CartChunk is a simple tagging format (like ID3 within an
MP3) for use with PCM (WAV) files in a broadcast environment. It handles
basic fields like Artist, Title, OutCue and Category plus a variety of
cue-points which vary between playout systems. The obvious benefit of a
tag format like this is that if you move the file to another computer, the
embedded information is retained. Where things may not
work correctly, is
the cue-markers which are explained further down this page. Some
systems make extensive use of the UserDef field allowing
for a formatted (eg: INI or XML) string to be parsed
rather than a simple word value like "Jazz" or "Rock".
The CartChunk format is suitable
for AudioVault, Genesys, Enco DAD/Presenter, Myriad, RCS Zetta and WideOrbit. A ZIP file of sample CartChunk files is available on my
website next to the MyLibrary download.
Artist : The Artist or
Performer
Title : The Title of the track
CutID : The Cart or Cut number
AppID : Denotes what application created the Cart Chunk
Appver : The version of the application
OutCue : The ending of the track - can be used to denote
End/Fade or the out-words for a commercial
URL : Generic
text field
UserDef : Generic text field - used by
PSquared to denote End type and Audiowall colours
Marker names and usage may differ between different systems!
Cue In/Out
These are typically used to signify the physical start/stop points of
a track. If there is silence at the top/tail of the file, the AUD
markers can be used to ensure the playback starts where the audio begins.
AUDs : Start of Audio
AUDe : End of
Audio
Intro/Vocal
Used to signify the start/end of the vocal ramp -
where the presenter can safely talk before the singing starts.
INT
INTs
INTe
INT1
INT2
INT3
Segue
The SEGs is the normal segue point - some systems
(such as EncoDAD) can also be fed a SEGe (Segue End) marker but this is not
essential.
SEC1
SEGs
SEGe
Additional Markers
The Secondary and Tertiary cues are used in some
systems (such as EncoDAD) to trigger hardware events during playback - typical
usage includes "end of song" indication or remote source switching.
MRK1
MRK2
SEC
TER
Using the Show Tags for this File menu option, this shows the actual value of the PostTimer cue markers which are derived from the sample-rate of the audio. As this is not very human-readable, a simple conversion is performed to show you the "real" time value in ss.ms format:
These are the following PostTimer (cue marker) definitions for the CartChunk profiles:
AudioVault
AUDs -
CueIn
AUDe - Overall Audio Duration
INT - Intro 1
SEGs - Segue/Extro
SEGe - Overall Audio Duration
EncoDAD
AUDs -
CueIn
AUDe - Overall Audio Duration
INTs - CueIn
INTe - Intro 1
SEGs - Segue/Extro
SEGe - Overall Audio Duration
Genesys
AUDs -
CueIn
AUDe - End of
Audio File
INT - Intro 1
SEC1 - Segue/Extro
MRK1 - Hook In (does not seem to work)
MRK2 - Hook Out (does
not seem to work)
Myriad v5
AUDs -
CueIn
INTe - Intro 1
SEG1 -
Segue/Extro
MRK1 - Hook In
MRK2 - Hook Out
Myriad utilize the
following for Hook Points:
MRK1 : The HookIn
point
MRK2 : The HookOut point
When using the Myriad Chunk format, the cues will be saved as AUDs, INTe and SEG1 for CueIn, Intro and Segue respectively.
RCS (for Zetta):
AUDs -
CueIn
AUDe - Overall Audio Duration
INT1 - Intro 1
INT2 - Intro
2
INT3 - Intro 3
MRK1 - Hook In
MRK2 - Hook Out
SEG
- Segue/Extro
WideOrbit
MRK1 -
CueIn
EOD - Overall Audio Duration
INT - Intro 1
SEC
- Segue/Extro