Getting started with Rivendell

Rivendell is an open-source radio automation tool and in this live stream I am going to install it and explain how it is used.

I will be following the instructions provided by the maintainer of this software, Paravel Systems.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:04:26 Welcome
00:06:07 Creating a virtual machine
00:14:06 What is Rivendell used for?
00:20:00 Unattended operation
00:20:47 Windows vs Linux for automation
00:24:45 Command line install
00:36:08 Getting started with the GUI
00:39:00 Playing with audio
00:42:27 Importing audio with RDLibrary
00:45:28 Fail-over system
00:49:35 RDAdmin
00:49:58 Jack audio setup with custom scripts
00:53:45 Summary
00:55:43 Logs, clocks, and wheels explained
00:58:53 Merging traffic
01:00:20 Wrap-up
01:01:36 End slate

#radio #rivendell #opensource #broadcast #broadcasting #automation

Install notes and scripts:

yum install nano icecast glasscoder glasscoder-gui

[Unit]
Description=Icecast Network Audio Streaming Server

[Service]
Type=simple
User=icecast
Group=icecast
WorkingDirectory=/home/icecast/

[Install]

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable icecast
systemctl start icecast

nano /etc/local/bin/jackd-start

#!/bin/sh
export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
export TERM=xterm
export QTDIR=/usr/lib64/qt4
export PATH=/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/home/rd/bin
export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/local/share/:/usr/share/
export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/1000
export QT_GRAPHICSSYSTEM_CHECKED=1
exec /usr/bin/jackd --name default -d dummy -r 48000

nano /etc/local/bin/streamd-start

glasscoder \
--server-type=icecast2 \
--server-auth=source:hackme \
--audio-format=mp3 \
--audio-samplerate=48000 \
--audio-channels=2 \
--audio-bitrate=128 \
--stream-name="test...1...2...3" \
--stream-description="This is only a test"

nano /usr/local/bin/jackd-connect

#!/bin/sh
/usr/bin/jack_connect rivendell_0:playout_0L glasscoder:input_1
/usr/bin/jack_connect rivendell_0:playout_0R glasscoder:input_2

Run RDAdmin (username is admin, password is blank)
Manage hosts
Edit
Jack Settings
Jack Command Line = /usr/local/bin/jackd-start
Add "1_encoder" = /usr/local/bin/streamd-start
Add "2_encoder" = /usr/local/bin/jackd-connect"

Amazon affiliate links:

[BurningtunaDC]

Super presentation. Thanks for shooting and sharing.

[QuikTechSolutions]

Jay, I thoroughly enjoyed the stream. I followed your video and was able to get Rivendell up & running on a Synology 1621+ VM. Great job explaining the process. Setting up the VM on Synology differs slightly from Xen, but aside from that it was smooth sailing. Looking forward to exploring the program. Awesome job, thanks again!

[carpetbomberz]

@TVJay, thanks for the demo, show and tell. Never knew anything about this type of Radio station management software. When I worked in radio, our station had only just gotten a license to run a digital satellite service for the music (1990 time period). Like cable TV head ends, the live dj and music were in studios in Southern California, sent up to satellite, and we had a receiver and "tones" they would send down to trigger our local commercial spots. We would run a live local DJ in mornings at drive time and that was it. But now, with this, it's yet another wholesale evolution forward. Lots of functions, lots of customization allowed, and it runs on Linux! Amazing. Happy to have learned about Rivendell.

[michaelroyer]

Thank you! Excellent information! Will likely go for Rivendell for my future station.

[Last_day_events]

Thanks for making this video. I want to switch from Simian to Rivendell.

[lotus_p]

Just installed Rivendell on Centos 7 standalone. I am thinking I need to install the server version so other DJ's can remotely connect with the client mode to voice track. Have you messed with that? And, great video.

[KeithHuntsman-TaFl]

Nice presentation, thanks.

What chat program did you use for your audience and how did you bring their questions into the screen?

Would you happen to know what streaming service hosting is used by commercial radio stations? I can't see them using shoutcast or icecast. If one of theirs offers a limited cost-effective plan for personal use that would be great.

[A_Box]

What's your experience with Jazzler?

[jeromeluna]

What’s the price on this program Rivendell???

[richclewes]

How do you bulk import files. Seems crazy rivendell does not have a import folder button

[mariodezutter]

I like your stream, because Rivendell is a fantastic software, and i use it for home use. It's my own Spotify. (i use it since 2012, i guess...)
You can load almost every audioformat in the library, and every song comes in the WAV-file. (I think you can make a HI-RES-music player)
My Rivendell is installed on Ubuntu 18.04, and you can not always use the latest version.
I connect Rivendell via Jack and a compressortool to my amplifier (i mean without a streamserver).