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For Students in a Hurry: Accelerated Courses and Advanced Software Tools

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In an ever more competitive broadcast environment, radio students in a hurry to grasp job opportunities as early as possible, have the option of choosing a post-grad program compressed into two semesters rather than the more traditional four.

Canada’s Humber College claims to be the only Radio Program provider in the country to offer an accelerated Radio and Media Production program. The program in question combines practical and theoretical aspects of radio broadcasting, including training in producing for radio, using state-of-the-art RCS software.

Humber College’s Radio Diploma Program prepares students for the performative, creative, technical and business aspects of the radio and audio world. Students learn about radio station operations, broadcast and production equipment, and the fundamentals of gathering, writing, producing, and delivering content for all genres of radio and podcasting. Additionally, students learn in-demand skills in station management, sales, marketing, news, programming and market research.

Students in the program contribute to 96.9 FM Radio Humber (CKHC-FM), heard in Toronto and worldwide via radio.humber.ca. It is claimed that Radio Humber is Canada’s first and only “All Canadian” radio station. Their output is both a 60-watt campus-community radio station operating from Humber’s North Campus and a best of class, award-winning training facility that counts several well-known broadcasters among its alumni.

Radio Humber breaks and promotes new and emerging Canadian artists from all musical stylings. Its massive jazz/folk/instrumental catalogue is performed, recorded and supplied by the students and faculty from their award-winning music programs at the Lakeshore Campus.

Wide-ranging programming includes Humber Hawks sports broadcasts, unique Canadiana features and content, live concert series, news magazine programming, and co-operative programming with Humber’s Broadcast Television/Videography program.

State-of-the-Art Software

Humber College utilizes a modern fully integrated radio delivery platform that features RCS Zetta radio automation and RCS GSelector music scheduling operating on a sophisticated network that embraces AoIP (Audio over Internet Protocol) audio. Zetta software is used in seven studios for on-air, production and voice tracking with a central audio and database server.

GSelector music scheduling manages the music library and scheduling process and is fully integrated with Zetta, providing a seamless interface to manage audio content and music scheduling. Zetta is integrated with Wheatnet-IP AoIP audio, offering powerful audio management and routing capabilities.

With Zetta’s unique “Live Data Everywhere” architecture combined with the AoIP audio technology, any studio can manage station audio content, schedules and be live on air at any time. Zetta’s powerful security design provides the system administrator with the tools to define what functions and activities each group of users may or may not perform. Security is an important aspect to system management, when many users with different needs, skills and roles have access to the system.

New Radio Streaming Project

Humber is in the process of developing four streaming Internet music stations that feature all Humber College recorded music. Powered by Zetta and GSelector, the streaming stations will feature the Humber produced music across four music genre themed channels.
Audio will be ingested into the music library from the existing Radio Humber production studios and streamed to the internet using two Zetta playout workstations. The integration between Zetta and GSelector will simplify the music management and programming functions and allow Humber to launch and operate these new streaming stations with minimal effort and maintenance.

Each streaming service will be a unique station within the Zetta and GSelector data architecture, providing Humber with the ability to manage each stations broadcast content and programming from any workstation on the existing Radio Humber network.

Dean Sinclair – Professor of Radio Studies and Station Manager at Humber College, says RCS is important to Humber’s program. He explained: “Our vision is to provide a successful student experience: from learning to industry placement.  Against that background it’s critical that we offer ‘state of the art’ tools our industry embraces on a daily basis.

“RCS does exactly that, with a comprehensive (yet easy-to-digest) suite of products that make the ‘learning’ part of studio operation understandable, especially for new learners. Students who have no previous experience are now mastering advanced operating techniques and skills thanks to the easy learning processes with RCS.
“Multi-format content (music to Play-by-Play) is easily learned with the easy-to-use editing, and voice-tracking features. RCS Zetta’s compatibility with Wheatstone made my life a lot easier when it came to implementing our new studios.”

RCS President/CEO, Philippe Generali, commented: “We are proud that RCS products are being used to help train the broadcasters of tomorrow. Integration with GSelector music scheduling provides educators with the most advanced music scheduling, music library management and programming tools to groom future program and music directors.

He added: “RCS Academy programs offer students and educators an industry recognized certification program for GSelector music scheduling and Zetta automation.”

More information about Humber College’s Radio Diploma Program at:
https://mediaarts.humber.ca/programs/broadcasting-radio.html

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Zetta Cloud Hybrid Models

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For this edition of RCS Questions and Answers in a Time of Remote Workflows, we were joined by Scott Farr, RCS Canadian Sales Manager to discuss possible Zetta Cloud Hybrid models. With the introduction of Zetta Cloud, companies can now utilize unique hybrid workflows that can maximize their staff.

