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What’s new for 2.17.2

The list of all innovations in the Digispot II generation 2.17 system is available on the page and on the Redmine technical support portal.

Licensing system is expanding

Now you can use virtual licenses without a physical key. The same license files can be used at different workstations in a single local network of the complex.

When the application starts, the Digispot II system have information about which workplace has become active. 

The unified control system allows you to manage workstations remotely using the license manager:

  • to change the way of connecting a workplace according to the type of license (personal/competing);
  • to stop the running application;
  • to transfer the right to connect under a competing license (see the definition of "Сompetitive Licenses" below).

With the new licensing system, you can:

  • install any number of copies of the program, but to pay only for those licenses that are actually used at a time;
  • view information on all available licenses for each workplace;
  • monitor running or disabled specific Digispot II applications at a specific workstation.

The following terms have been introduced to implement the above opportunities:

"Role" - a set of available functions and configurations in the system.

"Personal licenses" - a license assigned to a specific user and linked to his role, thereby the employee can always log in;

"Competitive licenses" - a license assigned to a group of users where the same role and the maximum number of simultaneous connections are specified.

Fault tolerance of the system in case of a security key failure

If the license key fails, running Digispot II applications will continue to work without losing functionality. The new feature concerns the critical workstations of the radio station (broadcast stations, replicators, etc.). You can specify the operating time in the settings, by default - 2 days.

It allows:

  • to avoid failure in broadcasting;
  • to give a delay to replace the license key.

New functions and improved ergonomics of BCS Editor

With new version of BCS Editor, you can:

  • edit directly in the process of recording by Audiologger. The recorded sound will continuously appear at the end of the audio track;
  • save quickly the selected fragment of the project in the Media DB, including when the recording hasn't yet been completed;
  • place the playback cursor in one click anywhere on the track;
  • select the editable area with the right mouse button;
  • select color display themes for a specific workplace;
  • select the modes of dragging segments through the toolbar and using the hot keys: simple (Ctrl+1), with tail (Ctrl +2, all segments located further on the track), with tails on all tracks (Ctrl+3, all segments located further on any track), sorting (Ctrl+4, sorting segments);
  • use a group of quick commands to control copying (Ctrl+Insert), deleting (Delete), pasting (Shift+Insert), etc. in different modes;
  • cancel previous operations by pressing Ctrl+Z;
  • edit the level of the selected fragment by dragging the axis of the track vertically;
  • track the gain value in the markup window, when the nodal points of the rubber thread are displaced;
  • use the TimeStretch option when saving files like "mp3" or "wav";
  • choose the position of the level indicator to the right or left of the tracks, or even hide it;
  • indicate the position of timecode markers directly from the keyboard;
  • receive a warning when trying to close the application without saving the rubber thread, thus not losing all previously applied edits.

Saving all user settings when restarting the application

The application remembers all previously set personal settings: window sizes, font sizes, colors, etc. The location of bookmarks, tabs, floating windows is saved automatically, immediately after making changes, which allows the user to open the application in the same form when restarting.

Multiple improvements in the MediaPlanner

The "Program Guide" module* has been added. It's a tool working with the new "Broadcasts" entity** and it is intended for the Program Director or Chief Editor of a radio station. The module serves to form a program grid in conjunction with broadcasting, convenient for planning individual issues for specific dates and times, with specific presenters and guests. The service allows you to focus on the programs themselves and the overall picture of the broadcast, without exploring into technical details: design, block exit conditions, etc.

* Available from version 2.17.2 and is in active development.
** Available from version 2.17.0.

In addition to the volume discount or margin that applies to the entire media plan, the user can create their own spot discount or margin for a particular spot. Once created, they can be applied, including by linking to a counterparty, and edited in the corresponding table in the main application window.

With new version features you can:

