Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Radio Automation
User Guide
Version 8.2.0.0
Index
1. Introduction
0H
2. Configuration
1H
2.2. WorkStation
3H
2.5. Users
6H
3.2.1. Audio
14H
3.2.3. Fonts.
16H
4.6.3. Go to Markers
32H
4.9. Logger.
38H
5. Commercial Programming
43H
6. Music programming
48H
6.2. Formats
50H
7.4.4. Ripper
6H
11. Accesories
89H
11.5. Backup
94H
11.6.1. Configuration
96H
11.6.2. Application
97H
11.7.1. Configuration
9H
16. ShortCuts
1. Introduction
Thank you very much for having chosen Dinesat Radio as PC automation and operative
assistance product for your radio station.
We are sure that Dinesat Radio will provide you nothing but satisfaction and it will become your
unmatched allied offering all your radio station needs in a single product.
Dinesat Radio is designed to easily adapt to different operative backgrounds: from a simple
single-user terminal, or the management of a network comprising several stations, to the whole
control of satellite radio networks. Likewise, it fits various scenarios: from the classic
configuration having an announcer in the studio and the operator in the booth, to the
announcer-operator pattern, not to mention a typical AM newscast structure with journalists,
producers, mobile units and operators.
Dinesat Radio saves each user’s working environment based on a multiple active windows
concept. Just by logging his password on any PC of the network, the user is identified and his
usual working environment is loaded, including the distribution of open windows, favorite fonts
and colors, fade time, fade out, categories and stations that can be accessed, etc.
In this way, a journalist can use a completely different Dinesat Radio environment from the one
an air operator uses. It is possible to automatically operate one or several stations and another
one in manual mode in the same PC; it is also possible to simultaneously record while playing
out, and even a satellite network can be controlled with the powerful SNC Technology satellite
telecommand included in NET model of Dinesat Radio series.
Dinesat Radio features three versions: XP (it allows to manage a single radio station), PRO (it
allows to control up to two stations and downlinks), NET (it allows to manage more than three
radio stations and it controls both uplinks and downlinks).
Dinesat Radio includes telephone modules that allow you to perform your radio ranking, to carry
out polls and surveys and to receive messages interacting with the audience on an automatized
way. With Traffic Xpress, commercial schedules can be easily created and air sheets are
automatically produced.
TrafficSat Xpress system is software that allows producing radio stations playout sheets
(schedules). It is a smaller product of TrafficSat products line and it is aimed to satisfying
stations that need simple schedule requirements. It generates flawless, masterfully distributed
schedules within seconds, that otherwise would take hours to do manually. Please refer to the
comparative chart between the different TrafficSat product versions in the appendix.
TrafficSat Software is not supported under Windows Vista environments.
Our system includes the Logger feature that will allow you to record the broadcast logger setting
with any compression and quality you want.
We’ve created a new module called Browser especially designed to “surf” inside the whole
Dinesat Radio database.
In this way, you will be able to look up for a wide range of actions: from titles stored in each
category created within the volumes to the actions carried out by each of the station’s operators.
Dinesat Radio has included the innovative RDS feature (Radio Data System) that besides
transmitting the conventional music and voice contribution it transmits data in encoded signals
that are decoded by any automobile stereo compatible with this system (or a domestic radio
receiver to a lesser degree). The radio station operator or programmer will also watch these
data in the Playout or Programming Windows. In the board where timers and volume indicators
are placed, he will see a scroll constantly displaying dynamic and/ or static data as follows:
station data such as static and programming being played out at the moment, as well as
dynamic data.
To update weather forecasts you need software to monitor the weather bureau and produce a
file containing all the necessary settings so that Dinesat Radio can check them and use them in
its applications.
2. Configuration
It is very important to read these concepts and explanations on how to configure your new
Dinesat Radio carefully. Please keep in mind that Dinesat Radio has a default setting that might
not satisfy your operative and the system’s global performance requirements.
Main Menu
The Main Menu will open immediately when clicking the Dinesat Radio icon in the Windows
desktop and it will remain open- on desktop mode- as long as you keep running the system. If
you close it, you will end the Dinesat Radio working session.
All the access buttons to the system’s main functions and active windows (Air, Title, InstantPlay,
Production, etc.) are displayed in this window, as well as the access to all Dinesat Radio
configurations (Stations, Volumes, Servers, etc.). To be able to access all of them press the
User button and type the word Superman. This logging password is assigned by default and it
will authorize you as Supervisor user to have full access to the different system’s options.
In the Main Menu window, you will find the Configuration button that will allow you to change a
series of options. These options will authorize you to define the Volumes (hard discs), the
assigned workstations within your audio network, the Audio Servers (set of volumes), the radio
stations to be controlled from the network, the users and the access status each of them will
have, the different audio editors that could be “called” from the system and the Setup Wizard!
The latter will let you run the smart installer whenever you might need to reconfigure the
program without having to reinstall it completely.
During the installation process, Dinesat Radio automatically assigns Volume names to each
local disk on a terminal name basis. For instance, if during installation in a terminal with 2 hard
discs and 1 CD-ROM drive, and “PROD” is assigned as the terminal name, Dinesat Radio will
automatically assign Volume names “PROD*1” to disk “C”, “PROD*2” to disk “D” and “PROD*3”
to the CD-ROM DRIVE “E”.
To have access to disk “PROD*1” from another terminal, the letter that has been assigned to
that terminal when “connecting to a network unit” will have to be identified. It is also possible to
leave the blank space and assign the UNC address of the folder intended to be shared.
In this way, Dinesat Radio saves a Volume database in each terminal that works as a dictionary
allowing translating the Volume name into the respective disk letter in that Terminal or the UNC
address to access it.
2.2. Workstation
Define the workstation name in which you work clearly. You can give any name you want to that
terminal. We suggest to use easy-to-identify names, such as: FM AIR or PRODUCTION, etc.
Then define the main network Volume because it is there where all Users, InstantPlay and Audit
data will be centralized in. When you click inside this field, you will be able to see all the
volumes published in the previous step. (Audio Volumes in item 3.2). In the following field,
define the local Volume, that is to say, the hard disc that Dinesat Radio will use to backup the
data stored in the Network Main Volume, and which will allow you to continue operating even
when not connected to the network.
Important Note: When entering the Workstation name, DO NOT LEAVE SPACES between the
words used.
For example, when installing Dinesat Radio in the Production terminal, an Audio Server will
automatically be assigned to the first local hard disc and to the the first local CD-ROM drive. In
this case, an Audio Server called “PROD/SV1” addressed to disk “C” and an Audio Server
called “PROD/CD1” assigned to CD-ROM drive “E” will be created. Thus, when disk “C” gets
full, all you have to do is to install a new hard disc (D:), then edit “PROD/SV1” Audio Server
properties and finally add the respective Volume to hard disc “D”, so that Dinesat Radio begins
using this new Volume for all new recordings.
The Audio Server name can not be longer than 20 characters.
If the Audio Server is defined as Removable, then Dinesat Radio forces the choice of a single
audio volume that matches the selected one as Location. Thus, it is ensured that data and
audio are stored in the same location and that, when removing the volume, the whole
information is available.
Finally, if the Audio Server is defined as Protected, only authorized users with special access
rights on Protected Servers can make changes to it.
Dinesat Radio keeps a stations database that allows you to access each of their programming
schedule in a clear-cut way from any network terminal. In case that the company needs to
manage more than one station, once the installation is over it is necessary to define the names
of the other radio stations to be controlled.
Then, the Location where the station’s programming files will be stored have to be defined. It is
advisable that the Location is a Volume defined in the local PC placed in the studio from which
that radio station is played out.
2.5. Users
To be able to assign new users to the system, press the User button and type the word
SUPERMAN. This access password is set by default and it will authorize you as
Supervisor user to have full access to enter the different system options. Then press
Configuration > Users button…: a new window where all new users can be added will
open.
In this window, you can define the kind of options and services of the system to which each
operator of the radio station will have access. In the first place, it is important to make clear that
this type of access applies only to each user, not to terminals. This means that when an
operator logs in a terminal (any of the network), it will fit the operative environment defined by
the user: the windows he uses, color, font, size, servers, audio configuration, etc.
The configuration process is very simple, you only have to add new users to the system by
pressing the Add button and then check the items to which the operators will be authorized to
access. Thus, when an operator types his personal password the system will start keeping
records of all his activity in the network, which- in turn- will be registered in the users audit so
that you can monitor each users’ actions: what he did, where, when and what kind of action he
carried out.
Note: We strongly recommend to use this option because it will prevent UNAUTHORIZED
operators to delete audio files, to change programming settings or change complex
configurations such as those related to Audio Volumes or Network Servers.
Moreover, keep in mind that, for instance, you can restrict access to the audio categories to be
used and to the radio stations to be controlled. Thus, you can define, for example, to which
audio categories or to which audio server one operator or another can have access. Similarly,
you can define which station each of them has permission to control.
Once again, we recommend using this system feature to avoid future headaches.
Name: enter the editor name to be used. For example: Sound Forge 4.5.
