The NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), in trying to reach a settlement with the music industry, has decided that cellphones are part of the problem. No kidding, the fact that smart phones like the iPhone and Android do not have FM tuners seems to be a part of the negotiations, even though the cellphone industry has nothing to do with music royalties. The argument is, more people will listen to, and more importantly, buy music if they have an FM tuner in their smartphone.
I don’t know about that.
My HTC Android phone does have an FM tuner, it also has a metal detector. I have found both the be novel applications. Even though I work in radio, I have used the FM tuner twice. Technically speaking, I find it to be adequate. In order to receive anything, a pair of headphones or earbuds has to be used, because the headphone wire acts as the antenna.
That being said, I cannot count the number of times I have used Pandora or other online audio applications. Several times a day at least. Why? Because the content it better.
If consumers want FM tuners in their cellphones, they will ask for them. Cellphone manufacture’s will gladly comply, and make them. The real problem is, most people don’t care about radio because most radio programming is boring and uninspired these days. Let me paraphrase that:
HELLO, BROADCASTERS! ARE YOU LISTENING? YOUR PROGRAMMING SUCKS!
Offer a better product and listeners will return. If there were a compelling reason to build FM tuners into cellphones, it would already be done. Forcing the cellphone manufactures to do something they don’t want to do will simply drive up prices.
The NAB has led the radio industry astray for years now, we really should stop listening to them.
When I was a wee young lad, the local FM station in town did something called an “Album Side” every Wednesday night at 8 pm. It was a great way to hear half of an album before plunking down five hard earned dollars at the record store. It was also a way to sometimes get a recording of half of the songs on the album using the trusty stereo cassette deck.
Technics SL-1200 Turntabe
By way of these unauthorized recordings, I accumulated a bunch of cassette tapes that had bands like Aerosmith on one side and Foreigner on the other. Often, the last 8-10 minutes of a cassette tape side would be silent. This, coupled with the auto reverse mechanism on the cassette deck often lead to confusion with my high school sweet heart… the music ends, then while we were otherwise distracted and several minutes later, the music begins again at high volume.
I grew up in much simpler times than these.
In any case, the advent of the CD pretty much ruined the concept of album sides. It means much less to somebody to have a show where one would play “half the songs on a CD, one after another, without commercials or liners.” When CD’s became the norm for music playback somewhere in the late 1980′s early 1990′s so went the album side. These days, with computers, MP3′s and all the other music storage mediums, most people wouldn’t even know what an album side was. The shame of it is, it was a great selling tool for the record industry. Even though I owned those bootleg cassette tapes, later on, I went out and bought almost all of the albums that I had illegally recorded off of the radio. To get the other side.
I was fooling around with my HTC Android phone yesterday and discovered something that has a definite use for radio remotes. An Application called Hertz will record .wav files, which can then be transfered via e-mail or ftp to the studio and played back on the air. The program is pretty slick, it allows sample rates from 8 to 44.1 khz.
I made a sample recording, the microphone in the HTC phone is okay, a better microphone would sound better. After it was done, I emailed it to myself and listened on the laptop. The email took about 4 minutes for a 20 seconds of a 32 kHz .wav file. One could cut that down by choosing a lower sample rate. I have found that 32 kHz it the minimal acceptable sample rate for analog FM. Anything lower than that sounds choppy.
In another potential use, a news reporter could use this to record audio to save and transfer to a computer using a USB cable. The recording time limit depends on the size of the SIM card and the sample rate. Additionally, my HTC Android phone will detect and use WiFi networks, where available, for data services. Using a WiFi network will avoid those 3G data charges and also increase download/upload speeds.
My Verizon plan has unlimited data transfer, so it really doesn’t matter what sample rate I use, your mileage may vary.
Couple the Hertz app with the VNC app mentioned previously, and a person could do all sorts of things remotely with a radio station. The Hertz app is available for free download from the Android app store.
This is The Stairway to Heaven for a different decade.
It is so big. She looks like, one of those rap guys’ girlfriends. But, you know, who understands those rap guys?
They only talk to her, because, she looks like a total prostitute, ‘kay?
Ordinarily, I don’t much go in for such things as rap music. But this is entertaining, and somewhat universal.