Because Zetta is so flexible, users can interpret infrastructure many different ways, especially utilizing Zetta2GO and Zetta Cloud. First we went over some generic Zetta settings like it’s unique non-destructive audio processing/normalization.

Next, we discussed Zetta Splits for those stations that want a primary content source that breaks away –  or Splits –  from the Master Feed into another content source, be it imaging, songs, or commercial traffic. Easiest example, think of an Internet stream that needs to split away to play a slew of commercials that cannot play over the Internet stream.

Finally, we went over how to implement Zetta2GO into everyday workflows. For example, if there aren’t enough studios for the staff, some Zetta stations have each PD monitor their station at their desk with Zetta2GO. And with the introduction of Zetta Cloud, companies can now begin to think in the Cloud – having GSelector on a Virtual Machine that links to Zetta or Zetta Cloud and then has some unique playout configurations, which can be analog or Audio of IP. Remember, these setups can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be.

If you have any questions regarding Cloud Hybrid configurations or are looking for remote workflow solutions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us either by commenting or direct messaging us on social media, reaching out to RCS Support or your local RCS Sales Representative. Don’t forget to follow us on www.Facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware and we’ll see you next Thursday at 11am ET.

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Zetta Cloud New Features

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After a nice week off, it was time for another RCS Questions and Answers in a Time of Remote Workflows. This Thursday, we reviewed how Zetta Cloud and Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery works and showcased a couple new Zetta Cloud features, like Hot Keys, Station settings and the System Monitor.

Remember, the first phase of RCS Cloud is Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery, which acts as a separate market, but runs in tandem with your current Zetta system. Any changes, be it log, new audio or metadata changes, including backups, are instantly saved to Zetta Cloud. If disaster strikes, enable Zetta Cloud with your phone and you’re back on the air. When the disaster is over, restore your Zetta backup, disable Zetta Cloud and you’re back to normal.

As we inch closure to a fully cloud based radio automation system, Zetta Cloud now features the Hot Keys module. Hot Keys allow the user to play audio outside the on-air and audition modules. You’ll find that Zetta Cloud’s Hot Keys module performs the same as it would in Zetta or Zetta2GO. Simply add a new Hot Key bank, drag and drop assets, adjust the color and it’s ready for playout.

Next, we also went over some of the updated Station specific settings. Users can now utilize stretch and squeeze, Soft ETMs, audio processing, switch between English and French and more. With the ability to integrate with GSelector, possibly on a VM, users can also create a schedule remotely and then voice track or control their station from Zetta Cloud.

RCS has some special guests and surprises lined up for upcoming Facebook Lives, in which we’ll discuss some of the advanced features and configurations of the full line of RCS products. You won’t want to miss it! As always, reach out if you have any questions or looking for workflow solutions. Don’t forget to follow us on www.Facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware for updates and we’ll see you every Thursday at 11am ET.

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Teasing Zetta 5.20.1 (4/23/20)

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Despite NAB’s cancellation, the show must go on! For the latest RCS’s Questions and Answers in a Time of Remote Workflows, RCS decided to breakdown some of the new Zetta 5.20.1 features that would have been revealed at NAB 2020.

Zetta 5.20.1 features numerous enhancements and scalable expansions to the future of Zetta. Since its inception over a decade ago, technology advancements have once again allowed the Zetta Team to upgrade many of Zetta’s under the hood features. Users will note the upgraded performance in Zetta’s UI, as well as easier flexibility when scaling large databases.

Aside from the under the hood upgrades, Zetta 5.20.1 has a completely redesigned user interface with upgraded fonts, colors, and more. We also introduced the brand new dark mode Zetta theme for users that want an “easier on the eyes” display.

For databases with extensive libraries, RCS also demonstrated the Server-Side Library search. Rather than having to search through thousands of songs and pieces of metadata, users can now enable a Server or Station Library search, which can be broken down by multiple metadata fields and treated almost as an internal search engine. Users also have the choice if they want to search their entire database or keep their searches simpler and display only single stations – or a combination of both! They can also search using multiple keyboards for a specific search, like a single title word and Artist.

Afterward, we demoed the new Revma Conference App and Zetta’s Stream URL feature, perfect for morning shows or talent that require multiple voices in a single feed. A producer would create a “Conference Room” and then invite others via a URL link. Once everyone has joined, the producer goes live and that stream will start to broadcast through Zetta, Zetta2GO, or Zetta Cloud, pending on the desired export.

