IVP (Intelligent Voice Processor) V5.11 for mAirList v3.x (auto voicetracking)

English Scripts
1

This version is now obsolete: please use version 5.2 instead.

I attach the latest version of IVP.

(streamer: please note! :wink: )
This version allows you to globally ‘tweak’ ramp junctions and ‘duck’ points to make the result sound tighter or looser: perfect whether you present Top 40 radio or specialist shows about Broadway! :smiley:

These changes proved to be quite easy and quick to implement after all. :smiley:

On a personal note, I always tag Ramps in music tracks 400mS BEFORE the actual ramp point, to allow for reaction time. :wink: So I can now specify GLOBAL_RAMP_OFFSET = 0.4; to account for that.

The companion IVP-Mark-Endings script is unchanged except for changing its version to match the main IVP script.
[EDIT: There is now a MarkEndingsByType script which uses mAirList Types to set the codes, rather than file names or lengths.]

[EDIT: 26 May 2011: Set ‘special item’ bug fixed in MarkEndingsByType script V5.11.]

There is also a new manual which is changed only to mention the new features. For full details (as always! :smiley: ), read the comments in the fully commented version of the IVP script.
[EDIT: The manual is now a separate file from the ZIPfile. I had to do this because of attachment file size limits. :slight_smile: ]

For anyone new to IVP, it’s a script which ‘automates’ voicetracking a show (given the set of recorded voicetracks, and songs tagged for ramps and outros or fadeout/start next).

Please report any bugs, comments, suggestions, etc. as replies in this thread.

(PS: Torben: Could you please let our Deutsch Freunden know about this new version? Thanks in advance.)

BFN
CAD

2

[quote=“Cad, post:1, topic:6824”](streamer: please note! ;))
This version allows you to globally ‘tweak’ ramp junctions and ‘duck’ points to make the result sound tighter or looser: perfect whether you present Top 40 radio or specialist shows about Broadway! :D[/quote]

Hi Cad,

Many thanks. I’ve been consumed by other stuff recently and now coming back to this. Much appreciated. Will give it a whirl hopefully soon.

Regards, Richard

3

Thanks, Richard: I belatedly realise that perhaps I should have added a global ‘tweak’ for Outro as well, but do please let me know whether the global ‘tweak’ for the Duck Outro point is sufficient.

BFN
CAD

4

[quote=“Cad, post:3, topic:6824”]Thanks, Richard: I belatedly realise that perhaps I should have added a global ‘tweak’ for Outro as well, but do please let me know whether the global ‘tweak’ for the Duck Outro point is sufficient.

BFN
CAD[/quote]

I haven’t had much time to test, work and junior seem to have swallowed any time I have right now. First pass it seemed to behave. Hopefully will get more time to experiment etc. later.

5

Pleased to hear it!

My own experiments with IVP have shown it can produce a very convincing ‘live’ sounding show, provided you mix up the ending types a little. :wink:

BFN
CAD

6

Cad-

Being new to mAirList (where has it been all my life ;D??), I’m curious about your IVP script. Is it, in effect, a voice tracking add-on to mAirList? I assume you produce voice tracks on a production machine, import them into mAirList, and then allow the script to do its deed?

At this point, I don’t have the time to experiment with it, but I’m rather curious.

EDIT: I just downloaded the file and had a look. It’s nice. I answered most of my questions by reading the PDF manual :). Would the marker settings be done in the Tagging program? Also, I’ve heard that mAirList may add a voice tracking module. Is this the module or a totally separate solution.

Last but not least: you write very nice manuals–clear, concise, logical. Bravo! :slight_smile:

Thank You.

Best Regards, Alec

7

No: you add the ending type markers in the main Playlist (either manually, or by using the script included in the ZIPfile).
This is explained in the IVP manual as part of the step-by-step process.

The mAirList VT module will be something different; IVP is a ‘stop gap’ until Torben writes the visual editor.
However, as I understand it, the ‘real’ VT module will be more like the segue editors found in other playout systems (for example, Dalet), and will not be in any way ‘automatic’ in the way that IVP is.

Thanks! There is a somewhat larger manual I’m working on, which I hope you find equally enjoyable once it’s complete. :wink:

BFN
CAD

8

Very good, Cad. I’ll try the program once I find a little spare time.

Best Regards, Alec

9

Hi Cad,
first I want to thank you for that great script. I really like it!

But I have some small problems. I do my Chartshow with it, this is a pre-production that is mixed down to a single file.

There are a lot of small drops (chart positions, that are no Voice tracks. That cause my trouble. Similar problems with station IDs.
What happens? The Station ID is launched at the Outro of the song and also the underlay is ducked. Sounds horrible… It causes an extreme long crossfade beween both songs, and the next song is ducked up to the ramp.
Same if I have 2 songs seperated by a chart postion announcememnt. If there is an additional Voice Track, there is no problem. Song is ducked at the Outro, VT strarts, Chart announcer is launched after VT is finsihed, next Track is played. Sounds great.

