Installation manual

Engineering - 20
Ultimation--Music on Hard Drive
From the beginning, there has always been digital automation for those using a satellite format. However,
others with specialty, “niche” formats or those who simply wanted their own station “sound”, were left in
the cold. After satellite automation was conquered, SMARTS Broadcast Systems turned to the Jock-In-
the-Box CD automation system for this market. Later, as hard drive prices began to drop, and hard drive
sizes increased, it began to make sense to place all of the music for a station on the hard drive. This
automation system, with the entire station library of music, commercials, and jingles, fits inside a small
box that can be placed under a desk. Any piece of digital audio is instantly accessible.
Installation
By itself, the Music on Hard Drive system is one of the easiest systems to install for a station engineer.
The real task comes when all the music must be recorded on the system, and all music information must
be logged into the Music Master
tm
playlist generation program.
Simply connect the audio as ‘Local Audio’ as directed in the Satellite Automation section of this manual.
The Air connection should be wired to an input on the console. The Audition connection should be wired
to a second input on the console. Finally, the production source should be connected to the Input
connection of the SMARTCASTER. dBX products may be used as an interface between the console and
the SMARTCASTER. (Consult this manual for the documentation of these products.)
Network Switching
Often, in conjunction with music from the hard drive, the broadcaster also wishes to switch one or more
Networks directly to air. For example, music might play from the hard drive most of the hour, but at the
top, the automation needs to switch to a news feed.
To direct a satellite feed to air, some sort of switching device is required. Consult the sections on
SIMPLE NETWORK SWITCHING or AMX 8x4 SWITCHER to install these devices. With the 2x1 and
5x1 Switchers, leave one input free. This ‘silent’ input should be switched on whenever music is playing
from the hard drive. This prevents a Network from getting on the air at inappropriate times when Stops,
Pauses, etc. are programmed into the system.