Airtime
| Developer(s) | Sourcefabric |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2011 |
| Stable release | 2.0.1 / 15th February 2012 |
| Written in | Python, PHP, JavaScript |
| Operating system | Linux |
| Available in | English; translatable |
| Type | Radio automation software |
| License | GNU General Public License v3 [1] |
| Website | airtime.sourcefabric.org |
Airtime is a free and open source[2] radio management application for remote broadcast automation (via web-based scheduler), and program exchange between radio stations.
Contents |
[edit] History
The initial concept for Airtime, originally named LiveSupport, and then Campcaster was developed in 2003 by Micz Flor, a German new-media developer. The concept was further developed by Ákos Maróy, a software developer and then-member of Tilos Radio, Robert Klajn, a radio producer at Radio B92, and Douglas Arellanes and Sava Tatić from the Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). The initial development was financed from a grant from the Open Society Institute's Information Program, through its ICT Toolsets initiative. The development was originally coordinated by MDLF through its Campware.org initiative, now spun off as the independent not-for-profit organisation Sourcefabric.
In January 2011, Sourcefabric announced a rewrite of Campcaster, beginning with the 1.6 beta release.[3] The new product, known as Airtime, replaced the C++ scheduler of Campcaster with Liquidsoap, and includes a drag and drop web interface based on jQuery.[2]
Airtime 1.8.1 was released on May 3rd[4] following up on releases 1.7 and 1.8 in April. The ability to edit shows was introduced, show repeat and rebroadcast made possible, and the calendar improved with reported loading times five to eight times faster. Airtime’s default output stream became OGG, rather than MP3.
SoundCloud support, allowing users to automatically upload recorded shows, was announced in May 2011.[5]
Airtime 1.8.2 was released on June 14th with improvements to installation, upgrade, file upload limit and the interface.[6]
Airtime 1.9 was released on August 10th with a new file storage system that allowed users to set ‘watch’ folders, to synchronise files and to browse their audio archives. Also added were Shoutcast support, a one line Ubuntu install command and improved front-end widgets. 1.9.4 was released on September 27th with DEB packages for Ubuntu & Debian.[7]
In September 2011, Airtime was nominated as one of five finalists in the Packt Open Source Awards 2011 in the Multimedia category.[8]
The Airtime 2.0 release on 25th January 2012 added new features including stream configuration through the browser, live stream preview, and uploading of any audio file to SoundCloud. [9]
[edit] Radio stations using Airtime
On 18 January 2011, Resonance FM announced in Issue #324 of UK music magazine The Wire a partnership with Sourcefabric to help "with testing the software and developing new features."[10]
West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) launched a news platform that incorporated Airtime on April 1st 2011.[11] This platform won a Knight-Batten Award for Innovations in Journalism in July 2011, with Airtime cited as part of the platform.[12]
Catalyst Radio announced the use of airtime for organising and broadcasting transmission content on June 13th 2011.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Project page on Sourceforge
- ^ a b "Airtime Overview". http://www.sourcefabric.org/en/products/airtime_overview/.
- ^ "New open source organization is dedicated to quality journalism". http://www.editorandpublisher.com/Technology/Article/New-open-source-organization-is-dedicated-to-quality-journalism.
- ^ "Airtime Goes Automatic For The People with 1.8.1". http://www.fsdaily.com/EndUser/Airtime_Goes_Automatic_For_The_People_with_1_8_1.
- ^ "Sourcefabric and West Africa Democracy Radio have added SoundCloud support to Newscoop". http://soundcloud.tumblr.com/post/5604546453/sourcefabric-and-west-africa-democracy-radio-have.
- ^ "Airtime: open source software for radio stations". http://h-online.com/-1261320.
- ^ "Open Source Radio Station Management Software Airtime Sees New Release". http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/10/open-source-radio-station-management-software-airtime-sees-release/.
- ^ "Open Source Multimedia Software Award 2011". https://www.packtpub.com/open-source-awards-home/vote-open-source-multimedia-software.
- ^ "What's new in Airtime 2.0". http://www.sourcefabric.org/en/airtime/release/938/What%27s-new-in-Airtime-20.htm.
- ^ The Wire, Issue #324, February 2011 edition, pg. 76.
- ^ "West Africa Democracy Radio launches open source news platform.". http://sourcefabric.org/en/community/news/611/West-Africa-Democracy-Radio-launches-open-source-news-platform.
- ^ "2011 Knight-Batten Award Winners.". http://www.j-lab.org/about/press-releases/storify-wins-10000-knight-batten-award/.
- ^ "Catalyst Radio: About Us". http://www.catalystradio.org/pages/about-us.
