The HeartSong Radio package is actually two formats in one. You can opt to use the "Light" or "Standard" Adult Contemporary program logs. Both use the same core library. Light AC adds some softer contemporary songs. Standard AC is straight-down-the-middle Adult Contemporary with just a bit of an edge.
HeartSong Radio is available for existing TuneTracker customers, and can also be ordered pre-installed on our TuneTracker "Station-in-a-Box" systems. When delivered customized and pre-installed, it's possible to literally go on the air with the format the day you receive your system.
Gateway 97.8 is the local community radio station for the Basildon and East Thurrock areas of South Essex, providing news, sport and information to the local population. It reflects the interests, tastes, backgrounds, cares and concerns of local communities. It aims to introduce new ideas and new music and keep a caring and critical eye on the activities of politicians, local and national. Gateway also offers accredited media courses and 24 students have passed level 1 or level 2, equivalent to a GCSE.
Congrats to Yvonne, Richard, and the entire staff at Gateway for their excellent community service work!
This capability allows you to view your system from the road, do work on it, even put yourself on the air remotely depending on the method you are using to do your remote broadcast.
Using multi-touch "finger gestures," you can view the interface fullscreen, zoom in, pan about, and perform clicks by touching the screen.
With the iPad interface, which runs the same apps as the iPhone and iPod Touch on a larger screen, it may even be practical to engineer your own ballgame broadcast or remote DJ show.
Included is a 22-minute-long video which explains a great deal about what the system can do in automated, live, and live-assist environments, and introduces a number of available accessory products.
In addition, there are 11 brief videos that cover specific features, demonstrating how to use them, and explaining some of the ways they can be customized for each radio station's needs.
Recognizing that many of our current stations are going to want to move to 4.0, TuneTracker Systems has set special upgrade pricing for those with previous versions of Command Center.
TuneTracker Systems has introduced AirWear, a selection of clothing and accessories that let TuneTracker users show their pride. These "airable wearables" include t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other tops for men, women, and children, barbecue aprons, and other fun, TuneTracker-customized gear like mousepads, coasters, and cutting boards.
Every product boldly declares, "I OWN THE AIR," accompanied by a microphone and the TuneTracker Systems logo. A large variety of sizes are offered, in a rainbow of colors.
You can buy individual items for yourself, or purchase them in larger quantities at a discount for your entire staff.
Radio stations that have the need to do background recordings of audio feeds from a variety of different input sources have a new friend in TimeTracker 2, our new-and-improved time-shift, scheduled recorder.
Switcher Control
A desirable new feature in our TimeTracker scheduled recording software is the ability to specify different switcher inputs for various scheduled recordings. Pull news feeds from one input. Grab commentaries from another. Sports from yet-another. When used with one of our Command Center switcher packages, up to 16 different inputs can be routed to any of up to four different outputs for recording.
Reboot Recovery
Also new in TimeTracker 2 is the crucial option allowing it to auto-launch after a power outage or other problem.
Set and Forget
Enhanced "Default" options make every new recording event capable of using a set of user-configured defaults for switcher input and output as well as the sound card used, saving time and effort.
Got Multiple Cards? User Multiple Switcher Outputs!
While most stations' needs can be taken care of by assigning a single switcher output as the audio source you will send to your computer for recording, you're not limited to that. If you want to be able to take advantage of more than one output on your switcher when recording feeds, and you have multiple sound cards in your computer, you can specify that one switcher output goes to one card, while another output goes to a different card. You can also use the multi-card option to wire-in a spare audio channel that is not connected to your switcher.
