A few years ago, RCS embarked on a mission to develop the next generation of Digital Playout. While we had two very successful systems in NexGen and Master Control, they were both conceived in the 1990s, unaware of the vast technology advancements that would come later. Like every other playout system at the time – really since that time – they both had genetic limitations that didn’t seem to matter when they were created.
In creating Zetta, we took all the lessons we learned through our rich history in the automation space. MC-DOS, Audio Prophet, Audio Wizard, Master Control, Player 101 and NexGen all had their time and glory as leaders in the industry. On paper, Master Control and NexGen are still terrific systems, which have stood the test of time, and still operate wonderfully. But RCS strives to build on success to bring the best, most flexible, industry-leading tools to our clients. To take advantage of today’s hardware, and to solve many of the struggles of the broadcaster today, we needed a new approach. That new approach is Zetta.
At the NAB Spring Show 2012 in Las Vegas, we showed off Zetta version 2.4 and the response was tremendous. It has built-in tools that allow you to easily manage your content and create a better product.
The scope of Zetta’s powers isn’t just confined to a single database. We have a great toolkit to connect sites in meaningful ways without being so dependent that a simple connectivity issue takes the whole cluster down. The architecture of everything down to the software that plays audio to an audio card is built for maximum redundancy and flexibility. It’s part of Zetta’s DNA. This modular construct makes it very simple to adapt as time goes on. Additional types of media, outputs and inputs become simple to implement.
And the future is bright when it comes to technology. You now hold in your hand, more processing power than most personal computers even 15 years ago. Our industry must respond to this, and RCS has already leaped ahead of other companies. We created applications for tablets and smartphones to interface with each of our products.
All our products are built on a solid foundation of stability. At the end of the day, the beginning of the day and especially all night, a digital PLAYOUT system has to be playing out and responsive. And that is where RCS’ great history comes into play. We have the experience, the drive and the passion to create the tools that help our clients create greatness on their own.