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Music Database

AUDICOM features a powerful music information system based on 14 key parameters. These fields feed the AutoDJ to generate automated programming with artistic criteria difficult to achieve in other systems. The Database automatically records statistics like play count, last played, peak rotation week, etc. Other parameters—such as Class (Music, Promo, Spot, Fill), Genre, Performer, Author—can be manually entered or edited. Files enter the Database in two ways:
  • Automatic: by copying them to autoDB folders from File Manager (ready for AutoDJ according to folder style).
  • Manual: using the InfoMusic-Production module (recommended for fine curation and cataloging).
The InfoMusic interface facilitates data entry because it remembers the values entered by users: each field keeps its history and becomes selectable from dropdown menus. The more complete each title’s record is, the better the AutoDJ selection will work.
The autoDB folders in File Manager greatly reduce ingestion work. See the “File Manager” chapter for details and organizational best practices.

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User Information Fields (description)

These are the operator-editable fields. Not all need to be completed, except Class and—for music—Style. However, leaving fields empty reduces the artistic quality of automatic selection. You can complete them progressively over time.
Keyboard functions are shown in brackets where applicable.

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File (FileName)

Shows name and path of the audio file. To select, use New (Browse), choose the folder and open the file. The full name (with path) will display here and the filename will also copy to the Title field.
  • You can input multiple files at once with File Manager (drag & drop) or using Scan.
  • If you want to change the Title under which the file will be registered, do it before saving: once added, you cannot modify the Title field in the database (to prevent duplicates). If there’s an error, you must delete the record and re-enter it with the correct title.
  • If you try to register a file with a Title that already exists, InfoMusic will notify and offer to associate that title with the current file (typical when different performers share a song name). If accepted, all previous data for that title will be replaced with the new data.

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Title

Title under which the file is registered in the Database. It is mandatory. Maximum 32 characters (including spaces). No two identical titles can exist in the Database. When loading from New, the filename copies to the Title field.
  • Titles can be renamed from File Manager with F2 (Change Name): this keeps the filename and Database synchronized.
  • If you try to register a file with an existing title, InfoMusic will alert you and you can choose to associate it with the current file (overwriting previous metadata).
For numbered listings above 9, pad with zeros to maintain order: Title 01, Title 02 … Title 20.
Forbidden characters in titles: / * \ " | ? < > :

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Comments

Text that appears in the comments window of the On-Air Screen while the file plays. Useful for audience-valuable information. Maximum 254 characters.
If the file comes from HD-Corder and includes comments, or if it’s an MP3 with ID3 v1/v2 with comments, it will load automatically.

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Style [ F7 ]

Defines the musical style of the title (e.g.: Classic, Melodic, Instrumental, Jazz, Pop, Rock & Roll, etc.). This is a critical field for proper AutoDJ selection.
  • Carefully plan the set of styles to use. Avoid styles with very few titles (they complicate rotation).
  • All styles are saved once and then selected from an alphabetical menu.
The “Uncategorized” style is created by dbReindex when it detects titles with empty Style.

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Performer [ F10 ]

Name of the performer. Each new value is memorized and reusable from the dropdown menu.

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Author [ F9 ]

Name of the composer of the work.

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Position

Informative marker to indicate if a track works as an Opening or Closing (based on its musical character). Helps quick searches for the operator. AutoDJ doesn’t use this mark for positioning by itself.

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Tempo

Execution speed. Four fixed values: Largo, Andante, Allegro, Presto.

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Mood

Intensity/loudness. Four fixed values: Very Soft, Soft, Strong, Very Strong.
Allows adapting music to time slots (e.g., less “Very Strong” late at night, more freedom on weekends).

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Gender [ F8 ]

Classification by formation: Solo, Duo, Group, Orchestra, etc. You can create subgenders (e.g.: Female/Male Solo). AutoDJ can vary the sequence to provide diversity (e.g., alternate formations).

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Recording Company

Name of the record label. Low impact on musical logic, but useful for reports (e.g., SADAIC or local organizations) or label agreements.

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Top Hit [ F11 ]

Indicates if the track belongs to a ranking: Top-100, Top-40, Top-25, Top-10 or empty.
AutoDJ can schedule periodic repetitions of Top Hits (configurable in the format).