Exefile path: here you must write the path to indicate Dinesat Radio where the audio editor to
be used is installed. For example: C:\Forge30\Forge.exe.
Normally, the Network Main Disk is disk “C” of the Air PC. During installation several settings
that had been assigned when installing Dinesat Radio can be configured again, such as
terminal Name, network main disk, detection of new installed volumes, etc.
This option will not affect at all the material and data already stored in the system. It will simply
allow you to assign new values to the ones configured before.
By pressing the button, the connection to the Network Main Server is checked, and it is
resumed in case it would have been interrupted. If it is not possible to reconnect, a message
window opens explaining the reason why it could not resume the network connection with the
network main server.
Note: In the case that the “padlock button” is pressed and the connection is not yet resumed we
recommend to check the network physical connections as well as the network cards involved, to
verify their proper operation.
This chapter intends to provide a general description of the different menu, audio controls and
actions options most commonly used during the regular operation of Dinesat Radio.
Please note that in most active windows there is a button called Menu. This button allows
accessing each window’s particular configuration and functions, or the diverse options they
offer. These features vary according to the type of window chosen, but there is a series of
options common to all windows. That is the case when configuring the font size and background
color of the window and the audio configuration; they are all inside the Properties line.
Bear in mind that the configurations set in this window will NOT influence the behavior of other
ones. Menu is sensitive to context. That is, the options that appear in Menu depend on whether
there is a single item -such as audio, a block start time, a command, etc.-, several or no item at
all selected in such window or if the item selected is the beginning of a block, or if it a song, etc.
For example, if an audio file is selected inside a Titles window and Menu is pressed –or the
mouse right button is clicked on the window desktop- you will note that one of the options
available is Delete. However, if you do the same inside an Air window, the only options to be
seen are Cut, Copy or View Card, but not Delete because this last feature –Delete- does not
reach Air windows.
3.2.1. Audio.
When selecting this option, a small window opens displaying from top to bottom the following
options:
Once filled in, these options define the audio device of the card installed through which
scheduled audio files will be played back inside that window. The audio play- or recording-
devices that can be chosen will depend on the type of sound card installed and previously
recognized by Windows.
For example, if a playback card with double stereo channel (Dual Device) is installed (Antex SX-
34, 36 or similar), you will see that, when clicking once, the options to configure Playback, Cue
and Recording devices appear in the small window associated to the line. Thus, the possibility
for Dinesat Radio to simultaneously crossfade 2 audio items inside that window will be enabled.
If you DO NOT WANT that audio files inside a window be crossfade, choose device 0 for each
Play Device so that audio files will be spliced without crossfades or silence between them.
Note: Keep in mind that this possiblity will be available only is you use a card supporting 2- or
more- simultaneous play devices.
For most multimedia cards “Sound Blaster” type, the recognized device will be 0- a single stereo
channel-. In this case, the crossfade is made using software; consequently, the same device for
Play 1 and 2 is selected.
CUE Device: this option is foreseen to perform pre-listenings independently of what is being
played out. This feature will be available only to those users having 2- or more- audio cards
installed in the same PC who want to use the second card as a CUE device. This property can
be used with professional audio cards connecting them to the audio crossfader independently of
card 1- or main card- obviously. Like in the previous case, the small associated window will
open. Besides devices 0 and 1, devices 2 and 3 will also be displayed or just device 2, if the
additional card supports only one stereo device.
Note: Keep in mind that CUE only allows to listen 30” or 50% of the audio file chosen, thus
preventing the checked audio file to enter Air Audit. Remember as well that it is NOT advisable
to combine sound cards from different brands or having different or uncompatible drivers.
FadeOut Duration (Sec): FadeOut duration acts directly on Fade button of the window being
configured (only displayed in Air and InstantPlay windows). That is, this is the time (in seconds)
it takes audio being played out to fade out after this button has been pressed. The
recommended value is 2 to 2.5 secs.
FadeOut Level (dB): it allows defining the audio being played out dB (decibel) number. This
value will affect directly the behavior of 2 important Dinesat Radio features. The first one is the
TALK button (only displayed on Air windows). Supposing that you press this button while audio
is being played back, the latter will turn down as many dB as you have specified. This- for
instance- will let you talk over the audio without having to turn down its level from the
crossfader. As a second important feature, you may want to play back a song and insert a
“marker” o else announce it with a pre-recorded voice-over saying the name of the song and the
performer on the Intro. This cut must be “assembled” (see item 10.1) on the song Intro (not
recorded over it) and it will be played out- by the second audio device- a few seconds before
Intro ends. Thus, Dinesat Radio will turn down the main audio- the song- as much dB as you
have defined (in the FadeOut Level window) and it will begin to play back the “marker” or the
song voice-over at 0 dB- or maximum level. After the identification or “marker” ends, the main
audio will resume 0 db- maximum level. Choosing the right value is crucial to achieve a real “live
sound”. The recommended value is –9 to 12- dB, but we suggest to try several times with
different fadeout values until you get the effect you want. Keep in mind that these values must
be assigned specifically to each active window because they are not global.
FadeOut Time (Sec): this value defines the audio speed to turn up and down in the examples mentioned
before. For instance, if a 5 secs value is set and the TALK button is pressed, it will take the audio 5 secs
to turn down and, after pressing TALK again, it will take the audio another 5 secs to resume the maximum
audio level. We suggest trying many times with different values to find the most effective value or
combination that suits your work style. Keep in mind that these configurations must be set in each active
audio window used.
3.2.3. Font
The option Font… allows changing the type of font (character) to be used and increase or
reduce its size. Thus, all titles programmed in the configured window will be read better.
Note: We recommend not using bright colors for windows backgrounds or eccentric fonts, too
small or difficult to read to identify active windows such as Air, Titles or InstantPlay. This might
cause eye discomfort or even headache.
Note: when managing titles, it is crucial to keep in mind the Audio Server concept because you
must clearly know the titles origin. Thus, when opening a Titles window, the first thing to do is to
indicate in which Audio Server the titles you want to manage are stored. When programming,
remember you can access (depending on your user’s permissions) all the network servers
(terminals) and make the schedule with titles from all those terminals. When it is time to play
them out Dinesat Radio will have to search them through the network to be able to play them
back in the terminal where they were programmed. However, it is likely to have programmed
titles located in a terminal that is turned off or out of service. In those cases, Dinesat Radio will
“skip” those files, and your programming schedule length will change.
To remove a title from a window (except from a Titles or Production window) simply Drag&Drop
the title to a place in which the cursor shows the operation is invalid (this is represented by a
black circle crossed by an oblique line).
Another alternative to move titles is using Cut, Copy and Paste. These options are available in
each window Menu. They can be also executed by pressing the customary Windows key
combinations:
Cut: CTRL+X
Copy: CTRL+C
Paste: CTRL+V
In this way, you can select one or more titles, and then press CTRL+C, place the cursor on the
chosen destination position and press CTRL+V. All the selected titles will have been copied to
that position. This action can be done within the same window o among several other ones.
Another way to access these options is by an inverse click (with the mouse right button) on the
title to select.
When dragging a title on another existing one in an air window - and while keeping the Shift key
pressed- the new title is inserted as intro in the previously existing one.
In this window, select the Audio Server and Category of the titles to be transferred. This will be
the “source” window. Remember that you might be using a management terminal and direct that
window (Titles 1) to the production audio server, for instance.
Now, select final destination Audio Server and Category in this new window. Bear in mind that
selecting de destination category is not really important because, if it does not exist, Dinesat
Radio will created it automatically, but if it already existed, it will place all transferred files in a
category matching that of the “source”.
To move (or transfer) the titles simply select them in the Titles 1 window and Drag&Drop them
on the Titles 2 window.
Note: It is very important to remember the following concept: transferring titles between a
terminal and another of a network means that you are COPYING the selected audio files (and
updating the database) to another terminal. In other words, after the transfer is done, all audio
files will be present in both terminals involved. It is up to you to “Delete” the source files so as
not to use excesive hard memory.
We strongly recommend to keep a copy of ALL commercial ads and artistic (Tips) in use within
the Production audio server.
Note: Moving files means “removing” from a location to place them in another. Thus, within a
same terminal you can move audio files stored in a volume to a category stored in another
volume (hard disc). Or else back them up in a removable server installed in that terminal.
For instance, if you wanted to backup certain data, you can direct a Titles 1 window to a music
category stored in a given audio server and the other window (Titles 2) to an audio server
consisting of a “removable” type volume such as Iomega Jaz. Thus, just by dragging and
dropping the chosen titles between both windows you will be carrying out an audio backup (and
data because databases move along with wavs).
First, load Dinesat Radio with all the audio material that will be used for later playout. To begin
that task it is necessary to be organized. With time, you are going to record hundred or perhaps
thousand of audio files in Dinesat Radio, therefore you must do so in the most organized way to
be able to find them later within the same terminal easily or in any network position. Keep in
mind that you will record all kind of material for which categories to save them will have to be
created as well as codes to distinguish one from another. Again, we suggest being organized to
save up time as well as money.