Could you implement an ending code that makes IVP ignoring a track, not changing any cue points. And maybe some for Station IDs or other drops.
For a Station ID it could mak sense to start in Sync with the Music, but don’t duck, or place the Drop to finish with the ramp, but don’t duck the underlay track.

Cheers
Malte

10

Thanks for your compliments.

I am trying to understand your problem, but I am not completely sure what you mean.

If what you want is:

SONG#1 (end at FadeOut or StartNext, no duck)
DROP (no overlay)
SONG#2 (normal start, no duck)

Then all you do is DON’T have an IVP ending code on SONG#1 and DROP. (Note that you CAN have other Ending codes on any of these items: IVP will ignore them unless the codes begin with a u or an o. :wink: ) This will play the tracks the same as in normal AUTO mode. Is that what you meant? If not, could you please explain in a little more detail? If you could use a similar format to the ‘playlist’ I used above, that would be helpful.

PS: I just realised that thie ZIPfile does not contain the script I wrote which marks Endings by Type (Music, Instrumental, and Voicetrack: but you can change those :)) instead of looking for file names, lengths, etc. I’ll correct this later today.

BFN
CAD

11

[quote=“Cad, post:10, topic:6824”]If what you want is:

SONG#1 (end at FadeOut or StartNext, no duck)
DROP (no overlay)
SONG#2 (normal start, no duck)[/quote]
Amlost… it is a bit more complicated, if you see more tracks.
If it is:
SONG#1 (unmarked or underlay should be no difference)
SONG#2 (end at FadeOut or StartNext, no duck)
DROP (no overlay)
SONG#3 (normal start, no duck)

This would be Ok, but if you have.

VOICE#1 (normal overlay and at Ramp)
SONG#1 (normal underlay for VOICE#1 ) but (end at FadeOut or StartNext, no duck)
DROP (no overlay)
SONG#2 (normal start, no duck)
VOICE#2 (should begin at outro of SONG#2)
SONG#3 (marked u)

[quote=“Cad, post:10, topic:6824”]Then all you do is DON’T have an IVP ending code on SONG#1 and DROP. (Note that you CAN have other Ending codes on any of these items: IVP will ignore them unless the codes begin with a u or an o. :wink: ) This will play the tracks the same as in normal AUTO mode. Is that what you meant? If not, could you please explain in a little more detail? If you could use a similar format to the ‘playlist’ I used above, that would be helpful.

PS: I just realised that thie ZIPfile does not contain the script I wrote which marks Endings by Type (Music, Instrumental, and Voicetrack: but you can change those :)) instead of looking for file names, lengths, etc. I’ll correct this later today.[/quote]
It seems that this sometimes doesn’t work. When I’m home I can send you a before IVP and after IVP Playlist file. I think you can see the problem.
I also can prepare the 2x 1h mixdown and cue files on a server for download. So you can hear the problem.

Probably I could workaround by inserting the drops later and manually edit the start-next, but it would be much more comfortable if you have all elemets in the playlist. Due to my personal workflow.

Arranging the Songs, Jingles, etc.
record and insert Voice Tracks
run IVP
split to 2x 1h
mixdown 2x 1h

/Malte

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[quote=“shorty.xs, post:11, topic:6824”]VOICE#1 (normal overlay and at Ramp)
SONG#1 (normal underlay for VOICE#1 ) but (end at FadeOut or StartNext, no duck)
DROP (no overlay)
SONG#2 (normal start, no duck)
VOICE#2 (should begin at outro of SONG#2)
SONG#3 (marked u)[/quote]

OK … so if I understand you correctly, I would set the Endings as follows:
VOICE#1 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#1)
SONG#1 blank (because you DON’T want the ending of this song changed)
DROP blank (because you DON’T want to overlay SONG#2)
SONG#2 u (because you DO want this song to duck under VOICE#2)
VOICE#2 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#3)
SONG#3 (marked u)

If you use the MarkEndings script (or my new MarkEndingsByType script ;)) to set the codes, you WILL have to make manual adjustments afterwards to blank out the Ending of SONG#1 and DROP in the list above. A few manual adjustments will usually be needed, because the MarkEndings scripts can’t predict your requirements: all they do is mark ‘songs’ with an u, and ‘voicetracks’ with a o.

It can be difficult to remember sometimes, but all the codes affect what happens at the end of the item being marked (or NOT marked ;)).

Again, if I understand you correctly, remember to save the Playlist AFTER you have inserted the voicetracks and marked all the endings, but BEFORE you run IVP (let’s call this one P1). Also, save the playlist with a different name AFTER you run IVP (let’s call this one P2). That way, if anything is wrong, you go back to P1, change any Endings which are ‘wrong,’ then run IVP again and then save the playlist with another different name (let’s call this one P3).