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Class

Defines the content type: Music, Spots (Ads), Fills, Promos (Promotional).
  • Music: standard musical tracks.
  • Promos: self-promotion pieces; also used for fine time adjustments.
  • Fills: brief voiceless music for second-precise adjustments (e.g.: entering a commercial break or newscast at exact time).
  • Spots: commercial ads.

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Using the Promo category

Two main labels: PROMO and PROMOPGM.
  • PROMO: enabled for AutoDJ blocks and for time compensation in any format.
  • PROMOPGM: specific program promotionals; not used for time adjustments.
Best practices:
  1. Program promos (interspersed every “n” tracks in AutoDJ): Class = PromoPgm. Can be filtered by prefix (e.g.: Afternoon-1, Afternoon-2…) in the AutoDJ format.
  2. General 24/7 promos: Class = Promo. Useful for adjustments (have many and of various durations).
  3. Special separators that AutoDJ should not handle automatically: Class = Separators (manual scheduling).
In Autodj.ini, you can change the category AutoDJ uses when interspersing promos: promoPgmClass=PromoPgm (default).
If you want it to use Promo instead of PromoPgm, set promoPgmClass=Promo.

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Processing

If you have a 562dsp with VirtualRack, you can assign the processing preset by title (e.g., 20:Rock&POP). When the track plays, AUDICOM requests VirtualRack to change to the indicated program.
  • VirtualRack runs separately and must be running (AUDICOM mode) for switching to work.
  • Creating a shortcut to start with Windows is recommended.
  • Can run in demo mode without hardware for testing.

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Media

Indicates where the title is stored: HD (disk) or other media (CD, MD, DAT, etc.).
  • AutoDJ operates only with HD.
  • If the media is not HD, the file may not be associated (empty File Name field).
  • If a title with external media is inserted On-Air, a pause is created for the operator to trigger it from the indicated medium.
If Media = _missing, the file doesn’t exist on disk, was moved or renamed outside InfoMusic/File Manager.
Use dbReindex (option “Verify files exist”) to mark them as _missing. _missing titles are not inserted On-Air.

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Album ID / CD # / Track

  • CD Track: track number when media is CD (or other physical media). If 0, CD-ROM is assumed; if CD isn’t in drive, title will be ignored and marked as error.
  • CD #: disk identifier number (numbers only).
  • ExternalID / Album ID: external scheduler ID (Selector, PowerGold) or catalog code. Alphanumeric, up to 16 characters.

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Fade In / Out

Defines crossfade times by title: entry (Fade In) and exit (Fade Out), in tenths of second (0 to 50 → 0 to 5 s).
  • Soft endings: high values (10 to 50).
  • Abrupt endings: shorter values (5 to 10).
  • Spots (voice to voice): generally 0 to avoid overlaps; if they have background/effect, use 3 to 6.
  • In files under 8 s, cross-fades are ignored.
If entering InfoMusic from HD Recorder:
  • Files < 1 min → cross-fade 0 and Class = Spot.
  • Files ≥ 1 min → cross-fade 25 (2.5 s) and Class = Music.

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Playback Controls and INTRO Time

Au Infomusic Production Playback Pn
  • Play / Stop: control playback of the selected title.
  • VU (left) shows level and a counter.
  • Duration: total file duration.
Setting INTRO (voice entry point):
  1. Play the file and, when voice enters, press SET INTRO: the time is registered.
  2. Use PLAY INTRO to play from intro and validate.
  3. The Intro field is editable; you can fine-tune manually. A position bar is also available for precise movement.
On the On-Air Screen, the Intro appears as a countdown for the operator/announcer.
In automatic operation, AutoDJ can overlap presentations at the track start adjusted to the Intro so the singer enters right after the announcement ends (professional “live” effect).

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Clearing Fields

You can modify any field at any time and save.
E.g.: changing a track’s Style: select the new value and save the record.
If you delete all titles of a Style/Author/etc., that item will remain visible in the menu until InfoMusic is closed. Upon reopening, the value will have disappeared.

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Fixed Fields (read-only)

These are automatic; the user cannot edit them.
  • Length: total in mm:ss. Can be recalculated with dbReindex (useful after audio editing).
  • Fs / Bitrate: sampling frequency (WAV/PCM) or compression rate (kbps in MPEG).
  • Rec Mode: 2S (discrete stereo), MO (mono), JS (Joint Stereo).
  • Recording Date: day/month/year.
  • Last Time on Air: date and time of last broadcast.
  • Last Week Played: week and play count.
  • Best Week: week with highest play count and its total.