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Meridian is the successor to MyLibrary and includes all of the features that were offered and, subject to licence, also incorporates a powerful scheduling package for radio broadcasters both large and small.  Utilizing a database system to enable multiple users (and stations) to add, edit and schedule - changes made to songs in your "Hits" station are instantly shown in your "Oldies" database.

Or, you can simply load files/folders manually and use it to tag your own music collection - you don't have to use the database.  It's entirely up to you.

Full screenshots : Meridian Styles ... Meridian Categories

All the features of MyLibrary will be available: CSV/M3U import/export, mass tagging of APE/ID3 file tags and setting of song attributes such as Album, Year, EndType, ISRC plus CueIn, Intro, Hook and Segue points.  For professional users, a Standard or Pro licence will give you a range of extra features that allow you to interface Meridian to a variety of playout systems: For example, you can load up your songs into Meridian, tag them, set cue points and assign cart numbers - then export to your playout systems import format (EncoDAD DropBox, Myriad Importer to name 2).  You can also save your WAV files with the standard CartChunk format.  You will also be able to load your EncoDAD library direct into Meridian for editing of details (including cue points).

All users of MyLibrary will be given a free Meridian licence when it's released.

The Song Card is where you set a track's properties, category, style and cue points.  You can enter as much information as you like - with a variety of popular fields for both domestic and broadcast users offered.  You can find a song's ISRC number using the built-in browser which takes you to the PPL database.  The colour (and icon) at the top changes with each Item Type so that you can easily see what type of item you are editing.

Meridian Song Card

More Screen Shots : Song Card Tab 2 (styles) / Tab 3 (restrictions) / Tab 4 (playout fields)

Click here to see an early example of the Clock View

Features vs Licence Type
Meridian is available in 3 version: BASIC, STANDARD or PRO.  The licence determines which features are available to you and each purchase entitles you to 1 year's use, updates and support - longer durations by quotation.

	BASIC	STANDARD	PRO
FLAC, MP2, MP3 and WAV Support
Audio Database
APE, CartChunk, ID3 Tagging
Read BCX, EncoDAD, mAirList Data
Edit EncoDAD CUTS.dbf to set cue points and cut properties, and "Send to DAD" feature fo DropBox users.
Audio Player
Export to CSV/HTML/M3U
Music Scheduling		8 Music Categories 5 Jingle Groups	Unlimited
Manage Multiple Stations from 1 copy of Meridian
Import from/Export to Playout with a sync feature on some systems		1 Custom System*	Unlimited
Cost :	£15 per licence	£ to be decided includes all updates	£ to be decided includes all updates

All prices include e-mail support and upgrades - The BASIC licence is designed for those that wish to use the program to manage their audio files and pay a "one time" fee for activation.  Updates will work for the "major" version you purchase, eg: A purchase of 1.xxx will entitle you to updates within v1 of the program.

The STANDARD/PRO licences are for broadcasters and includes free updates and priority e-mail support during the licence period.  The licence fee gives you the right to install and use 2 copies of Meridian - the 2nd may be used for backup or for another station, ideal for using on a laptop if you like to work from home!

*Custom exports available: AudioEnhanceDPS, BSI Simian, DARP, EncoDADpro32, JockMaster, mAirList XML, Myriad, Raduga, StationPlaylist Studio.  Others can be added by request.

So, what can it do for me ?

• Manages a library of audio
  Tested with my own database of over 17,000 songs, 200 adverts, 500 jingles and 100 voicetracks

• Includes all features of MyLibrary
  Supports mass-tagging of files attributes (APE, BCX, Cart Chunk, ID3 and XML) - will also warn you of missing files and perform "dupe" checking and MP3/WAV comparisons - allowing you to generate reports of compressed vs linear audio.

• Import Audio Folders with optional reading of tag data
  Get your BCX, CartChunk, DARP, DPS, EncoDADpro32, mAirList or SPLStudio data inside Meridian with one click!

• Full Redundancy of Data
  All data will be duplicated and backed-up periodically - basic "non station" data stored in JMD (JockMaster) data files

• Generate M3U playlists
  An industry-standard playlist format

• Edit your EncoDAD library
  With the STANDARD and PRO versions, you can directly edit your DAD CUTS.dbf library - change/set cue points (much faster than DAD's built-in editor), and also send cuts directly to DAD via your DropBox utility.

