Old Terrestrial Broadcaster.....

[laughingbluedragon]

Hello,

 

Well, I laughed when I read the following reply to a new internet radio aspirant:

 

Hi Founder,

 

Welcome here, but eehhh.... how do we have to interpret your question exactly? As it seems you don't have any broadcastingknowledge at all, and you want someone to explain you all the in's and out's of it? Good luck finding one !

 

Once you realize that there are no people who are going to do that, take a look around on all the information on the site. Use google and try to gather the information yourself, because there's tons of it on the interwebs. If you have questions concerning the material you found, you are always welcome on the forum to ask it, but at least show that you have put some effort in gathering the information yourself......

 

 

Well, that not me...exactly. I spent more than 12 years in terrestrial broadcasting from talent to news to programming and promotions. I have read tons online about internet broadcasting, the servers, the software, etc., but I am still confused.

 

Yes, basically, I would like someone to tell me how....isn't anyone willing to hold my hand for just a few minutes?

 

 

As briefly as possible, the following is what I would like to accomplish:

 

1) each set of music personally pre-programmed with optional spaces throughout a set period of time (i.e.: in between music sets) to add programming content.

 

2) ability to insert my own prerecorded audio content (voice work)

 

3) ability to interact with listeners via internet page (Facebook?)

 

4) 'archived sets' for listener choice

 

 

I don't want a 'live' station, rather, one that sounds current and topical.

 

As a former broadcaster, I do understand royalties. But I don't understand 'stream ripping' (yes, I know it's a nasty word on this forum)...I have read about it, but don't understand why, if the audio is ripped from youtube or elsewhere and the music is included in a playlist for royalty payments, that it would be illegal?!

 

C'mon pros....just a little 1,2,3 help, pretty please?

 

Many thanks,

 

Julianne

[Arfa B]

As briefly as possible, the following is what I would like to accomplish:

 

1) each set of music personally pre-programmed with optional spaces throughout a set period of time (i.e.: in between music sets) to add programming content. There are many options to do this. You can use software like BCX, which can be rather difficult to use at times, and is rather pricey!

http://www.bcxpremier.com/index.html This will probably achieve most of what you want to achieve.

There is also many other similar packages available. All are different, but all are expensive.

 

I would suggest two options personally, as always other may disagree:

Zararadio IS FREE!

You can get it here. Coupled with a playlist manager, you can compile playlists and insert your pre recorded overs (usually known as VT- or voice tracked). There is a free playlist manager called Playlist Creator 3 from here You will need some streaming software to integrate with Zara, like simplecast from Spacial Audio/SAM.

Another must with all streams is an audio processor, I like Octimax the best here

Sound Solutions do one too which is free I believe!The other option I would recommend, is to use SAM Broadcaster, coupled with Station Playlist Creator- the combination of the two does more-or-less everything, and you can programme up music and content for three months in advance. This option is really good.

 

SAMBC from here

 

Station Playlist Creator from here

 

2) ability to insert my own prerecorded audio content (voice work) You need a Studio set-up, oh boy! THAT is another thread on its own!!!

And some software to record your voice content. Freebies are available.

But, you can get a licensed copy of Cool Edit Pro 2.1 for about £10 off ebay- and it's worth every penny! Or, you can pay a lot more for Adobe Audition, which is basically the same thing, but in many respects not as good.

Once, recorded- you can programme up the time these are played out witrh the wonderful Station Playlist Creator!

 

3) ability to interact with listeners via internet page (Facebook?)

 

I have NEVER used Facebook, someone else will have to help you out here!?

 

4) 'archived sets' for listener choice

 

I assume you mean either podcasts or repeat shows featured in your stream?

 

for podcasts you can upload the pre-recorded hour or whatever to your server, and people can download the .mp3 file for their player.

or programmed sets can easily be done with Station Playlist Creator!