Take a piece of paper and a pencil and make a list of all the categories to create and define
each of them type (Music/ Announces/ Text/ etc.).
Define the prefix for each of them. For instance, if you will record modern salsa, SMO could be
a prefix or SCL if it were classic. Remember that there will be a large number of files soon. Be
tidy.
Define the compression format that will be used to record each category.
Define the trimming threshold to be used when recording. See item 6.5 for further details.
Make tests with the chosen compression format. If you are not satisfied with it try another
format.
To create a Category…
Go to the main menu and press Production or Titles, then press the Menu button (or click with
the mouse right button) go and click on the Categories line. In the new window press Add.
From top to botom, you will see the following lines:
Name. It refers to the name you will assign to the category you are creating. We suggest using
short and easy-to-identify names.
Audio Type: Dinesat Radio will display 8 different types of “audio types”. Choose the one that
best suits the one you will record. For example, if you are going to record a commercial choose
Ads, if it is a song, choose MUSIC.
Categories Type: there are 9 category types from which you can choose when creating yours:
Recording quality. Here again, there is a drop-down menu. You must choose a suitable quality
for the material to be recorded and keepi in mind the hardware type installed- audio card-. For
further details read item 5.4.
Stereo/ Mono. The recording mode must be defined here- for example, stereo for FM or mono
for AM.
Prefix. The 3 letters that will preceed the title code must be defined. If you do not write
anything, Dinesat Radio will take the first 3 letters of the category name and use them as Prefix.
Next number. These numbers follow the prefix. You can enter up to 4 numbers. For instance, if
prefix is AVI and you wrote 0, the first title of that new category will encode as AVI00000 and
then AVI00001, etc.
Note 1: it is very important to define the right audio “type” to record because you will see that
each card differs according to the Type chosen. Thus, a Music Type card will have different
fields to fill in from those of an Announce Type card. However, most cards contain, in general,
some of the fields of the MUSIC type card. Moreover, Dinesat Radio will behave differently with
each category. For instance, Dinesat Radio will crossfade between music category type files,
but it will not do that between announce category type files. If you want to have audio
“crossfades” between commercial break files, create a “music” type category and store
commercial breaks there.
Note 2: suppose that you have a Latin Music category that starts in code MUL00001 and the
last code now is MUL00879. However, you have already deleted many previous titles, that is,
there are less than 879 songs. In this case, we suggest to edit this category (or any other)
periodically and in the Next Number field write 00000 again. In this way, when Dinesat Radio
records the next audio in this category, it will go directly to look for the first empty code from
MUL 00000 and it will complete it with the new audio to be recorded. Therefore, double
encoding will be avoided.
To create a text category title- once the category is created- open the Titles Window and go
inside the text category and press Rec button. A new title will be created and a card in
which the description can be modified to be meaningful will open. The text necessary
information can also be changed, assigning an announcer, customer and date in
which this title will be valid.
In order to display the text when programming is being played out, the notepad will have to be
open so that when that title is played out its text will be shown.
Play out window displaying the active text category title and the notepad.
Dear user, before starting recording hundred of audio files hurriedly and without any defined
criteria we beg you to read this chapter carefully. It will save you up much time- and money.
The audio compression format type that you will be able to use depends on the audio card type
and of the recording codecs installed in your operative system- in the case of Sound Blaster
cards-.
These can be IMA-ADPCM, MPeg Layer II and MPeg Layer III. In all cases, you will be able to
record in PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) mode, that is to say, with no audio compression at all.
IMA-ADPCM is the new Microsoft® audio compression included in Dinesat Radio. In addition to
being compatible with any audio card, it is easy-to-edit with most audio editors for Windows.
Dinesat Radio allows recording in this format in real time with no need to carry out any post-
recording procedure.
Mpeg Layer ll: Audio compression format (6,5:1). To record in this quality using Sound Blaster
cards it is required to install a recording codec capable of compressing to such quality.
MPeg Layer III: this format combines a larger compression level (from 8:1 to 12,6:1) than that
of Layer II mantaining the recorded audio quality reasonably “commercial”. Moreover, you have
the chance of using compatible Sound Blaster type cards to record and play back, and edit with
Windows audio editors, previously installing a recording code matching your operative system.
It is possible to work combining any of these formats and Dinesat Radio will adapt automatically
to any of them when playing back. However, we recommend NOT TO MIX different formats.
Note: we say with “almost” all audio cards because there are some sound cards that, even
though they allow recording and playing back perfectly, do not provide VU meter reading within
Dinesat Radio and this is really annoying when operating the system.
For better organization, we suggest to create a folder in disk C:\ with the name Editions, for
instance. It will be useful when using the option Save as…Choose this folder to easily find it
later to import that audio to Dinesat Radio.
About Antex cards: if you are Antex SX-34, SX-36 audio cards user remember that if you want
to crossfade between stored titles, these MUST be recorded only in MPEG-32K because when
crossfading recorded files with 44.1KHz or 48KHz sampling such cards generate a sound
distotion impossible to solve. If you want to work in these samplings you must use superior
model cards.
About MPeg Layer III format: if you do not have audio cards allowing real time recording in
Mped Layer III format or if your PC resources do not allow it, to be able to use this audio
compression you have to record first in an audio editor for Windows such as Sound Forge 4.5 in
PCM format. Then save the recorded file as Mpeg Layer III 32Khz format for later import from
the Dinesat Radio Titles window.
Importante ACM driver that manages Mpeg Layer lll compression format DO NOT ALLOW
opening two audio files simultaneously. That is, 2 audio files cannot be crossfaded at the same
time in such format.
Sampling/ Freq.
Quality Kbits /sec Format Autonomy
LAYER3-44K/128 44.1 KHz 128 Kb/s MPEG LAYER III 17.4 Hour/Gbyte
LAYER3-44K/112 44.1 KHz 112 Kb/s MPEG LAYER III 19.8 Hour/Gbyte
Autonomy is given for stereo mode. In mono, autonomy in Hour/Gb will double.
Dinesat Radio DOES NOT ADD any equalization type to recording or improve its quality at all.
Audio will be always saved with the default options displayed at the bottom of the window,
which can be modified by going to MenuÆ OptionsÆ Audio.
To start recording, and having read carefully item 6.1, follow these steps:
In the Main Menu press the Production button to open the window bearing the same
name.
Press REC button. If the incoming audio level needs some correction, it can be done from the
fader in your audio panel or else go to Main Menu and press the MIXER key. A panel format
window will open- that varies according to the audio card type installed- where a fader for Play
and another one for Rec (Line in) can normally be found. Make all necessary adjustments. We
suggest verifying that the maximum recording level of VU meter in the Production window being
used is set at –4 dB. (That is, the entire green row turned on and the second yellow led
flickering. We suggest not allowing the red leds to turn on because it might “break down” the
recorded audio).
To finish recording press STOP button. We recommend pressing Dinesat Radio Pause button
first and then release the audio playback pause not worrying for the silence time there might be
left at the beginning. Likewise, wait until the song finishes to press the playback unit STOP
button and then stop recording from Dinesat Radio. Trimming will handle the rest. (See item
5.5).
When you choose the option Save As… the file will be saved as an audio file in the disk with the
quality used by the default editor. If the option is Save as a New Title… the file will be saved in
the selected server and category. At the same time, the properties card will open to fill in the
title data. As we already mentioned, card types depend on the category type chosen. (See item
6.6 for further details).
Options New, Open and Save- common to other file management applications- can be found in
this Menu.
Open Files:
Note: when a new audio file is placed in Dinesat Radio Editor, the latter will search the
database to verify if this file exists among titles, and any change made will be updated.
Open Titles
From Titles Window by pressing the Mouse secondary button and then audio Edit.
Using Drag&Drop from Titles Window to Dinesat Radio Editor.
Save As… allows changing the audio editor default recording format.
Save as New Title… It is a special Dinesat Radio feature that allows saving as a new title, if a
title of your own is being edited choosing the server, the category to which it will be saved, and
indicating if you want to normilize or trim over the file.
Menu Æ Edit
Undo, Redo, Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete, Select All, are common to other applications.
Paste From File: it pastes from another audio file in the specified location.
Insert Silence: it inserts silence in the specified location.
Menu Æ View
Menu Æ Tools
Batch Importer…: for an individual or mass import audio files. Look Chapter: 7.4.2.
Importación Masiva…: Permite la importación por unidad o masivamente de archivos de audio.
Ver Capítulo: 7.4.2.
Menu Æ Transport
Menu Æ Process
Menu Æ Options
Audio: it allows configuring the play and recording devices as well as the default quality that the
editor will use to work.
4.6.Audio Markers.
Three marker types can be set in audio:
INTRO: it is the marker that indicates the audio introduction ending, a period used for fading
and crossfading with the title immediately before it in playback, thus crossfading the
previous one’s OUTRO with the current one’s INTRO. This marker will also be used to start
the comercial, in case the INSERT OVER marker has not been inserted.
OUTRO: it indicates the final period beginning of the audio used for fading and crossfading
with the introduction of the following song.
