What is Zetta2GO? With the growing need to continue to work remotely, away from the studio, Zetta offers an additional service that allows users to continue to work remotely from the comfort of their couch. As part of our ongoing RCS Live series, we covered numerous Zetta topics and remote workflows, but we really haven’t dived deep into Zetta2GO, breaking down some of the intricate details and settings. Plus, with the upcoming Zetta 5.21.1 release, we’re going to introduce the brand new Zetta2GO Voice Track module that now behaves almost identical to Zetta. Which means, you can now set Trim In, Trim Out, Volume Points and other marks post recording. Throughout this video we broke down Zetta2GO module by module in order to help identify some workflows and settings that perhaps you didn’t know how to adjust.
Starting with Zetta2GO as a whole, remember that Zetta2GO is a Zetta service and not an app. We’re not downloading anything. This is a true URL that can accessed by any device or browser. Simply put: PC, Mac, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, tablets, etc… If you can access the Internet, you can access Zetta2GO. Of course, we need some type of security to make sure that only those who are allowed to access their Zetta2GO are authorized, so Zetta2GO needs some type of security, like a VPN and then we respect any Zetta usernames and passwords. In regards to microphone sources, we take whatever your default recording device is and apply it to Zetta2GO. Make a note, if you’re recording or saving audio into Zetta2GO there are direct ties to Zetta, which means that behind the scenes, Zetta is taking part of the saving process, performing any possible Marks Analysis, saving the audio with your default audio format, and/or normalization during station playout. There’s also additional settings that can be set with Zetta that correspond to Zetta2GO.
Remember that this is a living piece of software and since we’re remote, we’re relying on bandwidth to communicate with your Zetta system. If you’re in an area with poor Internet or other factors, we want to keep the downloads/uploads to a minimum as best we can. That’s why you’ll find many areas of Zetta2GO as “on demand” or user requested. For example, the Log module will only display one hour at a time and that’s because we only load an hour at a time. Otherwise, Zetta2GO would need to load a 24/7 log, specifically, it would need to download and then display that 24/7 log, preventing the user from working until the download was complete. Finally, we also preach, “Zetta is made to enhance the Zetta experience, not made to replace the Zetta experience.” You’ll find some of the advanced modules are not available in Zetta2GO, however, you can continue to work on day-to-day operations as you would in Zetta, but remotely in Zetta2GO. You can control the on-air product, add audio, voice track and more – all outside of the on-air studio.
Starting with the Layout, Zetta2GO can be organized based on multiple desired layouts. Users can choose from one to six modules open at any time and there’s no limitations on the modules. For example, if you have six stations, you can have six on-air modules, each with a different station and then display your Zetta2GO on a monitor in the waiting area of your studio for listeners to watch while they’re waiting. Other Tools to note, there’s Manager Locally Cached Audio, which is important if you’re working a lot within Zetta2GO. Since we’re locally downloading any audio from your Zetta system, over time, that folder can build. Like Housekeeping in GSelector, it’s never a bad idea to occasionally clear the Manage Locally Cached Audio. In the same vein, this isn’t something that users should feel pressured into running once a week. Under the Configuration dropdown, we have Hide the Audio Audition Player, there are some Global Settings in case you’re in a low Internet area, and the Zetta2GO Active Sessions. Since Zetta2GO operates on seats, this is where you can kick out users who aren’t actively using the software. An unlimited number of Zetta users can access a defined number of continuous Zetta2GO seats. Simply put, If I have five Zetta2GO seats, the sixth person to log in, will get an error that there are no more seats available. Zetta2GO also has a help guide and new to Zetta 5.21.1, we’ve introduced a Zetta2GO F1 Dynamic Help guide.
For the purpose of this blog, we’ll briefly cover each Zetta2GO module with any noteworthy feature or setting. Working within the On-Air module, we can control the on-air product and that’s exactly what we mean – if a user hits stop on Zetta2GO, Zetta will also stop. If you’re off the air for whatever reason, users can open their laptop from their couch, connect to their VPN, hit play, put Zetta back in Auto mode and we’re back on the air.