 

Oh, and regarding copyright and ripping, there are recent posts regarding royalties and all that very boring stuff! The bottom line is: If you pay PPL and PRS, you can play what you like. BUT, you are ONLY legally covered to b'cast to the UK! And so on, and on with different Collection agencies (or is that word Robbers?) in different countries throughout the world. One thing is for sure, they all charge FAR too much!

THEY SHOULD be paying the broadcaster for exposure of material!

 

 

HTH - and

Arfa' B!

[saint]

The Streaming Media Handbook covers some details of web station promotion.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16272608/Streaming-Media-Handbook

 

I am working on a Internet broadcasters promotion handbook next that will go into a bit more detail.

I should have the new promotion guide ready by january.

[laughingbluedragon]

Arfa B! and Saint,

 

Thank you so much. I am looking into your suggestions. Can't even express how much I appreciate your help. Naturally, I will keep you posted!

 

Julianne

[billh]

I thought I'd say Welcome to BW Julianne

 

I sure can't add anything to the replies you got to your questions.

[laughingbluedragon]

billh,

 

hehehehe, thanks.

 

jtm

[laughingbluedragon]

Saint,

 

Thanks. Very interesting and lots of good reads there.

 

I'm going to post another thread....hahaha - I will probably be showing my lack of knowledge, but I gotta learn,eh?

 

Sincerely,

 

Julianne

[laughingbluedragon]

Hi again.

 

Well, I had some very helpful replies to my first questions and I have been reading and looking at screen shots.

 

This is my understanding thus far:

 

After putting music (from CDs, voice or other audio files) into my computer's media player, I need an FTP Client (like FileZilla) to upload in a program such as Spacial Audio Broadcaster or Audacity. From there I can create programs (including voice tracks) to stream via something like a Shoutcast or Icecast Server. These servers are paid to stream and to cover licensing.

 

So, the first thing I need to do is:

to download software for SAM (or another like it), FileZilla, and begin getting music and programs into it. (Do I need an encoder at this point?....encoders are very fuzzy to me...)

 

After I get a good start on creating programs, I then purchase the use of a server. (I am getting a vague idea of bandwidths and ports.)

 

Then, somehow magically, the server connects with my programs and the content is streamed.

 

Whew....does this make any sense to you? Am I getting it?

 

Honestly, I am studying. My time is sparse (two-day jobs) but my dedication is not.

 

Many thanks for any wisdom you can offer.

 

Julianne

[billh]

Julianne,

 

You could get a host that has AutoDJ. You upload the files to a folder then connect it to the stream, very easy. I'm not a DJ so thats what I use. I currently have 85 songs so it's 4+ hours of music in one folder. You can always use it until you learn more about doing live shows etc. This way your site/station is online. Hope this helps.

 

Bill

[laughingbluedragon]

Bill,

 

Yes, thanks. I think maybe the SAM has an optional AutoDJ that can be purchased. That's really important to me - I don't need to be live.

 

I went to your homepage - looks fun. As a country girl, I am sure I could appreciate some of the humor (after all, my state is home to 'Escanaba in da Moonlight' by Jeff Daniels!).

 

So, as a broadcaster do you think my understanding of what I need and what I need to do is correct?

 

Thanks,

 

jtm

[billh]

If your going to use AutoDJ like I am.

 

You need an FTP Client (like FileZilla)

 

You don't need to download an encoder, or software like SAM

 

You can use Audacity, to record your voice etc. I've used it myself and so haven't a lot of other people. Just takes a little time to learn how to use it the right way.

 

One thing with the AutoDJ, when you make your Playlist, the songs are selected at random. So I started adding my voice to the song files either before or after the song. Lines Like "Your listening to Back In Time Blues" etc..

I don't add lines like that to every song, that way it isn't played every time people hear a song.

 

I do add something like "Now heres Artist name with Song name" and "That was song by artists name" to every file. This way people know what they are going to hear and by whom, then they know who it was by if the joined in the middle of a song.

 

Hope that helps