pana_tech Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 This is my situation, I am new in this post and have been eyeballing radio broadcast for quite sometime. I have been in the shadows until recently deciding to take this affinity forward. I have zero radio experience, I am currently employed with a job that requires me to travel about 40% of the time, also have a family which a give full attention when possible, but would like to decipher the logistics required in order to start a radio show. I have scanned the internet and seems that there are trillions of shows, which leads me to believe that those are very similar to website with organic audience, but lacking the ability to market themselves to the public in order to create any real exposure/revenue. I shouldn't be even talking about revenues at this point, since I am not even at the amateur level, however the ultimate goal is ever present of making a living while doing something I enjoy. The type of radio show I am interest on, would have to be centered about providing assistance to the immigrant Spanish workers, laborers, community, etc... This also provides some extremely interesting variables, since the immigrant Spanish community may have less access to the internet, but some access to either AM or FM radio, so my show would have to reside on this medium. I am also geographically close to this community, so that seems to be another plus. At this point, I have plan which has more questions than answers, so here I am looking for some answers to my questions in order to make my plan more realistic. Another factor which I think is worth mentioning, is that I am a computer geek, therefore lots of skills understanding how computers apply to tasks, as well as the ability to identify new ways in which technology could be applied (more on this later). Here are the steps of my plan (open for criticism): 1). Find a local radio station within 50 miles of my current location and volunteer either as an apprentice, or computer geek with hopes or bartering radio broadcast teachings. 2). Within six months time, attempt to learn all that is required in order to operate the show (not sure if this is realistic). 3). Within six months attempt to learn all that is required for marketing the show (not sure if this is realistic). 4). Make proposal to producers for my show. At this point I should be at least knowledgeable of what flies and what doesn't when making this type of proposals (remember.. I computer geek could get all necessary data in order to support this proposal). 5). Depending on the show ratings, turn it into a full time gig and dominate the air... Ultimately, I would like to run this show on AM/FM/Sirius from the comfort of my own home, or from anywhere in the world for that matter. Not sure if technology allows for this yet, but is worth a try. Well there you have it, I know this is a lot to read and lots of generalities with no specifics, but I have to start some how. Also if anyone found themselves in this position and was able to overcome the hurdles I love to hear from you. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKIye Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 to answer your questions 1). Find a local radio station within 50 miles of my current location and volunteer either as an apprentice, or computer geek with hopes or bartering radio broadcast teachings. "if you have the possebility to do this, to achieve this it can be a good start to discover the medium radio" 2). Within six months time, attempt to learn all that is required in order to operate the show (not sure if this is realistic). "I'm doing radio since 1978, a human being never knows enough, even not today ... I still learn every day" 3). Make proposal to producers for my show. At this point I should be at least knowledgeable of what flies and what doesn't when making this type of proposals (remember.. I computer geek could get all necessary data in order to support this proposal). "A saying tells, don't run if you can't walk, so do it one step at the time. One thing is right ... you can learn some production stuff, that way you gonna learn how to use it ... for example : what kind of file do I need (mp3 256 untill 320kbps stereo 44.1kHz or .wav), what is a fade in and fade out time and many more" 4). Depending on the show ratings, turn it into a full time gig and dominate the air... "No one dominates the airwaves. The BIG years of GREAT radio are past ... all radiostations are almost identical ... and if you would have "the" idea of making that unique station it gonna excist already somewhere at the world ..." Visit and listen @ BW ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pana_tech Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Thanks for your help, but man let me ride my dreams until the bubble burst. We all know that sometimes learning is more fun than doing.... I will dominate the air:yes:. In fact, when my radio show finally arrives, it will take the world by storm, I mean entire cities will be paralyzed (a la 1930s style)!! I would have so many sponsors that the big players in the industry would trying to rush back into radio, well you get the picture..... Back to reality, still trying to identify local radio stations to action step 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKIye Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 If you are talking about local radio on FM or for a bigger audience on AM you gonna need first of all a license ... The time of pirate radio is past ... (if you are willing to setup an own station) My answers into my first reply are not meant to