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In basic words, Solea is a music automation system software. It encapsulates almost all features which must be available in a proffessional automation system. In the foundations which need music broadcasting (e.g. radio stations, hotels, restaurants, shops etc.), it minimize or completely eliminates the human factor.
The key features which separate the Solea from similar softwares can be summarized in 3 headlines.
| 1) | Database Features: Solea has its own database for storing music files and their details. After storing the musics to Solea database, the users don't have to know where the music files are. They can easily access and use the desired songs in few seconds by the advanced filtering and querying capabilities of Solea over database. For instance; a user can easily find the slow Spanish songs which are produced between the years 1980-1985. |
| Solea, accesses its database by SQL (Structured Query Language). Moreover, Solea can execute more than one queries at the same time (multi-threaded access method). So you can continue any operation in Solea without waiting for the result of a long lasting query. This feature is unique for Solea. |
| 2) | Network Features: Hundreds of Solea clients over the network can connect to Solea Server and execute permitted operations. Without sharing any folder in the server side, Solea clients can see, change and delete the records, can play the musics in database from their computers. This feature forces the security issues to be controlled by Solea. Since shared folders can be deleted on purpose or accidentally by network users, it is not logical to mention about the security of automation systems based on the file/folder sharing. |
| 3) | Easy Backup Feature: The amount of the data in a radio station is greater than the amount of data in a bank office. Too much data means too much risk. No precaution can guarantee the protection of data. So, the best solution for preventing data losses is backup. Because the backup operation may last hours, users are discouraged for getting backups frequently. As a solution for this problem, Solea Backup tool uses "differential backup" method. After getting first backup, it takes 30 seconds to 3 minutes to have a mirror (exact copy) of the master database. After backup process, just the differences will be reflected to backup database. Without using Solea Backup tool, copying the database folder directly may last 4-5 hours for an average database which is approximately 160 GB. |
The other important features can be summarized as below.
•CD Ripping: You don't need any software for storing the musics to database. Solea can rip audio CDs by converting desired audio format and can store them into database.
• Ready-To-Broadcast Calculations: Before storing the audio materials into database, all the ready-to-broadcast parameters such as Amplify Rate, BPM, fade-in duration, trim-in duration, fade-out duration, mix-out duration, trim-out duration are automatically calculated by Solea.
•Automatic Song Selection: The content of a play list or of a broadcast list can be provided by Solea with predefined rules. Rules for a song row and a slogan row can be defined. Predefined rows can be placed into a play list or a broadcast list. By this feature an automatic broadcast can be provided without any manual intervention.
•L-Style Windows: This type of windows are one of the unique features of Solea. You can roll-down and roll-up the windows without minimizing. Moreover, tens of windows can be opened at the same time and you can access any of them without closing the top most one. This flexibility makes you feel unconstrained.
•Voice-Over: You can attach your voice over any row in play list or broadcast list. Your voice will be recorded and placed over the song by Solea. When such row will be played, the voice will be broadcasted over the song at the moment you have spoken or as before as the lyrics start. Volume of the underlying song will be decreased during voice. Since the voice is attached to the row, future occurences of the same song will not affected by the voice-over unless you put it over those rows also.
•Broadcast Log: All the items played by the broadcast computer are written to database. You can report them in different manners by filtering and groupping.
•Enhanced Permission Mechanism: You can create many groups and users. You can adjust the permissions of both groups and users. Users can have their own permissions or can inherit a group's permissions. Without knowing the password of a user, nobody can log on to Solea and can have permissions granted to that user. You can logon as another user while Solea running without closing the application or opened windows.
•User Friendly Interface: Solea has user-friendly interface. The one familiar with Windows opertaing system can easily understand and use the Solea. Multiple row selection, drag & drop, short-cuts, popup menus etc. provide extremely simple usage.
•Multiple Soundcard Support: You can assign different sound cards for on-air, PFL (Pre-Fade-Listen), Slogan Box.
•Customizable On-Air Panels: You can change the colors of the on-air panels or use one of the pre-defined color sets. Moreover, one of the 6 predefined radio on-air panels can be prefferred.
•Multi-Language Support: Solea is multilingual. Any language can be adapted for use of Solea. A language editor exist in Solea Server. You can change the current language of Solea without closing the application or opened windows.
•Enhanced Commercial Planning: Most of Solea users claim that it is the most brillant feature of Solea comparing to other softwares. You can easily define commercial times, create a commercial plan by using table style user interface. Unit price of a commercial can be applied with difference percentages depending on the times planned. Many commercial related reports can be produced.
•DSP Options: You can apply some DSP (Digital Signal Processing) options such as equalizer, automatic gain control, reverb, echo etc. while playing.
•Enhanced Slogan Box: Solea has an enhanced slogan box in broadcast panels. Slogan box is form of 15 pages which contains 20 slogan buttons. Tens of slogans can be played at the same time without stopping current one. Content of buttons can be changed by drag & drop. Slogans can be dragged and dropped into broadcast list also.