INSERT OVER: this maker indicates the time when the commercial will take place.
These markers can be done in any order and position, it does not matter if you set an Intro
marker at the end or an Outro marker at the beginning, the application will accept both as valid
all the same. For this reason we suggest being very careful when setting them because if you
want an Intro marker at the audio beginning, but you set an Outro marker instead, you will not
achieve the expected results.
4.6.3. Go to markers.
To go to markers proceed as follows:
Menu Æ Markers Æ Intro Æ Go to (Outro or Insert Over, in case you want to go to one of them).
Place the mouse over the marker and when the arrow cursor becomes a hand cursor click with
the primary mouse button.
To delete markers:
Select the audio
Menu Æ Markers Æ Delete Intro / Delete Outro / Delete Insert Over
Many cards share fields. We will take MUSIC type category card as example because it
contains most of the common fields. The following fields are seen from top to bottom:
Code: this field displays the unique alphanumeric code assigned to the title.
Title: the song name to be recorded must be filled in here (we suggest always using capital
letters because it is easy-to-read inside active windows).
Performer: it refers to the singer
Album: is it the album title to which the song belongs.
Author: it refers to the songwriter.
Intro: elapsed time between the song beginning (music) and the moment in which the
performer starts singing. This value can be entered from the Production window while listening
to the song and pressing the Pause button when the performer starts singing. Or without playing
back the audio; simply place the cursor in the position where you want to insert the marker and
then go to Menu Æ Markers Æ Set. The new value will be updated automatically in the Intro
field and the Intro timer will be displayed in red.
Outro: elapsed time between the moment in which the song audio level starts fading out until it
ends. To be able to enter it, proceed according to item 5 (Intro) in this section.
Start/ End: this field only accepts dates (Day/Month/Year). They will indicate Dinesat Radio
from and up to what dates a song can be schedule for programming. Before or after these dates
a song (or ad, artistic item, etc) cannot be played back. (This feature will only be available in
automatic mode with preset music formats). If you want a title to be scheduled again, select the
song, click with the mouse right button and choose View card. Once inside that card press Edit
and change the End date for a later one. Press Accept to save changes.
Priority: here you can assign values from 1 to 5. These values will be considered only when
Dinesat Radio is working automatically with preset music formats. (See item 6.1).
Genre: here you can create new genres according to the title classification.
Rhythm: here you can choose between five rythms: Very Slow/ Slow/ Medium/ Fast/ Very Fast.
These data are used when you operate in automatic mode. (See item 6.1).
Notes: in this field, you can type data about the title being recorded. These data could later be
displayed simply by opening the NOTES window and making an inverse click on any title of the
chosen list. The data will be loaded in the Notes window. To open the Notes window go to Main
menu and press Accessories button and then select Notes 1. If you want another Notes
window, press Accessories again and choose Notes 2.
After these fields, there are others that CANNOT be changed. They display data such as:
Category where that audio file is recorded, title total Length, Quality (compression format used)
in which it was recorded, the operator who recorded it (if that operator entered his personal
access key before starting to record), and the audio Volume (hard disc) in which it is stored.
Remember that you CANNOT change these values.
Note: As you must have read in our catalogs, Dinesat Radio is equipped with Intellicross®
exclusive crossfade system that automatically chooses the best crossfade times between songs
so that they sound as natural as possible. However, for this effect to work out IT IS ESSENTIAL
that you fill in the Intro and Outro values CORRECTLY in all recorded songs cards. Otherwise,
when crossfading, Dinesat Radio will assign a fixed time value to crossfades that might not
“sound” right when crossfading two songs in automatic playback mode.
Advise: if you want some songs to reach the end without having the next title played over, we
suggest assigning a value equal to 0 (zero) in the Outro field of the chosen titles cards. If you
want a minimum crossfade between songs set a 2 or 3 seconds OUTRO fix value.
Remember that this feature is exclusive for users having sound cards that manage 2 or more
stereo devices simultaneously.
Advice: Whenever you record an announce avoid leaving silence at the end of it. If possible,
make it finish “to break” so that presentation effect is more exact. Remember that the announce
will end 2 seconds before INTRO time finishes, that is, if 2 or more silence seconds were left
after the announce, this action would prevent the performer from starting singing at maximum
audio level. Perhaps it is needless to say, but avoid making the announce LONGER than the
song INTRO.
4.9. Logger.
This module allows recording continuously all your station playout. Thus, a loyal witness of
absolutely everything played out by your station can be kept.
To achieve the maximum audio quality and recording autonomy we have created a new digital
sampling that will allow saving audio up to 31 days in Mpeg 32K AM recording quality.
Bearing in mind the sound card type, create a category with the compression you want. Then,
configure the title length: click on menu and go to audio properties. Once there, indicate the
minimum recording time.
To start-up locate the server and category where Logger will have to work, then click on the Rec
button and Logger will start recording. If you are recording and Rec button is pressed again, it
will continue recording in a new title.
Additionally, you can control Logger automatically. Clicking on “Menu”, “Properties”, “Automatic
Recording”… and the following menu will drop down:
And in this window, you will be able to define the recording different start and end schedules,
being also possible to indicate month, week, day and even start and end time.
It is also possible to export the selected titles in a single unified file. That is, Dinesat Radio
allows unifying 1 hour recording- for instance- and export it to a single file, allowing to choose
destination and recording quality.
In Dinesat Radio’s database, commands are titles in a “Commands” category with a certain
description. This description identifies each command. When Dinesat Radio finds a command in
the programming, it reads its description to know what action to take. That’s why it’s so
important to be very careful to type the command description exactly as follows:
Making a Command
the Air 2 programming. Don’t forget the space between the command and the format name, and
be sure not to make any misspelling.
Automatic AUX FROM AUX Configures the Auxiliary Input with the AUX input
Mode of the sound card.
Automatic AUX FROM LINE Configures the Auxiliary Input with the LINE
Mode input of the sound card.
Automatic FMT xxxx Select a new format for the Air 2 window. Xxxx is
Mode the format name, which must be in uppercase.
Satellite PLAY LOCAL Tells the remote stations to suspend the satellite
broadcast and Stara their own local
programming. Only for satellite heads.
Satellite STOP LOCAL Tells the remote stations to suspend their own
local programming and reconnect to the satellite
broadcast. Only for satellite heads.
AEQ Console SWITCH OFF For managing the audio switch AEQ
“Switch Off"
5. Commercial Programming.
This is the button that allows opening commercial programming windows (Air 1) for
each station defined to control from that terminal. The Programming window has a
specially designed functionality for commercial schedule programmers and this
functionality is based on Drag&Drop. The Programming window or PGM has an audio transport
feature specially designed to check programming, two timers, a VU meter, Cue bar and- of
course- the Menu button. We are going to describe Menu and audio controls functionality.
Edit Block. If you need changing a block time or name, make an inverse click on the block
index you want to change and choose Edit Block.
Delete Block. Repeat the previous step, but choose Delete this time… if you want to definitely
delete that block.
Duplicate Block. It is likely that you want to repeat the same block at different times during the
day. Instead of creating it each time, make it once and then make an inverse click on the index,
choose the option duplicate and fill in the next repetition time. Remember you must do that
block by block.
Cut. This option allows cutting a title and pasting it within the same block or another one. This
option does not work on block indexes.
Copy. Idem to the previous feature, but it leaves the copied title in its original location and
allows duplicating or pasting it in another block.
Note: to select, cut or copy more than one title at the same time, please reread item 5.5.
Choose by clicking on- for example- Air 1 Radio Pgm (the name of the station you have defined
to control will be displayed).
Return to Main Menu and press the Titles button.
Customize the windows format and location the way you feel most comfortable or else press
Organize Windows to organize them automatically.
In the Titles window, choose the audio server where the category containing commercial ads is
stored.
Now select the Category containing commercial ads.
Choose with a click the first commercial (competitive ad) in the day first commercial break to
program. Drag&Drop it inside the Programming window. (Remember that more than a title at
the same time can be selected- see item 5.4 for further details).
A window called Blocks will open automatically. There are 2 fields to fill in:
Description. If you want, you can write down a name for that commercial break or block here.
For example: Newscast at 7 pm.
PGM Time. After filling in the previous field, go to this one using the Tab key. The digits that
correspond to hour will have highlighted. Fill it in you will automatically go to the minutes
section, fill that value in and will go to the seconds digits. If you do not want to fill in the latter,
press Accept directly. Now you will see that in the programming window the chosen commercial
is displayed below the head showing the new block starting time and name.
Continue dragging and dropping commercials under the already programmed one. Note that
time value in the main watch increases each time you put a commercial under the other. This
value corresponds to the block total duration until that moment.
When the block maximum duration time (or commercial number) is reached, make an inverse
click- with the mouse right button- or press Menu and choose the option New Block. Fill in data
as described in the previous item.
Continue until you finish scheduling all the day commercial break blocks.
Now make an inverse click or press Menu and choose the option Save Programming. The
current date will be displayed by default. If you want, change it for a later one.