RCS has some special guests and surprises lined up for upcoming Facebook Lives in which we’ll discuss some of the advanced features and configurations of the full line of RCS products. You won’t want to miss it! Follow us on www.Facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware for times and reminders and we’ll see you every Thursday at 11am ET.

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Conversation with RCS CTO Chip Jellison (4/16/20)

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As part of our ongoing Facebook Live Series, on Thursday CTO / EVP of Development & Technology Chip Jellison joined us for an open conversation about Zetta, Zetta2GO, Zetta Cloud and the future of radio automation in the cloud.

Chip Jellison began the conversation talking about what led RCS to focus our future developments to the Cloud. Essentially the cloud opened a world of more flexible workflows, allowing users to blend the open, yet secure, Cloud to their local automation. For example, starting later this summer, users will have the ability to voice track in Zetta Cloud and then those same voice tracks, including head/tails and metadata, will be sent to a user’s local Zetta. Utilizing the current Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery workflows, local Zetta will use Site Replication to send all audio, metadata, logs, and SQL backups to Zetta Cloud. That gives us the matching metadata, audio and direct communication to send desired voice tracks back to local Zetta.

Other new features in Zetta Cloud include the ability to broadcast multiple sources from a single Zetta Cloud live stream. Using Revma, RCS’ streaming software, and Revma’s Conference App, users can create a “meeting room,” equipped with a URL that can be sent to invite additional talent to a single stream. That feed is then exported to Zetta Cloud and can be enabled via the Live Stream function. Users can prepare in the Revma Conference App and when they’re ready to broadcast from Zetta Cloud, they can simply change the mode to Live Assist, edit the Chain Type to Stop, wait for the element to end, fire the Live Stream and then whatever talent is live in the Conference App “meeting room” will be able to broadcast over the air. When they’re done, simply fire the next element in Zetta Cloud’s On-Air module and turn off the Live Stream, which will return Zetta Cloud to its normal playout.

Chip was also available to answer user questions including the hot topic: Artificial Intelligence. Zetta Cloud is equipped with backend checks and balances utilizing AI to perform such tasks as automatic failover streams. Zetta proper is also equipped with an additional feature that can translate any voice track or commercial into its Metadata module Script tab, which can also be flagged for any inappropriate content. Once flagged, an email can be sent to a desired manager.

For those GSelector users, Chip also went into detail how GSelector will be integrated with Zetta Cloud, allowing users to send a Goal and Rule based music log straight into Zetta Cloud for playback. Zetta Cloud is also equipped with Omnia and Sound4 processing at the Zetta Cloud station level, as well as other hardware processing options.

It was a lively conversation about the future of not only RCS products, but radio. With the ever-changing environment, thanks to COVID-19, its showcasing the ongoing need for remote workflows and RCS is up for the challenge, both for today and in the long term.

RCS has some more special guests and surprises lined up. Don’t forget to follow us on www.Facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware for times and reminders. Speaking of reminders, the first open Q&A Facebook Live session’s date and time will float during the first half of the week and the second session will be locked in for every Thursday at 11am (NOTE: All times will be Eastern).

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows 4-13-20

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Even 70 mph wind gusts couldn’t interrupt another installment of RCS’s Questions and Answers in a Time of Remote Workflows. Mixing up the floating open session, Monday we went over how each RCS product can be utilized remotely and then answered a couple of GSelector rotation questions from listeners.

A reminder that each RCS product has its own remote capabilities. For example, NexGen has RCS Remote and iPush, Apple apps that users can download from the Apple Store. There are two remote packages for Zetta and NexGen allowing users to maintain the advanced features of each product, without control of the on-air sequencer. Then there’s RCS’ line of 2GO products, Zetta2GO, Selector2GO and Aquira2GO, all of which are simple URLs and can be access anywhere with a secure login, like VPN.

Afterward, we answered a couple of user-driven GSelector rotation questions. Although we won’t get into specific workflows due to time, RCS is maintaining these open question and answer sessions so that clients can follow up with Nate and/or Support to work out any desired workflows. Many of our clients spark the conversation via Facebook Live and then follow up with a direct message.

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery and RCS Academy

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It was a cold, wet Thursday morning for another installment of RCS’s Questions and Answers in a Time of Remote Workflows. Today, we went over Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery, Zetta2GO, and RCS Academy.

Think of Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery like another market, except that it’s in the Cloud! Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery is not Zetta on a virtual machine, rather Zetta written on and for Amazon Web Services. Very similar to Zetta2GO, RCS demoed how to multiple users could organize their layout, add new elements to the Library, Voice Track and control the on-air product. And don’t forget about RCS’s special – any new Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery user will receive a free Zetta2GO license!

