Posts

Sam Broadcaster v's RadioDJ

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SAM Broadcaster versus RadioDJ which piece of radio playout software is better? Someone asked me to do a comparison between the 2 pieces of software. SAM Broadcaster Pro/Studio RadioDJ Price: $299-$699 FREE ($0.00) 1 Installer: Yes Yes Trial Period: Yes (51 Hours) 10 No Online activation: Yes No Registration Keys: Yes No Multiple Instances: No 8 Yes Supported OS: Windows 7/8/10 (11?) 4 Windows 7/8/10/11 Built In Encoders: Yes No 3 Audio Processing: Yes 9 Yes Aux players: 2 Customisable Supported Databases: MySQL/Firebird/PostgreSQL/MSSQL MySQL/MariaDB Stability: Users frequently report crashes Reliable and stable 6 Ease of use: Can be difficult to setup & use 7 Easy to install and use Support: Via the Helpdesk Only 2 Via the Community Forum File Types: mp3/mp3PRO/OGG/Windows Media/WAV mp3/wma/ogg/flac/wav 5 Restrictions: Only 1 station per licence None Key:
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The DJ's Who BULLIED ME

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I've worked with some great DJ's in my time on the circuit. In my early DJ career I had the Misfortune to meet 2 DJ's who were awful human beings I was doing DJ work at a Youth Centre. Everything was going great until a lad called Matt showed up and started to take over the DJ booth. Matt seemed to have a knack of annoying people just by opening his MOUTH I reckon Jamie told Matt to go to the Youth centre just so they could start their bullying regime. I was poached by another Youth centre not long after Matt started taking over, No One liked him. I was glad I didn't have to put up with his EGO taking over anymore. One night in 1990 I stayed in playing and recording my Vinyl. Matt and his Sidekick Jamie knocked on the door claiming they wanted to swap Vinyl I reluctantly let them in. Matt and Jamie were downright NASTY to me before I finally got them out of my house.
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Thank You Voicemeeter (VB Audio)

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Last week I reinstalled Windows 11 on my laptop as something had gone wrong with the Bluetooth After reinstalling I was struggling to get audio from my speakers despite having updated drivers. Then I had a thought about seeing if Voicemeeter would help the issue. BINGO I had audio again Voicemeeter was allowing me to channel the audio from RadioDJ to a Bluetooth connection. I've LOVED Voicemeeter since it came out its a Genius piece of software. Voicemeeter easily allows you to route audio from your PC to your output. With Voicemeeter there is no need for a Microphone/Input/Voice FX Button. Voicemeeter will make your audio POP and sound more Professional. As for the Audio driver issue on the Windows 11 laptop I've troubleshot as much as I can BUT to no avail its confusing.
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Streamlining Our Services (Spacial Audio)

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The usual bullshit email from Spacial Audio dropped into my email yesterday. They start off the email by saying news letters will be a quarterly thing rather than a monthly thing. Then they go onto say they've made the support forums a read only resource. This isn't Spacial Audio Streamlining Its Spacial Audio finding even MORE ways not to give users SUPPORT I also reckon they've done this to Scupper my blogging so I cant see customer complaints anymore. Spacial seem to have ditched Twitter & I still see pissed off SAM uers on Twitter every now and then. If I didn't know better I'd say Spacial Audio are struggling for sales of their SAM Broadcaster software. I guess if they're "Streamlining" that means they'll probably have laid off support staff. YET MORE REASONS NOT TO DO BUSINESS WITH SPACIAL AUDIO
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Turn Your Firewall Off?

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Read a Tweet from another user having issues getting support from Spacial Audio They've told this user to switch their Firewall & Security off. My radio station has been off for 3 weeks I contacted Spacial customer service They told me to switch the Firewall and Security off Thats dangerous advice from Spacial Audio the Firewall & Security protects a users computer. As to why their SAM software doesn't play nicely with the Windows Firewall is anyones guess. The CODE of SAM Broadcaster Pro/Studio is Awful at best and still crashes time after time. RadioDJ FREE radio Automation doesn't require the Firewall or Security to be switched off. Spacial Audio Support really do NOT know their Arse from their Elbow
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Spacial Audio Fired Us!