Your programming has been filed in Dinesat Radio central database and it is ready to be played
out. The day it is scheduled to play out, it will be loaded automatically by opening the Air 1
window of the programmed station. (In our example it is: Air 1 Sun Station). In case Dinesat
Radio is running on AUTOPLAY mode the commercial break will load automatically when the
day changes.
Note: Once the daily schedule is finished (commercial break/ Continuity, etc.), you can save
that block for all later dates you want. Thus, you could create a “base” commercial break, then
make slight changes and save it for future dates.
Advice: after creating the first or second daily schedule block we recommend to use the option
Save Programming… and then repeat the action every 5 or 6 new blocks, to avoid losing
everything you have scheduled, in case an unexpected blackout takes place, specially if
emergency power supply is not available.
In the Programming window press Menu and choose the option Load Programming, then select
the date of the commercial schedule to be changed. Press Accept- or double-click on the
chosen date- and the commercial schedule will be loaded quickly.
Please note that if you select a title (audio file) in the Programming window and make an
inverse click- with the mouse right button, you will see among other options the following ones
that are specially useful when changing the schedule:
Unprogramme: this option allows choosing a specific title and “remove” it from all blocks or
commercial breaks in the chosen schedule. (The title is removed but NOT deleted from the
audio database).
Replace: this feature allows replacing a title for another, keeping the location of the title to be
replaced in all the blocks of the schedule being modified. To use this option, begin by selecting
the new title in the Titles window and then the title to be replaced in the day first block where it
appears for the first time. Make an inverse click and choose Replace.
But if instead of placing the cursor on a title, it is placed on a block head (Description and start-
up time) and make an inverse click other 3 new options will be displayed:
New Block. It allows adding a new block to the commercial break being programmed.
Edit Block. By selecting this option, the block description and start-up time can be changed.
Delete Block. it deletes the entire block- including commercials- from the daily schedule.
Duplicate block. it is likely that you want to repeat the same block at different times in the daily
schedule. Use this option to do so: choose the block to be repeated, make an inverse click,
choose Duplicate Block and fill the required data in. Repeat these steps as many times as you
want to repeat that block.
6. Music Programming.
One of the main advantages of your new Dinesat Radio -comparing it to other similar products-
is its great versatility regarding automatic music programming at random or by preset formats.
Bear in mind that Dinesat Radio does not think by itself, it simply responds to configurations
assigned by users. Therefore, we suggest being as tidy as possible when configuring the
system for its activity in automatic mode. Anyway, you can continue programming your music
schedules manually as always, picking songs one by one.
Unlike other products, your Dinesat Radio includes two working modes called Formats.. and
Random Programming. They were designed to lighten the hard task of programming music for
your station. Their use and applications will be explained in the following sections.
Dinesat let you generating random programmings, which make quicker the music programming
process. The Scheduler, using the date created formats, makes these random programmings.
6.2. Formats.
It is necessary to understand some concepts before starting to explain how Dinesat format
operates:
Now we can already define a “Format” as a collection of sorted items, what has two associated
properties.
Drop criteria: When it is impossible to find any item that respects the search criteria, and this
option is available, the Scheduler begins to discard the criteria until it found a correct item,
following the next order: “Rhythm”, “Genre” and “Priority”.
Separate Artist: This option let you chooising a separation (1 to 20) between items with same
artist. For example: You set this option in 5 and then you program an item, which artist is
Madonna. So it will not repeat any item with the artist Madonna during the following five titles.
Note: The Schedule takes “Madonna” and “Madonna & Britney” as different artists.
In the left side of Music Schedule window is the existent format list and in the right side is the
selected format items list.
At first, you have to press the Add button and enter the format name (for example: FMT1).
Now you must add format items pressing Add Item button , chooise one of three item types.
To delete an item you have to select it and press Delete Item button . And in order to edit it
you have to press Edit Item button .
Note: The Music Schedule will search the items respecting the user pre-set order. To change
the order of the items, you can use the arrows what is in the right side.
When you press the Add or Edit button, you will see the following window:
There is an emission section in the Specific Title and Random Title window, where you have the
following alternatives:
Step musical titles with: This title will be step with the step category.
Announce musical titles with: This title will be announced with the step category.
Note: The Format works on Loop mode, that is, it starts in the first Format Category until it
reaches the last one and starts over again by the first, until complete the programming time.
From the Main Menu open an Air 2 Programming window of the configured station.
Press the Menu button of it and choose Random Programming…
A window called Random Block will open.
In the Format field of this window choose the music format you want to start programming.
Move with the Tab key to Duration field where there is a Watch in hours, minutes and seconds.
Fill in the block desired length- for instance 10 minutes (00:10:00).
Once filled all necessary data in, press Accept. PGM window will start programming
automatically until it completes the duration assigned to the block.
If you want to continue filling in the list in the same way, repeat the steps described. If not,
continue filling in the list manually until completing the necessary programming time for the day.
After you finish programming, save it for the date you want using Save Programming…
Automatic Formats: here there is an available field for each day of the week. If you click on
one of them, the music Format list you have created will drop-down. Choose one of them and
that will be the format for that day.
Once you have chosen each weekday format, whenever an Air 2 window not having previously
stored programming opens, Dinesat Radio will create 15 minutes programming blocks following
the preset music format. When being on the air and only 7 or less minutes of scheduled
programming in advance are left, Dinesat Radio will complete programming again until it there
are another 15 minutes of scheduled programming in advance, and so on.
If Music Scheduler does not find any format item, it will insert an error item in the list. Its code
will be “NOTFOUND”, its duration will be 20 seconds, and its description will indicate the item
type (Specific Title or Random Title) and the format item index.
It allows that Dinesat Radio will not stop playing the programming anyway in automatic mode.
To use this function you can choose to pre-program FMT formats within the day commercial
block break or to do it as the need arises.
After programming the commercial block break on the corresponding Air 1 Programming
window, choose the category Commands from the open Titles window.
Go to the commercial block in which you want to start running the chosen FMT command.
From the Titles window drag the XXXX FMT command -where XXXX is the chosen format
name- you prefer and drop it inside the mentioned commercial block. We suggest to place the
XXXX FMT 2 or 3 files before the block end so that Air 2 window has some spare time to start
self-programming with the music associated to the chosen FMT.
Put all the XXXX FMT you want in all the blocks you deem convenient and then save the
programming scheduled.
To do it as the need arises, simply choose the category Commands from a Titles window and
drag&drop the chosen XXXX FMT command in the commercial block you want.
Thus, Dinesat Radio will be autoprogramming salsa music in the Air 2 window from 9.15 am.
However, after the 11.15 am block starts playing back and it finds that LATIN FMT command is
programmed, the Air 2 window will empty out of salsa music and will start autoprogramming
with latin style music.
Dinesat Radio wil continue with this music style as long as it does not find another XXXX FMT
in the Air 1 commercial break blocks. It is important to make it clear that this automatic music
programming change is only available when Dinesat Radio works on AUTOPLAY mode.
To play out a block choose -by double-clicking- the block with which you want to start and press
PLAY. To stop it press STOP or FADE button to achieve the audio title gradual loss of loudness
so that the air is ready for the next title.
If you want to make a pause, press PAUSE once. Press it again to resume playing out. If you
want a title to return to the beginning press STOP. If you want that the title being played be the
last one to be played out press the BREAK button. Press it again to splice again the
programmed title block. These controls are valid for all the system active audio windows that
have them.
Active windows are those which may play back or record audio within Dinesat Radio.
TALK
BREAK
PLAY
Every active window has audio carry buttons which have been carefuly designed so that the
booth operator may easily and quickly recognize and handle his tasks.
PLAY. classic playback common button including a variant. When a title is played back this
button becomes X-FADE. If you press it again, you will be crossfading the current title with the
next one on the list.
FADE. This button gives you the option to fade the title when it is played back.
STOP. it is the button to stop playback.
CUE It only allows 50% or a maximum 30 seconds time of the title playback. Through the cue
bar you may pick the title at the begginning or at the end thus checking any part of the play out
sheduled material. This operation is not registered in the air play out audit. Thus, this tool allows
the operator to check the titles before playing them back and the air audit to deliver a cleaner
and more real list of what was actually played out.
TALK. While songs are being played out from Air 2 window, the operator may use the TALK
button to fade songs, allowing the announcer to talk over it. When pressing TALK again the
songs original audio level will be resumed.
BREAK By using this option the playback list may be “unlinked”. Press it again to resume the
list “linking”.
REC. In the PRODUCTION window, this button just operates as a control for recording by
releasing the pause. In TITLES window, it becomes the InRec button. By pressing it, after
having chosen a server and a category in this window, it immediately records the incoming
audio to the sound card with no delays at all. This is a very useful option when urgent recording
is requested.
REC
PLAY OVER This button only appears in the InstantPlay window. Markers may be placed over
the on air title. Just select a title in any InstantPlay page and then press PLAY OVER. If you are
not satisfied with the fade level or execution time, go to Menu Button >Properties>Audio and
make the necessary changes.