Hard to believe that it was almost twenty years ago. Almost every lyric in that song is innuendo for some sex act. Like it. Dislike it. No rules were broken when making this song. It went to number 1 on the billboard chart in the summer of 1992 and no radio station anywhere ever received a fine for playing it. It was quite scandalous at the time, of course, we were young and naive then. Things have changed.
To the beanpole dames in the magazines: You ain’t it, Miss Thing!
I occurs to me that part of the reason that the radio industry sucks is because the music industry sucks. The radio and music industry used to have a symbiotic relationship, each benefiting greatly from the existence of the other. Of course, the greed and poor business practices of the last decade have driven every fun and thus entertaining element away from both industries. Leave it to the bean counters, who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
Sadly, no hit that I have heard on the top 40 station these days even comes close to the entertainment value of this 18 year old song.
In previous years, I have had the very pleasurable experience of setting up a fire works show remote with music synchronized to our FM radio station. Ordinarily I don’t go near a remote broadcast, however, this is one of the more intricate broadcasts requiring coordination between the studio, the remote site and the fire works barge anchored 300 yards off shore, out in the Hudson River. The fireworks company, Garden State Fireworks, are consummate professionals and produce a very well choreographed show.
Giving them the synchronizing track on site is not very hard, however, I was surprised to hear that not every radio station does that. In fact, one of our, ah, ehm, Clear Channel competitors from The big Metropolitan Center Nearby could not be bothered to do it for the 4th of July fireworks this summer and last summer too.
The synchronizing track is on the left channel of a CD that Garden State Fireworks created, it is 1200 baud FSK data, 8,N,1, so it is pretty robust.
I thought I would post on how I do it and why. First of all, for the how part, there are two options:
Play the music CD at the remote site and relay broadcast quality music back to the studio without any time delay. Hard to do even with an ISDN line.
Play the music CD at the studio and relay telephone quality audio for the firing track to the remote site from the studio. Have the remote site play the air signal over the local PA system.
Option number 2 is technically far easier than option number 1, although it takes a fair bit of coordination. Also, the sound reinforcement guy didn’t like the air signal idea because the quality of the audio. That is a little nit picky, especially given the fact that much of the music at the fireworks show will be drowned out by the fireworks explosions. In the end, he saw it my way.
Here is a list of equipment needed:
Telco auto answer coupler, such as the Indy Audio
Telco Hybrid, such as the Telos
If the announcer is at the fireworks site, a POTS CODEC such as a Comrex Matrix or blue box
Wireless microphone
Telephone set and cord with RJ-11 connector
Miscellaneous mic cables, power cords, etc
At the remote site, two pots lines from the local phone company, long distance service as required.
Here is the block diagram:
Note, this assumes no delay in the telco network, which under ordinary circumstances using wired, not cellular network, there should not be any. The touchiest part of the whole thing is getting the stage coordinated with the studio during the transition to the remote broadcast. Once that is done, everything else just falls into place.
The firing computer is located on shore next to our broadcast booth. They send the signal out to the barge on a wireless LAN link.
That is the how part. Here is the why (soundtrack is a little low):
That is from three years ago, but you get idea.
Even though I don’t work for these people anymore, I asked if they needed help with the broadcast this year. ”Nope, we got it, thanks.” I will be paying close attention.
Like any good government agency, the FCC in conjunction with FEMA are working on upgrading the acronym heavy EAS system with CAP, which stands for Common Alert Protocol. CAP includes something that FEMA has been working on something called IPAWS, which stands for Integrated Public Alert Warning System.
The FCC is still in the comment/response process (FCC Docket 04-296) which can get long and drawn out. I would not expect to see any NPRM until late fall 2010 with any changes taking effect in early 2011 or so.
Basically, CAP looks like this:
An EAS to CAP converter monitors a CAP source (think e-mail server) and when a CAP message is received, it converters it to EAS protocol and sends it to a input source of a EAS encoder/decoder. The EAS encoder/decoder then passes that information through and broadcasts it. Of course, the EAS encoder/decoder can still be programmed to pass through specific types of messages for specific area and ignore all others.
