The Google Automation thread made me wonder... What is your favorite automation system? What's your least favorite?

Personally, from what I've used, I liked Maestro and Scott. I don't like BSI Simian (which I've been stuck with the last 6 years of my career!). There are a bunch I've never used, though.

Favorite - NexGen. Least favorite - Digilink.

depends on whether the system was installed to assist the air talent, or replace them............

For being on the air live, nothing's better than Scott, with the touchscreen.

For running multiple stations and multiple formats, Prophet/NexGen seems to be best.

My experience with many of the others is from several years ago, so they may have improved. I didn't care for Audio Vault, or Digilink...but I used them pre-2000.

I got a demo of Dalet once, made in France. It seemed pretty cool. Don't know if they're even in business anymore, though.

1995-Digilink 3...first automation...very limiting...would freeze/crash to often

1999-ENCO DAD...lots better but a must to reboot weekly...finally got to voice trax!

2000-Digital Universe...worked part-time at station...seemed ok but no support/updates

2004-6 months with Phantom...horrible experience...very limited...not flexible

2005-Currently now with multi-station group with NexGen...love it...amazes me when I'm 8 windows in doing something and no slowness/freezing...well still have to reboot to clear out RAM occasionally.

Schafer 903E as long as there were no Audiophiles.

"Simian" is an appropriate name: thing was put together by a bunch of apes if you ask me. Of course, it helps to have somebody who actually UNDERSTANDS the damn thing doing the programming!

Simian....

Designed so that a station CAN be operated by Chimpanzees rather than people.....

Over two years of using Simian, both in live assist and automation modes... works well, easy to voice track ... even a caveman can use Simian. Seriously though, we've had no problems using Simian.

Mickproper got one thing right in his post: the comment about having someone who understands the system setting it up.

The trick to having success with Simian (or any automation system for that matter) is knowing what its limits are and not try to go beyond that. Most of the problems people run into with automation are because of that very issue - and when things don't work as expected, it usually results in them saying "system (xxxx) is a piece of crap" (or some other derogatory thing).

I have always liked Audio Vault. Not a fan of Simian.

1lossir has it on the nose there. Every program has it's pros and cons. Loved AV at the Wolf and in KSYN, but that was because knew ALL it's limitations and advantages. Enco was not a fan of mine, until I learned more from that. Didn't enjoy Scott Studios until once I got it all down.

Same could be said for editing software. Always enjoyed Cool Edit and Adobe, but when it comes to quick phone editing, LOVE VoxPro, especially when it's all wired right and tight with a great Genter.

I'm a toss up between AV and Scott.

Didn't care for Simian. NexGen is probably the best, however I am currently using something called "Media Touch", and it isn't bad. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but reliable.

NexGen yes..Scott/Demark...blah...

Cetec/Shaefer 7000/903...and I was fixing Audiophiles. I made some good money doing that parting and piecing those things together for several years. We had a parts supply that wouldnt quit too when everyone else was getting instacarts or in the primordial beginnings of digitals like the Audio Prophet and SRO bought the old 'pedophiles' for pennies on the dollar.

I always like the NexGen-Prophet system! I've also used Maestro for a few years and it's great too. Pristine with SAW I or II is a good
set up. I really like the Sessions 8 when it first came out great for production!, and although Scott is very user friendly compared to the rest it's pretty blah! Audio Vault and Simian are two I would not recommend but seemed to be used by many clusters across the nation.

Audio Vault and Simian are two I would not recommend but seemed to be used by many clusters across the nation.

That's because they're cheap.