LOOP. This button only appears in the InstantPlay window leaving the chosen audio cut in the
continuous loop playback mode. Thus, just 4 seconds music base may be enough for a whole
music bed in a 4 or more minutes news report.
LOOP
PLAY
OVER
TIMERS (Watches) There are two Timers in each Air Windows (Or digital timers). There is a big
and high contrast timer showing the remaining time up to the end of the block in Hours, Minutes
and Seconds. And a smaller timer showing INTRO time in Minutes and Seconds (if registered in
the song card). Then it will change and display the remaning time of the current title to finally
change again and display the OUTRO time (if registered in the song card). For further details,
see item 6.6.
CUE BAR... Placed under audio transport. It graphically displays the on air title. To skip any part
of the audio click on any part of it. Thus, playback may be started, repeated or skiped at any
part of the title.
VU-meters are placed in each window making easier to check the audio level in which both
audio channels were recorded.
Titles window is used for stored titles import and search in Dinesat Radio database either in
local or remote servers.
Though these are frequently used windows, the operator may configure this desktop using all
the necessary active windows to easily perform his tasks.
Note: Remember that Dinesat Radio has been designed considering the “infinite” active
auxiliary windows philosophy. Thus, for example if a single InstantPlay window is not enough,
you may use the button in the Main menu and open an InstantPlay 2 until you fulfil your needs.
You can do the same with Titles, Auxiliary Air, etc.
AIR 1: Where daily commercial breaks are usually scheduled. AUTOPLAY mode is priority to
Air 2, where music is usually programmed. This is the only window containing the AUTOPLAY
button and the Automatic Mode option in Menu>Properties. This option allows configuring
Dinesat Radio behavior when working in AUTOPLAY mode just by using hard disc or satellite
signal. For further details see item 10.0.
It is important to keep in mind that (Air 1 and 2) windows cannot be cloned as they belong to the
priority configured stations in that air terminal.
AIR 2: It is recommended that music programming be performed in this window. Unlike Air 1, it
does not carry AUTOPLAY feature, because it depends on the previous one to work in that
playback mode. This is the only window where automatic programming mode, such as random
Programming based on music formats is available. See item 8.2.
AUXILIARY AIR: This is a generic window. Operatively independent from the others. It may be
cloned, that means that all the necessary AUX AIR windows may be opened. It does not accept
previous programming or store in memory titles played back through it. It is often used to make
temporary music programming based on titles requested by listeners, hits, etc, which do not
need to be stored as official programming.
First, tick the RDS enable box, which will allow information to be visible in the automobile
stereo. If you want the text to be displayed in Air 1 window, tick this option. You may save the
scrolled text in a file for later use by ticking the corresponding option and indicating the folder
where it will be saved (the file may or may not exist).
For a static text to be displayed introduce it in the corresponding Text box and configure the
time it will be kept displayed. The same applies for the dynamic text.
A static text is the one that will always display the same information and it is designed for the
radio station identification. This text will appear whenever hdxRadio is not playing back, or in
case of being playing back, this text will appear when the dynamic text has been displayed for a
specific period of time (this text represents the current material being played out). The dynamic
text likely to be configured in this window is the one that will change according to the played out
programming. Thus, the text appearing before the song title and the performer’s name may be
configured. (Title: Fragile Performer: Sting)
In dynamic text configuration options there are three check boxes to be selected:
Remember this window has an InREC quick recording button. When you press it, the audio
available in the audio input of the used sound card immediately starts being recorded,
automatically assigning quality, category and title code. During the recording or at the end of it,
the air operator (or the producer) can modify the recorded title card according to the
corresponding data to finally edit the audio by just making an inverse click. This quick recording
feature is ideal for mobile units, interviews, voice-over, etc. Once the recording ends, the
material will be immediately available at any network terminal ready to be edited or played out.
For a quick search in the selected category overall available material in Titles window, or in the
whole audio database, proceed as follows:
Sort
There is an empty field in the ORDER button. Enter the name or code you are looking for. You
can do that partially or totally. For example, if you search a Luis Miguel song, press SORT twice
and then write LUIS. In that moment, the list sorted by PERFORMER automatically goes to the
first title containing the performer’s name LUIS.
If the CURSOR did not reach the required performer, it means this performer is not in this
category. In this case, press the ENTER key in your keyboard and Dinesat Radio will search the
server database displayed in the Titles window searching such performer within the other
available categories. If it is not found, an explanatory sign will appear. If further search is
required, aim Titles window to another server repeating the previous steps.
Note: The operator may access the overall network servers, if he is authorized to do so.
Remember that you may lock each user’s permissions to access terminals, stations, servers
and categories.
To import audio files, go to the desired title category, press the Menu button Æ Import Audio…
A window dialog will appear, where you can look for the audio files you want to import.
You can also perform this by dragging and dropping the files from Windows’ explorer into the
Titles window.
Afterwards, you may choose how you want the import to be performed:
If you mark the first option, the file will be converted to the category quality. Only when that
option is checked, the audio could also be normalized or trimmed.
If only one file was imported, the title card appears. To complete it, press the edit button and fill
the data in. Then press Accept and Close.
Note: Each time that the option “Record Audio” is selected, other Production window will open.
7.4.4. Ripper
It converts an audio track in “cda” format to other format type and includes it in the Dinesat data
base.
Open a Title window, and select a Audio Server and a category in which the audio tracks will be
imported. In the Menu, press the option “Import Audio form CD…”
Note: If the category quality is soported by Dinesat Radio, the audio tracks will be converted to
this quality. Otherwise it will leave in PCM 44.1 kHz quality.
PC devices
The button Select is used to check/uncheck all audio tracks of the list.
You can get the CDDB information pressing the button CDDB.
Press the Start button and all audio tracks selected will be imported to the Dinesat Radio data
base.
Select the options Normalize and Trim in order to include these actions.
You can configurate the device and the CDDB options in this window.
If the option “Ignore Speed” is not checked, you can choose the device speed. It is possible to
choose the number of blocks and the copy mode.
If the option “Get CDDB automatically” is checked and there is an Internet conexion, it will get
the CDDB information from the server specified, each time you open the Ripper.
In order to getting the CDDB information from Internet, you must set an Email and a valid
Server.
Note: all this properties will be of each window. For example each time that will be opened the
Instant Play 1 will mainten the properties to they will be modified.
AUTOPLAY will be the automatic basic form to playback audio from Dinesat Radio. Dinesat
Radio outstands regarding its automation possibilities. It may continuously “automize” playout
over the 365 days of the year, mixing commercials and music recorded in a hard disc or from
satellite sources.
Dinesat Radio NET has its own technology called SNcR Satellite Network Controlling from
Hardata S.A., which provides satellite radio networks a powerful control tool and the possibility
to broaden the rendered services range for their own regional or affiliate stations. Visit
www.hardata.com for further details about this revolutionary technology used by various Latin
America radio networks.
Automatic mode: 5 possible selection settings can be seen in this sector: AIR 2, AIR 2+FADE,
AUXILIARY INPUT, SATELLITE+CONTROL CENTER and SATELLITE + +RS232. Each of
them will provide Dinesat Radio the chance to behave differently. You can find the detailed
description below of each option application and behaviour item by item.
Satellite: It refers to the chosen commercial blocks playback mode. If you choose to play back
the entire commercial break, this is exactly what the system will do. It will play back the local
commercial break uninterruptedly, even when satellite reconnection signal is received. It will
always wait the local commercial break to finish, to resume satellite programming.
Fill with Air 2 allows Dinesat Radio to use such window to compensate audio when the local
commercial break is shorter than the national, and when satellite reconnection signal has not
yet been received, thus avoiding an audio gap in the local playout.
Block validity: When block validity is enabled and time validity is configured you are indicating
that if your Air 2 programming finishes within the Air 1 range block validity, this block may begin
all the same, even if it is not the time scheduled. For example: if you configure Before: 5
(minutes) and After: 10(minutes), and if Air 2 programming ends 3 minutes before the
scheduled block inicial time, the block may be played out because the end of it took place within
the configured range. However, if the block finished 6 minutes before the scheduled time, the
block would not be played out as in the previous case. In the hypothetical case that Air 2
programming would finish 7 minutes after the time the block should have started, the block
would also be played out because it fits within the configured range of time.
Auxiliary input: as shown below, gaps can filled with audio from external sources. Thus, here
we are defining the behavior of the used sound card auxiliary input. In case of Maximum and
Minimum Level you choose the audio percentage that will go through that input. We recommend
values between 100% and 000%. But if the satellite decoder audio level is excessive, we
suggest lowering the maximum level by 75%, and perform comparative tests until you find the
ideal value.
Close Aux during Play: If you choose this option during the local commercial break execution
from the hard disc, the audio card Aux input will remain closed, thus the minimum assigned
level will not be achieved.
FADE OUT: It allows calibrating the fadeout delay time of the incoming signal through the
sound card AUXILIARY input when going from a satellite to a hard disc.
FADE IN: It allows calibrating the opposite case described in the previous entry. That is, from a
hard disc to a satellite.
CROSSFADE: It allows calibrating audio crossfade time during the transition from hard disc to
satellite and vice versa.
