Remote Broadcasting

[LowDownVic]

Hi Everyone,

 

I am doing research about remote broadcasting for a terrestrial radio station. In the past we used a Windows PC with a Verizon 3G air card, encoded the stream with Windows Media Encoder and decoded back at the station with Windows Media Player. We used the IP address from VZ Access. This worked great, but then we upgraded to a Windows 8 PC and Verizon 4G air card. Windows Media Encoder still works within a WiFi network, but we cannot get the stream to open when we use the air card. Is anybody using this kind of set-up? Does anybody have a method that works without spending thousands on fancy encoding/decoding equipment? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Vic

[klnkfm]

how about a Marti, or a cellcast, those are what we use in the industry these days, with cellcast you just plug your phone into the celljack and call the studio its real time and no streaming or buffering

 

http://www.bswusa.com/Cellular-Interfaces-CONEX-FLIPJACK-P1826.aspx

[Paradise_Broadcasting]

Ok, I'm looking for better ideas, but here's my setup for 128k quality remote broadcast.

 

(1) regular sized laptop with Audiocompass software installed (http://www.audiocompass.com)

(1) Behringer Xenyx USB Mixer with mute/alt switches (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1204USB/)

(1) Aircard (4G is so widely available, you really need an aircard that can pick it up, I like the usb aircard over hotspot for lag purpose)

(1) Behringer headphone amp (for color and support headsets) (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HA400/)

(1) computer wired into the board or audio switcher at the station with audiocompass installed to receive remote broadcast.

mic's, headsets, etc.

 

I run the entire broadcast remotely, no board operator. I log into the automation computer, give the command to switch to audiocompass, and I take it live until I'm done. I run commercials, music via media player, (I like winamp for this), or I wire in CD players if I'm in my remote van.

 

What I do is plug my headsets and crowd mic into XLR inputs. Plug the board into the USB port of the laptop. Then from the Headphone out of the laptop I'll plug into a line input on the mixer, which allows me to run spots or music. The purpose of the mutes on the board are so I don't have to use faders once I get my levels set. I go to commercial break, I mute my mics, and hit the spots or music in my playlist.

 

One tip: create a track that is just silence. When you're ready to take it back to the mic's, you can slide that silence into place behind your currently playing music or commercial and use that to stop the media player during silence to avoid train-wrecks.

 

Voila, with a good connection you'll have nearly studio quality audio with a minimal investment.

 

I've built several setups, simply because I refuse to pay thousands for a ready made set-up. I've spent thousands on "supposedly" high end telephone gear; JK A***o stuff that tends to break a lot. Maybe it's just because radio people are destructive, but I'm still deterred from $8000.00 IP Codecs.

 

Anyway, I'm still trying to tweak this system. There are several USB mixers I'm considering, but their lack of a mute is the only thing I don't like. The Xenyx is ok, but it's bulky, gets dirty, and can be confusing because of the FX and Equalizers for someone not familiar with it. I'm considering the Prosonus AudioBox and the Akai EiE Pro, but neither have mutes. Any ideas anyone?