DAB Radio – is that on the dial?

Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) who ever heard of such a thing? The typical radio listener basically wants good clear sound. No crackling while driving under or near power lines. No fading when driving through a valley or forest. The ability to program favorite stations for push button ease of selection is an absolute must.

Now there is even talk of the digital or HD car radio being: Connected to the home computer, interfaced with an iPod, partnered with a cell phone, offering purchase power as never before, even while driving.  The consumer can expect his new DAB or HD radio to be voice activiated, email connected, pause-able and recordable (think TiVo for radio).

While the rest of the population is hardly giving any of this much thought some of the brightest brains on the planet are obsessed with developing this incredible technology. When digital technology is married with radio the potential skyrockets. Does the consumer  understand or even care how this remarkable technology developed this far? Probably not. Mr. Radio Listener will ask only a few questions: How hard it is to operate? Will it be a driving distraction? Will I have to pay for features I’ll never learn to use or need?  How much more will this radio cost than the current AM/FM model I currently own?

Those whose very existence depends on vibrations that would register 7.7 on the Richter scale will even ask, “how far up can I ramp the bass without blowing out some expensive speaker or nearly irreplaceable component?”

Digital Audio Broadcasting is here. With every option it potentially offers, will there still be the option to just listen to the radio? Can anyone offer the assurance that News Radio, Talk Radio, Country Music, Golden Oldies, Alternative and Hard Rock stations will still know how to find us? One can only hope.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting

Feeding the Drive-time Radio News Junkie

November 1930 issue of Radio News

Image via Wikipedia

While the instrument has changed dramatically over the past century, people still cling to their radios. Radio news can be heard round the clock, and if there is a favorite slant or preferred spin on the news, multiple station choices reinforce specific beliefs or opinions. Not enough time to catch TV news? No problem. There will be plenty of time to catch up during slow or jammed traffic.

Radio News is packed with colorful descriptions, personalities, and cleverly stated opinions. News to go—via audio!

Radio news listeners can hardly be expected to pay full attention when they are fighting traffic, watching to make sure they have the right directions while driving to and from business appointments, jobs, shopping trips and the like. Not expected to be able to take notes while driving, listeners are fed cleverly worded commercials with phone numbers communicated in carefully crafted acronyms or rhythms.

In addition, facts are stated with exaggerated emotion. What would be ordinarily be written as a simple headline in a newspaper is shouted and emphasized to capture and keep the attention of the drive-time radio news listener. The news radio host is typically an audio op-ed expert who skillfully bounces his ideas off a well-trained studio side-kick who plays into the well targeted rhetoric with either an opposing or differing opinion for added interest. Even more shocking facts and stats fed to the news radio host incites an an even higher level of excitement. And the news radio listener can come away with a sense that he’s taken part in an objective discussion when he’s really been skillfully led to a fore-drawn conclusion.

And the true radio news? That comes “at the top and on the half” of the hour followed by traffic and weather. All of about 11 to 12 minutes of air time. Radio news is always anxious to announce the latest breaking news. After all, the radio-news junkies have to be prepared for the water cooler discussions when drive time is complete.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting

Software Makes Audio Podcasting Easy

Non perdere il bus • Don't miss the bus

There are many options available for almost anyone to broadcast audio content to the web. There are free programs on the market as well as popular, professional, studio packages that can sell for a few hundred dollars. Some software is easy to use, right out of the box, while other packages take some training and practice. No matter which route is chosen it is easier than ever to broadcast on the internet.

There are packages available that include a USB microphone and software for under two hundred dollars. With these tools in hand almost anyone with a computer and internet access can start an audio blog or podcast on any topic imaginable. Many people have used this outlet to promote themselves and even sell advertisements. Another popular avenue is to begin with a free podcast and after popularity has grown, offer a premium subscription. Some pod-casters abandon the free broadcasts, altogether, and move to subscription only content. The public is open to this idea thanks to cable and satellite radio and television providers offering premium channels for additional fees.

An individual also has options for content that can be included in their podcasts. Adding music and sound effects to their recording can add value and listeners. Copyright laws may come into play and producers should be aware of these regulations before posting any non-original content. Another option is for a podcaster with some musical talent to produce their own music as background or major content for their broadcasts. This can be a great way to market one’s skills while adding professionalism to their production.

The world of podcasting is wide open for new ideas and new content. The avialability of inexpensive audio software and hardware has opened up the market to a large population that, previously, would never have considered getting into broadcasting. A podcast producer with some good content and fair marketing skills could turn a small investment into a lucrative business.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting

Mergers and Acquitsitions Offer Opportunities in Radio

Satellite communications and high speed data connections have changed the face of radio station management. A company can own stations with different formats in multiple markets and enjoy the economies of scale that come from shared services. A productive sales force in each market can market enough advertisements to customize programming for each market.