destroy your happy bubble ... but its a fact that more has to be done before you ever can startup a station/project See my first reply as a kind of first brainstorming What kind of station do you want ? What audience do you wonna reach ? Do you wonna keep it low budget (local community) or do you wonna reach a bigger region ? If you have a budget ... What kind of gear can you affort ? Do you have already studio gear to start ? What kind of gear ? As starter its most important to ask yourself some of these questions ... that way you gonna be able to make a setup of what you are looking for ... We can answer all of your questions ... but We can't give you the right details if you don't have any starterskit or starters-idea, except that you are willing to make a set to an audience of a Spanish community We all know that sometimes learning is more fun than doing I have to disagree with this kind of view ... it "can" be fun ... but making radio or making a radioset is serious business ... and if you don't, the radioset don't gonna reach the right audience To a Spanish public you can play Shakira ... but imagine that this Spanish audience only likes old traditionals ... its all part of "how" to make radio Visit and listen @ BW ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pana_tech Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 No worries, I think my bubble is in the right place. Couple of things. I am determined to have fun doing this, although not ignoring that radio is serious business. I have done some research on licenses, radio stations and things like that and the cost seems almost unreachable at this point -- "never impossible". Luckily, at this point as stated in my previous post, I am more concerned with learning the process of becoming a talk radio host (at least that is what is fueling my motivation at this point). I realize that there are several options available, like internet radio, podcast, video cast and others. Once I gain some experience doing that, at least I would have something to start with. Also at this point, I have contacted some local radio stations and will be waiting for their response in reference to becoming a remote tech or something like that. May be I can create some voice overs and while doing that who knows, even develop a marketing model to see what results could be achieved. Ultimately, I am aware that I have numerous challenges in order to get to my goals, but challenges are nothing more than learning opportunities. BTW: I understand you disagreement with my perception of learning, but then again the old saying "Different strokes, for different folks" is highly applicable in this case. Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKIye Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 I'm back ... lol It would be a great idea to create some voice-overs as a kind of training of how to use your voice BW is all about broadcasting ... so feel free to upload some tryouts of voice over samples it would be appreciated by fellow members ... You don't gonna be "broken" by them ... but you can get some remarks who are meant to make it better If you are looking for some software ... see for a Cool Edit / Adobe Audition (CE/AA) and for a mic and play around with some settings If you have already a mixer, that would be even better to plugin your mic If you have done this ... upload your file to BW You can do this at this spot at BW : http://forums.broadcastingworld.net/forumdisplay.php?114-Voiceover-amp-Production-Chat From that moment on We gonna add - if needed - some of Our settings and/or effects to uplift your file Some don't gonna tell (like myself ...) how the settings where made ... but by discovering your software ... I'm sure you gonna be able to "find them" at the right spot I'm looking forward to hear some samples of you Visit and listen @ BW ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pana_tech Posted July 12, 2011 Author Share Posted July 12, 2011 This sound like a good route. Never been too inclined to use adobe products, I have used them for all kinds of things and always found the functional in windows marginal at best. What do you think about sony's acid studio or even better krystal which is open source and free. Also which types of microphones do you recommend? Do I also need a mixer? Bottom line, which is the best most affordable setup? Thanks, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKIye Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 Sony SoundForge is awesome but accepts only commands of their own tools and system Everything who has the name of Acid is ok ... I was myself an acidplanet.com member for many years Positive to CE/AA is that they recognize plugins installed at your pc, even if they are into a related folder of familiar software So CE/AA accepts all plugins from Sony, Izotope and many more There excists even a .rar file with non-common extensions who can be installed to your CE/AA (if needed I have it "somewhere" at my pc) CE/AA is also a great software to make loops, cuts, edits etc etc yourself - edit them first into your WAVE window (0,001 of a second) - and if done ... paste them into your track channel window at the right spot ... Its all simple and easy to work with it At my place I have a RODE NT1A microphone and a small Behringer mixer (Phantom Power) ... and lots of software or you can buy a MXL mic ... see this link : http://www.mxlmics.com/products/Studio_mics/all_studio.html ... read the details for their specifications Visit and listen @ BW ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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