Broadcast NEWSLETTER, February-March 1994
The Management
Box 1-36457
Ft. Worth, TX 76136
800-334-7823, 817-625-9761, fax 817-624-9741
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Come on in to our booth at the NAB in Las Vegas. While you probably won't
be treated to the desperate hype, the fabulous vaporware and the
overwhelming pressure that you will run into elsewhere, I think we can
promise you some truly interesting innovations and some real values.
Here's a quick tour of the booth:

AXS (ax'-sess)

AXS is definitely the Star of the show. From its modest beginnings at the
Fall NAB as a Cart machine replacement to its present state as one of, if
not the most powerful automation controllers, AXS has galvanized the
attention of discerning broadcasters. It is reshaping the way that you
think about your Control room. Available now.

We have sent out almost 2000 AXS demo disks since last September and have
received inquiries from almost everywhere in the world.

Digital Cut n' Paste Editor

Until now editing audio Cuts for digital Control systems has required that
the user work in straight PCM mode without the advantage of audio
compression or if a compressed editor was available it was very expensive,
deadly slow, totally disconnected from the rest of audio production and
very ugly.

Now, the AXS and DJ/2 Production room systems have an option for the
elegant, low cost, Cut n' Paste editor. This editor works directly in the
apt-X compressed mode, is very fast, handles up to 10 clips and has some
other neat features. The price is right. Available now.

Music Log V5

Our new Music Log V5 makes playlist generation for CD and hard disk music
easy. Music Log V5 handles all media including singles and albums, but
offers special features to make CD and hard disk music possible. For users
that have the popular 6 pack magazine players, MLV5 has pack switching to
let your format storage take up more packs or magazines than you have
slots in your players. Also MLV5 stores link code information so that your
AXS or DJ/2 system can do synched Intros to specific songs. Many other new
features have been added to this version. Best of all, there is just a one
time license fee. Available now.

Super Log V4.1

In this past year all our Traffic & Billing systems have received a number
of improvements. But Super Log has been extended and updated to the point
that it is a serious threat to old dinosaur systems. And we haven't
changed the price: Still $2,500 for a single station with inexpensive
multi-station and LAN network versions available.

The Intelligent Interface

The intelligent interface combines the output of Super Log and Music Log
into a format that AXS or DJ/2 can use. But it does much more than that.
As the Traffic and Music are combined. the intelligent interface does a
powerful analysis of the data and optimizes it for the best solution. This
produces a precision fill for the Log.

New DMX-4 Audio Switcher

Just moving into delivery is the new DMX-4 programmable stereo audio
switcher. The DMX-4 is deceptive because in spite of its low cost, it has
a number of very advanced features. The DMX-4 has four unbalanced stereo
inputs and a common balanced stereo output. There is also a common mono
output. The DMX-4 is unique in that the entire audio switcher is on a
standard PC card that slips into the system computer, taking no rack space
nor requiring external power supplies. In spite of being buried in the
noisy PC computer environment, the DMX-4 has superb audio quality with
noise and distortion figures that are better than most small consoles.

That is just the beginning: The DMX-4 directly accepts up to eight logic
closures from satellite or other control sources and can optionally
produce eight closures to command external events. Audio levels may be
directly programmed by AXS or other applications for mixing control. To
increase the flexibility, the audio levels for each of the four sources
may be controlled from a remote pot or fader under program control. For
special applications, more than one DMX-4 may reside in the computer and
there is a buss connector for integration. So, now it is possible to
create a mini-console that lives in a PC computer. We have a lot of
applications for the DMX-4 in other products. We welcome your inquiries
for integration into your project.

JVC-XL MC100 CD Player Interface

We have just added a new multi-CD player interface
to our line. The new JVC-XL MC100 CD player is a good alternative for users
that need massive storage. Each JVC player stores 100 CD discs with a
single platter playback. It has good integration, reliable cueing and
compact packaging. This is a consumer unit that is available from a number
of sources for less than $1000.00. Since it is a single platter player, at
least two of the JVC units are required in a system.

We think the JVC is a good alternative because it reduces the storage cost
per tray to about $10.00 each compared with about $25.00 per tray for the
single magazine six-pack or about $20.00 for the triple magazine six-pack
players and 300 dual platter players in common use. Music Log V5 has been
updated to handle playlist generation for this unit.

