Notes from the Remote Broadcast Q and A Session 4
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
14th May 2020
John Englishby, Dan Pope, Eimear O Kane, Brendan Coughlan, Cathal Cassidy, Alan Byrne, Cathal McCooey, Mary Rose Muckian, Philip O’Brien, Sean Callaghan and Padraig Quigley.
We will run a follow up on Thursday 21st May 2020.
Programming
Congratulations to Dan on the quality and style of his recent AlphaBeats V show.
Comment about recording shows on Zoom – Mary Rose.
I find that conversation can be stilted and doesn’t flow when you are talking at a laptop or tablet/phone. The way to improve this is to use headphones and a microphone so the audio is more immediate and engaging.
Equipment/Software
Padraig told us how he upgraded a laptop by installing SSD RAM.
We are applying for a grant to buy some podcast kits for presenters, in the meantime a €25.00 USB mic will bring your audio up to the level we hope that everyone will have.
320 Kpbs is the highest wav quality and is the recommended setting for when you are saving a show and sending it in.
Eimear is acquiring a laptop:)
Editing
Thank you to Philip for his explanation of how he created a promo for the Alpha Beats Show using
backing music, recording his voice directly to the DAW and the AlphaBeats whisper file.
John gave a demonstration of the Joe Jackson Spotlight show he was working on and will organise to give Mary Rose a lesson on editing.
Community Call
Some presenters are interested in joining a team of researchers, presenters and editors for our COVID-19 Radio Series. Zoom meeting to be set up.
https://www.dundalkfm.com/covid-response-community-call-starting-in-may-2020/
Future Broadcasting Environment
8th June is when we will resume regular broadcasting whilst maintain social distancing. Only presenters – no guests. Until then there is a roster on who is allowed in and for what duration
David Bellew will be at the studio some evenings to allow for zoom live broadcasts to take place.
Next Week
A guide to broadcasting from home by Padraig and a Reaper edit demo with John.
In the meantime a free radio playout software you might like to try is Zara.
You can download Zara here https://www.zarastudio.es/en/download.php
Notes from the Remote Broadcast Q and A Session 3
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
7th May 2020
John Englishby, Dan Pope, Eimear O Kane, Alan Byrne, Cathal McCooey, Philip O’Brien, David Bellew, Padraig Quigley and Mary Rose Muckian.
Advice on Sound Desks/PC/Laptop Microphones
- If you are purchasing a new laptop then one with 16GB Ram with an i5 processor would be preferable for music editing and recording.
- When connecting a USB mic you might have to set the input level to high to get the best quality.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct5Z2921Bx4 – Zoom – How to record a separate audio file for each participant.
Free Online Voice Recorders
Alternative to Zoom Video Chat
Audio Editing Q and A
What is the difference in audio quality between Wav and mp3 format?
- Wavs have a lossless quality are much bigger, by a factor of 10 and tend to be better quality and mp3s have a lossy quality and are sort of squashed down versions of the wav but still very good to most people ears.
- Mp3s are transportable more easily over email so you have to use a different platform something like Dropbox or We transfer, what we call F. T. P. file transfer protocol to get the wav files to your recipient.
- When you copy a mp3 it will lose a generation of sound so it will lose quality every time.
- For a great information guide, take a few minutes to review this Sound on Sound article about different file types, sizes and quality levels.https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/what-data-compression-does-your-music
- Most phones record in mp4 quality. This can be converted to mp3 using an online converter where you upload the mp4 file and then download the mp3 version.
- Pre Records Timings – once the complete shows adds up to 50 minutes, there is leeway to have 27/23, 26/24 or 25/25 minutes.
- Next Week: We will have a demo and Q & A on Audacity (Philip and John) and Reaper (David).
Programming
- Spotlight – John is recording a Joe Jackson Spotlight.
- We will run a 3 hour live music show on a Friday evening for a station fundraiser in a few weeks time.
- Padraig will record a promo with Brendan for the 1957 show.
- Slane Concert Series – Cathal will do a test run with Pat Byrne using Zoom.
- The 100 Years of Music stings will be available to download on the show webpage.
- A new one hour show was mentioned by Cathal and he is looking for takers – it’s called ‘5 degrees of separation’ – one song leads to the next, to the next, to the next….
- Community Call is a new 24 part series. MaryRose, Eimear, Dan and Philip have expressed an interest in helping to research, present and edit the show. Another way to do the series would be to focus on the sports clubs in town.
- RTE Doc on One – Presenters ChoiceOur documentary slot is at 9.00 am on Saturday and the programme is repeated at 5.00 pm on Sunday. If you want to pick a documentary from https://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/ and send in your choice, we will add it to the schedule.
