DropBox2
is an application designed to automatically scan a specified directories and
convert audio files while injecting them into the DAD Library. DropBox2 for Content Depot
DropBox2
is an application designed to automatically scan a specified directories and
convert audio files while injecting them into the DAD Library.
When used with the Content Depot Monitor application, the Depot Monitor will place cuts into the specified directory after they have been scanned from the Content Depot Storage Receiver. DropBox2 will pick up these files and inject them into DAD automatically.
Both DropBox2 and Content Depot Monitor are part of the basic automation package. Information about Content Depot Monitor can be found here.
NOTE:
By default, DropBox2 allows for a single audio format
conversion and scan directory. If a station would like to have an alternate
directory scanned by DropBox, one can set an additional scan
directory within the DropBox2.INI file. One must have permission set on the security key
for the additional format / conversion. Additional conversions can be purchased from ENCO
Systems.
Starting DropBox
To
start DropBox, click on the Start CDM and DBOX desktop icon.
This will also start the Content Depot Monitor program.
IMPORTANT:
The desktop icon runs a BAT file that start both Content Depot Monitor and DropBox. This BAT file will also attempt to map a drive to the Content Depot Storage Reciever. To modify or change this mapping, right click on the icon and select EDIT. This will open the BAT file in Notepad. Near the top of the file there are two lines:
: This line is used to map
this workstation to the Content Depot Storage Receiver
@net use P: \\192.168.29.51\data\xdcache\CDLongname /persistent:yes
The @net use line performs the mapping routine. If the Content Depot Storage Receiver is not connected, turned on or configured properly the mapping will not occur.
Overview of DropBox2
DropBox2 is a 'set and forget' type application. It does not require normal user interaction. With that said, users should verify that the program is running.
NOTE: DropBox2 has been pre-configured to operate with the Basic Automation system. An existing ENCO client might find the need to change some settings within the DropBox2 INI file to account for station specific preferences including Audio Format / Sample Rate and Drive mappings.
DropBox2 Buttons and Functions
DropBox2
only has three basic buttons for the user to interface with.
View Log - Open the current days log file of all work that has been done.
Setup - This opens the DropBox2.INI file allowing for configuration changes. More information about these settings can be found below.
Restart - Pressing this will reload any changes to the INI file and force DropBox2 to perform a rescan.
DropBox2
INI File Configuration
DropBox has been preconfigured from the factory to automatically scan a specific directory. This directory will be the on the Content Depot Storage Receiver. A general overview of the INI file and the available options is as follows:
| Setting |
Default |
Definition |
| [DropBox] |
||
| CopyBufsize |
61384 |
Used
for network ‘throttling’. When copying files, use this buffer size |
| CopyDelay |
5 |
Used
for network ‘throttling’. Milliseconds to delay between copying
buffers |
| QuickSearchUpdate |
TRUE |
Updates
the Quick Search Database |
| Use |
YES |
YES
= Enables Digigram-based conversions NO
= DropBox2 will not attempt to load any |
| Verbose |
NO |
Use
verbose logfile entries for troubleshooting |
| Verifympeg |
YES |
If
the type is set to RAW_MPEG, using this directive will force the creation
of an intermediate file composed only of valid MPEG frames in the source
file, stripping off any header that may be present.
