As with Zetta and other RCS products, you’ve heard us tease about becoming a Beta user and this week, we debuted some of the new features in GSelector 5.0. Beta users can access GSelector 5.0 today with an official release slated for early January 2022. John Bonou joined us to review the completely redesigned user interface, scalable icons, Custom Song/Link Layouts, newly added Jobs and more!

As John pointed out, a new build number reflects a benchmark in GSelector’s history. GSelector 5.0 not only includes an updated user interface, but behind the scenes, GSelector has been modernized to coincide with current software code and under the hood functionality. This will improve performance and continue to allow programmers to scale GSelector with their growing number of stations and workflows within the database.

From the user perspective, John and the GSelector team have given each icon a facelift, modernizing them for everyday display scaling. Now, no matter the size of the screen, combined with the resolution, zoom or 4K, GSelector features crisp, dynamic icons. Users can also expand the icon size for better visual. These can be customized via Tools | Global Settings | Appearance | Style.

Speaking of customizing the user experience, we’ve also created Custom Song/Link Layouts. These are global settings that can be disabled, Legacy, or enabled, Custom. Once enabled, programmers have the option to essentially edit the layout, adding all their desired attributes and attribute panes, and then organizing each attribute pane module to their desired layout. Like Zetta’s customized layouts, we also encourage users to build multiple layouts, specific to their desired workflow. For example, if you have stations that include research, create a “Research Layout,” with the focus being on research fields. Or if you’re working from an enterprise aspect and you need to see Multi-Station fields, then toggle between station specific layouts and Multi-Station focused layouts. This is all about your music philosophy and how you interpret daily GSelector tasks. The Custom Song/Link Layout can be enabled via Tools | Global Settings | Song/Link Window: Custom.

Finally, we reviewed GSelector Jobs and identified some of the newer Jobs, like Generate Schedule. Programmers can automatically schedule and execute specific GSelector tasks like a Service Heartbeat (making sure there’s a live connection to the GSelector Server), Housekeeping, Backup, Check Publication Status, Check Schedule, and now Generate Schedule. Each of these Jobs also include an email notification in case the Jobs are successful or results in a failure. In regard to Generate Schedule, programmers can schedule the next unscheduled day or a defined number of days after the next scheduled day. This includes multiple station optional elements, like only schedule Songs or exclude Links. If you’re looking for more information on GSelector Jobs, check out our previous RCS Live here.

Since it came up during our weekly questions and answers segment, John commented on GSelector and Windows 11. Throughout RCS, all our products are tested in advanced with a partnership with Microsoft to work out any new operation system kinks, if any. As of right now, there are no known issues running GSelector on Windows 11. In fact, we already have multiple instances working in the field.

As 2021 comes to a close, RCS Live will be taking a slight break, returning with an impressive list of topics to cover in the new year. Don’t forget that users can always watch older sessions on the RCS Live Archive. If you want to become a GSelector 5.0 or Zetta 5.21.2 Beta user, reach out to your local RCS contact. From the entire RCS Live Team, we wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season and we can’t wait to chat more with you in the upcoming year!

As 2021 is about to come to a close, we are excited and sadden to announce that Bill Webber, RCS Director of Scheduling, who’s been with the company for over 30 years, will be retiring at the end of the year. Bill has been instrumental in developing RCS scheduling products like Selector V12, Selector V15 and GSelector. As a token of our appreciation for Bill’s work and dedication to music schedulers around the world, we were joined by John Bonou to share stories about Bill, our own experiences with music scheduling, and discuss where RCS is planning on taking music scheduling in 2002 and beyond.

After a brief trip down memory lane with Bill, recapping all the great experiences he’s had with RCS users throughout the years, John talked about what’s next for GSelector. As always, you can become a Beta user for GSelector 5.0, which we’ll demonstrate some of the new features in an upcoming RCS Live. This is a landmark GSelector build with multiple behind the scenes updates, heighten security, and a fully customizable user experience.

Bill’s RCS journey has taken him around the world, and he’s mentioned that it was a pleasure to get to work with not only an amazing team, but to interact with countless music scheduling experts. From all of us here at RCS, we wish Bill nothing but the best with his retirement. Here’s to spending more free time with your family, friends and The Boss!