Companies that have the funding and FCC approval, for US operations, have unlimited opportunities to expand their business. By controlling programming from a central location to multiple stations, big savings are realized. Some companies use on-air talent and others simply play music and insert local advertisements to give each station the “feel” of being local. For example, a company in Miami could own five country music stations across the US. They could have one person program and “play” the music from the Miami location. All stations would hear the same programming. Each individual station will receive their local commercials, much like network and cable television. Sharing programming services cuts costs in labor and infrastructure for multiple locations.

Another savings that stems from acquiring multiple stations is combining sales forces. One sales team can market advertisements for different stations in the same market. If the company in our previous example, in Miami, has a country and a classical station in Boston, the same salespeople can call on clients to sell time on both stations in that market. Some clients will want to advertise on both station formats. This leads to even greater savings and efficiencies for the sales staff and the company.

Radio has evolved and it has benefited greatly from advances in technology. Savvy companies can grow their business and utilize shared services to drive revenue, market coverage and profits. This model also benefits from using fewer people on staff to run multiple stations. Any time a company can get more done with fewer people, benefits emerge in communicating with less people and being able to adapt quickly to change.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting

Digital Audio Broadcasting Offers Unlimited Talent Options

Advances in technology have opened up the market for obtaining quality, specialized talent for digital audio broadcasting projects. Low cost equipment coupled with reliable data connections allow voice talents to record commercials and promos from anywhere in the world.

The number of home studios for recording talent has grown exponentially in recent years. This allows talent to audition and record contracted work quickly. Many hardware and software packages include the capability for a phone patch or other data feed for the client to listen and direct the talent during the session. This drastically reduces the time in production as well as travel costs. Another huge benefit is the shorter cycle time from project authorization to finishing post-production.

Obtaining the right talent for your project is easier than ever. Traditional methods of obtaining voice talent include using talent agents and casting directors to find the right people for a particular project. New technology in this industry allows a client, with virtually no knowledge of recording, to go to a website and choose from a list of talent with samples of their demos.  When the talent is chosen, they record and forward the file through an “ftp” or ISDN line to the client. Many voice talents offer post-production services including music beds. The website/business may collect a fee for using their talent and payment can be made with popular online payment services or a credit card.

New technology and a growing number of home studios have had a huge impact on the digital audio broadcasting industry. Clients can submit a proposal based on a script or storyboard and have their finished digital recording in the same day. This can be done at a lower cost than traditional methods using recording studios and gathering all the stakeholders in one studio. One of the biggest benefits to this system is the ability to choose from thousands of talents across the globe to get the perfect sound for any project.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks

The Future of Radio

The idea of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) was once a dream that started over 30 years ago. A process which involved the combing or compressing of a multitude of transmittable streams of audio into one frequency instead of one stream using one frequency. Today digital audio broadcasting has become the wave of the future. Whether using terrestrial forms of digital audio communication or Satellite communication, DAB signals can be beamed across the world into homes, and cars with the click of a button or twist.

Like Televisions in 2009, the Radio is growing ever closer to the next step in audio broadcasting. The analog systems, which require a large amount of airspace in order to transmit a small amount of information, are being upgraded for evolving digital systems that are rapidly approaching the sound quality provided by the FM systems.

Criticism’s surrounding the original DAB system had to do with costs and quality. The cost of transmitting digitally is more expensive due to the fact that more transmitters are required, however, because more streams can be compressed into one frequency it would only be a matter of time before there were enough users to occupy the streams and offset the costs of hardware. The DAB+ system addressed the issues surrounding performance and quality.

DAB+ SYSTEM UPGRADES:

1. DAB+ system is two times more efficient than the original DAB system

2. DAB+ offers an upgraded AAC+ audio codec that provides better sound quality at lower transmitting rates

3. DAB+ comes with Reed-Solomon error coding fail-safes.

Digital Audio Broadcasting has yet to surpass FM broadcasting in popularity due to the fact that the quality of FM radio is simply better. However, with innovations such as the DAB+ program and the implementation of better terrestrial digital communication devices, digital radio is quickly becoming the most economic way to transmit radio and entertainment across the world.

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Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting Tagged With: ,

The Rise of Networks

The first major radio network was the National Broadcasting Company, founded in 1926 by radio pioneers RCA, General Electric and Westinghouse. With three of the era’s biggest companies behind it, the network quickly grew to cover most of the nation. Less than a year after its inception, NBC split into NBC-Red and NBC-Blue.

NBC-Red was the more popular station with the more mass-appeal programs. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, many of the radio shows known even today aired on NBC-Red, including Rudy Vallee, the Lucky Strike Orchestra, Sherlock Holmes, Fred Allen, Amos ‘n’ Andy, Fibber McGee & Molly, and Dick Tracy.

NBC used NBC-Blue to air its less popular programs and function as a “farm team” for shows that, if popular enough, moved to Corporate’s favorite son. Such shows that made the move include Amos ‘n’ Andy, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. NBC-Blue also aired more high-brow/news/public affairs type program. NBC-Blue featured Walter Winchell, one of the most memorable voices and characters from the 30s and 40s, whose news and gossip show defined the time.