We also talked about RCS Academy, featured at http://www.rcsworks.com/rcs-academy/. Currently users can sign up for GSelector Certification to become GSelector Certified! They can add their certification skills to their resume and LinkedIn profiles. The Zetta Certification will be available shortly, allowing users of all experiences to take a self-paced online course to learn how to operate, control and understand the advance features of Zetta radio automation.

RCS has some special guests and surprises lined up for next week. RCS CTO Chip Jellison will join us for a Facebook Live chat, discussing some of the advance features of Zetta, Zetta2GO, Zetta Cloud and the future of radio cloud automation. You won’t want to miss it! Follow us on www.Facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware for times and reminders. Speaking of reminders, the first open Q&A Facebook Live session’s date and time will float during the first half of the week and the second session will be locked in for every Thursday at 11am (NOTE: All times will be Eastern)

Q&A in the Time of Remote Workflows: Zetta2GO

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Thursday kicked off another open Q&A Remote Workflow session. Reminder that RCS will continue to host Facebook Live sessions twice a week for the foreseeable future. If you have any questions or are looking for remote solutions for you and your team, you can always ask us via social media (www.facebook.com/RCSSoundSoftware), live@rcsworks.com or tune into one of our open sessions.

In a very user focused session, we covered a wide array of topics from Zetta2GO, Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery and Selector2GO, just to name a few. Highlights included RCS recommended Zetta2GO configurations. If you’re a Mac user, after some Apple updates, RCS recommends users combine Zetta2GO with Safari. Do you need processing for your Zetta2GO microphone? We would ask, “With all the processing done down the line, how does your voice track sound? If it sounds ok, then Zetta and your station’s processing is doing the heavy lifting. If it doesn’t, perhaps it’s time to upgrade your mic.” We covered Zetta2GO voice track settings (From the iVT module, choose the gear settings icon and then make note of the Audio and Behavior Settings tabs) as well as the Configuration / Global Settings.

After showcasing some real life RCS user remote configurations, we pivoted to Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery, discussing the benefits of a Cloud Radio Automation backup source. Like the 2GO products, by utilizing a URL and not an app, multiple users can access and control the station, including voice tracking and adding new audio. When disaster strikes, enable Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery’s online stream from your phone and you’re back on the air instantly. After the disaster, simply restore your Zetta backup and operate back from your studio. Right now, if new users sign up for Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery, RCS is throwing in a free Zetta2GO license. Remember, a Zetta2GO license acts as a seat. An unlimited number of users can access that seat at any given time, which can be beneficial if you’re practicing social distancing and your team is working remotely. Reach out to your local Sales Representative now to make sure your installation and bonus Zetta2GO seat is next in line to be configured!

Finally, there were some GSelector users who wanted to talk about some new features, like changing GSelector’s theme: Tools / Global Settings / Appearances / Style. Just make sure to close and reopen GSelector so that Windows recognizes the change. Next, there was a discussion on how to properly configure a remote GSelector. If you’re traveling and need multiple devices to quickly access GSelector, then RCS recommends to focus on Selector2GO to schedule, edit the log and/or export to your local automation. If you’re integrated with Zetta, then any live changes are instantly reflected in Zetta2GO or Zetta proper. If you are working from a home office and are utilizing GSelector throughout the day, then RCS recommends that you use the same VPN access to connect your GSelector client to the GSelector Server. For example, if you open GSelector without a VPN connection, GSelector will wait for the proper authorization access (VPN login) and then you can use GSelector in full. For those who need access to multiple markets or GSelector Servers, create a Remote Server Connection: Tools / Servers / Remote Service Hosts and add a description and the IP of the desired GSelector Server. Then GSelector will ask the user which market or GSelector you would like to open and make live changes.

RCS will be live again next Tuesday at 2pm and will be able to answer questions on any RCS product. As we continue these open questions and answers, the first session’s date and time will float during the first half of the week and the second session will be locked in for every Thursday at 11am (NOTE: All times will be Eastern).

The Show Must Go On – Keeping Your Business On Air In An World Of Uncertainty

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Staff illness, unexpected absenteeism, unscheduled studio closures, inability to travel and the potential for transport and infrastructure failure around your business, has the potential to wreak havoc to both your bottom line and your audience’s enjoyment. Whatever comes up for you and your team, RCS has got you covered.

The versatility and power of Zetta has proven instrumental in revamping the output of countless broadcasters worldwide. RCS Zetta and its cloud service, Zetta Cloud, together with remote control partner Zetta2GO and the GSelector scheduling software, create slicker, more popular shows with measurably more impact for listeners and commercial partners alike.

