I'm researching a possible automation system replacement for a station group and I'm looking for information from people who actually use each system. As much detail as you want to provide would be appreciated.
With a little re-working......I'd bet some of the older automation "brains" could perform well with today's internet/AudioVault format(s)....
Harris System 90 (8008 microprocessor-based)
Schaffer 903
SMC DP-2
Ok, I have added a list of requirements.
Handle Satellite Shows
Incoming Triggers
Fire External Relays
Input Switching
Carts/Rotaters
Local Tracking
Have central audio server
These items would be nice but not essential.
Remote tracking
Integrated Traffic system
I'm more than comfortable with building the hardware side of things.
We already use separate music scheduling and traffic software that readily integrates with almost all common automation systems.
The availability of support is a must. In my experience no matter how good the software is there will always be unforeseen issues.
In other words, it works much like a human disk jockey... LOLWe have been using OMT iMediatouch version 4 for many years and for the most part it works with some minor glitches. We did try their newest version called Enterprise in one of our stations without much luck. Their technical support is useless. Clicking AUTO can cause several items to play at once, errors when you try to save a newly imported file, etc etc.
As you know, there are several systems out there which will do what you're looking for. I'm currently a fan of RCS Zetta. It will do everything on your want list, and more. For radio automation systems, I feel their support is second to none. On the other side of the coin; BE has some of the most lacking support, at least in regards with their automation.
One of the things I really like about Zetta, is the ability to configure backup database options without having to purchase really expensive redundant file servers. If you have an existing network, it's easy to park one or more alternate databases to other places within a network. Zetta's remote voice tracking application works really well too, and runs as a web GUI that doesn't require any special hardware or applications at the talent end. As an example: We have a woman in Dubai who voice tracks a weekly top 40 style show every week from her laptop with a microphone and set of headphones. Our Zetta system is in Virginia.
Ok, I have added a list of requirements.
Have central audio server
Speaking as an engineer, I'd seriously reconsider this. Keep your audio on your air work station. If you want to mirror it to a NAS for backup that's fine. but if you are pulling audio files across the network to play, and the network goes down, you will eventually have dead air when the air work station runs out of files to play until you get the network going again.
Trust me, I've experienced it first hand.
Scott