Thus far, several manufactures have designed CAP converters for use with existing EAS units:
For a TFT-2008 system. Others such as SAGE and Trilithic are integrated into the EAS encoder/decoder units. Basically, the CAP part of the EAS system needs an ethernet port with access to an IP gateway to receive messages from the CAP server located off site. That is the weak link in the system, as far as I am concerned.
It is not like some of our so call trading partners have been trying to tinker with the inner tubes or anything. It is also not like that same trading partner makes most of the cheap ethernet switches and routers found in many radio stations, hardware that can be easily configured remotely. Configured to redirect certain IP addresses to new, exciting, and exotic locations such as Iran or Pakistan.
Perhaps I am paranoid, or not. It falls back to my time in the military when somebody said “It’s good to be a little paranoid if everyone is out to get you.”
A pair of AM stations around here changed format to the “True Oldies Channel” a few months ago. It turned out to be a wise move for them because there were no stations transmitting oldies in the area, so it filled a void. It was also immediately noticed by the public and there has been lots and lots of favorable comments received by the radio stations.
The programming elements are similar sounding to Musicradio 77 (WABC) during it’s heydays. My one technical comment would be the use of reverb on the DJ’s microphones, it is a little overdone; sounds like they are broadcasting from a big empty room. It sounds like a real Orban spring reverb unit. I’d say turn the delay down a little and make it sound a little more warm. The other programming comment is local content. I’d like to hear a few minutes of local news after the national news casts. I know they can do that, the other radio stations in the cluster have local news. Otherwise the execution sounds great and I am enjoying listening to some songs I haven’t heard in a while. And, its on the AM. Imagine that, music on the AM!
I would say that dispells a number of rumors about AM radio:
No one is listening. Right, no one is listening to mediocre syndicated talk radio programs heard on thousands of AM stations throughout the country, that is true. Offer something different, even something syndicated, but fills a niche and people will find it and listen to it.
Music doesn’t sound good on the AM radio. I think it sounds great, both stations have broadbanded antenna arrays and good audio chains. The music sounds great on my table top radio and driving around in the Jeep.
Kudos to WEOK and WALL for their ground breaking innovation called “Good Programming.”
Very similar to a TiVo, only works with radios. There are some very good radio shows out there, the kind that make you sit in the car long after you have reached your destination. The kind that you might schedule your day around if possible.
A few of them are syndicated on NPR a few are locally produced, some are interesting talk, some are perspective, some are new music, etc.
Radio Shark Digital Audio Recording Device
Wouldn’t it be great if you could time shift those shows and listen to them when you wanted to? Imagine this, you know that “This American Life” is airs on Saturday afternoon and it is a favorite. However, this Saturday you are busy working or what ever. Go to the Radio Shark and program it to record your show, then listen to it later. What a concept.
What this unit does:
Plugs into PC or Mac USB port.
Has AM and FM receivers built in.
Can record programming and play back later, or pause programming and resume playback while recording.
What this unit does not do:
Not very portable, unless the user want to lug a lap top around.
Does not integrate into cars or other playback devices, such as I-pods, etc.
Does not record internet sources directly, although there are a few links to shareware on the Radio Shark website that will do this.
This is a start, but what is really needed is something that is factory installed in cars. Say the Digital Audio Recording Device (DARD) can be in installed in the car, or in the house, or both. Then each DARD has a flash drive that can be moved from one unit to another, but only played back in DARD units (to thwart pirating music). It can even be an I-pod app.
This is the type of new technology that will bring listeners to radio and make radio stations create good quality local content, stuff you can’t get anyplace else.
Why aren’t these being marketed? Heck, radio stations should be giving them to listeners, I bet you could even get them manufactured with station logos. Seems like an opportunity lost to embrace some meaningful, understandable, young technology.
Update: Okay, there are others out there as well. What needs to happen is all these features tied together and offered in stock car radios.
I have been reading with interest the whole debate about radio being dead or dying vs. radio being a vibrant thriving business.
Radio is not dead by any measure, however it is declining for a number of obvious reasons. There are more competing entertainment and information options, that is true. Ipods, netcasters, satellite radio have taken some of radio’s listeners away. However, the main culprit in radio’s decline are the investment bankers that are squeezing every drop of blood nickle out of the industry before moving on to their next victim investment opportunity.
