In broadcast engineering, broadcast automation is the use of technology to automate broadcasting operations. Used either at a station or a network, it is used to run a facility in the absence of a human operator. They can also run in a "live assist" mode when there are on-air personnel present in the studio. Broadcast engineering is the field of electrical engineering, and now to some extent radio and television broadcasting. ... By the mid 20th century humans had achieved a mastery of technology sufficient to leave the surface of the Earth for the first time and explore space. ... Automation (ancient Greek: = self dictated) or Industrial Automation is the use of computers to control industrial machinery and processes, replacing human operators. ... Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. ... A broadcast network is an organization, such as a corporation or other association, that provides live or recorded content, such as movies, newscasts, sports, and public affairs programs for broadcast over a group of radio or television stations. ... In telecommunication, the term facility has the following meanings: 1. ... This article is about modern humans. ... In mathematics, an operator is a function that performs some sort of operation on a number, variable, or function. ... For the illustrated magazine, see Studio Magazine. ...

The transmitter end of the airchain is handled with a separate automatic transmission system (ATS). Antenna tower of Crystal Palace transmitter, London A transmitter (sometimes abbreviated XMTR) is an electronic device which with the aid of an antenna propagates an electromagnetic signal such as radio, television, or other telecommunications. ... In broadcast engineering for radio, the airchain (sometimes air chain (US) or network chain (UK)) is the path or route an audio or video signal takes on its way through a radio station or television station. ... An automatic transmission system (or occasionally automated transmission system, to avoid confusion with the automatic transmission of an automobile) is an automated system designed to keep a radio transmitter and antenna system running without direct human oversight or attention for long periods. ...

History

Originally, many (if not most) radio licensing authorities required a licensed operator to run every station at all times, meaning that every DJ had to pass an exam to obtain an FCC license to be on-air, if their duties also required them to ensure proper operation of the transmitter. Gradually, the quality and reliability of electronic equipment improved, regulations were relaxed, and no operator had to be present (or at least available) while a station was operating. This led a slow march toward automation, to help supplement (and now in many cases supplant) the live on-air talent. How to obtain a amature radio licence differs from country to country. ... DJ or dj may stand for Disc jockey, dinner jacket The DeadJournal website, or Djibouti. ... In education, certification, counselling, and many other fields, a test or exam (short for examination) is a tool or technique intended to measure students expression of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. ... For the Talib Kweli album Quality (album) Quality can refer to a. ... Reliability concerns quality or consistency. ... This article is about the engineering discipline. ... This page discusses common devices known as tools, for other meanings see Tool (disambiguation) Modern hammer A tool is, among other things, a device that provides a mechanical or mental advantage in accomplishing a task. ... Look up talent in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Early analog systems

Harris automation system used at the former WWJQ (now WPNW) in 1993.

Early automation systems were computerized only to the point of maintaining a schedule. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... WPNW-AM is a Christian radio station in Holland, Michigan. ... This article is about the machine. ...

Music would be stored on reel-to-reel audio tape. Subaudible tones on the tape marked the end of each song. The computer would simply rotate among the reel-to-reel players until the computer's internal clock matched that of a scheduled event. A reel-to-reel tape recorder (Sony TC-630), typical of those which were once common audiophile objects. ... For the use of subaudible tones in Two-way radio see: CTCSS A subaudible tone is a tone that is used to fire an automated event at a radio station. ...

When a scheduled event would be encountered, the computer would finish the currently playing song and then execute the scheduled block of events. These events were usually advertisements but could also include the station's top of hour legal ID or news. At the end of the block, the rotation among reel-to-reels resumed. Station identification (sometimes called a sounder or stinger) is the practice of any type of radio or television station or network identifying itself, typically with a call sign or brand name. ...

Advertisements, jingles and the top of hour legal ID were often on carts (short for cartirdges and were endless like eight-tracks). Mechanical carousels would rotate the carts in and out of multiple tape players as dictated by the computer. Advert redirects here. ... A jingle is a memorable slogan, set to an engaging melody, mainly broadcast on radio and sometimes on television commercials. ... Station identification (sometimes called a sounder or stinger) is the practice of any type of radio or television station or network identifying itself, typically with a call sign or brand name. ... The 8-track cartridge or Stereo 8 is a magnetic tape technology for audio storage, popular from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s. ... This article is about the fairground ride. ... A typical front loading consumer autoreverse hi-fi cassette deck from lte 1980s (SONY TC-RX55), features full electronic transport, Dolby B, C noise reduction and HXPro dynamic headroom expansion A cassette deck is a type of tape recorder for playing or recording audio compact cassettes. ...