You’ve heard us tease about becoming a Beta user where programmers can play with the latest enhancements from RCS and this week, we debuted some of the new features in Zetta 5.21.2. Beta users can access Zetta 5.21.2 today with an official release slated for February 2022. We demonstrated the new Zetta Content Manager securities, Hot Keys settings, Virtual Events, Zetta2GO and more! And who better to demonstrate these new enhancements than Martin Blazek, the Zetta Product Manager?

Starting with some security enhancements, Martin discussed how RCS is continuously evolving security across all RCS products. For example, in Zetta 5.21.2, we offer the option for administrators to enable a username and password for proper authorization when accessing Zetta Content Stores. Of course, there are additional advanced security measures put in place, but we’ll keep those to ourselves as to keep hackers on their toes.

Next, we discussed the brand-new Hot Keys settings, specifically the right-click options. Now, when a user edits a Hot Key, they have a centralized and expanded Hot Key options to adjust a label, color, type of event, play stream and more. This new drop down also acts as a multiple key changer with options to adjust a single key, row or column. The Event option is significant because now engineers have direct access to add macros and quickly curate a bank of non-audio triggers. We also demonstrated how some programmers can setup a Hot Key to be used as a navigation piece. They could define a “Open Hot Key Bank,” set the custom name and then include a return in the corresponding Hot Key Bank. It’s important to note Martin and the Zetta Team’s dedication to the user interface and experience. You’ll notice that throughout Zetta, we maintain the philosophy that there are users with various skillsets and with the simplicity of drag and drop or scalable customization with centralized options, we keep things easy for the user.

Another new feature to Zetta 5.21.2 is the introduction of Zetta Virtual Events. If you think of the programming side, there’s a lengthy file with multiple elements embedded within. For example, a 2-hour mix show with multiple songs featured throughout each segment or a live concert that requires a breakdown list of every song performed. Now, programmers can open the specific longform content, and then using the new Metadata | Marks subtab, define a location within the asset with either a specific element that’s already saved within Zetta or opt for a manual metadata placeholder for RDS purposes. In addition, Martin detailed how users can now skip or skim through the audio file, which allows for pinpoint accuracy when defining the start of an embedded new element. This is going to be a feature that many users are going to love to get their hands on!

As many of us continue to work from home, the RCS Zetta Team is continuously expanding on Zetta2GO and now, everyday users should start to see a blend of typical everyday Zetta workflows in Zetta2GO! We increased our Hot Keys dynamic performance to include dynamic real time changes, without the need of a refresh. As well as the functionality to add, edit or remove banks within Zetta2GO. Also, programmers can not only drag in the usual single log changes, but they can drag and drop multiple elements across different modules. For example, highlight multiple log positions with Control + Click or Shift + Click and drag them into a Hot Keys bank. Or select multiple Library assets to be featured in a Zetta2GO log. We even introduced keyboard navigation functionality, including using the up or down arrows to navigate the Log module, as well as options to cut, copy and paste. For full list of all the Zetta2GO enhancements, don’t forget to check out the Zetta 5.21.2 Release Notes!

Finally, Martin facilitated some user driven questions and it’s important to note that since Zetta can achieve the same result in multiple different ways, it’s always a good idea to ask an RCS professional with your workflow questions. There may be a specific workflow or workaround answer! In regard to this session, with the introduction of a new Zetta 5.21.2 enhancement, we helped a programmer identify how to voice track his Zetta Shows via Zetta2GO.

Again, we’re always looking for Beta users and if you’re looking to test our Zetta 5.21.2 or GSelector 5.0, ask your local RCS contact and we’ll add you to the Beta program! We have additional RCS Lives scheduled to showcase some of these new features, including a GSelector 5.0 session. You can always check out our RCS Archive at www.rcsworks.com/rcs-live or ask any question in real time during the next RCS Live, which airs every Thursday at 11am ET. We’re live on Facebook, Twitch, YouTube and Twitter Live!

The RCS Academy is designed to help train users of all experience levels: from beginners who has never seen GSelector or Zetta, to intermediate users who only know “their way,” to advanced programmers who may not have realized there’s a more sophisticated or direct method of achieving their desired workflow. No matter your experience, the redesigned RCS Academy provides you the tools and resources to excel in radio! And with the introduction of the new GSelector Certification Program 2.0, we’re expanding our scheduling topics and including the latest enhancements available in the most recent GSelector versions.