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Yes its another post about how Lackluster Spacial Audio Support are. I've been watching a thread on Twitter where a user was simply told to go find another service by the Support desk at Spacial. His Crime? Asking Spacial Audio Support for help. We were *trying* to work with @spacial but when we asked them for help @spacial "fired" us! Seriously? If Spacial keep pissing customers off they'll soon have no customers to support. Spacial Audio have recently found another way not to give help. They've made the SAM BROADCASTER forums READ ONLY. Spacial do not help you their website is not working there is no links for tech help Why anyone does business with Spacial Audio is beyond me They LIE, They Cheat and the support desk doesn't help anyone. I really hope they go out of business one day Spacial Audio Solutions LLC are a STAIN on the Internet Radio Community
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Running RadioDJ On Linux/Wine?

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This is a common question we've seen on the RadioDJ forums. Q: Will RadioDJ free radio automation software run under .wine on Linux? A: Not at present and yes you can quote me on that! Don't believe us then feel free to test the theory out at your own risk! If you manage to get .NET installed there is no guarantee RadioDJ will work properly on .wine RadioDJ v2.x.x requires .NET 3.5 and 4.8 Even IF the database setup tool runs and you get RadioDJ fired up the program will constantly throw up errors at you. This is what happened last time I tried running RadioDJ under .wine I used to test when I saw an update for .wine or MONO and got frustrated at the same error messages everytime. I tested again recently and couldn't even get Wine/Winetricks to install correctly on an 64bit Ubuntu Studio. Users claim to have RadioDJ running on Wine but when you ask those users HOW they did it they never come back to explain the steps required
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SAM Broadcaster Pro Crashes on Windows 11

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I've been watching tweets from a SAM Broadcaster user who's been having stability issues with SAM on Windows 11 Hey @spacial when are you going to fix Sam Broadcaster? It crashes on Windows 11 over-and-over-and-over again when I am running my show! Its the same story with SAM Broadcaster when a new operating system comes out its either NOT compatiable or it crashes. Whereas I've tested RadioDJ over-and-over-and-over again on Windows 11 and it does EVERYTHING I ask of it. I've NOT had to restart RadioDJ over and over again either. No activations – No contracts - No keys – No hidden fees - No spyware – No catches How To Install RadioDJ How many more times do I have to say this? Spacial Audio release software that is NOT fit for its Purpose
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The Night I Won A DJ Competition

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In January 1988 I was entered for the Humberside Youth Service DJ Competition. The Head Youth Worker (Hilary) at my youth centre thought I had the skills to do it. Each of us had a 3 record set and had to demonstrate Microphone skills along with use of disco lights. I will admit the other 2 DJ's were good even if one stuck to songs from early 1980s for his 3 record set. I cannot remember the exact 3 records I played that night The Judges were from the Fire service, Another Youth Club and a DJ from a local nightclub. The local paper Scunthorpe Telegraph showed up to take photos of us in the booth. Sadly the only copy of the news article is this bad photocopy which I took from the news archives in Scunthorpe Central Library. I did get a certificate for winning but sadly I couldn't find it when I was looking for it at my dads house. In 1989 I was entered again but that time I got beaten into Second Place
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Spacial Audio Are Taking The Piss AGAIN!

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So its a new year and I've just looked at the SAM Broadcaster Read Me for 2022 To all intents and purposes Spacial Audio have done BUGGER ALL to their SAM Broadcaster software in 2022. All the while Spacial Audio are still taking money for their software. The developers at Spacial Audio have always been lazy They're allowed to get away with blue murder When a new release of SAM does appear its usually BUG FIXES for things they screwed up in a previous release. There doesn't seem to be any passion from the Spacial Audio developers they're lazy and overpaid IMHO. Spacial Audio are seen as something of a JOKE by a lot of broadcasters. I saw this tweet on Twitter a couple of years back now about Spacial Audio & it didn't surprise me to be honest. They don't give refunds once you purchase SAM Broadcaster related software. When SAM Broadcaster goes wrong (and it will) don't expect to get
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You Won't Get Support And You Certainly WON'T Get A Refund

