[rfu-automation] Fwd: Keeping the automation computer out of the studio

[Joe Futrelle]

Hi Gary, thanks, this solution would help address my security  
concerns and the concern I share with you that untrained people in  
the studio might make mistakes while working with Zara and other  
automation-related software on the machine if it was in the studio.

The duplication of files can happen automatically, overnight, so that  
every morning the studio computer and automation computer will sync  
up on content. But the automation playlists will not get synced up,  
so airshifters won't be able to use the studio computer to change the  
automation playlists or control the Zara instance running on the  
automation machine. We can use rsync or any of a number of free  
software tools to move the files back and forth. We can't sync iTunes  
playlists automatically AFAIK so we'll need to use iTunes's remote  
access capabilities to share the iTunes playlist from the automation  
machine to the studio (aren't we already doing this?)

If lack of hardware is a problem I've got a machine that I'd be happy  
to donate.

--
Joe Futrelle
Person


On Jun 30, 2006, at 6:52 AM, Gary Cziko wrote:

>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Gary Cziko <g-cziko at uiuc.edu>
> Date: Jun 30, 2006 6:51 AM
> Subject: Keeping the automation computer out of the studio
> To: John Anderson <phlegm at diymedia.net>
> Cc: rfu-tech at lists.chambana.net
>
> John et al.:
>
> While I, too, am concerned about network security, I am also  
> concerned about keeping the automation system running as it should.
>
> Except for occasional glitches caused by Internet connectivity  
> problems, I think it is fair to say that the automation has been  
> working very well as first set up by Stephane and then mostly  
> managed by me.  It has allowed, from the very beginning, WRFU to  
> establish a 24/7 presence on 104.5 despite the lack of  a full  
> slate of live shows and continues to be there to provide excellent  
> international programming in English, some foreign-language  
> programming and local music, filling in the considerable gaps  
> between live shows that still remain.
>
> Now, what has been the biggest problem of our operations? Clearly,  
> it has been people in the studio screwing up with the console. In  
> fact, you have been one of the loudest complainers of the havoc  
> that this has caused. And as I understand it part of the studio do- 
> over will include a way of preventing tampering with the console  
> connections.
>
> I agreed to have the automation studio moved into the studio with  
> the understanding that it would continue to be accessible from the  
> production room. With Dan away and no tech people to help, it looks  
> that this will not happen this weekend. I was also hoping that a  
> secure way would be found to allow remote access from outside the  
> IMC, so that I don't have to run over the IMC every time there was  
> an automation glitch (fortunately this has been rather rare to  
> date, but I expect it to be MUCH more frequent with the automation  
> computer in the studio).
>
> I think I have a solution that will keep both of us satisfied:
> We keep the automation computer in the control where it is now,  
> running as it now. That will prevent the problems to our automation  
> system of the type that have occurred with the console.
> We duplicate on the studio computer the software and sound files  
> that currently exist on the automation computer, and combine this  
> with the  transmitter control software. If the current transmitter  
> control computer cannot handle this, it shouldn't be hard to find  
> one that can. This would include  ZaraRadio, all sound files and  
> iTunes (as air shifters may prefer playing archived audio via iTunes).
> This would not consolidate all sound functions onto one computer,  
> as you wanted. But it would provide air shifters with all of the  
> capabilities of ZaraRadio and accessibility to all sound files. And  
> then, when a live show is over, all they have to do is move up the  
> slider on the console that puts a properly running automation  
> computer on the air, regarldess of what the air shifter might have  
> done to the in-studio computer during his or her show.
>
> I could live with this be this arrangement. Could you? And what do  
> others think?
>
> --Gary
>
>
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