3.3, relaying remote Internet stream
(click to enlarge)
It started out as a simple maintenance release with a few new features, but by the time it made it out the door, Command Center 3.3 had evolved into a very significant upgrade. Command Center 3.3 contains startling speedups. Almost everything happens instantaneously now, even loading-in a new program log. The stability is world class. New features include:
"Expires" attribute lets Command Center skip any audio file that is expired
Artist and Title are displayed on separate lines, much easier to read, more room for both
New configurable button mode for instant relaying of a stream or audio file from the web (each configurable button can now perform one of of six different functions)
Label field added to the syntax for Relay-For, so Command Center displays custom data onscreen about the stream or file being relayed
Instant log loading (no waiting for the log to load after double-clicking on it)
No longer a need to go to queue to reload current day's log. Just hit CTRL-R
Exactly correct place found when program log is loaded or reloaded
"Last Played" attribute shows the last time an item played
Expanded "Info" feature displays a whole profile of data (Artist, Title, Genre, Length, more) in addition to the info data you have specifically added for that song
GetPlay now plays, not only a specific correct file for a specific date, but even for a specific hour of the day! Lots less log preparation for you to do, especially at stations that voice-track.
Displayed running times continue into the next-day's program log
Clicking Next-to-Play's gold Start button allows current song to keep playing rather than chopping it off, so you can fade it down as you wish
- Delay gone when switching to collapsed log view and back to full view...very fast now!
Live On and Live Off events are logged to output log
Originally planned as an internal upgrade for current users, it became clear as we neared release that this version needs to be the latest-greatest version sold publically as well, so all our systems are now shipping with it.
The new $250 Update365 plan entitles the purchaser to a full year of routine upgrades to their Command Center installation, including any major releases that occur during that time. Since a major upgrade normally goes for $199, the extra cost to be involved in the plan is only about $50. The benefit is in not having to wait for up to a year to see features that are already added and ready for use.
The plan can be ordered directly from the Update365 page or by calling TuneTracker Systems directly at 920-273-0543.
TuneBridge, which costs $99.95, creates a column-separated database that can not only be used for integration into music scheduling programs, but also loaded into a spreadsheet or database program to allow detailed study of the contents of your library. Know at a glance how much of your library is of a certain Genre or Length, or other specific criteria. Generate an unlimited number of unique, customized charts, graphs, and reports using the tools provided in your spreadsheet or database program. Use a commercial suite like Microsoft Office, or one of the excellent free resources such as OpenOffice, or the cool online Zoho database tool. Zoho can be used right from your TuneTracker computer using the Firefox web browser!
---12-3-07---
Command Center "3.2 Christmas" Released!
Today, December 3, 2007, TuneTracker Systems announces the release of a significantly-upgraded version of TuneTracker Command Center, equipped with enhanced touchscreen capabilities and exciting new features for use during both live DJ shows and automated programming.
3.2 Showing Crossfader (click to enlarge)
Codenamed, "Christmas," Command Center 3.2 upgrades are being offered bundled with a compatible sound card for $239.95 (for use with the new Preview feature), or as software-only for $199. Special prices for those upgrading from pre-Command Center versions of TuneTracker are also available. See the new 3.2 Info Page for much more on all the new features, which are also described briefly below.
Among the new features in "Christmas" are several that have been requested frequently by our stations. "Preview" lets you audition an audio file without putting it on the air, by playing it through a second sound card. Just drop any audio event listed in your program log onto the Preview button to listen to it off-air. Command Center 3.2 adds a slick new manual "Crossfade" function that lets DJs do artistic transitions from one song to the next (see illustration). Here's is a list with those features and the others in 3.2:
Preview allows auditioning of tracks off-air through a second sound card
Crossfader lets DJs do silky-smooth, "artistic" song transitions (see picture above)
Manual Volume Boost (for quiet tracks).
Volume Presetting (for simpler talkovers when the event begins playing).
New Trim Attributes lets you remove silences from the front and back of existing tracks.
AAC/MP4/M4a file format support.
Overlay (with ducking) allows stations to schedule IDs, top of the hour tones, etc., to play over the top of whatever else is already playing.
Real-Time Awareness, for millisecond-level accuracy when rejoining the program log during reboot recovery.
Force-Exact (shift-spacebar) forces Command Center to the exactly correct event in the program log by using Shift-Spacebar.
CTRL-R Log Reloading (no need to open the queue to reload the log).
Silence Immunity for the automated "Pause" feature, so the silence-sensor need not be turned off.