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Theres a SAM Broadcaster user kicking off on Twitter about not getting support or even a refund from Spacial Audio. Not happy with the evaluation of service They will take your money and that's it They won't answer tweets as I'm guessing they don't owe the publicity I'm unable to get a refund on a product I purchased But they will sell me another product for a 100 dollars more You can Shout you can Scream You can talk to a brick wall BUT YOU WILL NOT GET A REFUND. It says in the EULA that If you have tested the demo they assume you are satisfied. Spacial Audio's position on the subject of refunds is this: We DO NOT offer refunds because of our 14-day free trial version, which allows users to try the product for free and make sure they are satisfied with it before they buy it Even when we purchased SAM Broadcaster in 2010 there was a NO REFUND policy. Its why Software companies sometime SUCK and its another reason I now avoid p
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So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (RadioDJ Forums)

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Statement: Because of ONE user who has Insulted ME I've decided to LOGOUT of the RadioDJ Forums. I've given 12 years of my life to the RadioDJ forums but NO MORE... (Sorry Marius... You'll need another moderator) So as far as I'm concerned rather than say something I'd regret I've logged off. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish its been a fun 12 years. Its time I was concentrating on ME for once, My Arthritis is driving me insane and I'm in a LOT of Pain daily. I will still Blog when possible but on the whole my Computer wont be switched on as often.
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Spacial Audio Disreputable?

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Spacial Audio Solutions LLC is ran and managed by people who just DON'T CARE about $$$ paying customers. I saw this tweet on Twitter a couple of years back now about Spacial Audio & it didn't surprise me to be honest. We've been trying to tell people this for years now. Once you buy software from Spacial Audio you won't get help when something goes wrong and Spacial software does go wrong. @spacial very very disappointed after 20 years of being customer Your customer service is so poor! The support team appear to send the same old canned replies that aren't usually of any help to the person having the issues. That's IF you're lucky enough to have your support ticket answered. @spacial please answer our emails, or dms, or just let us contact you somehow. please. we just want to talk Don't even bother with the support forums either they're just as bad. IF YOU cancel any Spacial Audio service keep an eye on y
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Only Applies To New Purchases (Spacial Audio Black Friday)

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I had an email from Spacial land in my junk mailbox telling people about their Black Friday promotion. However you can only get the discounted software IF you are a new customer They've yet again excluded customers who have already purchased software from the promotion. This discount applies to SAM Software products only All SAM Cloud products are excluded from this promotion This discount applies to new purchases only and cannot be applied to existing services or renewals. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotions Are you only interested in new subscribers and don't give a crap about those of us who have bought your software year after year? Even with the discounts the software still isn't worth the $$$ Spacial Audio ask for it. Yet again Spacial Audio are sticking two fingers up to the longtime users of SAM Broadcaster If you're FED up being treated like this by Spacial then vote with your wallets. Try s
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100,000 Thanks For Visting My Blog

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In the Summer of 2020 I had to migrate my Blog away from Wordpress after a VPS Meltdown. Linux was and still is an Alien concept to me I've forgotten more Linux commands than I ever learned. I looked around for a solution but Pricing for Blog sites with the storage I required were out of my price range and means. Then I remembered about Blogger so I set about giving my blog a new lease of life. I started the process of transfering posts from an MySQL backup to Blogger in August/September 2020 and reformatted them. it took me a while to get my Blog the way I wanted it and I'm happy with what I have achieved. In a little over 2 years my Blogger website has hit the 100,000 visitor mark It's taken a LOT of hard work to get this blog to the point it is now at. I would like to personally thank everybody who has visited my blog in the past 2 years hope you found my advice useful. I
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Boycott Russian Software (DJ SOFT RadioBoss, RadioLogger and RadioCaster)

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Because of Putin's WAR in Ukraine I'm asking people to BOYCOTT Russian Software NO IF's NO BUT's BOYCOTT RUSSIAN SOFTWARE If YOU have any Russian software installed UNINSTALL IT NOW Russian law dictates that software companies could be obliged to infiltrate Foreign systems there are obligations on organisations to assist the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Businesses and individuals using Russian-owned software are at higher risk of a Russian state-backed or lone actor cyber attack I'm asking people to also Boycott DJ SOFT software: RadioBoss, Radio Logger and RadioCaster. Plus DJ Soft's RadioBoss Cloud service. Q: IS DJ SOFT a Russian Developer? A: YES the Physical Mailing Address is: IP Kuzmitski D.V. Prajskaya 17-9 Volgograd 400005 Russian Federation DJSOFT Took their address off his website the 1st day of the Invasion but Wayback Machine had
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Reasons Not To Use SAM Broadcaster Pro & Studio