To review, the RCS Academy is an online, self-paced Certification Program in which users can learn at their own speed. Each lesson is broken down into videos with corresponding Knowledge Checks and Final Quizzes. Although not required to pass, Knowledge Checks are designed for users to decipher how well they understood the provided material. If you find yourself failing a Knowledge Check, that’s a good indication that you should revisit the video. Once a learner completes the Final Quiz, they can continue onto the next section and finally the Final Exam, which encompasses all lesson topics.

All questions can be multiple choice, True or False, or select all that apply. In addition, every question and answer from the Knowledge Checks, Final Quizzes and Final Exam are all randomized so that no two users can take the same Certification Program. We made a point to emphasize questions during the videos as to encourage best practices. The RCS Academy isn’t here to trick you, instead, we focus our questions using real radio examples, guiding the learner to better understand how to utilize our software.

Once you’ve completed either the GSelector or Zetta Certification Programs, you’ve officially become RCS Certified. Aside from your signed letter of completion and certificate, we encourage you to add these skills to your resume, email signature and make sure to opt into our RCS Master Users List, so that other radio professionals can see your achievements on display.

If you’re a manager, the RCS Academy also provides tools to monitor your learner’s progress. We’ve had managers sign up their new hires to better understand our software. Colleges and Universities have even offered RCS Academy with student discounts to better serve their students and more!

As we continue to provide advanced education for all types of RCS users, learners and managers alike can get more information on GSelector and Zetta Certification Programs from our Academy home page: https://www.rcsworks.com/rcs-academy/ . There’s also an online store for users to sign up.

GSelector 5.0 and Zetta 5.21.2 have officially been released to Beta, so if you’re looking to experience the latest and greatest from RCS, the worldwide leader in radio software, don’t hesitate to reach out your local RCS contact to get signed up as a Beta user. We’ll be showcasing these new enhancements in our upcoming RCS Lives, which you can now watch and comment on your platform of choice: Facebook, Twitch, YouTube or Twitter Live. If you want to catch up on past videos, don’t forget to check out our RCS Live Archive: www.rcsworks.com/rcs-live

Following the initial impact of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2020, people looked to 2021 as the year when things would start getting back to normal. Instead, 2021 brought a new set of challenges and a ‘new normal’ that radio stations couldn’t ignore.

One of the main effects of the pandemic for all businesses, radio included, has been the move to remote or home working. The technology has always been there for radio stations to operate remotely in the form of platforms such as Zetta2GO, but there wasn’t always the need (or the acceptance) for people to work from home. However, with lockdowns restricting travel and suspending office working around the world, companies soon realized how powerful tools such as these are.

In many ways, now that the metaphorical genie is out of the bottle when it comes to remote or home working, many people don’t want to go back to how things were previously. In fact, one survey conducted in the UK stated that following the pandemic and the lockdowns “over 88% of people stated their desire to work from home for at least part of the working week.”

As home working transitions to flexible working, tools such as Zetta2GO mean that users can access everything that they need to do their jobs using any internet-enabled device, even a smartphone or tablet. This means that, even with a broadcast team spread out remotely or working flexibly, you know that your radio station’s content won’t be adversely affected.

2021 has also highlighted another trend that radio stations can’t ignore and that’s the way people are now listening to their favorite stations. Back in March 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, Forbes reported a 12% increase in global internet traffic caused by higher consumption of online streaming – including online radio.

In a survey of core radio listeners in July 2021 in the United States and Canada, 50% of respondents stated that they consumed digital audio on a daily basis. In addition, another 18% said that they listened to audio digitally on a weekly basis.

By implementing a technology solution such as the RCS2GO suite, radio stations can learn from recent experiences, embrace remote working, and take the opportunity to provide closer support systems for teams. At the same time, remote teams can cut down on unnecessary office space and heighten environmental awareness.

While working from home is still the norm for many businesses, radio stations can still focus on improving their efficiencies and working operations, investing in communications and cloud storage to boost productivity among distributed teams.

As we move towards the end of 2021, there are a lot of things that radio station owners should take on board. With clever use of technology, broadcasters will have more time to streamline the quality of their programs and deliver the content that their listeners need the most. Meanwhile, listeners can expect more engagement and creativity through an offering of higher-quality broadcasts, as radio continues to bring even more engagement, comfort, and reassurance to their audiences.