Using Audio Time Manager with Automation Systems and Network Programming

Audio Time Manager’s sophisticated GPIO features allow you to remote control the unit using your automation system and satellite / network receiver. Local breaks can be extended by simply entering more spots in your program automation’s log than would normally fit. ATM will delay the return to network exactly long enough to accommodate the added spots, without losing any network content, and without operator intervention. Affiliates can use ATM to add more local content to network programming, or add availabilities when needed.

Integration is simple: ATM is placed between the satellite receiver and automation system, and contact closures are connected through ATM’s 8x8 GPIO. Your automation system just needs to tell ATM when it’s playing a local break, and ATM does the rest. What’s more, ATM let’s you lock incoming contact closures to incoming audio, then fire outgoing closures when that audio plays out. Local liners and ID’s stay synced to the right audio, whether you are delaying the network or not.

Here’s how this setup works:

• When the network sends a “Begin Local Break” command, your automation system sends a signal to close ATM’s Record Gate relay, and begins playing local spots.
• The automation system keeps the Record Gate relay closed as long as local spots are playing, even if there are more spots than would normally fit in the network break. When the network sends a “Return to Network” command, it activates the Record Trigger and ATM starts recording network programming.
• When the local break is over, your automation system sends the command to release the Record Gate. This puts ATM into play mode, seamlessly joining the network and sounding as if they had given you a longer break.
• Any additional network cues that would normally go to the automation system can be routed through ATM. Network cue output relays feed ATM’s GPIO inputs, then get assigned to numbered Cue flags. ATM’s GPIO outputs feed these matching Cue flags to the automation system’s inputs. By running these relay closures through ATM, network cues are kept in perfect sync against the audio, even when ATM is delaying or time compressing the programming.