Hard Disk Music Storage

Storing music on hard disk has some advantages, depending upon the format.
It is also expensive difficult to back up, and requires digital-to-digital
audio overlap capability. However, there are some users that require hard
disk music and AXS handles it easily with the proper configuration. Music
Log V5 also generates a proper playlist for hard disk only or combinations
of hard disk and CD music.

New Stuff

We have many other new improvements that are either available now or in the
works that we will announce at the show.

AXS vs DJ/2: Which One?

AXS and DJ/2 each have their place. They are compatible products with a
common Cut index structure, common audio card compatibility, common
Interface and common Audit Log formats. The stand alone Production room
produces and sends audio Cuts to either system. DJ/2 may be upgraded to
AXS. Either one has features that are far beyond most other systems
available elsewhere. Your situation will determine the system you will
use.

** DJ/2 is the direct descendent of the original Digital DJ first
introduced in late 1990 and which is now in hundreds of stations
everywhere. It is one of the most successful digital automation systems in
history.

DJ/2 is a workhorse. It is now capable of handling almost any multi-disk CD
player, almost any satellite program format and uses one of two advanced
audio switchers where required. DJ/2 is one of the few systems on the
market than can integrate both CD, Satellite and Live programming. Its
single apt-X audio card has great quality and is capable of stereo
playback while doing Foreground Audio Recording (FAR), or Programmed
Background Recording (PBR) for time shifted playback.

DJ/2 is one of the most advanced systems available with complete LAN
network capabilities, advanced spot set handling for satellite operation,
MACRO programming for complex sequences, linked audio intros for CD
operation, optional digital audio Cut editor and many other features.

In spite of all its capabilities, DJ/2 is probably the most cost effective
system on the market, today. For example, the NAB special dual DJ/2 Dream
package described on page one offers a safe, two computer, fully LAN
integrated system with full backup for less than the cost of a spooky
stand alone unit from someone else.

** AXS is something else again. AXS is the result of everything we have
learned about digital automation and incorporates all the knowledge that
has been developed in control automation from about 1959 into one simple,
powerful unit. AXS has every advanced feature of DJ/2 as a beginning
point. The end is not AXS as well .. yet in sight. Read on.

AXS is reshaping the industry

Once in a while a product comes along that is so significant that it
impacts an entire industry. AXS does this. AXS takes 30 years of Cart
machine and automation knowledge, extracts the best, rejects the worst,
and then combines it all into a simple, elegant, affordable package that
sets a new standard. 

** AXS is universal: Use any standard 486 PC or better in the world. No
special chassis, no proprietary cases, just good computers.

** AXS does not compromise: While AXS is far from the most expensive
digital audio system, no compromises have been made in construction,
software, operation or audio quality.

** AXS is scalable: Easy configuration for the simplest or most complex
operations. The user buys exactly what is needed for the job. If the
future brings a change in plans, then reconfiguring or updating is easy.

** AXS has true audio quality: No compromises. Only the finest digital
audio boards are used with the most flexible and efficient data
compression that keeps with the strict audio quality that we require. All
other audio components like the optional switchers have the highest
quality ratings and conservative specifications.

AXS: New and expanded features

Lets get down to the nitty gritty. If you really care about system
performance read on, otherwise take a break. There are number of new or
enhanced features that have recently become available on AXS. Some of them
are not available on any other system at any price, anywhere:

Please notice that a lot of what we discuss below is not visible on the
screen, nor is it always on a subject that is currently a hot topic in the
industry. The features below are much more important: They are the basis
of the power of AXS and are features that are found in only fragmentary
form on most other systems.

Multi-source digital audio: Through the use of additional digital audio
cards in the computer, it is now possible to have the following
configurations in addition to the standard single channel stereo
playback-only mode:

**  Dual Stereo playback: Two or more separate stereo channels which allow
stereo overlap operation from sequential digital sources. This mode is
required for systems that use hard disk music.