If you ‘re-start’ from P2 instead of P1 to make your changes, things WILL go horribly wrong. I assume this is not the problem you are having, and to use this example, you do go back to P1 if you need to change anything?

[quote=“shorty.xs”]When I’m home I can send you a before IVP and after IVP Playlist file. I think you can see the problem.
I also can prepare the 2x 1h mixdown and cue files on a server for download. So you can hear the problem.[/quote]

Well, if possible, please try my suggestions above first, and let me know if that cures the problems. If not, then we can take things from there. :slight_smile:

I hope this helps.

BFN
CAD

13

I work with different Playlist names, as it was recommendet in the manual. So I keep a copy of the playlist that was not modified by IVP.

The marking example is still not correct, this is what I did:
VOICE#1 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#1)
SONG#1 u (because you DO want to overlay SONG#1 by VOICE#1)
DROP blank (because you DON’T want to overlay SONG#2)
SONG#2 u (because you DO want this song to duck under VOICE#2)
VOICE#2 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#3)
SONG#3 (marked u)
I didn’t use the MarkEnding, I tag all music with a “u” as ending. Than I tag all Voice Tracks manually while inserting them. Drops and other Jingles are not marked.
So maybe I’m just using it the wrong way and all I want is alreaday there.

14

[quote=“shorty.xs, post:13, topic:6824”]The marking example is still not correct, this is what I did:
VOICE#1 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#1)
SONG#1 u (because you DO want to overlay SONG#1 by VOICE#1)
DROP blank (because you DON’T want to overlay SONG#2)
SONG#2 u (because you DO want this song to duck under VOICE#2)
VOICE#2 o (because you DO want to overlay SONG#3)
SONG#3 (marked u)
So maybe I’m just using it the wrong way and all I want is alreaday there.[/quote]

Correct: you’re using it wrongly! :smiley: But only slightly wrongly.

REMOVE the u Ending from SONG#1 and it will work as you wish. As I said: the codes affect the END of the item, so if SONG#1 is u, it will ‘underlay’ the FOLLOWING item (the DROP). VOICE#1 will still ‘overlay’ SONG#1, because VOICE#1 is marked with an o.

I hope that explains it? If not, please let me know! :slight_smile:

PS: DO download the updated ZIPfile, so you can use the new MarkEndingsByType script. :wink:

BFN
CAD

15

Hi Cad, thanks for the explanation.
That means if I want to use “ob” I should not mark the following music bed as well? That was another problem I had with IVP 5.0.

I’ll see if I get better results with my next Chartshow and let you know.
Best Regards
Malte

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[quote=“shorty.xs, post:15, topic:6824”]Hi Cad, thanks for the explanation.
That means if I want to use “ob” I should not mark the following music bed as well?[/quote]

Correct! ;D

I hope so: you can always PFL Playlist after IVP has been run, to check all the segues. Then make any adjustments to the codes etc., re-run IVP, and repeat until ‘correct.’ :slight_smile:

PS: Is there a stream or podcast of your Chartshow available online? I’d really like to hear the results of IVP being used ‘for real’ on someone ELSE’S show! Please let me know. :slight_smile: I’m sure others here would also be interested in listening to that.

BFN
CAD

17

Hi Cad,
Next shows will be on 2010-09-21 & 2010-09-28 6:00pm to 8:00pm Don’t know yet if they will be repeated, but I’ll let you know.
http://musik.web-radio-regional.de:8000 mp3 Stream

By the way, I speak german… :D, never the less you could hear the result of your work.

Cheers

18

Hi Cad,
I just want to give a short update.
Last week I met almost the same problems like before and I’m pretty sure I’ve done like you told me to. In total 15minutes were missing after running IVP, some corssfades sound horrible and I was not able to correct it.
Yesterday I prepared the show for today and the result was as exclent.
I’ll be on a business trip to Taiwan, so I have to skip the next 2 shows, I’ll let you know if I face any problem again when I’m back.

Cheers

19

One important question: are you using Mixdown?

I have noticed that AUTO playout works AOK with IVP-processed shows, BUT for some reason Mixdown does NOT get it right.
I haven’t posted details of the ‘bug’ here yet because I have not worked out exactly what Mixdown does not do correctly.

BFN
CAD

20

Hi Cad,

First post!

We’ve just procured mAirList for our station and I’m going through the laborious task of tagging all our audio. But I want to do it with IVP in mind.

85% of our output will be completely automated. The scheduler will pick (and this is crude) jingle - song - link - song - link - song - jingle - song, short link, break… and so on for the hour, and then run the IVP script. After running IVP, the song - link - song normally sounds really good. Only 2 problems I’ve come up against thus far:
the song - jingle - song sounds horrible if the first song fades. Is there of a way of making it fade fast if the next item is a jingle?
some song - link - song junctions have the song fade back up about 2secs before the end of the link, thereby drowing the end out. Is this the way I’m running it?

Help! I want to make sure my tagging is right first time!