[WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
Mark McKinley
markmck48 at hotmail.com
Sun Jul 8 09:34:27 EDT 2007
Paul - a couple notes
In January Mia Frederick with Appalshop/WMMT's Community Correspondents
Corps was in town providing a workshop and insight regarding volunteer
programmers. She shared what we're experiencing: often times those most
engaged in many of the social and economic justice/peace issues are often
those stretched with regard to their time or resources.
Local examples include pitches to KY Jobs with Justice, Latino/immigration
grp reps, Homeless Coalition, and KFTC - interested but can't commit to
programming. Discouraging, but reality. Which is not to give up on anyone
or group - we just keep at it.
Encouragment: although we don't have a completed show yet (we will soon),
I'm working with Rev. Lightsy and the Newburg Youth Council and their
program - youthful voices of color from inside our broadcast listening area.
And as we get a studio up in the broadcast area, I'll be doing more contact
with neighborhood-type grps in the area to use the station to promote
community.
I'm not plugged into the local musician/artist community, but we'd sure like
to give air and support to them. Paul and others in the loop, can you help
solicit cds from them? We'll play them (local music should be our priority)
- we've got the air time - we can feature old and new releases from local
artists - no clear channel playlist at wxbh.
And as soon as we get a lease signed on our studio space in the listening
area, we'll definitely need you, Bob Reis, Brian, and others who've worked
in studios to step up and help us set up so we can open it up asap.
Obviously, we haven't reached the summit, but we've moved out of base camp -
it's not a spectator operation. We invite folks to strap on their crampons,
grab a pole, and join the climb up: put up;
let's stay upbeat - feedback is invited;
As wrinkles continue to arise, I remind myself that we're all volunteers
for this project, stretched in our own day jobs and other commitments.
negativity doesn't move us forward. cheers
- Mark
>From: topdog at woofer.com
>Reply-To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to subscribe
>andpost.)" <wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org>
>To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to subscribe and
>post.)"<wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org>
>Subject: RE: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
>Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 20:57:41 -0700
>
>I don't know. Are there people wanting to do shows that have no
>facilities? The people that I have approached have facilities but don't
>seem to have the time to devote. I'm going to hustle them again, now that
>we are on the air.
>
>It just seems to me that people should be lining up to beat our front door
>down. Is it that the voiceless don't want to be heard? Maybe a good time
>for a little PR in the news rags?
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>
>-------- Original Message --------
>Subject: Re: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
>From: John Hicks <johnlist at gulfbridge.net>
>Date: Sat, July 07, 2007 2:33 pm
>To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to subscribe and post.)"
><wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org>
>
>
>Paul--
>
>If not a studio, what do you propose we do to get more local programming?
>
>--John
>
>topdog at woofer.com wrote:
> > Hi John,
> >
> > Are people out there screaming because they can't record a show? I
> > know that Aron has opened up his kitchen studio to more people than
> > himself. My question is, if we get a LIVE studio going, how many
> > people are going to take advantage of that?
> >
> >
> > You have proved that we can be "on the air" with a PIII 800 Mhz PC and
> > a $5 microphone. How many people don't have that?
> >
> > People that are not trained in communication often have poor
> > communication skills. Dead air. A lot of "ummms" and stuff. Also,
> > no way that we can edit their content. The last thing that I heard
> > was the obscenity charge was $310,000.00 /per occurance/ - charged not
> > to the station, but to the person that uttered the obscenity. I don't
> > think that anyone I've met through this project makes that much in a
> > year. Not a lot of Beamer's and Caddy's in our parking lot. A
> > simple "oh shit" because your shirt got snagged on the CD player could
> > cost you your retirement. People are listening - especially those FHS
> > people who are petioning the FCC to keep us off of the air.
> >
> > To err on the side of caution is always a good thing. You at least
> > will live to make errors another day.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> >
> > -------- Original Message --------
> > Subject: Re: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
> > From: John Hicks <johnlist at gulfbridge.net>
> > Date: Sat, July 07, 2007 1:27 pm
> > To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to subscribe and
> > post.)"
> > <wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org>
> >
> > topdog at woofer.com <#Compose> wrote:
> > > Hi Mark,
> > >
> > > I only wish that I had the time. I think I've got one or two
>in me -
> > > but not a whole series. One or two would help - from anyone!
>Can't
> > > we replay those when we are in the middle of a "dead air" period?
> >
> > I agree. I've been promising to publish a schedule framework
>that will
> > let us start sketching in our local program schedule, but have
>let that
> > slide on my list. I'll try to get it done (and published) today
>(but
> > right now am on my way to the EarXtacy independent music day to
> > evangelize a bit).
> > >
> > > I've approached a numer of people that were "gung ho" at first
>but
> > > when it came came to "put up or shut up" ... they shut up. I
>hope
> > > that the "voiceless" have a voice or it will cost us our
>license. Any
> > > fool can have a streaming website - and many do.
