Glossary Of Terms

In this section we will explore the various terminology and jargon used on the P Squared web site. Whilst every effort has been made to make this site as accessible as possible, the technical nature of the products and an assumed knowledge of radio industry terms means that some jargon is inevitable. Hopefully this section will help demystify any terms you are not familiar with.

Automation - Automation broadly means things happening automatically but in radio terms, it refers to the playback of pre-recorded or pre-prepared radio shows without the need for human intervention. Typically, and automated show consists of a list of songs, jingles, adverts and other events that has be pre-prepared and the Playout system will automatically play each of the items in the show in sequence. Automation allows a radio station to run for extended periods without anyone being in front of the PC.

Audio & Data Logging - In this context, the phrase Audio & Data Logging refers to the practice of automatically recording one or more audio inputs for long term storage on a computers hard disk. In addition to audio, several different additional data sources can also be logged including hardware inputs to allow you to monitor when the 'mic' channel on your mixing desk is open, serial (RS232), silences and DAB Text. The P Squared product that is used for Audio and Data Logging is called Powerlog.

Audio Editing (Audio Editor) - An audio editor provides the means to visually view and work with the content of an audio file. By representing the audio in a file as a visual wave form, Audio Editors allow you to edit audio in an intuitive way. P Squared Audio Editor is called SmoothEdit.

AutoTrack & AutoTrack Pro - Music and link scheduling system used for producing -pre-prepared shows for Myriad or other playout systems. AutoTrack is part of the standard Myriad package and AutoTrack Pro offers a range of powerful enhancements to provide you with greater flexibility and control.

Contact Manager - Allows you to access and manage a central contacts database for all your stations contacts needs.

Information Hub - A central system for managing information from a diverse range of sources. Nexus is P Squared information hub.

Myriad - P Squared Playout and Automation system. A Suite of programs that allow for the live or automated playout of audio content and additional items that make up the output of your radio station.

Music & Link Scheduling - This refers to the process of scheduling music, links and other events in to pre-prepared programs to be passed to the playout system for live or automated playout. Typically, a scheduling system consists of a database of songs and links (or jingles) as well a frameworks for shows (which are known as Clocks). The job of the scheduling system is to use the Clocks along with a range of rules to produce your station output.

Multimedia Broadcasting - The practice of broadcasting additional non audio content that compliments the audio broadcast, to digital platforms such as DAB radios or web sites. Typically this can include text about the audio that is playing, hyperlinks to more information, pictures and the ability to 'click to buy' the currently playing item. P Squared's product that allows this to happen is called OCP (Online Content Processor).

Newsroom System - The term Newsroom system refers to a system that can capture incoming audio and text based news from a variety of sources, help journalists to collate, adding and edit these news items and finally present them 'live on air' or publish them to a web site. The P Squared newsroom system is called Scoop.

Nexus - The information super hub, collates information from a range of diverse sources on to a single screen.

OCP (Online Content Processor) - Adds the ability to broadcast additional text, data and picture information to digital platforms such as DAB Digital Radio or web pages.

Playout & Automation System - Common term for a software system used to play music, jingles and other elements that make up a radio program. Playout systems normally store audio on local or central storage and can normally be used for assisting with presenting live shows (live assist) or run fully automated to allow the radio station to run even if no presenter is present. P Squared's playout system is called Myriad.

Powerlog - A audio and data logging system that allows you to automatically record and store your stations audio output along with a range of additional data criteria, for a present period of time.

Remote Voice Tracker - Adds the ability to record Voice Tracks from a remote site of a VPN connection or the web.

Segue - A segue is term used to describe the transition from one audio item to the next. This may also be known as a mix or a cross fade. Segues can be either manual (the presenter does them manually) or automated (the computer does them automatically).

Voice Tracking - Voice Tracking is a radio industry term for the practice of pre-recording voice links in automated shows such that the playout system will play them out so that they sound like the presenter is in presenting a live show even when it is automated. The Voice Tracking process in Myriad is accessed via the Voice / Segue Editor button or remotely using Remote Voice Tracker.

Split Transmission - This is the practice of splitting the output of your radio station so that different geographical regions or alternate transmission mediums receive slightly different versions of the same broadcast. Typically this would include localised advert breaks and possibly alternative jingles etc. Myriad STS is the split transmission solution from P Squared.

Scoop (Capture & Edit) - A newsroom system that is split in to two parts. Scoop Capture automatically captures or download audio and text content from a range of news sources and manages a central news database for your station. Scoop Edit is used by journalists to view and edit the audio and text, add new (local) stories and prepare bulletins. Scoop Edit also has a playout mode to help journalists present news bulletins 'live on air' and also upload bulletins to the station web site.

SmoothEdit - P Squared's audio editor program, used for editing audio.