[WXBH-Discuss] Our Audio Quality
Aron Conaway
aronconaway at hotmail.com
Tue Jul 10 16:10:41 EDT 2007
Okay, i was gonna send this yesterday, but after reading it a coupla times I
began to hate it and decided to not share my thoughts. But I think my
comments are legit despite what I found yesterday to be a little bit of a
preachy tone. I think Brian and i are coming from the same place on all
this, so I was inspired to share....
The FCC kinda has us by the throat at this point. A lot of music that we
want to play has some cussing sprinkled throughout. We need radio-friendly,
edited versions of these songs. If we could find time to edit songs that we
like and teach our programmers to do the same, then we can have a catalog of
songs for them all to drag and drop onto playlists to play live on the
studio computer or put into audacity to play later.
The air-versus-stream thing... The fact is: A lot of potential participants
are disappointed to hear that we are only broadcasting in the Southeast end
of town. They simply won't spend their time doing a show that their friends
can't and won't hear. And so we are limited to one small portion of the city
rather than the entire Louisville Community. Many of us are not in that area
all that often and can't get a feel for the presence of the station there.
Our energy to promote the station in that specific area is limited as well.
This is where the stream is important. We know that any jackass can have a
stream and they are a dime a dozen, but a quality, organized local station
(that relies heavily on its stream) that stands out and represents
"Louisville" would be priceless. It is an invaluable resource to have a web
stream that is accessible across the Metro Area and also all over the world.
We need to push our stream and do it passionately. DJs will no doubt
advertise their time slot to their friends and their friends will
potentially want to do a show as well. We will be able to fill up the air in
Fern Creek with improved programming quality/quantity. Having a license for
the air shouldn't limit our drive in creating a strong webstream presence.
We should be thinking; What would likely make folks want to jump aboard?
Louisville is an amazingly creative place, but our fellow citizens
unfortunately do need to be babied a little. We need to approach the
lack-of-interest problem by making WXBH seem 1. attractive 2. accessible
and 3. impacting.
People want to be involved with that which is easy, fun and worth talking
about and supporting. To become popular, the whole city needs to be aware
that they can hear WXBH. Without focusing on creating this atmosphere, a
roomful of individuals are going to continue to scratch their heads and
stare at each other week after week, wondering, "Why is this not taking
off?"
The whole thing needs to be a whole lot sexier than it is. All in all, this
boils down to the PR and marketing of the station.
-Aron
From: "brian manley" <bmanley at gmail.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: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:21:29 -0400
Like I'd mentioned Sunday at the meeting: I've got a growing collection of
Louisville bands, as well as regional bands, and attend or participate in
local music shows pretty regularly (although haven't in the last 2 months
due to saving for a laptop (grrrr!)), so securing local music is easy (I
think alot of bands will be happy to just donate it if we promise airplay).
one concern--obscenity. both in the music, and from the djs.
people not having the equipment is one thing. aaron makes a good point about
not having the facilities to train anyone on even if we had the applicants.
and believe it or not not everyone has a laptop or the internet at home.
however, i feel like we're on the brink of things, so maybe some promotion
(like the promos aaron & jennifer are doing, or even fliers like i think
aaron suggested) would be a good thing. Maybe when we get something ready
studio-wise, a posting in LEO would be good. There are plenty of ways to get
the word out that are cheap. But, at this point, when I tell someone about
it, and then explain the process of producing a show, their eyes kinda glaze
and they say they dont have time to do it that way, or the equipment.
a studio would help in this regard.
one thing, looking ahead, that concerns me is a point Paul brought up--when
working at a station run by volunteers who have not been trained
professionally, obscenity is an issue. The "ummmms" and broken sentences
filled with pockets of dead air is something, too, but that can be addressed
and eventually worked with and on. However, their HAS to be a stress on what
a DJ can and can't say, and what kind of material he/she can or can't play.
Otherwise this whole thing can just get wiped out.
And this even goes towards giving a bunch of local music CDs to JOhn or Mark
to fill in dead air times. Some songs are not playable on the air, and we
need to know which ones (meaning the CDs need to be previewed).
Another point though--criticisms toward the station about the lack of local
programming--yeah, its been on a month. To me thats amazing--all we have to
do is find our base of local djs who are dependable. This will be a slow
filling out of the schedule, but I'm impressed with the station playing
programming never accessible here before already. We can't come down
hard--with no equipment and no facilities, how can we expect the "voiceless"
in the community to suddenly become DJs and show producers overnight. Many
times the "voiceless" are "computerless" as well, and like Mark said, lack
the time to commit right now. You might ask, "Well why weren't we prepared
for this--what've been doing while this whole time?" With a fluctuating
staff of volunteers who are all strssed to the gills with their own
commitments outside of this, and no training facilities, its a little
difficult to criticize the station and ask why it isnt perfect. Its been on
a month!!! That's good in and of itself; now is the time to grow, add
members, and move forward. Its been tough training people on a non-existent
station and studio.
On 7/8/07, Mark McKinley <markmck48 at hotmail.com > wrote:
>
>
>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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>
> >--
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