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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
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 ?
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. Features to be included:
It will read APE/ID3 tags for extended data and even take meta-data from mAirList's MMD XML files. Duplicate files will be shown and you will be the offered the change to ignore any duplicate songs/jingles.
Songs can exist in different categories - however, I would advise the use of Style Codes to separate music genres
More information and
screenshots to follow... |
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