F1 brings up the User's Guide.
ELO Touchscreen Support - We now support and distribute the popular ELO brand of touchscreens.
Improved Touchscreen Behaviors through enhanced features for our touchscreen stations.
Click-Hold/Touch-Hold on any song, to display information about that song
Click-Hold/Touch-Hold to enlarge and shrink the scrolling textbox
Performance-enhancing tweaks make Command Center run better than ever.
---06-01-07---
TuneTracker Systems
Releases 3.1 Upgrade and New Bundled Systems
Click the graphic above for a FULL VIEW of the interface.
TuneTracker Systems is pleased to announce the release of an exciting "3.1" upgrade of Command Center radio automation software, and an entire line of powerful new station-in-a-box computer systems.
Command Center 3.1 has an elegant new "look," but that's just the beginning. A whole list of new features and improvements make Command Center 3.1 the best product we have ever offered. Priced at $699, Command Center 3.1 has features normally found only in software costing thousands more, and stability unrivaled at any price. Current Command Center owners can upgrade to 3.1 for $199. If your current Command Center license was purchased in May of 2007, the upgrade is free. See the new 3.1 Info Page or visit our Downloads page to view a six minute video covering some of the new features found in Command Center 3.1
NEW LINE OF COMPLETE SYSTEMS
Simultaneously, TuneTracker Systems has released a whole new line of complete broadcast packages built around Command Center 3.1. TuneTracker Systems' elegant new "TouchCaster" computers include a cool-running, tweaked-out computer, a responsive touchscreen, and enough storage capacity for 40,000 songs (160,000 minutes in MP3 format).
With its hands-on DJ interface and Command Center's deep, broad automation feature set, the TouchCaster line is the perfect choice for stations that do need to both live and automated programming. All our computers come with a full, one-year parts and labor warranty.
A second line of new computer systems, the ChannelCaster series, comes with Broadcast Tools switchers. Systems are available with switcher capacities of four, eight, and sixteen stereo inputs, to accommodate the needs of stations of all sizes. New satellite-friendly automation features in Command Center allow stations to broadcast satellite music and talk programming. There is also an updated version of our classic "Station-in-a-Box," now called the Command Center 80.
Included in most packages are free FastTracker Video Learning Series DVDs, and all the new packages include the blindingly-fast Lightning request finder for use during live shows, or when doing show prep.
Our complete line of accessory products is available for the new bundled systems, including the TuneBacker hard drive backup system, TT Anywhere remote administration software, TunePrepper music ripping and prepping software, a TempAnnounce package, TimeTracker background recording software, Natural Log traffic software, and others.
For details or to order, call 920-273-0543
---02-07-07---
Satellite Music Formats Now Supported
TuneTracker Command Center has swung open an exciting new door. We can now fully automate satellite music formats!
While we have had the ability to respond to relay triggers to take local breaks, allowing Command Center to automate talk shows, sports shows, etc., now we can also respond to "magic call-style" tones that require the playback of the local call letters over the ramp of a song, in the same voice as the DJ at the satellite end.
Our new HotTrack feature is unique in that it takes advantage of the powerful BeOS operating system's database-like file system to look up and rotate through the required audio tracks. This lets the system do all the work! If it's the time of day for Joe Smith to dj, you just indicate that in your program log, and the Joe Smith tracks are rotated automatically, each time call letters with his voice are required. The same can be done with slogans, jingles, custom PSAs, and any other customized announcements supplied by your satellite music provider.
---12-11-06---
Touchscreen Development Underway
We anticipate the availability of touchscreen-based TuneTracker systems by the end of the first quarter of 2006. Designed to work with TouchEasy monitors, our touchscreen systems will allow the DJ to start audio events by simply touching the large square buttons on the TuneTracker Command Center interface. The user will be able to flip through pages of configurable hotbuttons to play audio events, fire switcher events, and display scripts. Volumes will be adjustable using a finger-slide. You will also be able to rearrange audio events by dragging them up and down within the visible program log list view.
---11-22-06---
Command Center Now Does Satellite Automation!
