[BC] New automation system question

[Mike McCarthy]

One of my client stations has a specific need in an automation system.

They operate their station in a timed segment mode.  Each segment is either 
a played element or a live feed/read from a studio. Each segment is 
sponsored and needs reference in traffic. That would include news, traffic, 
live-read commercials, weather, etc.  The clock is set to be tight as we 
have many network joins to remain in sync.

My question is simply....is there a system out there with the ability to 
handle live feeds and recorded cuts in the same manner. They would program 
through the traffic system (the station uses Marketron)  any source which 
is actually programmed as hard timed duration cuts. These would be elements 
such as recorded news or live news from Studio N at 1:30 in duration, 
weather at 0:20, traffic at 0:30.  Each element would need music beds and 
have the ability to trigger cue lamps in the studio at the start as well as 
at the end.  Similar to the old tertiary tone on carts warning the time 
allocation is nearly complete.

I've looked at a couple systems which can do anything we want with recorded 
cuts.  But handling live feeds is simply another story. They simply fall 
apart when trying to do anything sophisticated with live feeds.  Most 
notably, they can't be timed and can't be called up in traffic.  It 
requires a second program, like Selector or Music Master to call up the 
feeds. And even then no timed feeds permitted.

So...that said folks...what's out there.  Go ahead and eliminate Dalet, 
Mediatouch, and AV.  We have no desire to pay licensing fees to the music 
programming people as this is a voice only station.

Thanks...

MM