As we continue to broadcast live every Thursday at 11am ET, as part of our RCS Live series, we decided to pivot the conversation to talk about taking a traditional Zetta site setup and expanding it to encompass more advanced, sometimes remote, configurations. If you envision your hardware environment as a foundation and then building pieces upon one another, administrators can start to not only introduce remote workflows, but connect sites to share audio, metadata, and more, which makes your team more efficient.
Let’s first start with a Zetta UI refresher. Zetta connects to a Zetta File Server and with Zetta’s detached playout, users can easily shut down Zetta without going off the air. That’s because the Zetta services are running in the background. And with Zetta’s robust audio engine and workflows, programmers can automatically auto load an MP3, AAC or WAV file, define a Marks Analysis (set the Trim In, Trim Out and/or Segue Point), save as a default audio format, perform a non-destructive stretch and squeeze, and also implement station specific normalization. When you think of the multiple users with different interpretations of daily workflows, this process can set a consistency and on-air uniformity. When you incorporate Zetta2GO, we can continue those same workflows, but from outside the studio.
At its core, most Zetta sites include a Zetta File Server with an on-air machine. As we start to add multiple stations or users, we incorporate Sequencer machines to offload machine resources, usually in the rack room, and additional on-air or production rooms. Don’t forget that each Zetta File Server also acts as a Zetta2GO services host. As we start to include multiple traditional radio station setups, we can discuss the possibility of how to connect multiple sites or markets. Zetta is equipped with Site Replication, a “we” activity, and/or Z-Cast, “you” need this, to connect multiple sites. If you’re looking for more information on when you should implement Site Replication or Z-Cast, check out our past video. If you’re looking for next level programming, many programmers utilize Zetta Splits, which can be viewed here.
Now that we have multiple sites with traditional setups, connected via Site Replication or Z-Cast, programmers can identify broader administrative programming techniques. For example, creating a GSelector S3, Schedule Subscription Service, environment. Essentially, one master music log for an unlimited number of affiliates. Think of this as focusing your music scheduling champion to do music logs so that smaller programmers don’t have to do redundant tasks, allowing them to work on other more important projects like podcasting or live remotes. The key here is that affiliates can maintain local clock structure, imaging and commercials. Programmers can also setup Format Centers, so that Format Captains can upload audio and metadata, Z-Cast that audio to local sites, so that every asset is properly ingested. If you have markets with two Zetta File Servers geographically close together, but doesn’t warrant two staffs, then the Format Center can Z-Cast to Market A and then Market A can Site Rep to Market B, helping to share local audio, like commercials. Hopefully, you can start to understand how we begin with that traditional Zetta foundation and we add pieces of the puzzle to better suit your desired workflow.
Now that discussed the “hybrid” part, let’s introduce more remote workflows with Zetta Cloud Based Disaster Recovery. Most notably, utilizing Zetta Cloud Disaster Recovery’s, or Zetta Cloud DR’s, voice tracking. Users can log into Zetta Cloud DR, which doesn’t require a need for a VPN, they can record over an Empty Voice Track and that recording will land back in Zetta.
There are no right or wrong configurations, only hardware requirements and budget restrictions. If you have any questions on what you’re looking to achieve, don’t hesitate to reach out to your RCS Sales Representative, Support or another RCS contact and we will be more than happy to outline what works best for your station.
Zetta 5.20.1 has been released, which means that we’re now looking for Zetta 5.21.1 Beta users! If you want a full breakdown of 5.20.1 new features, check out our video here. More RCS Lives are on the way as we continue to broadcast live on Twitch, YouTube and Facebook. Future topics include Zetta for News / Talk stations, Hot Sparing and more. For a full schedule and more details, follow us on Facebook and we’ll see you next Thursday at 11am ET for RCS Live.