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I can think of a few reasons WHY you might want to choose an alternative to  SAM Broadcaster Pro or Studio 1) Lousy Customer Support: When SAM Broadcaster goes wrong (and it will) don't expect to get much help from Spacial Audio: The Spacial support department sends users the same old canned replies without actually helping anyone. Spacial Audio like to play BIG Corporate with their small Support team that have never even used or opened the software themselves The Customer service manager is rude to users on a regular basis Even the forums and social media accounts are staffed by people who don't really care about the software. People have even taken to Social media to vent their frustrations at not getting much in the way of support. @Spacial Audio are the worst software company I have EVER come across @spacial Customer Support makes me feel more like a Victim, than a Customer Pointless you keep ask
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The Input Button Is NOT A Microphone Input (RadioDJ)

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New users to RadioDJ seem to keep thinking that the Input button is a Microphone Button. The INPUT button never was intended as a Microphone Input and if you do try and use it you will get delay and feedback. The Input is NOT like the VOICE FX feature in other radio playout software. A great way of routing your Audio from your Microphone can be done by software such as Voicemeeter You connect your microphone to a Mixer before you send the audio to your computer via the line-in socket You can manage your Mic input via Voicemeeter which you then route to the encoding software The Voice FX feature in other software has never worked as it should Voicemeeter is the Essential Audio Superfood & It will make you sound MORE PROFESSIONAL!
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You Cannot Run Multiple Instances (SAM Broadcaster Pro)

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One of the biggest bug bears of mine is the you cannot run multiple instances of certain radio playout software. Even if You attempted to run 2 copies of SAM Broadcaster on the same machine you'd have issues with the PC. I once attempted to run 2 copies of SAM 2.7.9 on an old XP computer 20 years ago and the machine kept freezing and crashing. One of the problems SAM suffers with is MEMORY LEAKS an issue which hasn't been addressed in over 20 years. If you run LOTS of PAL SCRIPTS your computer will be sluggish and sometimes unresponsive because of the leaks. Theres a topic on the SAM Broadcaster Forums telling you how to run multiple instances It the does state in the SAM Broadcaster EULA from 2017 that you cannot run more than 1 instance on the same PC. SAM Broadcaster is YESTERDAY'S Technology and isn't worth the $$$ Spacial Audio ask for it. Save your self the headaches of software cr
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Add The RadioDJ Folder To Your Exclude List (Antivirus Software)

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For some time now a LOT of Antivirus solutions have had issues with the RadioDJ program files. They don't appear to like the way Marius packages the the software and installer. He's obfuscating his code to make it harder for other developers to steal it There are unscrupulous developers who given a chance would steal someones code and then claim it as theirs. If your Antivirus software complains about the program files just tell it to exclude the RadioDJ program folder on the C:\ Drive. I use Windows Defender for my Antivirus and I added the RadioDJ folder to the exclude list before I installed to that folder. Windows Security>>Virus Threat Protection>>Manage settings>>Add Or Remove Exclusions and add RadioDJ to that list. While you're excluding folders and files its a probably a good idea to exclude your Music folders from being scanned. It will improve the performance of RadioDJ amongst ot
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My Favourite RadioDJ Feature?

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I've been a RadioDJ user since late 2010 after I discovered the software via a Google search. I've seen RadioDJ gain popularity this past 5 years a lot of people are beginning to realise how great it is. If I was asked to say what my favourite feature in RadioDJ was I'd have to think about it. RadioDJ is FEATURE packed and has a lot more functionality than other radio automation that you can pay $$$ for. However after a lot of thought I think this is my favourite feature in RadioDJ: Custom Song Rotations which can be loaded anytime by operator or by programmed event I've NEVER had a Track Rotation Fail in RadioDJ I frequently had problems with AutoDJ with other radio playout software If you know how to program MySQL you can load tracks in the queue via SQL Query. The AutoDJ Rotation loads the Music easily and fast into the queue in RDJ. You can programme RadioDJ to have different Cat
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