TuneTracker Systems is pleased to announce that our Command Center automation software now interfaces with Broadcast Tools switcher hardware, allowing you to select from among multiple audio sources and relay them to the output of your choice, as well as respond to relay closures sent by satellite receivers. As a result, you can now do satellite automation with Command Center for the first time!
A feature our users have been clamouring for is the ability to use TuneTracker with external switcher devices, to allow their TuneTracker System to select from among multiple audio input sources, and facilitate the broadcast of network programming that requires responses to relay closures. We're happy to report that we are well on our way to providing that feature.
Our tests show TuneTracker Command Center now successfully controls the audio input and output routing of the highly-popular Broadcast Tools line of switchers, via a new, built-in feature we call "ToneTracker." The first release of Command Center with ToneTracker will be useful for selecting audio inputs and routing them to specified outputs. Immediately after its initial release, we will begin work on the relay send-and-receive part of our interfacing with Broadcast Tools switchers. Once that functionality is there, and stable, all of our current ToneTracker licensees will receive a free upgrade.
Starting with the very first release of Command Center with ToneTracker, each of Command Center's unique, customizable control buttons will have a third, exciting capability. In addition to their current abilities to play an audio file as a hot track, or display a script in the scrolling textbox, they'll also be configurable to put an audio source on the air via the switcher box. This new switcher function will make it possible to manually put a range of audio input sources on the air such as networks, phone lines, Marti broadcasts, control boards/mixers, and other studios such as the newsroom or the "weather center" from the television station across the hall. All user-configurable buttons, including those along the right side in the ButtonPad area, as well as the unlimited number of MyShow buttons across the bottom of the TuneTracker interface, will be switcher-capable.
In addition to manual control, Command Center will also be able to control switcher channels automatically; putting specific audio audio sources on the air at specific times.
Switcher interfacing will be sold as a bundled product that includes both the ToneTracker license and your choice of one of several Broadcast Tools switchers. Barring the unforeseen, it should be out before the end of the year.
---10-06-06---
New Demo DVD Available
Our video department has just released an exciting new video DVD demonstrating TuneTracker Command Center in-depth, explaining many of its features, detailing the components included in the system, and also covering the available optional components.
Among the items covered on the DVD:
Overview of the system and components
Detailed information about the Command Center interface
Command Center's "over-the-top" help and support system
Benefits of the operating system
Lots more
You can play it on standard DVD players through a television set, or on any computer equipped with the ability to play DVDs.
If you have a serious interest in TuneTracker Command Center, we encourage you to call and request a copy and we'll rush one out to you.
920-273-0543
---09-23-06---
Max is Back
TuneTracker Systems would like to welcome back "Max," our friendly support robot! Max has been on vacation in Jamaica, where he got the best tan a robot is capable of. Now, Max's humorous assistance, sometimes actually helpful, is once again available on his own personal web page. He's one of the world's smartest artificial intelligence systems, based on A.L.I.C.E. technology. Is he perfect? Well, who of us is, after all? But he can indeed tell you many things about the TuneTracker System.
Not a replacement for real people, of course, so also feel free to call our pre-sales support line at 920-273-0543 to talk to someone with a heartbeat.
---07-31-06---
"Heart-Healthy" Radio Automation
When we started developing TuneTracker, our goal from day one was to make a radio automation system that would operate reliably, and stress-free. And everybody knows reducing stress is good for the heart. Did we plan specifically on TuneTracker being "heart healthy?" Well, no. But if you ask TuneTracker broadcaster Lonnie Hutto, he'll tell you it might just be a fringe benefit.
Lonnie Hutto was a broadcast engineer for decades before a heart attack laid him low. So when this seasoned radio veteran got back into the saddle to do broadcasting again, he knew that this time, it had to be different. "I told my wife I was going make a stress-free radio station," he told us, "so that if we wanted to go out for a weekend or we wanted to go out to eat, or there was a function we wanted to go to that was a couple days away, or wanted to go on vacation for a week, we could do it.