To resume manual mode press AUTOPLAY button again, thus recovering playback control.
Dinesat Radio will use scheduled music in Air 2 window to fill gaps between commercial breaks.
This playback mode prioritizes music, so when it is time for Air 1 scheduled commercial breaks,
Dinesat Radio will wait until the current song finishes, and then it will insert a break at the end of
it. When it finishes, Dinesat Radio begins playing out the Air1 block, and at the end of it,
playback continues with the next scheduled song in Air2 window.
You must have a DTMF decoder (generally distributed by the company rendering the service) at
your disposal, which will interpret the tones and change one of the input pins status of the PC
parallel port. An input control over this pin must be configured in the Control Center. When
Dinesat Radio receives this signal warning of the disconnection to go to hard disc, it will stop
satellite audio and will start to play back the commercial block loaded in Air1 immediately.
Dinesat Radio will continue playing back the commercial break until it ends. If the reconnection
tone is not yet received when the current commercial block ends, Dinesat will “fill” the gap with
the audio in Air2 window until the tone is received. If Dinesat Radio receives the reconnection
tone before the current commercial block ends, it will place a break under the current title,
leaving the announcements not yet played back as pending for the next block. The transition
from Air 1 or 2 to satellite will always be performed with a crossfade.
Note 1: to understand how to confiture this Dinesat Radio feature read “Input Control” in Control
Center section.
Note 2: To avoid accumulating pending comercials we suggest that local comercial breaks be
shorter than national ones, and that local block schedules be delayed about 5 minutes with
regard to national ones.
Note: This option can be used exclusively by those radio network affiliated users equipped with
a satellite decoder and its corresponding RS232 interconnection for its later connection to the
PC controlled by Dinesat Radio.
Manual mode is that one subjected to the shift operator performance. That is, the commercial
and music playout beginnings and ends rely exclusively on him. Having all the most commonly
used windows open, the operator will decide which list, or audio he will choose to start the day
playout. He can use an identifier taken from InstantPlay, or he can just start by using some of
the Air1 or Air 2 loaded lists.
The available playback mode will depend on the audio card type installed, as well as the
assigned configuration. Remember that if you have a Sound Blaster type card that supports
only one audio device at a time, you can still use crossfade all the same. But in case you have
an audio card with 2 or more devices, mixing among the available titles can be performed. Next,
we will show you some manual playback mode options in case of having dual device cards.
To insert a title (marker, tip, etc) over the song Intro time, proceed as following:
Open a Titles window, and then choose a Category containing the desired markers.
Place the cursor to select the chosen marker, drag it to Air 2 window where the song to be
“stepped” is located and pres the SHIFT key. You will notice that a small INTRO sign pops-up
on the footer of the dragged marker.
Drop the marker over the song to be marked. You will notice that the marker is matched up to
the song. If you wanted to move the marked song within Air 2 list upwards and downwards, it
would always be moved together with the associated marker.
To remove the attached marker, place the cursor on the marked song and by clicking the
mouse right button and choose the option “Eliminate intro” and will dissapear.
Suggestion: The possibility of creating a page within InstantPlay with, for example, already
marked songs containing an identification or a commernt over its intro is an interesting option.
As it was mentioned before, when moving the “announced” song upwards and downwards
within the air list, it will always move together with the associated announcement. To remove
the announcement, place the cursor on the marked song and click on the option “Eliminate
intro” with the mouse right button.
Among the main Dinesat Radio features, there is a possibility to automatically or manually
announce the hour, temperature and Humidity parameters.
To be able to use this option (Temperature and Humidity) automatically, a weather station
called DAVIS WEATHER MONITOR ll should be installed as well as WEATHER LINK DAVIS
that works as an interface between the station and the computer. For further information contact
info@hardata.com.
You can also use Weather Watcher for free. You can download it from:
http://www.hardata.com/downloads/dinesatradio/weatherwatcher.exe.
Within Dinesat Radio installation CD-Rom you will find all voice-overs corresponding to time,
temperature and humidity. These audios are Hardata SA copyright and they are provided as
demos. Any playback or modification of these elements is expressly forbidden.
These files (242 overall) are provided in 2 different languages: Spanish and English.
To set the above mentioned values and playout mode proceed as follows:
Press the MENU button from the TTH module Main Menu.
Choose the TTH option.
Every title description text MUST BE ENTERED exactly as explained below, NOT
OTHERWISE.
Thus, for example, when you record 3 pm in the description field you must write as follows:
HOUR 15.
Here you will also be able to select the “category” to search the TTH features voices. These
values can be automatically updated using a Davis Weather Monitor II model weather station,
plus the Weather Link accessory, or using the Weather Watcher provided by Hardata.
In the next step, indicate the folder where the application will be installed.
Once the installation is finished, you can proceed to configure the application.
The applications detects this is the first software installation and asks you if you want to
configure it, press yes and it will begin.
These are the minimum configuration requirements Dinesat Radio needs to use Weather
Watcher.
In case you need The City of Buenos Aires data, configure: Aeroparque Buenos Aires, in Active
City window and press Add City.
In the Export tab you must indicate the HTML path as Dinesat checks that file. You have to tick
the Enable Exporter option.
Once the configuration is finished, it will load the specified city data.
You will notice that temperature is expressed in Farenheit degrees. Go to the Conversion
window to change them.
Click in TTH button where you can configure all about Time, Temperature, Humidity.
You have to make sure that the Properties File path is the same that appears in the Weather
Watcher file path Configuration.
11. Accesories.
These programs allow you to perform different functions by means of a Telephone Device
compatible with TAPI standard.
All modules have two windows in common. One of them is the calls-per-hour that allows
monitoring the number of actual incoming calls per hour. Through this window, you will be able
to know your station prime time.
The second one is the Options window. In it you will be able to configure, in a few steps, the
settings required by the system.
Dinesat lets only open and merge up to four Telephony Applications. For example: You could
open two instances of Answering Machine, one of Vote Machine and one of Ranking Machine.
The Playing Engine of the telephony modules can play a Title in any quality using a Modem or a
Telephony Card.
You must create a type 9-telephone category in Dinesat Radio. In this category record a
welcome message explaining the listeners the steps to follow to vote, for example (You have
reached…after the beep press 1 for…)
Then record the tone, for example (Beep) and then a final message. For example (Your vote for
yes has been registered, thank you very much…)
Then, you have to open Answering Machine module. In the Options sheet, you must choose the
server where is the telephone category in with the Welcome, Tone and Good-bye messages is
stored. The telephone device is the Modem or the Telephony Card in which the system will
work.
Finally, enter the number of options and their respective names to identify the results in the
voting chart. This sheet will allow monitoring the results in a cake chart, and the poll results can
be printed just by clicking on print.
To carry out a new poll, click on Clean Data. This function will allow you to set the poll result
back in 0 %.
With this telephone module your radio station will automatically receive and record all kinds of
calls. These messages may be heard and edited once the listener hangs up.
In playback:
Select the audio server where it will search the category containing the welcome message, for
example (You have reached…) and the tone, for example (Beep). Then, select type 9-telephone
category, where received messages will be stored and the corresponding volume.
In recording:
Select the audio server where the recorded incoming messages category will be stored. Finally,
set the minimum and maximum message duration.
Once created the Type 9-telephone category, the following messages must be recorded: the
welcome message, for example (you have reached…); an option message, for example (Dial 1
to vote…Dial 2 to listen to songs…);option 1 message, for example, (Enter the song code). In
Option 2 Message, a small song list with their respective codes can be created so that the
listener may listen to the song to vote with its code: Option 2 message, for example (Madonna
code 01; Queen 02). Finally, a farewell message must be recorded to say good-bye to the
listener, for example (your vote has been registered, thank you very much).
Once these steps in Dinesat Radio have been fulfilled, run RankingMachine and drop-down the
options window, enter the already mentioned data with the code numbers to be used (the
chosen performers). Finally, enter the description for each code, for example, (Madonna-code
01).
In Ranking sheet you will be able to monitor the results in a bar chart.
In this screen, you must select the time range you want to Audit. For example, in this case it has
been chosen from 05/31/2005 up to 05/31/2005, only one day. After having chosen range, click
on “Accept”.
Note: It is convenient not to enter a very long range so that the program does not load the
whole memory data and thus you may work more freely at your terminal.
Browser Window.
The image shows the browser’s window placed in AIR server where all the server’s titles can be
seen.
This picture shows that the Air Audit tab is pressed. Here a report can be created by choosing
one or several categories and ticking boxes below. Once the selection is done press Generate
Report button and you may print it if you want.
11.5. Backup.
By using this Backup module you may:
Application description
Main buttons:
This button starts the Main monitor that monitors the events.
This button stops the Main Monitor that stops monitoring events.
This button updates the entire application data.
This is the event tail displaying those events being performed at that very moment. All the
events that could not be executed because another task was being performed simultaneously
can be monitored here.
There are still many more useful applications to be obtained from the RDS system.
