8 Reasons To Not Use SAM Broadcaster Pro
1) Lousy Customer Support:
When SAM Broadcaster goes wrong (and it will) don't expect to get much help from Spacial Audio:
Even the forums and social media accounts were staffed by people who didnt 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 acrossI really feel cheated because I never expected @Spacial Audio to be so Deceptive
I don't have to make Spacial Audio look Incompetent they manage to do that all by themselves
Spacial Audio's parent company must be so Proud of the way they operate?
IMHO: Triton Digital need to put Spacial Audio out of business.
Update March 2023: Spacial Audio have made the Support forums a READ ONLY resource. Limiting your options when you're looking for support with Spacial Audio Software!
2) The Price:
SAM Broadcaster Pro costs $299 and the Studio version costs an eyewatering $699
Its a normal copy of SAM Broadcaster with the word STUDIO shoved on the endIt was restricted to Internet radio before the Studio version
I'd like to guess that Terrestrial AM/FM radio stations use software that costs Thousands of $$$
NOT some shoddy Piece Of Software conceived by students and hobby broadcasters
Once you have tested the Demo of SAM Broadcaster and then paid for it Spacial Audio WON'T give you a refund.
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
3) Quality and stability of the code:
SAM Broadcaster is prone to crashing or freezing without warning & seemingly for no reason whatsoever.
SAM relies on XML files for back end functions should one of those files get corrupted then SAM crashes
Sounds like a corrupted SAMBC.core.xml fileTry uninstalling and reinstalling SAM
Although you will loose all of your settings
SAM Broadcaster has always had very poor stability and reliability users have had nothing but headaches using the software.
There have been reports of Radio DJ's missing their radio showsThat should NEVER happen with Radio Playout Software!
4) The Encoders:
I've yet to see the encoders within SAM Broadcaster stream properly or hold up during a live show.
The encoders are prone to buffering even if you have a Stable Connection
Unable to send data fast enough Encoding paused till buffer clears
Even the old Winamp DSP Plugin encoders suffered from the same dreaded buffering issues
Buffering has happened to users with different Internet service providers, different computers, & different streaming hosts.
The buffering issues aren't limited to ONE user but Hundreds if not Thousands of users
A search on the subject on the SAM forums leads to Over 28 pages of users being told its their connection at fault.
5) The Database Structure:
SAM Broadcaster has very badly written Database structures which crash without warning.
When I first used the software I found I was having to rebuild the Database every few days & it became TIRESOME
Nothing much appears to have changed in over 20 years.
The Firebird Database option doesn't fare much better
6) PAL (Playlist Automation Language) Scripts:
PAL scripts can be difficult to program if you're new to them.
PAL scripts are well known for crashing SAM Broadcaster Pro due to the amount of memory leaks they cause if written incorrectly.
7) Distorted Audio Output (Audio Distortion)
I've never been able to get a professional sound from the AGC or equaliser in SAM Broadcaster
Even with settings suggested by other users SAM never sounded right despite music files being ripped at the right audio levels.
Music and Jingles alaways seemed distorted in SAM Broadcaster yet the files sounded OK in other audio playback software.
If you get the audio settings wrong your music output will sound distorted & Its easy to program the wrong settings.
8) Silly Licence Restrictions:
Spacial Audio tell you what you can and cant do with their software in the SAM Broadcaster EULA Licence agreement
You can only run 1 radio station per Licence & You CANNOT run more than 1 instance of SAM Broadcaster on the same computer.
The SAM Broadcaster EULA is quite strict as to what you can and CANNOT do with Spacial Audio software.
You can install it 3 times (on different computers) which means you paying even more $$$
Thats just a few reasons why I think you shouldn't use SAM Broadcaster Pro/Studio
STOP Paying Spacial Audio hundreds of Dollars for their overpriced software!SAM Broadcaster Pro/Studio have NO PLACE in a radio studio
Save yourself the headaches of SAM Broadcaster Pro by using RadioDJ instead.
You will save yourself lots of $$$ into the bargain!
Reasons to Use RadioDJ:
- Once installed it's stable and works for days/weeks without needing to keep an eye on it
- Great Music library support add as many categories & subcategories you require
- RadioDJ doesn't require online activations or registration keys
- RadioDJ sounds more Professional than SAM with the BASS sound engine
- RadioDJ is 100% FREE and has ZERO restrictions on what YOU use it for
- The Database is really stable. Plus RadioDJ comes with a Database Backup Tool
- Easy to manage Playlists, Rotations & Events for all your automation needs
- Great Technical Support should something go wrong with your installation via the Forums
- Customisable Interface with the Color Editor
You DON'T have any restrictions with RadioDJYou are free to use Radio DJ: Where you want, When you want, How you want
The only risk you face with RadioDJ FREE radio automation playout software is Installing it
Don't bother searching out a BETTER system than RadioDJ it doesn't Exist
Once setup and installed RadioDJ will function as a great radio automation program should.
RadioDJ also relies on XML files and I've NEVER had a crashed or corrupted XML file while using RadioDJ
RadioDJ is really reliable the only time I have to restart RadioDJ is for Windows updates
In the UNLIKELY event that something should go wrong with RadioDJ there is a great support network on the Community Forums.
SAM Broadcaster had so much promise but sadly it didn't live up to the HYPE!SAM Broadcaster really is the WORST Piece of Radio Automation Software EVER