Radio-Assist 7.5, the extensive digital audio range

To broaden the Radio-Assist 7.5 range, NETIA launches a new module for newsrooms: the SCRIPT dispatch-processing tool. Script works with the other Radio-Assist 7.5 modules in compliance with radio companies' news-desk operating methods, and provides tight integration of linked text and sound. Developed in collaboration with journalists, Script has all the features required for end-to-end news management, from capture to broadcast.

Dispatch capture from different sources (satellite, modem and so forth) is based on a protocol defined by providers. Script is compatible with all the standard protocols (AFP, REUTERS, AP, BLOOMBERG, IRN, etc.). The system can handle several press agencies at once, whether they use Roman, Cyrillic, Arabic or Chinese characters. Filters are applied to all dispatches and can be modified for the user's convenience. They are multilingual. The filtering criteria the user defines can be instantly accessed just by selecting them. Filter results are automatically classed in order of arrival. The user sees a summary with the first lines of the dispatch and can subscribe to a specific service, such as agency subscription or notice of arrival of an urgent dispatch (HotBox).

The system includes tight integration of text processing and linked sounds. The text editor has all the usual word processing functions: choice of typeface, font size and style, paragraph format and the copy/paste, cut and delete functions. When a dispatch is used to create a text, it is not itself altered. Several users can read the same dispatch at the same time. When one or more sounds have been edited with the Snippet tool, the newsman can drag and drop them to the text to make a complete news report in just a few minutes. When the report is ready, it is dropped directly into the news playlist using the Feder-All Desk tab, the Radio-Assist 7.5 module providing secure shared access to on-air schedules. NETIA has put all its wide experience in ergonomics into the design of Script to ensure it is quick and easy to use, with helpful features like universal drag and drop, many keyboard shortcuts, a clear and instant view of events, etc. In 2004, RTM (Radio Télévision du Maroc) and VOV International (Voice of Vietnam) chose Script for their newsrooms.

The latest Radio-Assist 7.5 range by NETIA has a new Multi-track production tab. The great asset of this product is its capacity to combine all the current digital audio facilities to meet the production requirements of general-interest radios. The Multi-track function makes it easier to mix items from different tracks. Each track has its own editing and mixing tools (recording, separate fade and panning curves for clips and tracks, sequence stretching, sequence mastering, Mute and Solo functions, etc.). As users have requested, NETIA has incorporated a whole range of quality sound effects: equaliser, compressor, reverb, hiss control, etc. Based on the popular ergonomics of the Snippet tool, the Radio-Assist 7.5 Multi-track can be controlled entirely with the drag and drop function to move items from one track to another, modify sequences with a click of the mouse or select them on the fly. To make life easier for its users, the Multi-track interface as designed by NETIA includes automatic enlargement of the work area, an end-of-screen scroll function, right and left mouse click and keyboard shortcuts.

The 7.5 version of the Radio-Assist range now operates with any DirectX-compatible sound card. NETIA has designed and developed a high-performance software overlayer with its own drivers and libraries. Conversion is faster in linear and compressed modes alike. All the usual functions (playback, recording, editing, etc.) are available and give excellent results. In addition, there is a wide bandwidth from 48 to 8 kHertz.

Many tests have been run to validate several types of card, such as: