TWiRT 666 - Console Replacement in an Afternoon with Tom Ray

When the Archdiocese of Hartford needed to replace an audio mixing console, Tom Ray was ready. Due to parts shortages for older audio consoles, Tom chose a new console that uses Livewire Audio over IP audio in and out connections, plus networking to the rest of the facility’s studios. The result of using AoIP technology? A super-quick replacement and configuration of the new console!  In the episode, radio engineer and consultant, Tom Ray, takes us on a tour of WJMJ and the Office of Radio and TV of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, and discusses the quick work afforded by AoIP audio networking.  Plus, you won’t want to miss the “ABIP Horror Story” at the end of this episode.

Show Notes:
WJMJ Catholic Radio, Hartford, CT
Archdiocese of Hartford - Office of Radio and Television
Where is WJMJ and how much of Connecticut does its signal cover? Here’s a map.

Guest:
Tom Ray - President of Tom Ray Broadcast Consulting

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
Subscribe to Audio:
iTunes
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn

Subscribe to Video:
iTunes
RSS
YouTube

TWiRT 666 - Console Replacement in an Afternoon with Tom Ray

TWiRT 665 - Live from the 2023 WBA Broadcasters Clinic

With broadcast engineers from 24 states - some from Alaska - there’s no better place for expanding knowledge while seeing old friends and meeting new ones that the WBA Broadcasters Clinic! What a blast to broadcast live from the SBE booth in the expo hall, and we trapped a number of guests to talk about new tech and best practices at this year’s Clinic. Plus, we get to see how the grand prize winner is picked in a Poker-like game with lots of participants! Who won?  Watch and see!

Show Notes:
Broadcasters Clinic Schedule

Guests:
Bill Bennett - Media Systems & Account Manager, ENCO Systems
Linda Baun - Retired Vice President WBA at Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn
Paul McLane - Managing Director of Content/Editor in Chief of Radio World at Radio World/Future U.S.
Kyle Geissler - Vice President at Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn
Martin Reyes - Broadcasters General Store
Jim Armstrong - DIrector of Eastern US Sales, Telos Alliance

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. 

Subscribe to Audio:
iTunes
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn

Subscribe to Video:
iTunes
RSS
YouTube

TWiRT 665 - Live from the 2023 WBA Broadcasters Clinic

TWiRT 664 - EAS, Fiber, and Creative Tower Sites with Chris Tarr

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, broadcasters and wireless carriers participated in another National Program Test of the EAS and WEA systems, alerting the public in a variety of ways. Initial reports are that this nationwide test was rather successful! Past tests have been plagued with audio problems for broadcasters, but this test primarily utilized the CAP Server system, delivering clean audio to most broadcasters for retransmission. Chris Tarr serves on Wisconsin’s State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and brings useful insight into this recent test. Plus we’re talking about fiber-delivered Internet service and its much wider availability. Plus, thinking creatively about siting FM translators or STL hop locations by looking for lesser-used towers or those not currently associated with broadcast functions.

Show Notes:
EAS Topics…
State Emergency Communications Committee Resources (SECC)
Easy read from REC Networks: REC LPFM Advisory Letter #16 - EAS CAP Polling requirement for radio - deadline December 12, 2023
Emergency Alert System – New Rules and Many Changes by Telecommunications Law Professionals
Chris mentioned “ETRS” - here’s the landing page for the EAS Test Reporting System
Cavell, Mertz & Associates, Inc. has combined the FCCInfo.com databases with the extensive mapping capabilities of Google Earth. Here’s what you need to know to use it.
Chris and Kirk mentioned Christen Roberts and Dan Merwin as reliable resources for finding broadband Internet for broadcast facilities.

Guest and Co-Host:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

Subscribe to Audio:
iTunes
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn

Subscribe to Video:
iTunes
RSS
YouTube

TWiRT 664 - EAS, Fiber, and Creative Tower Sites with Chris Tarr

TWiRT 663 - Virtual is Real with Jeff McGinley

When Jeff McGinley’s radio stations in Portland, Oregon, joined the ranks of the “homeless” last year, he had just a few weeks to create virtual radio infrastructures so the on-air talent could keep working, doing live shows. Even after moving into new “hands-on” studios, the Portland group is still using virtualized radio consoles for both regular and special broadcasts. Now Jeff is building another virtual studio for a country music star’s restaurant in Gatlinburg. Meanwhile, Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack have built out virtual broadcast infrastructures benefitting their companies’ stations as well. Come along as we describe and even demonstrate some of this virtualized tech that’s making broadcasting easier than ever.

Show Notes:
A viewer asked about Kirk’s touchscreen monitors at WBZK. They’re Dell P2418HT 23.8" Touch Monitors
Both Jeff and Kirk implemented the Axia Altus virtual audio mixing console.
Kirk also implemented the Telos VXs virtual broadcast phone system into WBZK’s Altus console

Guest:
Jeff McGinley - VP of Engineering at SummitMedia

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
Subscribe to Audio:
iTunes
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn

Subscribe to Video:
iTunes
RSS
YouTube

TWiRT 663 - Virtual is Real with Jeff McGinley

TWiRT 662 - Solar & Wind Powered FM Translators with Becky Meiers and Pete Tridish

How do you provide electric power to your FM translators when, 1) It’s really expensive, 2) Commercial power isn’t reliable, 3) The public depends on your service working? KCAW-FM is installing both solar- and wind-generated electrical systems at their translator sites, serving tiny towns and villages in the archipelago of Southeast Alaska. Becky Meiers with KCAW, and Pete Tridish, a longtime consultant to low-power, community, and startup broadcast radio stations both join Chris Tarr and Kirk Harnack to explain the motivations for and approaches to renewable power sources for these FM translators.

Show Notes:
SuperWind - Micro Wind-Powered Generators
Pete mentioned Paul Gipe as a resource for wind power info. Here’s Paul’s website.
KCAW Radio, Sitka, Alaska
“BUILDING A RENEWABLE ENERGY POWERED TRANSLATOR FOR KCAW” by Pete Tridish
Radio World article - “Powering an Off-Grid translator With Renewable Energy” by Pete Tridish

Guests:
Becky Meiers - Operations Director at KCAW-FM, Sitka, Alaska
Pete Tridish - Director of Electromagnetism at International Media Action

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel brings you Transmission Talk Tuesday Discussions. Easy, free registration is here.
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
Subscribe to Audio:
iTunes
RSS
Stitcher
TuneIn

Subscribe to Video:
iTunes
RSS
YouTube

TWiRT 662 - Solar & Wind Powered FM Translators with Becky Meiers and Pete Tridish