** Independent Record/Play: The addition of one or more record/play audio
cards to allow combinations for Foreground Audio Recording (FAR) and
Programmed Background Record (PBR)

** Extended System Example: Using the audio card combinations above, it
would be possible to assemble a system that had dual stereo play. back
capabilities with overlap and i to accomplish a foreground recording (FAR)
task like dubbing a spot directly to the system and at the same time to
record a newscast in the background (PBR) for later playback. There are
few if any other systems in the world that could do this reliably.

Live Operation: AXS was designed from the beginning as a s live operations
tool for the Jock s or operator. This is one of the major differences
between AXS and DJ/2 or other more conventional digital automation
systems. Since it was designed for live operation, it has the following
features:

** Full Log display. Not just spot t sets. Put anything you want on the .
Log, including spots, music, news, weather, remotes, ball games, notes and
music titles.

** Flexible Log operation: Do what f you want. Punch in spots and music on
the fly, load a skeleton or master Log with the bare format and go from
your Traffic and/or Music systems through the available interfaces.

** Instant Log edit: Exchange, delete or add spots, features, programs,
music to the AXS Log.

** Cut Index database: While you are in the Edit mode, display all Cuts and
Rotators in a pick box for instant selection.

** Song Title database: If you are using a compatible music playlist
generator program like Music Log, then the entire music database may be
displayed on the screen by Title, Artist, Length, or Category. This makes
it easy to pick music on the fly.

Live Copy & Tags: Since AXS is a Log based system with the spots and music
directly in front of the operator at all times, a lot of the paper in the
Control room is eliminated. The next step in making a Paperless operation
is to get all the live Copy and Tags off the desk and into the system.

** AXS provides a two step preview of any piece of Copy as it moves towards
air time and scales itself so that it takes only as much room on the
display as is necessary.

** Live Tags are handled on the screen and may be rotated as necessary.

** Live Copy or a Tag may be produced on the AXS production unit, or on a
separate optional Cut n' Copy Manager that can be on any computer on the
LAN network.

Real Time Handler: The new Real Time Handler (RTH) in AXS goes far beyond
any previous level in terms of flexibility and ease of use. Here are just
a few of the functions that the RTH controls:

** Jock Schedules: Synchronized liners, ID's, jingles, and other audio Cuts
that change as the Jock or operator work schedule changes.

** PBR Background Recording: May be set for an unlimited number of
recording events activated by either real time or external closures. May
also include routing instructions for systems with multi-buss or dedicated
audio switchers for external audio sources.

** Reboot after Power failure: the RTH will move the system back into the
correct time after a power failure.

** Timed Updates: Used in Satellite systems to keep the system in sync if
the Satellite tone is not sent and in CD systems to update past unneeded
music within a given time period.

** Real Time Joins: Forces the AXS system into joining external audio at
specified times with or without external closures. There are a number of
different techniques that may be used. Some of them unavailable
elsewhere.

** Real Time Macros: Complex event sequences may be completed with the use
of a single instruction on the Log that is triggered by a real time
function.

** Digital Time announce

** External Event Control: Logic closures may be generated by the RTH to
trigger an external action.

** Logic swapping: Pre-programmed logic may be changed within a specific
time window to modify system operation.

Programmable I/O: AXS is capable of very simple or extremely complex
operation. One system may have one playback-only audio card connected
directly to the console with no logic required, while another system may
have multiple audio cards, several audio switchers, multiple satellite
audio sources and complex external switching for transponders, remote
controls or transmitters. etc.

** System Definition: Each AXS system carries a complete definition of its
components that help to tell the software what it should do in every
situation.

** Physical Logic Programming: Each incoming or outgoing logic line in AXS
may be individually programmed from a list of actions that may occur with
the closure. Since the Logic programming is in software, changes may be
made at any time without rewiring the system or making it obsolete.

** Virtual Log Control: An incoming or outgoing Logic closure may be
emulated by a software command from the RTH or from a command on the AXS
Log.

** Logic swapping: As mentioned above, the system Logic programming may be
modified by the RTH.

** Button Boxes or remote closures: Some of the logic closures may be
tapped for use as remote console controls like system start, stop or stop
after. We also have several pre-programmed remote control button pads that
give great flexibility.

Touch Screen, Trackball, Keyboard, Button Box: Pick your own mode of
operation or use them all.

