Technical Specifications: Computer Concepts

Using Computer Concepts (DCS) Digital Automation

Of greatest importance is the four-character Source Number in MusicMix. This is how Computer Concepts finds songs. MusicMix's "Bin" and "Cut" fields are not used.


SOURCES:
As listed below, Events s should have a Source of "DC". Songs should have any other Source (NOT "DC").



DCS EVENTS:

There are special "DCS_" functions or directives which should be entered in MusicMix Events. They must have a SOURCE of "DC". Put exact text of DCS_ Function in "Specific Item" beginning with data after "DCS_" EXAMPLE: DCS_HR would be entered in Specific Item as HR.

Computer Concepts has provided the following list of important events. Notice that the first three must occur at the top of each hour's format clock.

DCS_HR
This needs to be the first event of the hour, when the log merge process is done, this line gets discarded.

DCS_DIRECTIVE_LP_00_0000_DESCRIPTION
This needs to be the next line in each hour, it helps mark the start of the hour and also loads and plays the carts that are attached to this directive at the top of hour. The four zeros equal the length of the directive. Use all zeros when your station is using music off the hard drive, that way the DCS system doesn't try to put filler material into the hour.

DCS_CART_VT_????_MMSS_DESCRIPTION
This event allows you to place a direct cart call on the music log.
???? = cart number.
mmss = the approximate time the cart would play.
Place this type of event right after the Top of hour directive/event.

DCS_FUNCTION25_30_DESCRIPTION
This event should be placed at the bottom of each hour, it allows the DCS system to perform a log driven action. In this example it is Function number 25.

DCS_TRAFFIC_MERGE15
This is the marker that helps align the music log with the traffic log, Place this event at the stop set points of each hour.

Technical Information:

1) The daily playlists are output to the user selected path as "mmddyy.ASC" where "mmddyy" is month, date, and year of the playlist. They are erased after 14 days.

2) The library file is output as "LIBRARY.ASC" to the same path.

3) Both files are standard ASCII Standard Data Format text files with one record per line. Records are delimited by CR/LF, fields are not delimited.


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See Also: Automation Basics, Log Files, Events, Voice Tracking