MusicMaster Blog

Sharing is Caring

By Chris Malone

There’s a true power in having a global network of MusicMaster users from large media corporations, medium size broadcasters and even webcasters. Regardless of the size of your operation, if you have a colleague or sister station using MusicMaster there are a number of things that can be shared among users to make music scheduling easier than ever.

Here are three of the most common shareable items inside your database that can be imported or exported to another MusicMaster database.

1. Clock Export/Import

Inside Format Clocks Maintenance, you can select one or multiple clocks to export to another MusicMaster user. Ideally, the receiving database will have the same categories as the sender. If not, the categories will be created when the clocks are imported. Of course, since the categories were just created, they will contain no songs This function is helpful for new stations looking for startup clocks or holiday clocks, where categories can be matched across both databases. Keep in mind forced elements will not import properly as they are database specific elements. The exporting station will be prompted to save the clock(s) to a .mmdex file that can be imported within the other database. In this example, I’m exporting all 14 of my Nipsey Hustle clocks.

On the importing station, the user will save the .mmdex file sent from the other station and import those clocks. Inside Format Clock Maintenance, select Import and then you’ll be given the option to load the source file path (the location of the .mmdex file you downloaded) and you’ll also have the option to create new clock codes or overwrite existing clock codes that share the same code. Below, I’m importing all 14 Nipsey Hustle clocks and creating new clock codes for each of those clocks.

2. Export to Affiliate/ Import from Network

There are occasions where station groups or network syndicated programs will send a time frame or multiple time frame to an affiliate station directly through MusicMaster. As the ‘network’ station database, which is the station sending schedule data, a user can setup the time period along with any music/non-music data that needs to be included in the export to affiliates by going to Dataset, Schedule, Export, Export to Affiliates. In this example, I’m exporting 7pm to midnight and I’m sending out artist and artist keyword data on the elements that will be imported on the affiliate level.

When the export is setup is complete, the ‘network’ database will create a .mmdfx file that can be sent to the affiliate to load by using Import from Network.

On the affiliate side of things, to import go to Dataset, Schedule, Import From Network. The .mmdfx file from ‘network’ needs to be saved to your local computer and indicated in the Network Import Wizard.

If there are songs included in the export, you’ll be able to match those with existing songs in your local database or import entirely new song entries to a dedicated category within MusicMaster. After you’ve completed a successful import, the schedule editor will reflect your imported schedule data in the selected time frames.

3. Export Design

Another added perk of having a global community of MusicMaster users to turn to in the event you need to ‘borrow’ elements to help build you database is the fact that other users may have your exact automation system. Most automation systems use the same schedule export design parameters so can be shared among users. To export your automation system export design, open the MMExportDesignEditor that’s located in your MusicMaster application folder.

To export this schedule export design, go to File and Export, which will produce an .xml file to send to another user exporting from MusicMaster.

On the importing side, you would open your MMExportDesignEditor and create a new export design, name the design what you’d like, in my case “Wide Orbit:”. This will create a blank export design. You can then go to File, Import and import the .xml file sent to you from your partner station.

These are just a few example of how you can share items across databases, around the globe. Whether you’re friends with someone currently using MusicMaster or inviting a new user to MusicMaster, just remember sharing is caring.

If you need help setting up any of these features, please reach out to your MusicMaster Music Scheduling Consultant.