SAM Broadcaster vs StationPlaylist - Questions

[LoungeLizard2]

Hello all -

Long time listener, first time caller---yada yada yada..

I'm setting up an internet station, and am curious if anyone knows which automation is better.  SAM seems to have a lot of support and the PAL language doesn't look too bad, while I read here that a lot of people like SPL versus others like Maestro or RCS or Simian.

What I would like is to hear from people who actually use either automation system or can make a suggestion.  Can y'all help me out?

The auto-system has to have a live assist, ease of use, ability to take a remote feed, ease of use, good music scheduling capabilities so it can run unassisted for overnights and be able to play hour long programs with jingles/adverts during breaks.  Oh yeah, it has to be easy to use.

Also, need a non-expensive solution for a hybrid/phone input to take callers -

Thanks for your input -

[V.Riley]

I've experimented with SAM, and have used StationPlaylists since 2005.  I prefer StationPlaylist over SAM.  StationPlaylist from my view point seems to be more "professional" in its features and performance.  It really competes well with the big time packages that cost thousands of dollars.  Plus you don't need to do scripting to make it work well.

As for hooking up callers, I've heard of people using Skype and StationPlaylist along with people using a mixing board for land line calls and StationPlaylist, although I haven't done that my self so I couldn't give you details on that.  StationPlaylist does have a group on Yahoo Groups where you can join and ask "How Do I Do That" questions and such.  They are very responsive.

Of course my opinion could be biased.  Your opinion may be different.  Although you can't get the full feature set from a demo, you might want to try the demos of both and see which one you like best. 

[Bill DeFelice]

SAM was one of the systems I was looking at when I decided that system I was using was keeping me from have an even more professional sound. I didn't like all the windows and, at least for me, coming from the broadcast industry it didn't look friendly to me (or any of the folks assisting me with my webstream). I found somebody locally who had it running and I played with it. It hung once or twice and seemed a little too busy with all the little windows so it was easy to cross that one off the list.

I had actually seen StationPlaylist before so I was at least familiar with the software. I played with the demo for almost two months on a couple of machines before jumping in and purchasing it. It ended up as the best investment I ever made! For 8 months I had to run my station from a closet at a friends as I was between houses and had to fight with the local phone utility to get working DSL. In spite of some incorrect programming on my part, StationPlaylist kept things on the air without dead air. There was finally some peace of mind for me running the stream.

You can read about my journey as I authored the StationPlaylist Review for trade paper Radio World.

[davect]

I've been using StationPlaylist for three years. I love it! Hear it action at http://www.softneasy.com

[Interstate 78]

My friends of friends at Kutztown University Radio http://kur.kutztown.edu/ use Jockey Pro http://www.11software.com/

[V.Riley]

My friends of friends at Kutztown University Radio http://kur.kutztown.edu/ use Jockey Pro http://www.11software.com/

Doesn't look good for Jockey Pro as the 11software website isn't loading at this moment.

[Bill DeFelice]

Doesn't look good for Jockey Pro as the 11software website isn't loading at this moment.

I checked it out before and it was there, although the most recent copyright date on the site is 2006! This was the software LPB use to sell to it's clients. Maybe they met a similar fate to the now-defunct LPB, Inc?

[Starbucks]

Hands down.....Station playlist. I mentioned before, SAM is nothing but an over sophisticated cock pit. Then scripting , who has time to learn that , in case you prefer a top of the hour ID or your wheel to balance evey hour. Station Playlist is the way to go. SAM has lots of bells and whistles , and SP is set up basically in front of you as you see what is going on every song or spot that's played.