In the 1940s, the FCC determined that NBC-Red and NBC-Blue constituted a monopoly and ordered NBC to sell one of the two networks. After losing a prolonged court battle, NBC sold NBC-Blue to Edward J. Noble, who turned it into the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on June 15, 1945.

There were other major radio networks operating during this time. In 1927, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) started small in Chicago. Eventually William S. Paley purchased the tiny radio network and turned it into a major radio and television conglomerate. Mutual Broadcasting System came about in 1934 and aired such legendary golden age shows as The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman.

The NBC Radio Network ended in 1989. Mutual died in 1999. ABC Radio Network went off the air in 2009. The CBS Radio Network, however, continues to broadcast.

Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks Tagged With: ,

Pro’s and Con’s Of Digital Internet Radio

One of the world’s greatest sources of money, fame, and information transmitting is the Internet. The other is the Radio. When the two are combined it becomes an explosion of technological advancement and creativity. The radio on the internet has opened the possiblity for people of all walks of life to put their intellectual property on the world wide net and be heard by the world. The internet radio is also becoming another stepping stone in the global community where people in London can be broadcasting a show to a group of friends in Austin, Texas.

With so much power at the click of a button that are bound to be glitches and underdeveloped ideas, here are a few:

Pro’s and Con’s Of Radio On The Internet

Pro’s:

1. Broadcast wherever, whenever- The beauty of the internet is the ability to be streaming and sending information 24 hours a day seven days a week. With the radio on the internet as long as there’s a signal, there’s music.

2. Information Availablity- With the emergence of podcasts and talk radio on the internet, individuals are passing information and keeping up on minute to minute aspects of events happening around the world, simultaneously.

3. It’s Free- For the most part whatever the user wants to listen on the internet can be listened to for little to no costs. Whether that’s listening to a talk show host or a favorite band. Entertainment can usually be found for free.

Cons:

1. Sound Quality- Unlike FM analog signals which fade slowly as the receiver gets farther away from the signal, Digital Audio Broadcasting requires a signal within the maximum threshold for the signal to work.

2. Connections- Sometimes finding a good connection can be the life or death of radio internet. Without a good connection or access to the internet the radio cannot be played.

3. Finding Content- With all the users downloading content it can be hard to find specific artists or stations.

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Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Gadgets, Radio Broadcasting Tagged With: , ,

Women use Computers, Too

a girl with mac
Image by paride de carlo via Flickr

If you’re a woman who likes to use the computer for more than just checking your email or seeing who’s doing what on a social networking site, you’re not alone. There are plenty of women out there who are computer-savvy and who like to do things for themselves. Even if they aren’t sure about how to handle it all, they’ll search until they find what they need and then they’ll get in there and try it. Usually, it works out all right. One of the things that you can do quite easily is making sure your device drivers are up-to-date. If they aren’t, your computer may not work right.

The good news is that you can get driver downloads right off the Internet, so you don’t have to wait for a CD to come in the mail when you need something. You also don’t have to call technical support and fight through the maze of prompts to talk to a human being. All you need to to is select the right driver, download and install it, and go on with your life. That’s a great way to be able to do things, especially if you’re using your computer for a lot of things and really need it to be functional and reliable.

Some women are starting up home-based businesses today, and they often make good money from the comfort of their living room, just by using their computer. That’s another reason that you want everything on your computer to be working the right way – so you don’t lose any revenue if you’re using it to make some money. Keeping in touch with family and friends is also very important, so no matter what you use your computer for, you’ll want to take good care of it and keep it running right.

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Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, General Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Internet Radio vs. Satellite Radio Providers

When companies like Sirius and XM Radio hit the scene the world was enthralled with the variety of programming and the advantages to being able to listen to people from all over the world instead of just the local stations they had become accustomed too. This advantage caused a love affair between people and their radios, it was like having cd’s in the car with out actually having to lug around the hardware.

Then came the internet radio. The internet radio had been around for quite some time, however, the quality and the variety was poor. When Pandora came onto the scene it appeared to make Sirius and XM Radio obsolete. Who needed variety when a person could create their own station out of their personal likes and dislikes. However, as people became more aware of the Internet radio they realized that there was a lack of variety compared to satellite radio, which not only played music from all over the world and from many different genres, but also included sports radio and talk shows, something Pandora could not offer. This begs the question which is more efficient.

Internet Radio v. Satellite Radio Providers:

Internet Radio:

1. Allows user to create play-list based on his or her tastes in music.

2. Allows user to listen content and pod-casts from all over the world

3. Free or limited costs

4. User’s can’t always find the content desired

Satellite Radio Providers:

1. Offers music from around the world 24/7′

2. Offers sports talk shows and news aside from normal music programming

3. Monthly or yearly costs

4. User cannot create his or her own play-lists

Although it is hard to tell which system; internet or satellite providers is best, it is easy to see that both systems provide their own advantages, whether that be the ability to create play-lists or the option to listen to sports and news talk shows.

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Filed Under: Broadcasting Networks, Radio Broadcasting Tagged With: , ,
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