The XStudio documentation includes some words, terms, abbreviations or perhaps industry-specific "jargon" that may not be meaningful or perfectly clear to you. The table includes entries that may need additional explanation or definition, listed alphabetically.
Term |
Meaning |
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Refers to the generic type of audio file supported by XStudio. This type of file was originally created by Computer Concepts Corporation, Lenexa, KS, and is the file name extension used by the DCS and Maestro audio systems, also created and sold by Computer Concepts. DAF files consist of a small "header" that contains a description, start and end dates for the audio, distribution information, and a digital Aux Mark among other things. |
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Refers to a loss-less audio encoding (data reduction) method and one of the types of audio files supported for playback in XStudio. The apt-X name is trademarked. |
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Refers to the control on the XStudio main display used for constructing a list of audio items to play on an ad hoc basis. See the topic on Using the Audio Clipboard for more information. |
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Also [Auto] button on primary playback channel. Refers to automatically sequencing audio items (carts) on the broadcast log, moving from one item to the next as Aux Mark or EOM of playing item is reached. Auto-Segue is enabled when the [Auto] button is down, disabled when the button is up. |
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Refers to a technique of automatically adding audio content to a satellite programming break to meet the required length of the break when the scheduled content on the log sums to less time than the required length. XStudio does not offer this feature. |
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Refers to a digital "mark" on an audio file, similar to traditional secondary tones on broadcast tape decks, either reel-to-reel and tape cartridge types. This mark is used to signal the beginning of the end of audio playback. It is used as a trigger point to begin playing another audio item, if applicable. This results in overlap of audio - the remaining portion of the audio that is finishing plus the beginning of the newly-started audio item are mixed 1-to-1 to ensure a smooth sound with no dead air. |
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Shorthand for "commercial break" or "stopset". The term is most often used when referring to commercial content played back on-demand as part of a satellite-driven format. The term has over time been broadened to refer to a group of audio elements (carts) played in sequence, where the content might not necessarily be just commercials. |
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Refers to an audio file, also called an audio item. The term originated with the introduction of tape cartridge machines in radio. These cartridges, similar in appearance to 8-track tape cartridges, were referred to in shorthand as a "cart". Prior to the introduction of computer-based hard-disk audio delivery systems such as XStudio, tape cartridge machines were ubiquitous in radio stations and the main means of playing non-music audio content to air. Usage of the term has persisted, particularly among veteran broadcasters who were active in radio during the time tape cartridge playback machines were used extensively in radio stations. |
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A unit of time equal to 0.01 seconds (hundredth of a second). |
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Also known as a "Cue". Refers to a signal, typically a contact closure, sent by satellite programming services to indicate to the station that some task needs to be performed. Services generally send a number of different "closures" or "cues" that identify which task is to be performed locally. There might be, for instance, a unique closure to signal the station to insert a local commercial break, a different closure to signal the station to play a liner, and yet another closure to signal the station to play a legal ID. |
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Refers to the identity of an audio file. A cart number is the file name of the audio file without the file extension. In the time period that tape cartridges ("carts") were used extensively in radio, the conventional method for identifying a particular cartridge and its contents was to place an ID number of some kind on the cartridge label. Typically, the ID number was around 4 characters in length, which was a convenient size to accommodate placing both the ID and a short text description of the audio on the tape cartridge label. |
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Refers to an audio inventory data file. The file is formatted to a specification published by Computer Concepts Corporation, Lenexa, KS. The file contains information about .DAF audio files, including the cart number, start and end dates, length and Aux Mark. |
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Also known as "announcer voice" or "voice number". Refers to a 2-character value representing a pair of digits that might be used in a cart number. Cart numbers that use the Current Voice value contain the "##" cart macro characters as part of the cart number. As an example, at playback time the cart number "ID##" becomes "ID88" if the Current Voice value is "88". The Current Voice value can be set with a task (Set Voice Task) or from the log using the Load Window directive. |
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These terms refers to an audio playback display control. May also be referred to as a Transport or Transport Control. A deck contains buttons to control audio playback for the selected deck, a status LED, and display fields for remaining play time, cart number and a description of the audio item playing. See the topic on Audio Playback for additional information and screen shots. |
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Refers to buttons on XStudio decks (channels) 2 and 3 transports. The deck's playback source can be either the Audio Clipboard (the default) or the Log, depending on the state of the button. |
