With finding out that Zara Radio is such a CPU hog and might cause problems with the music output, it has me wondering what other programs people on here are using to broadcast their music and if you have had any issues with the program?
The only reason I chose Zara was it was free to download and use (legally - I don't use pirated programs) and the screen shots looked like it was simple for a first time user to learn. Now I'm thinking that there just might be something better out there.
-Scott H.
Scott Zara shouldnt be a cpu hog. In saying that, I did have one install of it do that.It was using up to all most 100% cpu, but I fixed it by uninstalling and reinstalling it again. Beats me what was wrong, but it fixed it.
I have used the free version of Zara with few problems.
Once in a while the computer would "hang" causing the music file that was playing to get stuck, playing the same bit over and over, much like the vinyl records in the past. That said, it was on an older Gateway computer running Windows 98. Other than a couple of instances of this, Zara played continuously for over three years 24/7.
We even used a free Zara setup on a local licensed AM station for a short time. I talked their local manager, a friend of mine, through the process via phone one day. They used it until they got a satellite receiver installed.
Mine is pegging the CPU meter at 100% on a regular basis and is causing a playback issue. I guess it's time to do a re-install!
Thank you for the help!
-Scott H.
Zara has the advantages of being free to download & use legally, and it's simplicity of operation. If you know just a couple of Windows programs, you know Zara.
But IMO the best free radio automation program out there is Rivendell from ParavelSystems.Com. It is somewhat complicated to set up (it is Linux-based), and there are a lot of things you have to do to get it ready for broadcast (you can't just point it at your 'My Music' folder), but there isn't anything else out there that comes close.
It has voicetracking, a rudimentary music scheduler, a huge "wall of carts", hourly dayparting, it streams, and - because it is Linux-based - it literally can go a year or longer without a reboot. With a soundcard such as the $200 M-Audio 1010LT, you can have five separate stereo pairs into your console for Program Log, Cart Wall, Cue, etc.
Paravel provides a 64-bit "appliance" DVD with the Rivendell software and a full Linux operating system. Plop it into a modern AMD or Intel machine, and it will rewrite the hard drive, inspect the hardware, then go ahead and install and configure an entire automation system. Import some music or point it at a server and wail. Meantime, look at some YouTube videos posted by Rivendell users and see what it can do.
I have been fooling with Linux a little to learn about it and something like this would be a good motivation tool to get me to actually learn more about the program!
Thank you for telling me about it!
-Scott H.
Scott is the pc just for playback or do you have other things on as well like a virus scanner or other programs that run in the background ?
Shutting down unused services will also free up CPU and RAM etc. Why do you need drawing tablet services or limited access services running and taking up resources when you do not need them or even use them?
Google "shut down unneeded services in windows" and you will get all sorts of tips and suggestions that do work.
Then again, I don't see many automation computers in radio stations doing more than the task of running automation for the station.
RFB
I now use Ubuntu Linux. It's different, but it is really good. For automation on my FM station (when it's on air), I use a program called internet DJ console. It's not as fancy as Zara, but if all you do is songs and station IDs, it's great. You can set it up so a song plays, then an ID plays, then another song plays.
The only issue I've had has been random crashes. This may be because I'm using Ubuntu 12.04 and the programs designed for 11.10
RFB said: Then again, I don't see many automation computers in radio stations doing more than the task of running automation for the station.
Quite true. An automation computer should be treated as a dedicated audio management device. Much as you wouldn't stick an Egg McMuffin into a cart machine slot to warm it back up, an automation computer should not be used for anything other than the task of getting music and spots out over the air.
A second machine (networked to the on-air machine) can be used to surf, do social stuff and edit audio. A used computer store near me, "PC Retro" will sell you a Dell Optiplex P4 for sixty bucks. All ancillary studios duties can be hung on that machine without affecting on-air playback.