I will be going back to Zara as it's the simplest one of them all. Will be setting up my new computer with Zara.
I have used Zara, Play it Live, and more recently Salamandra.
Here are the pros and cons I have found with them all.
First Salamandra: Pros: layout is just like Zara.
Setting up events the same as Zara.
Uses computer sound card.
Analyses best cue in points for seemless playback eliminating silence at end and beginning of tracks.
Cons: English not it's first language.
Time is in stupid army time not AM PM 12 hour time and is a pain trying to schedule events. Can't switch to "regular time".
Installable version cannot be simply backed up on a USB ext. drive and needs a file opener to open rar files on download that cost monthly fees! Expresszip file opener is the only one that I saw free but you can't just put on a new computer still. Tried and won't work. Wouldn't open. Have to download new all the time.
Now for Play it live: Pros: Eliminates silence at end and beginning of tracks like Salamandra.
Uses computer sound card.
Cons: Cannot be backed up and put on a new computer without a lot of red tape. Needs a license #. Has to be done online. Easier to just re-download. Dependent on being available.
Event scheduling different and complicated and no one would explain it to me how it's done, even on the forum. And if you want technical advice from the developer you have to pay $200.00! No user manual except a few Youtube videos none showing me what I needed.
Keeps a log whether you want it or not and keeps using more computer
space.
Now Zara: Pros: Can be backed up right from set up from downloads or desktop icon onto an external drive and stick that in any computer and it just sets up and works. No catches! It's yours forever and you have it even if it is not online for download anymore. I like to own things, not be dependent on it being available, I hate change.
Uses computer sound card.
Easy to set up events once you see how.
Comes with instructions on how to use on web site.
Multiples can be made from one copy.
Don't have to keep updating to new versions. One is good
forever.
Doesn't keep a log unless I set it up and doesn't keep using precious space up on my computer.
Cons: ONLY ONE. Doesn't eliminate silence between end of track to beginning of another BUT......you can make it acceptable by adjusting the overlap to do it, and setting the detect end of track to a higher db.
This makes Zara the winner! Only one con.
One con with all of these is obtaining the time files. You are not shown how to get these or where they are unless you find someone who can give them to you. These files needed for time announcements should be included with the program. Johny C from New Zealand was helpful in showing me a few things and giving me the time files but without that how would I know where to get them.
Good work Mark. I am glad you have shared your experience with the 'other' Automated Playlists (other than Zara). A am rolling along with Zara and am satisfied with what it does, so I don't have a reason to change. I will review whether the free Zara is still available. There is a paid version that has a few extra features, but I have not felt the need to upgrade.
@carl-blare Free is available. Just got it for my new computer. Have on back up whether available or not.
Zara has a few issues that make it painful for me to use. When first started, it defaults to the default output (i.e., speakers) and you have to change the output to VAC Line 1. It does not remember the last setting.
It has limited playback audio formats.
It is, however, stable.
I've been using Salamandra, and it has none of the bugs I've found in Zara, and it will play many more audio formats, including OPUS. However, it is not quite as stable, at least in my configuration, and I have to restart it every few weeks. Zara can run for months.
Salamandra can be configured to automatically start up on boot, which is a nice feature.
I just find Salamandra the best solution, particularly since I reboot every week anyway.
Zara's inability to carry audio streaming in the AAC format cost KDX last year's affiliation with the WWOZ Jazz Festival available only in AAC format. Soon after that we wanted to carry Al Jazeera News Channel but encountered the same problem, it came in AAC. So I began looking for a solution.
The VLC Media Player is able to connect with AAC streams and I found that VLC could feed the AAC stream to VAC Line 1, the same route taken by Zara audio output, and while AAC programs are in progress we simply hit the Zara STOP button.
Zara remains "ON" even when the playlist is "STOPPED", and retains its connection with VAC Line 1, and when the AAC feed from VLC Player is finished, simply hitting Zara "PLAY" allows other mprogr5amming to mix its way to Stereo Tool, the place where VAC Line 1 is directed.
The procedure requires manual handling, but only happens once or twice per day.