advance.
If your doing a "live feed" of a show to other stations at the same time, you can always stream the feed to each station. Grant it streaming is not the best way, but it's cheap and it works. (most of the time)

Good luck.

I just took over 4 stations about 2 hours west of Ft. Worth last September. When I got here, 2 of the stations were on SS32 and the other 2 on ARRAKIS AUTOMATION. Most of the computers were XP or older.

I immediately bought Simian all the way round, had the engineer build all new Windows 7 computers and switched the traffic from SCOTT STUDIOS to Natural Log and Natural Music. Simian is designed to work extremely well with Natural log and is not only inexpensive, it's totally user friendly as well. On my classic rocker we also have a Westwood One STORQ system for when we're automated, and the transitions between STORQ and Simian are seamless!