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Also known as a Log Directive. Refers to a special type of log (broadcast schedule) record that is used to affect the behavior of XStudio. See the topic on Log Directives for additional details. |
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These terms refer to special characters added to a Log Directive that affect the directive's meaning and behavior. Typically, the special character is placed in the first character position of the directive's description field. For more information, review the Log Directives topic. |
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An abbreviation for End-of-Message. Refers to a signal from the host audio engine that playback of a particular audio item (cart) is about to finish. See the synonym Aux Mark for additional details. |
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Refers to a method of immediate synchronization of XStudio audio playback to a specific log time. A Hard Sync is initiated with a log directive key and when executed, all playing audio on the primary playback channel is halted followed by immediate playback of the first audio item on the log following the directive. |
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Refers to a programmable button that when clicked, executes an instant playback of specified audio or executes an XStudio Action. |
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Also known as a "Relay Input". Refers to a wiring connection on a device, typically an audio switcher, that receives a closure from another external device, typically a satellite receiver. Audio switcher manufacturers may also refer to this connection as a "PIP" (Parallel Input Port) or "GPI" (General Purpose Input). When a mechanical closure is received by the device, the event is communicated to XStudio via serial data sent by the device. |
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A short-hand reference to the XStudio Inventory Manager. |
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A broadcast schedule of events, ordered by time. A log normally contains a complete single day's schedule of audio items to be played, along with notes to the end-user and special items called Log Directives that affect the behavior of XStudio. |
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Log Directive |
Also known as a Directive. |
Refers to the technique of updating a current-day XStudio log (program schedule) by retaining log content prior to the current log execution point and merging ("splicing") the new, updated log content starting just after the current log execution point. This mechanism retains already performed content as it was when performed while updating the rest of the log day to reflect the new changes. |
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Refers to the operating mode of XStudio. See the topic on Operating Modes for details on the operating modes supported by XStudio along with an explanation of their usage. |
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Refers to MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (MP2, sometimes incorrectly called Musicam), an audio codec defined by ISO/IEC 11172-3. While MP3 is much more popular for PC and internet applications, MP2 remains a dominant standard for audio broadcasting. MPEG is a "lossy" audio coding standard. MPEG is one of the types of audio files supported for playback in XStudio. (Portions from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) |
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Refers to an audio item on the log (broadcast schedule) that is marked as the next item that will be played, either when XStudio is automatically sequencing playback or when the user manually starts playback from the log. |
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Operating Mode |
Also known as Mode. |
Also known as "linear". Refers to an uncompressed, lossless storage method for audio. Uncompressed audio files are quite large in size but are considered "pure" and high quality, high fidelity audio. When disk storage space is not an issue and best quality audio is required, PCM storage is often used. PCM is one of the types of audio files supported for playback in XStudio. (Portions from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) |
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Refers to a single "setting" or a group of "settings" in XStudio. The term is used throughout this documentation to define settings or "states" for XStudio that affect how the software operates. |
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Relay Input |
See Input Relay. The terms are synonymous. |
Refers to XStudio's internal mechanism for rotating carts (audio items) in a Start Play task that uses a Cart Rotation List. |
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Remote Start |
Refers to a method of starting playback of audio on a specific deck in XStudio using an external mechanical device such as the channel-on button on a broadcast console. |
Refers to a group of settings that control XStudio behavior and document its state of operation. See the topic on Session Properties for additional information. |
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Refers to a method of synchronizing XStudio audio playback to a specific log time in a non-abrupt way. Soft Sync is executed as a part of a log directive containing a Cast-Off directive key. When executed, XEngine skips any unplayed audio items on the log located prior to the directive and sets the Next-To-Play marker as the first audio element following the directive. |
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Stopset |
Refers to a "commercial break". The term has its origins in music formats where the music is considered of primary importance and playback of a set (group) of commercials "stops" the format. |
Transport, |
For purposes of XStudio documentation, a transport control is synonymous with Deck or Playback Deck. |
Voice Number |
Synonymous with Current Voice. |
Refers to a playback option and XStudio behavior when the end of a currently executing log is encountered and there are no more audio items on the log. Depending on the operating mode and whether or not a valid next-day log exists, XStudio will "wrap around" the log - go back to the first audio item on the current log - and continue playing audio, generally a better alternative than stoppage of audio playback. |