"I tried TuneTracker and was very, very satisfied with the fact that it was so stable. It has turned out to be a tremendous buy for the money. It has given us the freedom to operate a radio station that has quality, and the selectivity of programming that you'd want to give to the audience."
Occasionally, software companies complete a set of nice "little" improvements or bug fixes and release a "point release" upgrade, often at no charge. We have decided to take a different tack with TuneTracker. Our "point releases" are going to contain significant improvements, and we're going to charge a small fee for them; just a fraction of what's charged when a major upgrade is released. By charging a small fee for the point release upgrades, we can get powerful new features into your hands more quickly and regularly, so you're always running the latest-greatest version.
Starting August 1st, 2006, whenever we put out a point release, we will charge a small fee for the upgrade (for example, when the first one comes out, it'll be $39.95), assuring it's always more than than worth the fee in terms of increased functionality and performance. We will announce point releases here on our news page, and also through our e-mail QuickTips newsletter.
Those who are signed up for a year of Gold Plan technical support will have access to our point releases at no charge. The cost for a year of Gold Plan support, including telephone support, is $600 per year ($50 per month).
For more information, call TuneTracker Systems at 920-273-0543.
---07-12-06---
Thrilled New Command Center Owner
After hearing from several members of the staff of WRSG in West Virginia who said they love their new TuneTracker System, we asked if we could record their comments today. An excerpt follows, and the full comment from Greg Goodfellow of WRSG is also available as an audio file, also just below.
"The previous system that we had...promised much and delivered next to nothing. After several years of frustration, we knew we had to do something. We stumbled upon TuneTracker and traveled to (a nearby station to see their TuneTracker operation, and)...walked away convinced that this is what we needed... We ordered the system, we received it very quickly, and we fell in love with it. It's very easy to use. It's solid as a rock. And (TuneTracker Systems) could not be more kind and generous with their time and expertise.
Listeners around the world got a chance to hear first-hand from TuneTracker Systems' Dane Scott about the exciting ways TuneTracker Command Center can be used to create professional-sounding podcasts. Dane spoke with Dave Graveline on the Into Tomorrow weekly technology show on Sunday June 9th. Here's the interview!
Check out a flash video made by TuneTracker podcaster Glenn Garnes of Optimum Health Club, who demonstrates a sophisticated home-based setup he has devised for using TuneTracker Command Center™ to engineer his podcasts.
---06-14-06---
Command Center Training DVD Released
Learning to use TuneTracker Command Center™ just got even easier! TuneTracker Systems has just released a FastTracker Video Learning Series CD that teaches you how to use, and get the most from, the Command Center program. The CD, which you can play on any computer, takes you through every part of the interface, one control at a time, explaining everything in a calm, clear, conversational way you'll find pleasing and informative. Learn how to run a show, custom-configure buttons, set preferences, access help information, and much more.
The cost of the CD is $19.95, including shipping in the continental U.S. (add $4.50 for international shipments). To order, call 920-273-0543.
---06-02-06---
A Big Surprise in the TuneTracker Command Center™ Release
While many of the features in TuneTracker Command Center™ have been known for quite some time among those who participated in the TT3 Early Adopter's Program, a major product upgrade has been quietly under development, so we could surprise you when the the Command Center suite was released. And so now, today, we're excited to announce a major upgrade to TuneStacker™, the powerful music selection software we include in TuneTracker Command Center.
INTRODUCING TUNESTACKER 3™
TuneStacker 3™ adds amazing new capabilities that meet, and in some cases exceed, those of some of the best, most-costly music selection programs on the market.
In addition to all the standard methods of audio file retrieval TuneStacker has done in the past, such as random, rotate, play, playfolder, and break, TuneStacker 3™ busts loose with a radical new "multi-attribute" approach that lets you find songs based on wildly creative criteria.