This system did require attention throughout the day to change reels as they ran out and reload ad carts.

Modern digital systems

Modern systems typically run on hard disk, where all of the music, jingles, advertisements, voice tracks, and other announcements are stored. These computer files may be either compressed or uncompressed, or often with only minimal compression as a compromise. Typical hard drives of the mid-1990s. ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... A jingle is a memorable slogan, set to an engaging melody, mainly broadcast on radio and sometimes on television commercials. ... Generally speaking, advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas by an identified sponsor. ... Voice tracking, also called cyber jocking, is a technique employed by some radio stations. ... This article is about computer files and file systems in general terms. ... “Source coding” redirects here. ... Look up Compromise in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Scheduling was an important advance of these systems, allowing for exact timing. Some systems use GPS satellite receivers to obtain exact atomic time, for perfect synchronization with satellite-delivered programming. Television scheduling is the practice of using variety, repetition, connection and originality within an evenings schedule (and within a weeks schedule, and the whole television season) to create harmonious and mutually supportive arrangements (Ellis 2000). ... Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ... For other uses, see Satellite (disambiguation). ... In radio terminology, a receiver is an electronic circuit that receives a radio signal from an antenna and decodes the signal for use as sound, pictures, navigational-position information, etc. ... Temps Atomique International (TAI) or International Atomic Time is a very accurate and stable time scale. ... Synchronization (or Sync) is a problem in timekeeping which requires the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. ... U.S. military MILSTAR communications satellite A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications. ... Radio broadcasts have been a popular entertainment since the 1910s, though popularity has declined a little in some countries since television became widespread. ...

Automation systems are also now more interactive than ever with digital mixing consoles, and can even record from a telephone hybrid to play back an edited conversation with a telephone caller. There are several conceptual views of interactivity, the most general being the contingency view. ... For other uses, see Digital (disambiguation). ... In professional audio, a mixing console, digital mixing console, mixing desk (Brit. ... Historical records of events have been made for thousands of years in one form or another. ... A telephone hybrid is a relatively simple electronic device used to connect a telephone system to regular audio circuits. ... For the film, see The Conversation. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The simplest arrangements can even be done on software as basic as Winamp. Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ... Winamp is a proprietary media player written by Nullsoft, now a subsidiary of Time Warner. ...

There is also a trend in radio to use voice-tracking production techniques which make the live presenter in the studio, less critical in the overall broadcast; a great number of Internet radio and variety hits stations use automation software and voice-tracking to completely replace live on-air talent. Voice tracking, also called cyber jocking, is a technique employed by some radio stations. ... Internet radio (aka e-Radio) is an audio broadcasting service transmitted via the Internet. ... Primary Jack FM logo Jack FM is the moniker and on-air brand of several radio stations in Canada and the United States. ...

Example systems and manufacturers

• Airshift Media, makers of Airshift Studio, a cross-platform radio automation system
• Audicom was the world first system, introduced in 1987 [1]
• Backbone Networks, makers of Backbone Radio, all of which are used in a number of Internet broadcasts
• Campcaster, an open source radio automation system
• DRS 2006
• Fission Software, makers of Fission HDCore
• Radio Computing Services, makers of RCS Master Control
• Rivendell, an open source radio automation system by Salem Radio Labs
• Spacial Audio, makers of Sam Broadcaster and add-ons for DRS 2006
• Radiocube, makers of Radiocube ONAIR and Radiocube ONAIR XS, a low cost radio automation system

Audicom is the name of the first PC audio system dedicated to broadcasting. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... Radio Computing Services also known as RCS Inc. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM) is a media company operating in the United States, with 99 U.S. radio stations (pending acquisitions) that are primarily concentrated in the nations biggest markets, including 65 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets. ... SAM Broadcaster is a professional computer-based internet broadcasting application by spacialaudio. ...

References

See also

• Radio Computing Services