Other Important Features: The items below are absolutely essential to the
proper operation of complex formats and are available with AXS. While not
all these features may be needed by every user all the time, it is
important that the capability exist if needed. If the other systems that
you are considering do not have these features, there is something wrong.

** Spot Rotators: (Extremely Important) Combines related spots or audio
Cuts under one Rotator ID number. In this way, multiple audio Cuts may be
run from one ID number on the Log. Each of the 1500 Rotator numbers may
have up to 50 Cut numbers placed inside in any order of rotation. Rotator
spots that are not legal for a specific day or that are out of date will
be ignored and the next legal Rotator will be used.

** Audio Cuts by Day-Of-Week and Include codes: All systems should be able
to check for legal dates for audio Cut play. However, almost as important
is the ability to limit Cut play to certain days of the week or to control
play by pre-arranged Include codes (rainy day, etc.). The use of spot
Rotators (above) is necessary for these options. 

** Spot Set length Control: (Required for Satellite stations) For users
that need or want exact control of the length of their spot Set. User
selectable option.

** Spot Substitution: (Required for Satellite stations) If the audio Cut
does not exist or it is out of date, then a substitute spot will be
played. A user selectable option.

** Spot Set fill: (Required for Satellite stations) Automatically fills
spot Sets to time using fill tables. Avoids dead break problems. User
selectable option.

** Spot Set must fill: (Required for Satellite stations) Some program
sources play unacceptable audio during spot Sets. If the break is empty,
but is designated as a must fill, then the entire break is covered
automatically.

** Buffered Return Liners: (Required for Satellite stations) If the spot
Set runs long, then any return liner closures will be buffered for play at
the end of the Set, within a preset range.

** MACRO programming: Many users require repetitive use of complex
programming sequences (EX: An ID, a newscast network join, receive break
closure, spot, spot, rejoin newscast, timed release from network, spot
Set, then back to regular programming) that are difficult to program onto
the Log or that are impossible to pass from Traffic systems. A Macro is
run from a single ID or Cut number triggered by Log position or real time
and the entire event list is played automatically.

The information above is detailed. And, it far exceeds the general
information usually provided with digital control systems. But it just
begins to explain a few of the features of AXS. There is much more.

We have an ever increasing number of charts that show the specific features
of AXS vs other available systems. Please Fax or call with any questions
or for more information or a quote.
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NAB Special
Digital Dream System
$9,995.00
Dual DJ/2 Satellite System
CDI-16 System interface just $1,500 more

Get a powerful dual Digital satellite Control room and Production room
system with two 486 computers, two VGA color monitors, two 535 meg hard
disks (9+ hours mono storage), two premium quality apt-X digital audio
cards, the all new DMX-4 stereo audio switcher with satellite closure
handling and a complete LAN net

The Dream is not a cheap stand-alone system

Unlike other satellite systems in the sub$10,000 range, the DJ/2 Dream
system is not a stripper. It has two computers, audio cards and hard disks
giving you a direct replacement when the Control room system needs
maintenance. Two computers will guarantee that your digital audio Cuts are
fully backed up at all times. Two computers means that Production can go
on any time without any interruption to the Control room either in Live or
Satellite mode.

Cheap stand-alone systems are spooky

Other systems in this price class try to get by with just one computer that
supposedly does everything. It's a nice idea, but what happens when that
single computer dies, as it will? What have you got to get back on their
air? If the hard disk crashes in a single computer system, you take the
chance that you can lose all your spots. And airing those spots are what
you get paid for at the end of the month. Do you do your production in the
Control room now? Why would you do it in the Control room with a digital
system? At best it's clumsy, at worst, it's impossible.

A dual DJ/2 system for the price of one loser

The dual DJ/2 system offers every feature of the cheap stand alone systems
plus far better audio quality and a real stereo audio switcher that some
of the strippers may not have. Compare any other $10,000 proposal you may
have. The difference in ability and quality is obvious. The dual DJ/2
Dream machine is the leader.

Control 16 CD players for $1,500 more

If you need CD players, then just add the CDI-16 to the
DJ/2 Control room. Handles up to 16 Pioneer PD-M502 single magazine or
PD-TM/3 triple magazine CD players or several CD jukebox players. DJ/2 has
exclusive automatic transitions between Sat & CD & Live operation.

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