The net result of this has made much, not all, of radio predicable and boring. No longer is radio the source for new music, news, information and entertainment as it used to be. I don’t think that anyone will argue that point. The money men have fired most of the creative and talented individuals who used to bring in the listeners and replaced them with computers. They have also cut news staffs, support staffs and anything else that lives and breaths except sales people. More sales people are always required.
HD RadioTM radio is a joke at best. Setting aside all of the technical problems with coverage and building penetration, the programming sucks too. The same purveyors of crap on the main analog channels are now branching out on the HD2 and HD3 channels. I can’t believe that the secondary channels will somehow be better than the main analog channels, or even marginally good enough to buy an HD Radio radio. Some groups are putting their AM programming on an FM HD2 channel, which is great if one cares to hear drug addled corpulent talk show hosts wheezing into the microphone in full fidelity. At least on the AM analog broadcasts, everything above 4.5 KHz is cut off, wheezing included.
The good news is, there are still some radio stations that are programmed well. Radio sets are almost universal, every car has one, every house has at least one or two, most offices, stores, etc. Radio reception is still free. Radio is still popular among many people. Radio owner’s could very easily become involved with their communities of license, make better programing decisions, hire staffs, and add valuable informative local programs again. This decline would soon be forgotten.
The bad news is that is unlikely to happen. Less than a snowball’s chance in hell unless someone wakes up and smells the coffee.
Because of this post, I have received some e-mail asking why I am against community radio. I am not. In fact, I support community radio. I think that community radio done well is a wonderful tool in our democracy, giving a voice to those that are watching government. It also promotes other locals interests, events, music, etc. I would like to see more failing stations bought by community broadcasters and turned into something that is a public trust and responsive to the local population.
What I was trying to get at in the previous post was that over crowding the FM band with more and more small signals will degrade it. There is no ifs, ands or buts, removing third adjacent protections on the FM band will increase the noise floor. This will lead to more interference on the average FM radio, which will lead to more people getting fed up and tuning out.
Here is why: You cannot change the laws of physics. FM transmitters have output filters that attenuate side band energy, that is to say, energy transmitted on 1st, 2nd and 3rd adjacent channels. A 50,000 watt FM station on 100.3 MHz will have side band energy on 100.1, 99.9 and 99.7 MHz as well as 100.5, 100.7 and 100.9 MHz. Due to the limitations on the components used to construct those filters, they can only be designed with the accuracy of the components used. In other words, most electrical components have a tolerance given in percent, example +/- 10%. That means that the value of the component will change, usually because of heating. Therefore, output filters cannot be constructed to limit emissions to only the main channel and say one adjacent channel, they would drift off frequency.
Also, creating a brick wall filter that cuts everything off at the second adjacent channel will cause distortion of the RF signal on the main channel. With analog AM and FM transmitters it cannot be done. Digital transmissions are another story, but that is not what we are talking about here.
That is an engineer’s point of view.
One other thing about adding hundreds more LP FM signals. There should be something that stipulates most (say >50%) of the programming be locally originated. Recorded for later playback is fine. Having thousands of LP stations broadcasting the same syndicated shows or running voice tracked automation 24/7 would be a recreation of the AM band as it currently exists. If you want to listen to that, then it already exists, help your self. I, on the other hand, would like to avoid the AMization of the FM band.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
~1st amendment to the United States Constitution
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.
~Benjamin Franklin
...radio was discovered, and not invented, and that these frequencies and principles were always in existence long before man was aware of them. Therefore, no one owns them. They are there as free as sunlight, which is a higher frequency form of the same energy.
~Alan Weiner
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers
~Universal Declaration Of Human Rights, Article 19
The NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), in trying to reach a settlement with the music industry, has decided that cellphones are part of the problem. No kidding, the fact that smart phones like the iPhone and Android do not have FM tuners seems to be a part of the negotiations, even though the cellphone industry has nothing to do with music royalties. The argument is, more people will listen to, and more importantly, buy music if they have an FM tuner in their smartphone.
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