  • Change quickly the main parameters in a special window "Media plan card" without opening the entire "heavy" media plan for editing.
  • Choose type, commercial schedule, tariff scale, validity period, name, responsible manager, etc.
  • Search for contractors by legal entities, not only from the general list of choice, but also in any form, noting in the data for the search in the text box;
  • Use a flexible system of naming media plans, choosing additional information in the template: year, month, counterparty, etc .;
  • Be sure that all changes you make will not be lost if you accidentally close the media plan, because the system will display a warning window "Changes will not be saved in the media plan, are you sure?";
  • Use an additional interval filter to view counterparties, displaying only those who had media plans in the selected time period;
  • Track the process of generating the report; throughout the whole process an information window appears on the screen with the message: "Creating a media plan report";
  • Open the application in the same form after restarting, as the previously selected mode is automatically remembered;
  • Track up to a second the total runtime of all posted spots in an open media plan. This information is available on the tab "Discounts" - "Calculation of cost";
  • Track conflicts in the cells of the media plan’s canvas, if in the specified interval there are those days in which the program binding differs from the selected one — the spot will be inactive and cross out;
  • Select the accuracy of rounding the cost (to kopeks), indicating in the settings the required number of decimal places (from 0 to 2);
  • Limit the maximum number of spots with a specific value of a user attribute in a block. Thus, for example, to limit sponsorship in the block, indicating that there can be only one sponsor;
  • Use the manual method of moving spots if the program cannot find a suitable block for the spot after changing the grid. You just need to drag the necessary spot with the mouse from the time block, which will be created automatically when you open the media plan;
  • Choose a convenient display period for the media plan in the filters: "Manual" - user interval; "Media plan" - media plan interval (as when the window was opened), "1 week" - display interval for 1 week, scroll over 3 days, "2 weeks" - interval 2 weeks, scroll over 1 week, 4 weeks - interval 4 weeks, scroll over 2 weeks;
  • Change the payment method and apply it “by default” directly in the main application settings;
  • Manage a conflict of inconsistency if the spot and block are related with different programs. You can set the method for resolving the conflict in the general settings by selecting the necessary option from the proposed ones: "Do not allow" "To allow and initiate a conflict"; "To admit without conflict";
  • Manage conflict when adding a spot with duplicate positioning. You can set the method for resolving the conflict in the general settings by selecting the necessary option from the proposed ones: "Do not allow", "Allow and initiate conflict".

Commercial schedule

  • Move a group of spots between blocks immediately, including, outside the visible area of ​​the window of the commercial schedule. To move, you need to hold down the Ctrl key;
  • Open the commercial schedule in the same form after a restart (the set window size is remembered);
  • Link cell background color and spot attribute;
  • Separate visually the blocks by the clock in the window of the commercial schedule, which allows do not get lost when editing a schedule with a large number of spots;
  • Display the value of any spot attributes at the user's discretion in the commercial schedule. All information that is necessary for the final layout will be displayed under the name of the spot in the same window;
  • Track the level of block filling with commercial using the fill indicator. The color of the indicator will change as it fills - from green to red;
  • View all the basic information about the spot through a pop-up window: name, duration, counterparty, manager, etc. To do this, you just need to move the mouse cursor over the spot.

Tariff scale

  • Make changes to the tariff scale directly at the time of copying, for example: change the type;
  • Copy tariff scales between networks;
  • Use different tariff scales in a multilocal media plan, linking them not only to the grid, but also to the schedule. You can also connect the default tariff scale to the schedule;
  • Hide irrelevant tariff scales from the general list of tariff scales using the "Hide/show tariff scales" button on the toolbar.

Spots

  • Indicate in the window for relocating spots the period for which this relocation is performed;
  • Select the type of user spot when creating it and set up individual tariffication for it;
  • Set the cost of bonus spot by setting the required discount. By default, bonus spot is free, the discount is 100%;
  • Manage conflict in duplicate positioning of spots, choose a program behavior model: "Do not allow", "Allow and initiate conflict", "Allow without conflict";
  • Place the rental again in accordance with any previously established block type: "Commercial", "News", "Music", "Weather", "Undefined".

Internet Streaming: Support for new formats, multi-stream broadcasting and etc

The updated module of the Internet broadcasting Digispot II allows:

  • Broadcast through one audio device several streams in different formats: encoding, sampling rate, bit rate;
  • Use AAC format;
  • Apply built-in software audio processing (option "Broadcast Audio processor");
  • Automatically detect internet stream types;
  • Send metadata to IceCast in UTF-8 encoding;
  • Automatically reconnect to the server when the signal is lost;
  • Receive Internet streams with sampling rate recovery and re-buffering;
  • Use the sampling rate not from the stream frames, but from the information received from the broadcast server when establishing a connection;
  • Receive and send multiple streams with v2 support in Shoutcast.

Requesting technical support directly from the Digispot II app

In a single window ("Help" - "Support requests"), you can describe a problem or request, collect and attach the necessary data: debug logs, schedule editing logs, schedules themselves, dumps, etc. In this case, the history of all requests* is saved and displayed in a single list, which can be annotated and edited.

* Registration required on the Digispot II technical support website.

Integration with the G-Selector music rotator

One-way automatic synchronization of the schedule and database elements from G-Selector to Digispot II has been implemented, it is performed in the background. The module operates on the Digispot Web platform.

Integration with MusicMaster rotator

Two-way automatic synchronization is available between Digispot II schedule, elements of Media DB and MusicMaster, it runs in the background. Changes will be applied regardless of which application they were made in. The module operates on the Digispot Web platform.