> >
> > Agreed. That's why we need a studio. It was asking too much to get
> > groups to record, edit, upload, etc. And most of that work wound
>up
> > falling on Mark's shoulders anyway. With a studio, people just
>need to
> > show up and get 'er done.
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > >
> > > -------- Original Message --------
> > > Subject: RE: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
> > > From: "Mark McKinley" <markmck48 at hotmail.com <#Compose>>
> > > Date: Fri, July 06, 2007 6:53 pm
> > > To: wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org <#Compose>
> > >
> > > Paul - re local programming:
> > >
> > > 1. Right now I'm listening to a local press conference
> > organized by
> > > health
> > > care activsts; Healthcare for All is a locally produced
> > grassroots
> > > program
> > > promoting universal single payer healthcare;
> > >
> > > 2. we've had samples of programming around local
>opposition to
> > the
> > > invasion/occupation in Iraq;
> > >
> > > 3. we have a locally produced show on media
>reform/justice issues
> > >
> > > 4. Kim Sorice has produced a couple music shows; Aron has
> > produced a
> > > show;
> > >
> > > we've been clamoring for folks to step up to the mic - how
>about
> > a show
> > > Paul?
> > >
> > >
> -
> > >
> > > Mark
> > > >From: topdog at woofer.com <#Compose> <#Compose>
> > > >Reply-To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to
>subscribe
> > > >andpost.)" <wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org <#Compose> <#Compose>>
> > > >To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to
>subscribe and
> > > >post.)"<wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org <#Compose> <#Compose>>
> > > >Subject: RE: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
> > > >Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:27:59 -0700
> > > >
> > > >Bad quality - that's the major problem of getting audio
>off of
> > the web
> > > >(besides being able to be hacked).
> > > >
> > > >The audio level should be adjusted automatically by the
>Optimod
> > at the
> > > >transmitter (which is post-board).
> > > >
> > > >The reason that we have to go through the WFHS board (which
> > further
> > > reduces
> > > >quality and leaves us open to tampering) is because the
>cheap,
> > Ensoniq
> > > >sound card is neither balanced or professional line level
>(both
> > > points that
> > > >I addressed in early May). Certain RME Audio cards may
>work,
> > but the
> > > >majority of pro sound cards will only work in a Windows
> > environment.
> > > >
> > > >We are not on the air to be a Pacifica affiliate. We have a
> > license to
> > > >give "a voice to the voiceless". Where are our locally
>produced
> > > shows? We
> > > >have been on the air 1 month. I haven't heard one yet.
>When does
> > > the FCC
> > > >decide that we are not meeting our license criteria of 32
>hours of
> > > locally
> > > >produced programming per week?
> > > >
> > > >Just points to be addressed - and sooner rather than later.
> > > >
> > > >Paul Nevitt
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >-------- Original Message --------
> > > >Subject: [WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
> > > >From: John Hicks <johnhicks at wxbh.org <#Compose> <#Compose>>
> > > >Date: Thu, July 05, 2007 9:59 pm
> > > >To: "WXBH General Discussion List (Open to all to
>subscribe and
> > post.)"
> > > ><wxbh-discuss at wxbh.org <#Compose> <#Compose>>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >A few more notes about the audio quality:
> > > >
> > > >Right now we are broadcasting the Internet stream, which
> > theoretically
> > > >is 128kbps, quite sufficient for good quality audio.
> > > >
> > > >However most of our sources are less than 128kbps. Pacifica
> > feeds us at
> > > >64kbps and WRFN streams at only 48kbps. On top of that, the
> > quality of
> > > >audio coming from these sources varies (even for Pacifica).
> > Remember
> > > >that WRFN relies on volunteer programmers and some of
>them are
> > better
> > > >than others.
> > > >
> > > >If the stream sounds good but the broadcast sounds worse,
>there
> > are a
> > > >few more factors invloved:
> > > >
> > > >--We currently don't have a way to monitor the broadcast
>over
> > the air in
> > > >order to adjust the audio signal level.
> > > >
> > > >--The sound is coming out of an onboard Ensoniq sound
>card and
> > going
> > > >into the Fern Creek sound board (not directly into the
> > transmitter).
> > > >
> > > >--Since we have limited access to FCHS, we can't just
>drop by
> > and work
> > > >on the problem. We have to make an appointment to go in and
> > work while
> > > >our Fern Creek chaperone waits. (It would help if we had
>an extra
> > > >computer or two so we could simply swap out the old box and
> > swap in a
> > > >newly configured one that has been thoroughly tested.)
> > > >
> > > >--John
> > > >
>
> >
> >
>
>
>
>--
>John Hicks
>
>When replying to me personally, please use "johnhicks" instead of
>"johnlist" in the email address.
>--
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