Let's give you an example. Imagine you're operating a jazz station where, leading out of news at the top of the hour, there's a five song sweep of music, and you want to tightly control the style and content of the songs that TuneStacker selects. And you're very, very, particular! So here are criteria you've decided to use:
Song 1: Uptempo Modern Jazz rated Evenings Only
Song 2: Medium Tempo Bebop Jazz from the Late 50s
Song 3: Uptempo 1940s Big Band Jazz rated for use Anytime
Song 4: Slow Female Torchsong Jazz
Song 5: Progressive Jazz of any Tempo rated for Evenings and Overnights
DMCA Compliant
These days, if you want to broadcast over the Internet, and wish to avoid the hassle of getting clearance from every record producer, you need to meet the criteria set forth in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The good news is that, in TuneStacker 3™, you can meet DMCA requirements with ease. TuneStacker's ingenious ProximityGuard™ feature protects against playing the same Artist or Album content too often.
Actually, DMCA compliance is just a nice side-effect of ProximityGuard™. It's primary purpose is to please listeners, not legislators. As you can see in the example graphic, you can stack up to five dependable layers of proximity protection, for the ultimate in fresh-picked music.
TuneStacker 3™ also adds several other exciting features:
Wildcard searching
Search by partial wordings. If you have marked the Genre of a song as 70sMetalRock, you can use various wordings in your master logs to find the song using "70sMetalRock," "70s," "Metal," or "Rock." So you can be assured that, whether you'd doing a "70s Weekend," "MetalMania Monday," or "Friday Night Rock Block," a wildcard-style search will allow the song to be included in your playlist
In Case You'll Forgive Me...
In earlier versions of TuneStacker™, you had to "get it right" when it comes to upper and lower case letters. In TuneStacker 3, yOu CaN mIx iT Up or GOoF iT uP and TuneStacker will graciously make allowances for it.
May I Quote You?
In TuneStacker 3, for the first time, it's possible to search for songs based on phrases rather than just words. So TuneStacker™ can find songs by, for example, the Album "Dark Side of the Moon," or the Comment "Don't Use Very Often."
When you consider the cost of the other really powerful music selection products out there, it's clear that Command Center's bundled TuneStacker 3™ program alone justifies the cost of the Command Center suite. You'll love its clear, uncluttered interface, straight-forward song-selection options, and most importantly, the unlimited control you have over your station's music mix.
Update365 Plan Announced
TuneTracker Systems Announces Release of "TuneBridge"
---12-3-07---
NEW LINE OF COMPLETE SYSTEMS
include a cool-running, tweaked-out computer, a responsive touchscreen, and enough storage capacity for 40,000 songs (160,000 minutes in MP3 format).
A second line of new computer systems, the ChannelCaster series, comes with Broadcast Tools switchers. Systems are available with switcher capacities of four, eight, and sixteen stereo inputs, to accommodate the needs of stations of all sizes. New satellite-friendly automation features in Command Center allow stations to broadcast satellite music and talk programming. There is also an updated version of our classic "Station-in-a-Box," now called the Command Center 80.
The first release of Command Center with ToneTracker will be useful for selecting audio inputs and routing them to specified outputs. Immediately after its initial release, we will begin work on the relay send-and-receive part of our interfacing with Broadcast Tools switchers. Once that functionality is there, and stable, all of our current ToneTracker licensees will receive a free upgrade.
Starting with the very first release of Command Center with ToneTracker, each of Command Center's unique, customizable control buttons will have a third, exciting capability. In addition to their current abilities to play an audio file as a hot track, or display a script in the scrolling textbox, they'll also be configurable to put an audio source on the air via the switcher box. This new switcher function will make it possible to manually put a range of audio input sources on the air such as networks, phone lines, Marti broadcasts, control boards/mixers, and other studios such as the newsroom or the "weather center" from the television station across the hall. All user-configurable buttons, including those along the right side in the ButtonPad area, as well as the unlimited number of MyShow buttons across the bottom of the TuneTracker interface, will be switcher-capable.
Let's give you an example. Imagine you're operating a jazz station where, leading out of news at the top of the hour, there's a five song sweep of music, and you want to tightly control the style and content of the songs that TuneStacker selects. And you're very, very, particular! So here are criteria you've decided to use: