Coda is a suite of over a dozen software applications for scheduling radio programmes and controlling broadcast automation. It operates across a multi-user network where the Database and Automation Player exist on a 'Server', and the Programme Applications exist on 'Workstations'. Any Workstation can access the Server at any time.
You may have a radio station to run, and you want to give all staff access to the workflow at all times - to create, record, edit, produce or control the on-air programme stream. You don't want to spend a fortune on specialty soundcards or specialists to install them, and you don't want to be paying extra fees just to add another workstation. You want an easy to understand system that has all the features of a professional industrial-level automation system, that works on standard off-the-shelf equipment, combines sophisticated radio programming with automated playout, and all at a reasonable price. Coda is that system!
Coda lets you operate a professional sounding radio station at minimal cost. It generates programmed output 24/7, and as such, may be the cheapest employee you will ever hire! If it's just you, Coda can help you run the station on your own. You can compile a music library, organise playlists and clock formats, and let Coda assemble 24-hour schedules up to 2 weeks in advance. You can operate live, or you can pre-record your voice-breaks and do other work, or take the day off. The same for the team, they can work at times that suit them, sit down at any workstation and have all of the stations programme resources at their fingertips. If you hire more staff, just add more workstations. The DJs are running the on-air programme, the PD is changing the playlists, the Scheduler is loading more commercials, the producers are building new items/ads/jingles, and the Manager is printing out management reports. It can all happen on the same PC, or on different workstations, in different workspaces, at different times ... and all the while, Coda is relentlessly maintaining a smooth programme on-air. Coda is the engine room of your radio station, it keeps your radio station on-track and pumping, even when you're not there. It lets you do everything yourself, or lets everyone work together at the same time.
We recommend at least TWO PC's with Windows XP/7/8 to act as Server/workstation. We also recommend Intel processors and any Soundblaster compatible audio cards. Alternatively, you can play out through Axia or a USB port, and obviously you need a reasonable network card/router to enable a smooth flow of data between machines.
Download the Coda_Setup.exe from the Coda site, run the Setup going with all the defaults, then re-boot your PC.
Same as above, but select the 'Workstation' option - OR 1. Map the workstation to the Server-P drive (as P:\) 2. Copy the directory P:\Codasql to the local workstation. 3. Find and Run the file MyODBC-3.51-06.exe, to load the drivers. 4. Find and Run the files CodaSQLXP.reg, Coda_LastDB.reg, and Coda_ODBC.reg to set up the local registry. 5. Find and Copy the files BladeEnc.dll, mmmpeg32.dll, and mmcdda32.dll to the local C:\Windows\System32 directory. 6. Go to the Control Panel-Administrative Tools Data Sources(ODBC), and find the tab for Coda_ODBC. Configure the Host/ServerName to point to the ServerName or IP address of the Server (ie to the PC with the database). Note: on the Server it can be Localhost, but workstations need the name or IP of the PC holding the database. 7. Go to the Control Panel, and change the Regional Settings to Language=English NZ or UK, Date=dd/mm/yy, Time=HH:mm:ss. 8. Go to C:\CodaSQL\Programs, and create a desktop icon for Codawin.exe (Coda Toolbar)
Use Windows Explore to locate the [CodaServer}\C drive, right-click and select 'Map Network drive', and name it as "P".
On the Coda Toolbar, open Library Manager and choose the appropriate tab to 'Import' an existing audio file, or 'CD-Ripper' to rip the track from a CD, or click the 'New' button to manually enter details for a new song or event. There are many default settings along the way, but add in as many as you require. The CD-Ripper also includes 'Normalise' and 'Trim' functions, and can retrieve details from a CDDB internet database.
On the Coda Toolbar, open 'Schedule Manager', File menu, 'Create Schedules'. The system should display the date for the next required schedule, and can automatically select the approriate formats and playlists to be used. You can create schedules for up to 14 days in a single run, and a single days schedule should take about one minute to assemble. Schedules can be modified at any stage, including 'voice-tracking' and re-scheduling if required.
On the On-Air Studio screen (for the current programme) or Schedule Manager (for any other schedule), scroll to the point where you wish to insert a voice break, click the button for Add Voice, and in the pop-up windows click the red-button to Record. When finished, click the OK button, then scroll to the next desired voice break point. The Voice file can be edited as required either then or later, and all relevant details are automatically entered into the schedule log. NOTE: Voice tracks are relevant to that specific schedule, and are deleted when the schedule itself is deleted. Other non-music breaks are termed as Items and added via Add Item button.
On the Print Manager screen, select Rotate Playlist Report, and click the small printer icon. The Playlist will display on-screen before printing, allowing you to check details. Rotates will display/print in Priority Order, as set up in Format Manager-Rotate Maintenance. NOTE: Just print the pages you want, otherwise it will print the entire library. Typically, page 1 is the current playlist. You can also use Print Manager for aphabetical, numeric and a myriad of other library reports. You can also print Hour Formats, Copyright Reconciliations, Programme Schedules, History and Rotate Analysies, and a wide variety of specialist reports.
Coda will report APRA/Copyright on EXISTING schedules only. On the Report Manager menu, Select-History Enquiry, then the range of dates to be reported, OK. A 'History' file is then generated and stored in the Codasql\Reports directory. You can select a variety of reports to filter and print this data, or choose File-APRA Export to generate an export file to e-mail. Local APRA Export will generate a file of all songs with some value in the Song Library Local Content field. The Hot 100 Report will generate a report of the Top 100 songs played during the report period, which can be saved as a txt or xls file for export to chart-return/airplay agency/analysts.
On first installation, start the Player first, then use the Coda Toolbar to select and open the On-Air Studio screen. The On-Air screen displays the current schedule and tracks each event. Use the control buttons to Stop/Start/etc and to Add/Delete/Skip any events. The Pause button will stop the song at the end of the song, the Play button will play the next cued event, whereas the PlayNow button will play whatever you are pointing at. You can Add Song, Add Item or Add Voice to anywhere in the schedule. To go live, simply press the Pause button, and the Player will pause at the end of the song ... start talking ... then press Play to resume on the next event. Each event has a schedule time listed in the left-hand column, and actual broadcast times are recorded on the extreme right-hand column. Status indicators will show P for played, X for unplayed, and S for skipped. Fixed Time markers show as E for Exact Time, F for Fixed/flexible, and A for Approximate, so don't be surprised if the schedule adjusts accordingly on the hour. Also, if you are using News Monitor, the On-Air schedule will tell you when a News break is imminent, and either the Player stops to take in a live News feed, or it starts recording in the background.
Coda is available for sale or lease. Sale offers an out-right buy for a Player-Server module with all workstation applications, for an unlimited number of extra workstations. Lease offers a lower start-up cost, with on-going support, advice and up-grades available as required. Annual support agreements are available in both instances. CodaEcho is a limited version of Coda, without Print or NewsScheduling features, and is ideal for small LPFM, school/college, in-store or Internet-based broadcasters. Lease is ideal for community or network operators in New Zealand. Sale is ideal for international broadcasters who wish to maintain unlimited use of the system within their own organisations. Installation, training, upgrades and on-line support are available by negotiation or by Annual Support Agreement.
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