Choice
By Presenter
1
A Solemn Undertaking
Alan Byrne
2
Johnny Cashs Forgotten Tour of Ireland
Caoimhe O’Malley
3
Don’t Go Far
Paul Donnelly
4
Hidden Heroes of the Belfast Blitz
Donal Carroll
5 Women of the Revolution Tara Mulholland 6 Prince at the Castle Michael Murray 7 The Man from Tallahassee John Englishby 8 Con Carey and the Twelve Apostles
John Hennessy 9 One day you’ll understand Tony Banda 10 A Matter Of International Secrecy Marissa Lucchesi
Notes from the Remote Broadcast Q and A Session 2
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
30th April 2020
John Englishby, Dan Pope, Eimear O Kane, Brendan Coughlan, Michael Dowdall, Cathal Cassidy, Alan Byrne, Cathal McCooey, Philip O’Brien, David Bellew, Sean Callaghan and Padraig Quigley.
Advice on Sound Desks/PC/Laptop Microphones
- Sean has upgraded to a USB mic and Brendan is using a plug in Mic.
- Dan has a Zoom H1 which he could use as a mic.
- John has a USB mic and Mic arm.
- David has a Behringer mic connected to a mixer.
- Alan is using a Zoom H2 as a mic.
- Padraig has a splitter cable so that he can route the headphone from a mobile into the desk using the FX return channel.
- Andy has bought some equipment and is nearly set up to record at home.
Recording Show/ links with Zoom
- Sean will record the Beaten Tracks show each week with David using Zoom.
- Marian and Charles will record Health and Well Being via Zoom as two 22 minute shows and email them to David.
- Fadó Fadó will broadcast live with Zoom at 6.00 pm on Monday 11th May.
Audio Editing
- If you want to learn Reaper – see David Bellew’s tutorial on the Dundalk FM youtube channel.
- If you want to learn Dark Audacity, see Paula Healy’s tutorial on the Flirt FM (Galway’s student radio station) youtube channel.
100 Years of Music
https://www.dundalkfm.com/about-us/schedule/shows/100-years-of-music/
- 1998 – Dan will record and edit the show using Audacity.
- 1995 – Mary Rose will record links and David will edit the show.
- 1993 – Daniel Deery will do this show. John Englishby will record Daniel remotely and edit the show using Audacity.
- 1992 – Philip has recorded a show on Audacity and has sent it to the station by WeTransfer.
- 1972 – Cathal is going to prepare the script.
- 1971 – Eimear O’Kane will write the script and record using a Zoom recorder and send it to Padraig who will edit the show for broadcast.
- 1968 – Sean will record this show with David on Zoom.
- 1967 – David is working on this.
- 1951 – Brendan is working on the script. Padraig will record it with him using Zoom.
- 1944 – Alan has a show ready for broadcast.
- If you know someone who would like to do a show, please let them know, I’d like to have 100 presenters, especially people who would like to join the station as a presenter in the future.
- Shows completed so far are available to listen to anytime on our Mixcloud page.
- https://www.mixcloud.com/DundalkFMMixcloud/
Alphabeats
https://www.dundalkfm.com/about-us/schedule/shows/alpha-beats/
- V – Dan is working on the show and will have it ready to send in soon.
- H – Philip has sent in a show for broadcast
Programming
- Cathal Cassidy would like to revise the History of Cinema in Dundalk radio documentary and is interested in doing a Movies and Musicals show.
- Cathal McCooey invites presenters to host a show in the Slane Concert series (2nd Saturday of the month from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm) – Eimear is interested in this. He will follow up on his idea for a programme called ‘5 Degrees of Separation’.
- Ready, Steady…Go by Zoom – 3 people, one hour, 10 questions, giggles, tales, opinions, wit and humour – (Eimear/Carole/Mary will do a show).
- Odds and Sods April edition didn’t go out as advertised – we will check the this out for John.
- Michael Dowdall suggestions
- Interviews – a friend from India living in Dundalk, a relative living in Edinburgh and a 96 year old man living in Dundalk.
- a Documentary about the beginning of radio technology.
- A poetry slot, a book club (talk to Eimear).
Notes from the Remote Broadcast Q and A Session 1
5.00 pm – 6.30 pm
23rd April 2020
Tracey Hanby, Alan Byrne, Cathal McCooey, Philip O’Brien, Mary Rose Muckian, Pat Byrne, David Bellew, Sean Callaghan, Marian Del Duca and Padraig Quigley. Seoirse McCann was presenting the Drive Time show and unable to attend but we kept an mp3 file for reference. We will run a follow up on Thursday 30th April 2020 at 5.00 pm.
PC/Laptop Microphones
A plug-in mic and headphones or a headset are preferable to using the built-in mic on a laptop or PC, unless you will be on air for just a short interview. The two mics below, which were purchased locally, cost €28.00 and €5.00 respectively.
