• Introduction
• Introduction to Campcaster
• Feature List
• Installation
• Install with Synaptic
• Install from the Command Line
• Audio File Import Script
• Changing The Station Logo
• Campcaster Studio
• Getting Started
• Configuring Soundcards
• Master Panel
• Live Mode
• Upload File
• Scratchpad
• Playlist
• Scheduler
• Search
• Options
• Campcaster Web
• Browser Based Administration
• Master Panel
• Scratchpad
• Add Audio
• Media Library
• Playlists
• Scheduler
• Preferences
• Help
• Additional Information
• Where To Go For Help
• Credits

Using the campcaster-import script

If you have a large number of audio files in your media library, importing these files one at a time into a broadcast automation system would be time-consuming and tedious. That's why Campcaster includes a script that can import an entire directory of audio files in one go.

Copying and Linking: Advantages and disadvantages

You must specify one of two options for using the import script: Either to copy files into Campcaster's storage server, or to link to files elsewhere. Each option has advantages and disadvantages, so you will have to think about how the files will be used in your station long-term.

• For files that are copied, you may run into problems with hard disk space if you do not remove audio files from the storage server periodically.
• For files that are linked, you must make sure that the audio files are actually going to be there at playout time, otherwise they will be skipped. For this reason, it is not recommended to use the link option for easily-removable hard disks (like MP3 players or USB memory sticks). There's a strong likelihood that the disk might be unplugged and taken away before playout time. It's also important to make sure that any external hard disk with linked files is powered on, and stays on.

The import script works from the command line, so you must first open a terminal on your desktop; or on a server without a desktop, log into a console. Then change to the directory where your audio files are stored, for example:

 $ cd /media/drive1

 

Alternatively, you can remain in the current directory and specify the full file system path to the audio files on the command line.

 Copying is specified by including the -c switch in the command:

$ campcaster-import -c /<path>/<to>/<your>/<files>

 

Linking is specified by using the -l switch instead:

$ campcaster-import -l /<path>/<to>/<your>/<files

Good metadata: Garbage in, garbage out

The campcaster-import script automatically imports any information that is in the files' ID3 tags. If these tags include 'junk' information, you will have to either edit the metadata later, or live with potentially inaccurate information.

The program Audio Tag Tool can be useful for batch setting and editing ID3 tags before importing audio files into Campcaster. On Ubuntu, you can install Audio Tag Tool with the command:

$ sudo apt-get install tagtool 

 

After installation, you can run the program with the command:

$ tagtool

 

The Tag Multiple Files feature of the Audio Tag Tool program is a particularly useful time saver if you have a large archive of untagged files. Sometimes there is artist or track information in the audio filename, which can be converted into an ID3 tag automatically. 

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