The PS that appears in the Text option was designed to show 8 characters in the stereo with
the name of the station. RT, on the other hand, provides 64 characters that are sent with
additional information. Many autostereos do not display the RT, or if they do, they display it only
when the car is stopped, and as soon as the car is started-up, they hide it again for safety
reasons. To display furher information, broadcsters use the PS to show the same information
sent to RT formatting it in a special way so that it can be displayed in 8-characters blocks.
Some encoder equipments include software able to read a file and send its content (actually the
first 64 characters) to the encoder by means of the RS-232. Some other equipments only
include an RS-232 port and a proprietary protocol with which they are programmed. For the first
case, configuring a file where RDS information is saved in Dinesat Radio is enough.
Dinesat RDS Manager has been designed for equipments that are unable to read the text file.
For them, besides configuring the file path in Air 1 window, it is necessary to configure Dinesat
RDS Manager so that it reads the saved file and sent it to the equipment with the corresponding
protocol.
Dinesat RDS Manager will allow you to send typed information from the keyboard or that
information being played out by a station, and to save its RDS message in a text file.
11.6.1. Configuration
From the Options button the type of protocol used by the RDS playout device is configured as
well as the communication port to which it is connected (it must be disconnected when being
configured). It this option form the baud rate, parity, data bits and stop bits values have to be
configured, too.
Once the configuration is done, you must connect to the RDS device by pressing the Connect
button. Once playout ends or if you do not need to be connected any longer, press the
Disonnect button.
11.6.2. Application.
Once the Option windows is configured, press the Connect button.
There are two ways to play out text using Dinesat RDS Manager:
Manual mode: By ticking this option and entering text in Text window, it will be playout by
pressing the Send button.
Automatic mode: If you need that the text be taken from a file, tick the Auto option and
indicate the path where it is located. By pressing “…”, you can examine the disc and
indicate the destination file by using Windows explorer.
When this file is empty, Dinesat RDS Manager will take the text from Static Text Option. Thus,
to send a static text, first you must disable this option in Titles Window, >Menu Æ RDS.
Note: The text must be a maximum of 64 characters long, including spaces; if there were more
characters than that, they would not be taken into account.
To play out your station, it is necessary to use a second sound card that can be located in the
same equipment from which transmission is performed, or else another computer can be used
for that task. It is worth mentioning that if only one computer containing the two cards is used,
too much of the CPU resources would be used, so you must have the aproppriate equipment. It
is recommended to use another computer.
The transmitting card output plug will be connected to the encoding card that will be in charge of
sending the transmission to the Internet. The quality and number of users able to listen at the
same time will depend on this server and on your Internet bandwidth service.
The biggest your bandwidth is, the largest number of users able to listen through the Internet at
the same time will be.
11.7.1 Configuration
To configure Live Encoder, press the Options button and the following 5 tabs window will open:
General: You must indicate the file path where Dinesat Radio saves the information transmitted
by RDS system so that Live Encoder can use it. This information can be copied in the Titles
window Æ Menú Æ RDS.
Sources: You must configure the sound card installed to receive the audio signal.
Attributes: you can edit the Options and enter for the customer to see them.
Output: You can connect to a Server as well as indicate the port number through which
communication will take place.
For further configuration details go to Window Media Encoder help: StartÆ Programs Æ
Windows Media, and press help within the application.
Control Center must always remain active so that Dinesat Radio works properly. Its function is
to communicate Dinesat Radio with the PC peripheral equipment (parallel ports, IP connections,
etc.). For example, if you want that Dinesat Radio “moves” a parallel port pin when a
commercial break begins, you will have to configure the Output Control in Control Center to
perform such task. You can also configure Control Center to inform Dinesat Radio the parallel
port pins changes. For this action, you have to configure the Input Control.
To configure Input Control click on “Modify” button, then the first Setup Wizard screen will open.
Read its content carefully and follow these steps:
1. The wizard will come up to help you with Input Control configuration. Click on “Next”.
2. The wizard will give you two options:
Enable control over a station: if you click on this option, click on “Next” and go directly to
the step 3.
Disable control over the configured station: This step disables the configuration done
over a station, go directly to step 8.
3. In this screen you can choose a station already created in Dinesat, click on “Next”.
4. Now you must choose the mode in which you will control Dinesat. There are two options:
Through the parallel port: if you choose this option, click on “Next” and go to step 5.
Through a TCP/IP link: if you choose this option click “Next” and go to step 7.
5. Here you must specify the Parallel Port address in hexadecimal notation.
6. Here you must select the parallel port pin number over which control will be implemented as
well as trigger mode (for further information go to item16). Click on “Next” and go to step 8.
7. In this screen, you must specify the IP port in which you want to “listen to” the TCP/IP
messages (the port value must range between 0 and 65534). This port is used to set up a
connection through the TCP/IP. Once the port is set, click on “Next”.
8. In this screen (only for Input Control Configuration), you have to choose the operation that the
Input Control will do.
Satellite Signal: it means this control will be the same that the standar satellite signal. It just
uses in automatic mode.
Air 1 Trigger / Air 2 Trigger: it is like a remote control of Air 1 and Air 2 windows
respectively, when Dinesat works in manual mode. So it is equivalent to pressing Play or
Stop in Air 1 or Air 2.
Note: At any step of the wizard you will have the option to undo the changes by clicking “Back”.
To configure Output Control click on “Modify”, then the first Setup Wizard window will open.
14.1. Control by Levels (Level – Low status play and Level - High status play).
For Input Control:
This mode tests a Pin status, which can be at a High status (1-5v) or at a low status (0-0v).
When there is a level change, Control Center verifies if the new Pin status is high or low and
instructs Dinesat what to do. For example:
Now, Pin 10 HIGH status is changed to LOW status because it has turned from network to
comercial break. Then Control Center detects that Pin 10 has changed, it verifies the new status
and informs Dinesat that the commrcial break has to start (begin Play).
If Control Center would have been configured for “Low status Play- Level”, Control Center would
inform Dinesat to start the commercial break when Pin 10 turns from LOW to HIGH status and
resume to Network when turning from HIGH to LOW.
14.2. Control by Edge (Start with Descending Edge, Start with Ascending Edge,
End with Descending Edge, End with Ascending End).
For Input control:
There are networks that use 2 different signals to indicate the passage from network to
commercial break and vice versa. Thus, they do not use a single contact per level but two
contacts (one for each case) or else, two tones interpreted by the decoder that moves for a few
instants the two different pins status.
For these networks, two options are provided: the “Start with descendening edge” and the “Start
with ascendent edge”.
For example, considering the previous example, instead of having a status contact closure, the
network closes a contact (C1) for 100 ms when it turns from network to commercial break and it
closes another contact (C2) for 100 ms when it turns from commercial break to network.
We have a circuit connected to the parallel port Pin 10 and Pin 11 that makes the following:
Therefore, what we obtain is 100 ms pulse in Pin 10 when the signal enters the comercial break
and 100 minutes pulse in Pin 11 when the signal enters in network.
Input Control:
Radio station: HARDATA FM.
Mode: LPT
Port: (port address)
Pin1: 10
Trigger: Start with Ascending Edge.
Pin2: 11
Trigger: End with Ascending Edge
When Pin 10 receives the pulse, Control Center instructs Dinesat to start playback (Play).
When Pin 11 receives the pulse, Control Center instructs Dinesat to go back to network (stop).
When there is a change from Low to High status for X seconds, first there is an ascending edge
and after X seconds there is a descending edge.
When there is a change from High to Low status for X seconds, first there is an descending
edge and after X seconds there is an ascending edge.
Through these edges, Control Center detects pulses, thus it allows choosing between the two
possibilities (ascending or descending edge) both for the start and the end pulses. Therefore, it
provides the flexibility to choose whether to inform Dinesat when the pulse begins or ends.
For short pulses (<100 ms) there is no difference, but for longer pulses, it is not the same.
With each PRO and NET Dinesat Radio version, you will be able to interact at all times
wherever you want with Hardata hdxServer. This means that just by “drag and drop”, Dinesat
Radio system can automatically “download” or perform “streams” of the available content
published in servers by using Hardata hdxServer. The process can be automatic.
This brings to an end the complex logistic process of physical material distribution to be played
out, optimizing your TCP/IP connection digital value. This technological advantage allows great
content producers such as recording labels, to add value to the whole distribution process.
Name: It is the server identification name which will appear in the Titles window.
Host – IP: Write IP terminal address where Hardata hdxServer is installed.
User’s name: Enter a valid user’s name authorized by the Administrator in Hardata
hdxServer.
Password: Enter the password for the previous user’s name.
Once all data were entered, tick Connect with server "HARDATA HDXSERVER" and click on
“Accept”.
Now you can use all the features offered by Hardata hdxServer.
Shortcuts are quick access keys, witch manage different actions. We use them to work faster
with DinesatRadio.
The following table shows the shortcuts of the application:
Hardata provides you with e-mail or telephone technical support. If you have any problem do
not doubt to contact us at +54 11 4650 3110 or send an email to tech@hardata.com.
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Do not forget to visit our website www.hardata.com frequently. There you will find all our new
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products line.