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WASHINGTON, D.C. November, 1996. NPR member stations have periodically
requested the addition of tone signals to NPR programs, for use in triggering local
station breaks. Recent shifts in station funding have increased system-wide movement
toward station automation. Some automation needs are as simple as starting a local cart during a network cutaway. For many stations, including NPR, computer audio equipment works quite reliably "on the clock" - with programs and cutaways occurring at specific predetermined times. Every satellite interconnected station was provided a Satellite Operating Support System (SOSS) computer which has the ability to trigger up to 16 automation events at any designated time. To make this feature more user friendly and efficient the Distribution Division is now completing testing on a soon-to-be-issued "template scheduler." The template will allow stations to build a til further notice weekly event schedule for satellite recordings, playback commands, break triggers, coffee pot "on" commands, and so forth. The one capability this system will not address are floating cutaways which NPR has gone to great lengths to minimize. In fact, only two NPR regularly distributed programs have any floating cutaways, Performance Today and Fresh Air. Currently, all NPR produced News programs contain breaks that are on-the-clock (in the NEWS TALK package, Talk of the Nation, Derek McGinty and Diane Rehm all share the same program clock with breaks fixed in time). However, as with any system, one solution does not fit all needs. Some stations have continued to request inclusion of cutaway signals in NPR provided programs, even for events that occur at designated times. However, in the Public Radio Satellite System no separate channel exists to carry event triggers, and thus such information must be carried within the audio channel itself. Since the automation tones must use audio frequencies to be transmitted along with the program material, no conventional tone trigger will be truly inaudible to all listeners. Several stations have strongly objected to the inclusion of any tones on network feeds. But, in balancing these viewpoints, it is clear a number of stations consider local event triggers to be a pressing need. Towards A Solution To minimize audibility, tone triggers need to be carried at the upper or lower frequency limits of human hearing. Historically, broadcast automation systems have utilized cue tones at the lower range of human hearing, near 25 Hertz. Improvements in the frequency response of tape recorders, especially with the addition of DAT recorders for satellite feeds at many stations means upper frequencies may now be viable for automation cues --- and possibly less conspicuous to listeners. Also important is that placing tones at the upper or lower extremes of the audio channel will decrease reliability, especially for programs recorded and played back from traditional analog equipment (which many stations rely on exclusively). Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) has developed a system which utilizes a data burst riding along with a 16.5 KHz carrier. Due to data-compression techniques, this system needs to operate at elevated levels in order to pass through the ISO Layer II satellite digital audio system. Even so, subjective tests show the tone/data sequence to be relatively transparent for most listeners. Even once the new SOSS "template" feature is available, it is likely that some stations will prefer to use tone signals to trigger local breaks, rather than timed SOSS triggers. It is equally clear that even the most inconspicuous of tone signals can not be added to all start of program, program breaks, and end of program points without substantial impact on the NPR airproduct. NPR expects to have a formal recommendation on which automation protocol to endorse for NPR programs to utilize in the future. At a minimum, NPR plans to support the floating breaks in Performance Today. We believe it will be beneficial to convene a small group of station representatives interested in this subject to help inform NPR's decision making on what automation events to support. This is envisioned as a short series of conference calls and an interconnection to ensure member stations issues are fully considered in the establishment of an automation standard. |