Integration with the SAYMON technical monitoring system

The system allows real-time monitoring of running components and processes of the Digispot II software. Monitoring makes it possible to:

  • Monitor the status of Digispot II applications: activity, current state of components, load, availability of a connection, data transfer, etc .;
  • Save recorded data for a long period of time (~5 years);
  • Track and analyze changes in the IT-infrastructure of the complex using built-in visualization tools and analytics systems;
  • Automate the launch of external applications and scripts according to specified conditions;
  • Configure notification of state changes and emergencies via various message delivery channels: Telegram, email, sms, etc.

Integration with Creatio CRM system

The module serves for automatic data synchronization from the Creatio CRM system to the Digispot II Mediaplaner and back. Information about contractors is transferred from the CRM system to the Mediaplaner, information about media plans linked to contractors is transferred from the Mediaplaner to Creatio: the number of spots, cost, information about discounts, etc.

Integration with ad aggregators AdOne* and GetRadio**

You can set up some of your ad time for sale through AdOne and GetRadio ad platforms. The set of available networks, schedules and tariff scales is configured separately for each site. Joint sale of advertising inventory is possible: through the radio station and the selected aggregator, while the advertising material is approved and the campaign is coordinated by the radio station itself. Through the web interface of the platforms, the advertiser can see the availability of free advertising time in the broadcast network, calculate the cost, download audio, book a time, form orders, track status changes, and upload information about actual outputs. This approach allows you to simplify and automate the main processes.

* AdOne - two-way synchronization between AdOne cloud and Digispot II Media DB with spot accuracy. All work is done in the cloud of the advertising platform, where spots and commercial schedule are synchronized.

** GetRadio - two-way synchronization between GetRadio cloud and Digispot II Mediaplaner. All media plans are stored on the radio station's server, which provides for the preservation of all the usual processes of the traffic manager with all the advantages of deep integration with the Digispot II automation system.

Visualization system* based on vMix software video mixer**

The control panel has become more intuitive, additional buttons have appeared to facilitate control:

  • "Broadcast control": Internet broadcasting, broadcast recording, emergency screensaver;
  • "CG Control": subtitles, scene graphics;

The microphone activity status is displayed directly on the signal source button in the interface.

Application settings have become easier:

  • All parameters have been moved to a single menu (Visual Radio - Menu - Visual radio settings)
  • In the "Scenes" menu, there is an additional ability to customize graphics layers.

You can turn on/off Internet broadcasting and broadcast recording not only manually, but also automatically according to various conditions and events in the DJin broadcast schedule: block types, element types, etc.

* Hardware and software complex based on cameras and vMix application provides continuous automatic transmission of video programs from the radio station's on-air studio; the viewer has a feeling that there are working operators and a director in their real absence.

** vMix is a multifunctional modern video mixer that allows you to easily compose high-definition video from multiple sources and send it over video and IP channels.

Settings for importing a schedule from a text file are expanded

The block template can be used when importing from a text file, the block is immediately created with all the specified properties.

Restrictions on the use of files with different sampling rates are removed

All applications support the sharing of files with different sampling rates, which avoids the additional process of converting files for their use in the schedule and in the Media DB.

New icon design for services and applications

Introduced a consistent style of icons and welcome screens for software applications.

Access rights settings

Now it is possible to automatically distribute the rights to access the folders in which the Digispot II programs are installed.

TeamViewer client has been updated

For technical support, TeamViewer version 9 is used, the current version can be downloaded here.

New options to applications

SJM:

  • Use multi-channel playback;
  • Set the BMP value and the allowed dimension to the group of Media DB elements;
  • Change the position of the icon and text on the button using the mouse.

R-News:

  • Use UNDO/REDO commands (Ctrl+Z/Ctrl +Y) in the News Text Editor;
  • Carry out a quick search in the news feed using modified custom filters (presets);
  • Adjust the display height of the audio element in Moderator Screen and News Text Editor;
  • Work with lists in News Text Editor;
  • Monitor the source of material in the news feed by the short name of the category specified by the user.

Media DB:

  • Automatically export items according to specified parameters and rules, placing the item in a special category (as for podcasts). After the export is completed, the category is cleared (setting is carried out using the task manager);
  • Specify the expiration date and the date for deleting items (option "Task Manager")


DDB agent:

  • Transfer only metadata of elements (element cards) from the main Database to other radio stations located in the same local network. This allows you to avoid duplicate content in storages (specified in the connection settings on the receiving side - "Request media files" - "No");

MAG:

  • Generate schedules out of order (for any date): a dialog box appears with warnings, if there is already a schedule for the selected date, the generation can be canceled.

 

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