Futuri Mobile integrates with several automation systems, including Zetta. This series of articles is generally geared toward your station's IT/engineering staff, but it's a good idea for program directors to be familiar with this information at a higher level, too.
The Zetta Crowd Interface will generally be installed by RCS Support, and that will allow you to interface your Zetta system with Futuri.
- Now Playing information - Song elements and some other commands will be configured to export from Zetta to Futuri.
- Music Logs- Zetta will periodically send copies of the day's music logs to Futuri. These music logs are used for two primary purposes:
- Song Alerts - Users can sign up to receive alerts when their requests are about to play on your station. Futuri's system compares what your station is playing now with what's scheduled in the near future so that we can send these alerts ahead of when the request actually plays (so there's time for the user to turn on the radio).
Installation
To work through this installation process for the first time, please contact Futuri VIP Support. A remote session with one of our Support Agents should take about 30-60 minutes per station.
NOTE: If you plan to use interactive on-air programming features as part of Tether, you will need to license the Zetta Crowd Interface from RCS. If you do not plan to use any of these interactive voting features, Futuri can install our Echo software instead (which does not require a separate license from RCS).
This process includes the following steps:
Zetta System Configuration
Before configuring the Zetta Crowd Interface, you'll want to configure a couple of quick items in Zetta's System Config.
Jump to:
Billboard Setup
This is configured under Configuration > System > Billboard. Zetta Crowd Interface expects a TCP/IP connection with a recommended Format of Zetta Full and output 3 playing items to account for overlapping audio. If the Number of Items is set to only 1 output item, there is a chance that a message could be missed. See the screenshot below for an example of a compatible Zetta Billboard output.
UPD GPO Setup
To set up a UDP GPO in Zetta, pick a computer in Zetta that is always available, under Configuration > Computers. This can be the sequencer or any other machine that is always running the startup manager for Zetta. If RCS Support has provided a gpio configuration file called LDRSETUP.cfg.gpio, you can import that here, or create a new GPIO device (see the screenshot below).
- To Import a configuration file LDRSETUP.cfg.gpio from RCS - Select the GPIO /Routes tab for the computer to be used. Click the Import Gpio Devices button in the toolbar and browse the LDRSETUP.cfg.gpio file.
- To create the GPIO device from scratch - Click Add new GPIO Device button from the toolbar of the GPIO /Routes tab for the computer to be used. Make the GPIO Device type (the drop-down box under the “Enabled” checkbox) UDP. Name the device something that can be recognized elsewhere in the Zetta system. Optionally, give it a description. The Input Data will not be used, so this section can be left with the default settings. In the Output Data section, enter the destination UDP port defined in the Vote Start Port field of the Zetta Crowd Interface system Config tab mentioned above. Ensure the separator is set at the default \n.
Zetta Crowd Interface Configuration
Use the first two configuration tabs (System Config and Station Config) to tell the application how to find Zetta, and how to find Futuri.
Jump to:
System Config
Billboard Port: This is the port defined in the Zetta Billboard tab for the station that will send Billboard (Now Playing) output, as you configured above.
Network: This lists the networks available for the computer. Select the Network for the application to listen for billboard and voting options. This is the IP Address used in the Billboard and GPIO Output Data configuration. This option is helpful when the computer has more than one network card.
Zetta DB: This is the name or IP of the Zetta SQL database server and the name of the instance for the Zetta system. The field to the right is the Database name for the Zetta SQL database. The default database name is ZettaDb. Enter the Name or IP address of the Computer Instance running the database and change the database name if needed, then press tab for the application to resolve to the Zetta DB and enable the Station selection drop-down (examples: ZettaServer\RCSDB and ZettaDb)
If the Zetta Station field is not enabled, there has been a communication issue getting to that address. Check settings and try again, or contact RCS Support for assistance.
Zetta Station: Choose the appropriate Zetta Station that the Zetta Crowd interface will communicate with.
Once the Interface application is licensed from RCS, the only way to change the ZettaDB IP or Station is to unlicense the Zetta Crowd Interface.
Dump Now Playing to File: When checked, the now playing data will be dumped to a file under a debug folder created under the path that the .exe was started.
Extra Debug: General messages are logged to a Logfile.txt file. If directed by RCS Support or Futuri VIP Support, select this option to dump extra debug to this file for troubleshooting help.
Start Automatically: When selected, the application will start up automatically when Windows starts, provided the entire configuration is correct. When this happens, the application icon will be seen in the taskbar System Tray (the area by the clock).
Station Config
LDR Account Info: User/Password and StationID are provided by Futuri VIP Support. Enter the Futuri account information in the spaces provided.
LDR Now Playing Server: This field is used to change the Now Playing server address. If you will also be installing Echo as part of your setup, the IP address should be the local IP of the PC where Echo will be installed. If you will not be installing Echo, you can use the IP address 54.86.247.145.
LDR Port: This is the port in which the Futuri Now Playing Server communicates. If you're using Echo, we would recommend using port 9000. If you're not using Echo, this port should be 8080.
GS Fill Category Group: The GS Fill Category Group and the Tag for Emergency fields are used with Takeover processing (and are not necessary for non-Takeover stations). Use this drop-down to select a GSelector Category Group to use to fill in case of an emergency such as a loss of internet connectivity. Choosing a GSelector Category will allow the system to select a song to fill, from GSelector, in case of an emergency so that a log does not go unfilled. If GSelector is not available then the system chooses a song from the selected "Tag for Emergency Use."
Repush Music: The system will send a copy of the station's music log to Futuri the day before (after 10pm local time). It will also resend the logs automatically for the next hour and beyond for the remainder of the day. This is to try to keep the system up to date on the current songs that are coming up. If it is necessary to re-push a log manually, choose which day to send from the drop-down box next to the Repush Music button and then press the button. It will then create a new log, and send it.
Current Status
There are and will be several pieces of real-time information provided in this tab.
License
Licensing the Zetta Crowd Interface is accomplished via the License tab.
Zetta Crowd Interface uses the RCS Client Licensing system. Select the Change button next to the Licensee field.
Contact RCS Support with the Seed Code. RCS Support will provide a valid Licensee, the RCS Code, the Username and the Password needed for licensing the application. Enter the Licensee and RCS Code; click OK to update the License tab. Enter the Username and Password received from RCS Support, then click Get License. Optionally, select Remember Credentials to have the application retain the Username and Password.
The configuration for the Zetta Crowd Interface is stored in files stored in the same folder that the executable was started. If you relocate the .exe, be sure to copy the entire folder
Special thanks to the team at RCS for their assistance in putting this documentation together.