Arrakis APEX-PLUS On-Air Automation Software

Complete Radio Automation That Handles Live Shows Satellite and Streaming The Arrakis APEX-PLUS is a full radio automation platform designed for stations that need more than basic hard disk playback. It combines live assist, satellite programming, ball game automation, and URL stream scheduling into one piece of software, so a single system runs your entire broadcast day instead of stitching together separate tools. This matters whether you're operating a small internet station, a commercial outlet, or a group with multiple studios spread across a network. Programmers get a scheduling engine that handles music, traffic, and voice tracking automatically, while your on-air staff still gets hands-on control when they need it. The software is built to scale, meaning a station can start with core hard disk automation and add satellite or sports capability as programming needs grow. Because everything lives inside one platform, staff aren't forced to learn multiple interfaces or manage handoffs between separate systems for playback, scheduling, and remote control. The result is a broadcast operation where music, satellite feeds, ball games, and streaming content all run from a single, coordinated schedule. For stations weighing automation options, this all-in-one approach is often the deciding factor over piecing together several standalone products. Built For Live Assist And Real Time On Air Control The live on-air screen in APEX-PLUS is fully customizable, letting DJs resize and rearrange every module until the layout matches how they actually work through a shift. Staff can build and save their own user profiles, so each person pulls up their preferred screen arrangement the moment they log in rather than resetting the interface every time. Multi-monitor support means a station can spread hot keys, playlists, and library tools across two or more screens for more working room during a live break. Touchscreen compatibility extends that flexibility further, giving jocks a tactile way to trigger carts and manage a show without relying only on a mouse and keyboard. The multi-sort library search speeds up on-air decision making, letting a DJ pull up every Beatles track from 1968 in seconds rather than scrolling through a full catalog by hand. F-key hot keys give quick physical shortcuts for frequently used functions, which keeps a live show moving smoothly during fast paced segments. Unlimited hot key pages can be created and named however a station wants, so specialty shows or seasonal content have dedicated, easy to find triggers. Altogether, these tools are meant to make a live shift feel more like operating a professional board and less like fighting with software. Satellite Automation Ball Games And URL Stream Scheduling This is where APEX-PLUS separates itself from the base hard disk package. It includes a Bridge Switcher with sixteen audio channel inputs that connects directly to a satellite receiver or relay hardware, allowing satellite feeds to play live on air or get recorded for playback at a later time. Satellite liners and station IDs can be triggered automatically from receiver closures, so network programming blends into local branding without manual intervention. Stations that carry professional, college, or local sports get dedicated ball game tools built into the same software, with support for automated breaks, liners, and station identification during game coverage. A rain delay feature can pause a game automatically on a closure signal, switch over to an alternate schedule, and then resume the game exactly where it left off once play restarts. URL stream playback is scheduled using the same logic as a satellite hour, so an internet stream slots directly into a station's programming clock without extra manual setup. An autofill feature also tightens satellite liners that run close to 30 or 60 seconds, automatically shrinking or expanding audio within a small tolerance so timing lands correctly. For any station juggling network programming, live sports, and streaming content, this combination removes a significant amount of manual scheduling work. Remote Access And Multi Studio Network Management APEX-PLUS is built to operate across a standard Windows network, so managing two studios or a dozen connected stations doesn't require specialized infrastructure. Through a standard VPN connection, staff can voice track shows, adjust schedules, manage audio libraries, and pull reports from anywhere they have internet access. This is especially useful for programmers or management who need to make changes outside of normal studio hours or while traveling between locations. Ball game control extends to remote access as well, letting authorized staff start and stop breaks, trigger liners, and manage rain delays without being physically at the console. Audio files can be routed to specific stations across the network using the built-in distribution tools, so content only reaches the stations that are supposed to carry it. User privileges can be locked down by both station and feature, which protects sensitive schedules and libraries from unintended access by staff who don't need it. Reports and schedule changes can be generated or made from any connected computer on the network, not just the main on-air machine. For station groups managing several signals, this networked structure turns what could be a logistical headache into a straightforward, centralized process. Hard Disk Scheduling Voice Tracking And Music Rotation Underneath the satellite and sports tools sits a complete hard disk automation engine that handles the day to day music and traffic logistics of running a station. Weekly schedules can be built once and run unattended, using music categories and cart rotations to keep programming consistent without constant manual adjustment. Kill dates and start dates let a station schedule seasonal or promotional content to play only during the correct window, then automatically stop without staff needing to remember to pull it. The refined music shuffle logic prevents the same artist or title from repeating back to back, which keeps rotations sounding natural rather than mechanical. Voice tracking ranges from a quick, simple pass that can cover an entire week's programming in a few hours, to a full featured tracker with custom overlap timing and music bed ducking for a more produced, professional sound. Instant schedule updates mean any last minute change automatically reflects in the live on-air playlist, so staff aren't stuck manually rebuilding a log after an edit. Autofill protection keeps dead air off the air entirely by recognizing missing or outdated files and automatically substituting a backup based on station settings. Templates can also be saved and reloaded for recurring situations like holiday schedules, cutting down on repetitive setup work each year. Compatible With Your Existing Traffic Music And Streaming Setup APEX-PLUS is designed to slot into a station's existing workflow rather than force a complete technology overhaul. It works with major third party traffic and music scheduling programs, so stations that already have relationships with those vendors can keep using them without disruption. The software also integrates with outside audio production tools, meaning production staff aren't limited to a single proprietary editor. For stations coming from an older or discontinued automation system, Arrakis can convert most existing audio libraries so historical content and production work isn't lost during a transition. On the streaming side, APEX-PLUS pairs with popular encoders to send audio along with title and artist metadata to a station's streaming service of choice. That same metadata pipeline supports RDS compatible hardware and software, pushing current song information out to compatible receivers. The platform also supports podcast production, letting a station repurpose recorded segments for on demand listening without needing a separate production pipeline. This level of compatibility is meant to protect the investment a station has already made in its existing tools while still delivering modern automation features. One Year Of Support And Software Updates Included Every APEX-PLUS purchase includes a full year of phone and email support along with software updates, keeping the system current with the latest Windows releases as they roll out. Setup includes phone training sessions where Arrakis staff connects directly to a station's PC to walk through configuration and get new users comfortable with the software. Factory training is also available at the Arrakis facility for stations that want more hands-on instruction, with the customer covering their own travel arrangements. Email support typically responds within one business day, giving stations a reliable channel for non-urgent questions or troubleshooting. Online tutorials and walkthrough material are available around the clock, so staff can learn the system at their own pace outside of scheduled training sessions. Phone support is available during normal business hours for more time sensitive issues that need a real-time conversation. This included first year of support is meant to give new stations a real safety net while staff gets fully comfortable running the software day to day. After the included period, ongoing support and update options are available to keep the system running smoothly long term.