By powering up producers and presenters, the essential ‘human component’ in your operation is free to focus on more innovation and more new programming ideas. Technically complex ear-grabbing audio is made ever easier and greater watchfulness as to the needs of the audience – and the means to make them happy – is right there at your fingertips.

But what happens when unforeseen circumstances come between your talent and your business? As the popular saying goes: The show must go on. But no matter how much you forward plan and pre-program, surely the radio machine stops when your team can’t make it into the studio?

Kitchen radio (station)

Maybe not. Zetta’s power to save the day in such situations is two-fold. Zetta is already world renowned as a powerful enabler of playout, eliminating many of the requirements for a studio and backroom staff. Smaller, slicker radio setups are able to program and produce shows that set the standard for quality broadcasting. Your at-risk headcount is reduced and your overheads are smaller than ever, all while your audience continues to enjoy the world-class programming they know and expect.

But it’s the ability to run Zetta from anywhere that’s the real game-changer in these uncertain times. Envisaged as a solution to recover from technical failure, Zetta Cloud functions equally well when circumstance come between your talent and their ability to get to your studio. With a little forward planning, a simple home studio can become the nerve center of your operation via Zetta Cloud, keeping the wheels (and music) spinning.

Zetta Cloud allows Zetta users to seamlessly store their entire Zetta set-up in the cloud and access it from anywhere. All your stings, jingles and music are uploaded and updated, creating the perfect back up ready to run from anywhere should disaster strike. Schedules and metadata are always intact.

Your computer is your studio

Fire up Zetta from home, sign in and you’ll have the same programming you made at the studio right there with your audience none the wiser as to the behind the scenes. As we face increasing uncertainty around the ability to travel, the power to turn any computer into a Zetta set-up truly allows the show to go on. And when normality resumes, Zetta Cloud will intelligently update all your changes, databases and audio back to the master system.

But what if your on-air talent is stuck in a scenario where broadcasting is impossible?

This is where Zetta2GO can step in. Zetta2GO allows any device with an internet connection to take control of a Zetta Automation/Playout setup. Using a tablet or smartphone, a user can view and fire off Hot Keys for a station. Through a browser you can display your logs while the Segue/Voice Track Editor allows the user to add voice track slots in the log, edit the segue, and fire hot keys from a Hot Keys bank. Don’t let travel bans and infrastructure failure prevent your team from putting on their show.

And if the talent itself is indisposed, Zetta has you covered here too by giving you the ability to forward plan. You can use GSelector’s unprecedented scheduling power to program your music in advance, create extended sections of complex audio in Zetta and sequence it all together. It’s so easy to use that anyone with even just a little Zetta experience can step in and run the show your audience and advertisers were expecting.

Backing up to the cloud

After all, Zetta Cloud has backed up your talent’s pre-programming, so their entire show is on the system and ready to go regardless of who’s actually at the controls. Resequence music on the fly, add more music and stings to replace spoken intros and keep the show moving while your talent concentrates on getting back up to speed.

Selector2GO, meanwhile, delivers the same simple ‘mobile play anywhere’ level of control that Zetta2GO offers, but is tailor made for editing your GSelector playlists. Use Selector2GO to sign in on your mobile or tablet, then tweak or completely revamp your music programming from anywhere. This enables you to cope with changes in shows, absent presenters, or the need to edit/replace scheduled music with something more appropriate in a changing world.

Plus – thanks to Zetta and GSelector’s tried and tested, rock solid reliability – if the absolute worst happens, and you’re truly without even the most basic essentials, a simple pre-prepared music and jingle set can be remotely swung in by any member of staff with a login. This solution can take the place of your scheduled broadcasting until someone on your team is ready to get behind a mic once more.

Remote working solution

Selector2GO is part of the RCS2GO line up that joins Zetta2GO and also includes Aquira2GO giving remote access for your sales team to access your broadcast inventory. Yes, even the essential off air talent in your business have their own remote working RCS solution should teams become dislocated from HQ but need to stay in the loop.

Whatever your needs, whatever the scenario, RCS has the software that lets you make better broadcasts from anywhere. Get in touch with us to find out how easy it is to remotely run your stations with RCS today.

RCS2GO Helping Broadcasters All Over The World Work From Home

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Thanks for sharing your work from home stories!  Lou Nash @Lou_Nash, Eloise Carr @Eloise_C, Carlos @carlosradioguy, Miri Green @Miri_Green and Paul Sylvester @paulsylvester75