• Exorts to Multiple Automation Formats
  Create playout logs for various popular automation systems

Merdian handles the placement of adverts, jingles and songs within a set of rules.  These rules can be enforced on a daily/hourly basis - essential for setting-up "no repeat daytimes", love-song shows - even a quick change of programming to reflect the weather!  Rules can be made "hard" or "soft" - this allows you to define how strict the rules and policies are.  By softening some rules, the amount of possible un-scheduled positions decreases.

One of the drawbacks that some of the "big-boy" systems have is that they require you to load an audio file into the database before being able to play it via the playout system - this is a bit rubbish in my opinion, and something that many Community/RSL presenters wouldn't be happy about if they use their USB memory sticks to play their songs from (ie: a specialist show).  Meridian will update from JockMaster and vice-versa.

A particular trait of RSL and Community stations is the frequent deviation from a pre-scheduled playlist and playing songs that the presenter wants to hear (or the listener).  When used with JockMaster, Meridian will take into account the playback history of songs allowing the next schedule run to take into account this history.  It will also show you "non database" items such as those from a memory stick.  There may also be a Reconcile feature where Meridian can read "as played" logs from 3rd-party playout applications.

A major concern for those who like to "tinker", especially home-users, bedroom DJs or small-scale stations is one of being able to import/export the data using Access/Excel or similar.  All of the data you enter will be able to export to plain text files.

Share your databases... Pretty much all the schedulers "out there" operate a single database of audio - if you add comments, intro points and style/tempo data you then have to export that data and import it into your other station's scheduler databases so that the data matches up... Wouldn't it be great if you set an intro point on a song on your Hits format station, and your Gold sister-station automatically saw those changes on it's own database whist still maintaining the station-specific category/rotation settings ?  Meridian can take care of that for you...

A single radio station running Meridian will use 2 databases: a master audio database and a station database.  A 2-station group will use 3 databases: a master audio database and 2 station databases.  Each station's clock templates and schedule history will be contained within their own station database and the main audio attributes are kept on a global database that everybody can access.  This means that any songs which overlap your different formats can enjoy their own song separation and repeat/daypart-restrictions but globally inherit intro/segue timings, year/chart history and path\filename.

• Multiple Song Categories
  Songs can exist in different categories - however, I would advise the use of Style Codes to separate music genres

• Auto Scheduling
  OK, so you went to the pub and forgot to compile tomorrow's schedule... Not a problem: Meridian will automatically schedule the next day's log if it doesn't exist at 11:45pm.  No matter what playout system you're using - Meridian will keep you on the air.

• Style/Genre+Tempo Codes
  Gives the ability to schedule songs next to their matching stagers in terms of style (dance, pop etc) and Tempo (slow, medium, fast etc).  Can also be used to limit the amount of styles used per hour, eg: no more than 5 "disco" tracks and never play more than 2 in a row.  This sort of rule can be set on a time-basis so that your weekend party shows play more "disco" than "love" ;)  The Style can be imported directly from the ID3 "Genre" tag.

• Related Artists - Keep Gary away from Robbie!
  The pop industry is very fickle - today's big group are tomorrow's performers at Butlins...  Sometimes, there's at least 1 member of a group with some real talent and they go on to enjoy a fruitful solo career.

  Let's use Take That as an example - they enjoyed their hey-day in the mid-90s and have recently come back to haunt/grace us with their dulcet tones.  Their song Shine is a popular recurrent on today's CHR stations but then, so is Robbie Williams and several of his tunes.  Most DJs would know not to play Take That next to Robbie Williams unless it was part of a special feature - Unfortunately, a computer program doesn't know that they are "alike" because they are spelt differently!

  So - we need a way to tell the scheduler that 2 completely different artists are related and should be kept apart... This is where Related Artists come into play.

• Print-out of your Show Running Orders
  Scheduled hours may be printed for your DJs showing as much (or as little) detail as you wish: Artist, Title, Year, Intro, Notes etc.

More information and screenshots to follow...