From SAM Broadcaster Pro to RadioDJ

[XRockRadio]

Hi Gang,
I am at a crossroads. I'm currently running SAM Broadcaster Pro and it has some issues such as skipping or stopping the music when a liner loads automatically per a PAL Script. Anyway, has anyone here switched from SAM to RadioDJ and are you happy with the switch?

I currently use MySQL database...is the switch easy from SAM to RadioDJ?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Tim Granger

[DJ Garybaldy]

I've been a RadioDJ user for just shy of 10 years. I moved from SAM after various issues which I've documented on my blog..

You'll get better reliability from RadioDJ one user had v1.8.2 up and running for 4 years without interruption. You can still carry on using MySQL as its the only database the software supports .

There used  to be a script around here to move from SAM to RadioDJ using a PHP script years ago its not been maintained in years.


You'll have t start from scratch always remember to backup your database after you make changes or import songs as all the settings are stored along with Events. You can't backup the events table in SAM

Hope we can convince you to switch I can say hand on heart I've rarely had issues with RadioDJ in the time I've used it.

[XRockRadio]

Thank you for your kind words!

We've been streaming since March 14th, 2004. Long time. LOL.
I must admit, I do not know how to back up MySQL. May I request directions, if it's simple to type here?

Thanks so much!
Tim

[EmmaSts]

Hello Tim,

I've been coding scripts and websites for people using SamB for years, alot of things with SamB could present issue's, SamB has alot of bugs which even after 10 years have not been fixed...
RadioDJ, in my view, (one moment while I take a deep breath n sort my bra out so I can be polite and not swear)
F...... AWESOME < See I nearly slipped up with some unladylike language lol

Seriously, RadioDJ is so versatile, from a webscripting point of view it's really nice and simple.. you can rely on RadioDJ and from the program aspect, SOLID, No issue's what-so-ever and I've been using it for about a year now...

Fortunate for you I'm not a witch, which I don't need to be really as I'm sure you won't need a spell to switch to RadioDJ

Once you go B... Sorry wrong phrase...
Switch and you'll never return to any other radio automation software

[DJ Garybaldy]

The database setup tool in the setup folder can backup your database every day at a set time to a folder of your choosing. You don't have to do a thing and if the worst happens you just install RadioDJ again and restore a backup .sql file from the folder making sure you have the the same music paths and bingo. You reinstall the database with the database setup tool too.

RadioDJ has some nifty features when you discover some of them it will make you smile


Full install instructions are here https://djgarybaldy.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-to-install-radiodj-free-radio.html

[XRockRadio]

Ok,

Ya'll convinced me! I downloaded RadioDJ!!!

Now, my question. Since I am running SAM Pro and using MySQL as my database...RadioDJ is asking me to install database. NOW, will this override MySQL that I am using for SAM? Or is it just creating another side of MySQL under radiodj2

Thanks gang.

[EmmaSts]

Create a new database... call it something like radiodjdbdata
then set RadioDJ to install to that...

[DJ Garybaldy]

Your database username wll probably just be root.

You can call the RadioDJ database anything you like.

If you get stuck post on the support forum and we shall come to your aid.

[XRockRadio]

Thanks!

I appreciate the input you all have given.

Now one last question (as of right now) The prompt popped up stating...

"Are you really sure you want to install the database? If the database already exists, it will be overwritten"

Now, is this a warning telling me my SAM database will be overwritten?

Thanks

[EmmaSts]

Now, is this a warning telling me my SAM database will be overwritten?

Thanks

This will all depend on whether you've called your database SAMDB...
In the prompt, it should say the database name, username and password...
So long as the database name is different from your SAMDB then no it won't overwrite.

[XRockRadio]

You're Awesome!!!!
Really!

[XRockRadio]

Ok gang...software downloaded...database built...software running...so far so good.
Now, I have several questions...

1. I use pal scripts for automatic weather/liners/promos to hit every hour or so. Does Radio DJ have a feature to automatically drop these every hour etc...?

2. I use serverroom for our server service. Does Radio DJ have a feature to set up the encoders to push to our servers?

Outside of this I think that's all I have unless I come up with other issues.

Thanks Gang

[DJ Garybaldy]

I use serverroom for our server service. Does Radio DJ have a feature to set up the encoders to push to our servers?

You will have to use a standalone encoder that picks up the audio from RadioDJ and them streams it to your server(s) which is no more difficult than using a built in one.

https://djgarybaldy.blogspot.com/2020/08/encoding-software-standalone-encoders.html

As for your liners firing off at set times have a play with events (big bar at the bottom)

[FreerunMedia]

........
Now, I have several questions...

1. I use pal scripts for automatic weather/liners/promos to hit every hour or so. Does Radio DJ have a feature to automatically drop these every hour etc...?

.........

Yes it's possible. You just make an event with all the things you need.

For example build an event that looks like this:
01: Clear playlist
02: load track by ID ( And here you load up the TOTH )
03: load track by ID ( Here you load up weather )
04: load track by ID ( up here is your news loaded )
05: Auto DJ enable
06: PLAY!

Now it will load up News / Weather and TOTH and will be played in this order. So load the tracks in the event in reverse order! Now you can play with the "WAIT" option and the only thing it does is waiting  You can hold a load track by a couple of seconds or anything after the wait option. Keep in mind that multiple wait commands will add up. So wait 10 for jingle, wait 10 for enable live, wait 10 for play means that play command is started after 30 seconds from start event.

And you can set the event for eacht time you want, either all day long, each hour of the day or just once a week of a year for that matter. Also remember to put thet atrt time for the event. That is the time the event should be fired, so XX:59;48 will start the event each hour at 59 minutes and 48 seconds.