They connect via a mic/headphone splitter or by a USB adapter. Gaming headsets also provide a step up in the audio quality. A digital recorder such as a Zoom or Tascam can be used as a mic. When you plug it into the laptop/PC, choose to connect as an ‘audio input’ rather than ‘file transfer’. A tripod and windscreen are also essentials to complete your audio kit.
Recording Shows
Sean will record the Beaten Tracks show each week with David using Zoom.
Marian and Charles will record Health and Well Being via Zoom as two 22 minute shows and email them to David.
100 Years of Music – 60 names so far, 40 to go…
https://www.dundalkfm.com/about-us/schedule/shows/100-years-of-music/
2000 Tracey
1995 Mary Rose will record links on the phone (say a link, count to five silently, say the next link and so on….) and email them to David along with the list of songs.
1992 Philip
1968 Sean will record this show with David on Zoom.
1955 Pat has this completed and will send it in.
If you know someone who would like to do a show, please let them know, I’d like to have 100 presenters, especially people who would like to join the station as a presenter in the future.
Shows completed so far are available to listen to anytime on our Mixcloud page.
https://www.mixcloud.com/DundalkFMMixcloud/
Spotlight
Pat – one done and will send it in.
Examples where Zoom could be used as part of live programming
The Slane Concerts Show with Cathal in the Studio and Pat on Zoom (or in the Production Studio).
Lion’s Club – the sound quality of the pre-recorded show is very good. The show could be done live via Zoom as is the Brunch.
Joining Paddy to present on Good Morning Dundalk /Tracey.
Hosting a panel discussion on Town Talk.
Fadó Fadó is pre-recorded via Zoom.
The Brunch is broadcast live and had 2 guests from the Chamber of Commerce join them last week. One guest used a headset (approx €25 and the audio quality was very high). Some audio is better e.g. where presenters are using USB or plugin Mics.
Sound Desks
A small analogue sound desk (with 2 XLR inputs) starts around the €50.00 mark. A desk with faders (usually 4 XLR inputs) would start around €120.00.
Local stores that would source a Sound Desk, recorders, and other audio equipment are B Sharp and Audio Comm.
Audio Editing Software
Philip recorded an AlphaBeats show using Audacity which is free to download.
Pat uses Reaper (you can use the full version free, to evaluate it, the cost to buy is €60).
If you want to learn Reaper – see the tutorial on the Dundalk FM youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/user/dundalkfmradio
Sound Desk Accessories
Alongside a set of Headphones, a Mic, Mic Stand, and mic Windscreen, you will need some cables such as:
an XLR to connect your mic to the mixer,
a .5m or 1m RCA phono to jack lead with phono adapters to connect a laptop to the mixer,
a .5m or 1m 3.5 jack lead and adapter,
You might consider a Headphone Amplifier. This gives you the options to control the headphone level and take a feed out to an External USB Sound Card or Audio Interface which will give a better sound quality going into the streaming laptop.
Remote Broadcasting
You would need 1 x laptop to play out your music, ads, news, etc. You can download WinAmp for free. Another Free Radio Playout software used by many CR stations is Zara.
A mic, mic stand and pop shield.
An external sound card.
1 laptop which runs a small encoding programme that you download and type in the details for our server. A member of staff will run a series of tests with a presenter to ensure the audio and music levels are correct and that there is no buffering. A wired Ethernet cable connecting the router and laptop is advisable.
Broadcast Myself is an Android App (€3.09). Alan uses this app at away soccer matches to transmit the commentary and half time ads (saved as one file).
This evening’s chat was a chance for presenters who hadn’t met in person before to say hello. There was a wonderful sense of ‘we’re in this together’ which was demonstrated by being able to help colleagues with technical advice. I hope that you now have the confidence to try out the next step in remote recording and broadcasting – recording to a phone, recording on Zoom, audio editing, acquiring radio equipment and maybe someday – live remote broadcasting. For the kind words of appreciation for the support that you receive from staff, thank you.
Alan
Below you will find tutorials to help you record and edit programming from home.
- How to record Links to your Smart Phone.
- How to Edit a Radio Show at Home.
The first describes how to record links for a show with a Voice Recorder App, your Smart Phone, your script and a room with soft furnishings. You can then share the files to our staff. We will prepare the show for broadcast.
Recorded and edited by David Bellew with thanks to Tara Tine/ March 2020.
The real enjoyment starts when you start to edit, top and tail, fade in and out, normalise, increase and decrease the amplitude, the dynamics processing and filtering. This next tutorial will show you how to combine the links, songs and any intro, outros or stings and render it into an mp3 file.
In the next tutorial, you will learn advanced expert tips on EQ, Noise Removal and Compression using plug-ins.
