THE MISSING LINKER Greg Diamond I work with a number of stations that use Selector as their music scheduling software. Most of them also have Selector’s companion program, Linker. I find it odd, though, that there is often a sense of trepidation about Linker, which keeps people from really taking advantage of it. In fact, there are a number of Selector users that really don’t know what Linker does. Well, there’s good news if you feel that way. If you know your way around Selector, then congratulations, because you already know just about everything there is to using Linker!
Selector is designed to schedule a station’s music using a combination of clocks, categories, and rules. Linker is designed to schedule a station’s non-musical items like imaging, promos, and liners also using clocks, categories, and rules. In short, Selector and Linker work in identical ways, but for different elements of your station.
There is a likely reason why Linker has been ignored by so many. In most cases, stations used other scheduling software prior to switching to Selector. In the data conversion process, any non-musical elements were converted into Breaknotes. Since Breaknotes are capable of calling up non-musical items, many people don’t see the real need for Linker.
Having all your imaging in a single category is very limiting. Given all the various types of ID’s from Generics, to Music Positioners, to Sweep Starters, etc. you are much better off dividing them into multiple categories based on their type and usage.
This, however, will be of no use if you run all your imaging pieces from a single cart number with rotating cuts. To use Linker properly, each ID should be given a specific number. Think in terms of music (which, by the way, can really help you get your head around Linker). Would you run a bunch of songs off a rotating cart?
Breaking everything up into single audio pieces then, allows you to build your categories as you would in Selector. Once that is done, place priorities (i.e. rules) on each category to account for rotation, separation, exposure, daypart restriction, etc. Finally, adjust your clocks to call for categories at specific points in the hour and not just breaknotes (although they serve their purpose, too).
These few easy steps now allow you to more precisely tailor your imaging so it rotates more effectively, allows for longer “shelf-life” through reduced fatigue, adds relevance to the ID’s in relation to the music and effectively shifts control of the momentum of the station to the PD or MD’s desk - where it really does belong.
So, we now know everything about Linker… uh, not so fast. Everything up to this point has just scratched the surface of Linker’s capabilities.
Most stations use some form of hard drive playback system these days. Most stations also merge their traffic and music logs together. Unfortunately, most stations also leave it to the Traffic Department to perform this task. The person looking after the music can still view and edit the log, but it is done through the playback system’s editor - not Selector and Linker.
This may not seem to be much of an issue, but could you imagine being able to edit a day so accurately that you know it will go to air as planned with only the slightest of changes being made in the control room… if any!
Linker allows this level of precision by importing and merging the traffic log itself. Therefore, if your audio elements are timed out properly (Selector and Linker can time to 1/10th of a second, if desired) and the average talk time of a given jock/daypart is factored in and spread evenly across the number of breaks per hour, then by bringing in the commercial inventory a final “clean up” edit can be made on the log before it is sent to the playback system. Your hours can be a perfect 60 minutes +/- a few seconds.
Most playback software also allows for accurate timing, but it doesn’t generally have the history of the song or link found in Selector/Linker to assist in finding the most suitable replacement piece of audio.
Knowing the spot load before shipping the log also makes voice-tracked shifts sound more live by, for example, allowing the jock to give time checks - accurate time checks!
Further, the need for “sync-to-times” and other such “plumbing” are rendered unnecessary given a 6-hour VT shift can be easily edited to be off by no more than 30 seconds either way at its end.
If the need for a safety net still exists, though, given the level of stability with your playback software, then leave the syncs in at the end, but edit the hour to 60 minutes before adding in an extra song - just don’t expect to ever hear it.
Linker can keep track of your imaging for you. Stale ID’s are a constant problem, so to save you the hassle of wondering how long something has been in the run, just place a “Future Move” on the ID(s) after a certain length of time or a specified number of plays. When the time arrives, Linker will move the imaging to a different category (e.g. Inactive), file a report, and then alert you to the change.
As with most things in Selector, there’s usually two or more ways of doing the same thing in Linker. Such is the case with keeping track of ID’s. You can use the method described in the paragraph above or simply place a “Maintenance Flag” on the imaging, which will also alert you after a given play count.
So far, we have dealt with Linker’s capabilities in both Versions 12 and 15. In V15 many enhancements exist, including the addition of “Tags” (this feature is in both Selector and Linker).
Tags now allow the user to associate a specific link to a certain song. For instance, you have an upcoming station “Presents” for an artist and to highlight this, you have created special imaging to run when the artist’s song is aired. Just “tag” the song with the ID and the scheduler will ensure it runs in front (or behind) that record until the tag is removed. No need to hand-slot those things anymore.
Even at this point, the power of Linker has been touched on only lightly.
Other benefits include importing liners for a designated length of time, auto-reconciling logs, keeping same-subject liners and promos separated, and flight scheduling - giving the user the ability to play an item a pre-determined number of times in a given time period. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Linker is an extremely useful tool when learned and can help take your station to the next level if utilized properly. I encourage you to explore, familiarize, and ultimately use it. If you or your staff would like more in-depth training or information on RCS Linker or Selector, give me a call at 1-866-332-1331. (toll free) |