This eliminates problems associated with corrupt ID3 headers and
bad MPEG frames. |
| [DropBox
A] |
||
| LibraryDrive |
C: |
Drive
where \dad\files\cuts.dbf exists NOTE: |
| LibraryName |
CUTS |
The
DAD5 Library database to be used. Audio will be copied to appropriate
database audio directory. |
| AudioDrive |
C: |
Audio
will be copied to the appropriate directory (based on LibraryName) for
this location. NOTE: |
| Location |
C: |
Drive
mapping that DAD workstations use to access the audio directory. NOTE: |
| Types |
1 |
Number
of formats/directories to scan |
| Interval |
10 |
Scan
interval in seconds |
| SecondPassDelay |
2 |
Secondary
scan interval; must be less than Interval. A multi-pass algorithm is used
to check the source file size twice each scan cycle to prevent processing
a file that is still being created. The second scan is performed N seconds
after the main scan cycle |
| Logfile |
LogsA |
Log
files of the form mmddyy.log will be created in this directory |
| Normalize |
FALSE |
TRUE
- enables normalization. FALSE
- disables normalization. Note:
Normalization only supports: |
| Normalization
dB |
0.0 |
Level
to normalize audio files to. |
| [Type
A-1] |
||
| Directory |
C:\CDDropBox | Directory
to scan |
| FileMask |
*.WAV |
File
name mask. Use *, ?, and
literal characters. |
| Type |
GENERIC_WAV |
Original
audio format type. Use
GENERIC_WAV for all audio files sent from PRSS.
NOTE:
|
| ParseFilename |
NO |
Populate
fields in library with parts of a long filename using dadparse.ini. |
| ReadCartChunk |
YES | Use
information from cart chunk |
| Overwrite |
YES | If
the specified range has no available cut numbers, then the oldest cut in
the range will be overwritten |
| Group |
NPR | DAD
Library group for converted cut |
| Extension |
WAV |
DAD
Audio file extension for converted cut. Use WAV, FIL, MP2, or any other
3-letter combination |
| Convert |
FORCE | Use
YES to convert audio, NO to prevent conversion, or FORCE . Force will
force a conversion even if the format of the source file is the same as
the desired format. This is useful for adding waveform energy data to MPEG
files that do not have such data, so they may be correctly displayed in
DAD's editor. |
| Format |
MPEG |
Compression
format. Use MPEG or PCM16 |
| Layer |
2 |
MPEG
layer. Use 1 or 2. |
| Bitrate |
128 |
Kilobits
per second per channel. Popular
choices are 128 and 192 |
| Frequency |
44100 |
Sample
rate. |
| Mode |
STEREO |
Use
STEREO, MONO, or AUTO. |
| CutRangeLow |
80000 |
Starting
cut number for converted cut range. |
| CutRangeHigh |
81000 |
Ending
cut number for converted cut range. |
| CutNumberMethod |
LAST |
FIRST
= assign lowest available in range LAST
= assign next available in range |
| UseSuggestedCut |
YES | Allow
DropBox to use the cut number listed in the audio file header instead of
using the cut range |
| GUID |
YES |
Generate
a unique GUID in the DAD Library |
| Archive |
NO |
Moves
the audio from the scan directory to another location instead of deleting
it. |
| ArchiveDir |
C:\ARCHIVE |
Archive
directory for use with Archive option |
| [Type
A-2] |
DropBox
can be configured to support multiple file formats and multiple instances
of DropBox2 if purchased. |
|
| [DropBox
B] |
||
| [Type
B-1] |
||
Making
Changes to the INI file
One can
press the SETUP button to make modifications to the DropBox2.INI file. If
changes are made one should press the RESTART button. This will reload the
modified INI and begin a new scan.
NOTE:
If a scan or conversion is in progress, a message will be displayed preventing
the restate. Wait until DropBox2 is idle to restart.
Bad
Audio files and Conversion Logs
If an
audio cut has a corrupt header or cannot be read by DropBox2, it will be moved
to the \BADAUDIO subdirectory within the scan directory. DropBox2 will continue
to process all other cuts.
Conversion
Logs are saved in the LogsA directory in the C:\DAD\Dropbox dir. These
logs follow the MMDDYY.LOG format. A new file is created for each day. This file
provides details as to when a file was picked up, what it's original format was
and
For
example:
[DropBox
A]
Fri Feb
27
DropBox
A: Type=1, Library=F:, Audio=G:, Interval=10
Type
A-1: C:\CONVERT\*.WAV
Fri Feb
27
Cut
00017 R: MPEG 44100 Stereo 01:00.58