As we mentioned earlier, the Log module loads the log hour by hour and the same Zetta workflows apply. Programmers can drag and drop audio from the Library into the Logs module, they can access multiple days and stations, and voice track any transition – no Empty Voice Track needed.
Speaking of voice tracks, make a note of the Logs’ “Keep Logs Synced With iVT” icon. If enabled and the Voice Track / Segue Editor module is open, when a user clicks on the transition in the Logs module, the Voice Track module will instantly open that transition. Which brings us to the teaser of the week! Brand new to Zetta 5.21.1, we replicated Zetta’s voice track workflows into Zetta2GO. Now, on-air talent can set numerous marks while voice tracking, including Trim In, Trim Out, Fades, Volume Points, etc… If you’ve been following along with our RCS Lives, you know this has been a request of many of our clients and we made a point to include this enhancement in the latest Zetta 5.21.1 release, due in June 2021. Of course, if you wanted to be a Zetta Beta user, you could test drive this feature right now! To wrap up the Voice Track / Segue Module, use the gear icon to adjust some of the unique user settings. For example, the one or three click voice track option.
Taking a look at the Library module, this is where users can add or edit any audio. Same Zetta behavior applies, choose your desired asset type and Zetta2GO will open its corresponding Metadata module. Simply download the audio and set your marks. Remember to work smarter – not harder. If you have a VPN, that means you have access to the Zetta environment. Instead of manually dragging in each element one by one, create an Auto Load workflow so that Zetta automatically sees the file you want to ingest, performs the Marks Analysis, saves it as the default audio type and then simply use Zetta2GO to confirm the asset has been uploaded correctly.
Make a note of the “download” icons, either the down arrow icon in the Metadata module or the circle arrows in the Hot Keys. These simply represent that the local user has not downloaded this piece of audio and if you want to preview or hear this audio locally, click on the icon to download the audio. Once downloaded, this will become part of the locally cached audio mentioned earlier.
Moving onto Zetta2GO Hot Keys, these are audio and non-audio triggers that are established via Zetta’s corresponding Hot Keys. Anything done is Zetta will automatically be replicated in Zetta2GO’s Hot Keys. Remember back to our compounded remote hybrid workflows. Let’s use the “I want to export my Best of Morning Show podcast” workflow. Define a macro with multiple exports of “Best of Morning Show,” which could also be sent to numerous podcast locations (or destinations), and then assign that Macro to a Hot Key. Set a Custom Name and now users can create a workflow so that there’s a user who knows that on Friday at 3pm, they click on the Hot Key and all of that cluster’s “Best of Morning Shows” are exported to their defined locations. Or perhaps there’s a morning show sidekick who can have their iPad open and firing pieces of audio directly on-air from their device. If you’re voice tracking, switch to Local mode and then talent can control the volume via the fader to the right of the Local button.
Next, we have the System Monitor module. This is an administrative module displaying a live snapshot of your Zetta environment. This is a helpful tool for engineers and administrators to identify what is playing. For example, note the station, its status, where it’s playing on the air, Gap Time, Stream (which is important for identifying where it’s playing on your physical board in studio), and finally the on-air item. There’s also live data regarding the database size, free space and if the Content Stores are online and working correctly.
There are a lot of exciting features in Zetta 5.21.1, which is available now….if you’re a Beta user. If you want to be on the ground floor of the latest and greatest RCS products, simply reach out to your RCS contact – Sales, Support, etc.. for more information. Also, don’t forget to double check that your backup path is working correctly. Don’t forget to check out our brand new Feature Friday where we’ll be showcasing – you guessed it – a new feature every Friday! We’ll be live once again next Thursday at 11am ET for RCS Live. Check us out on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.