LO1: Audio Products Notes & Analysis

What is the definition of community radio?
Community radio is radio that reflects the community for social gain. These are often targeted towards small groups on a small scale and built on volunteers (often post-graduates). This type of radio is not allowed to make profit.

How does it differ from commercial radio?
Unlike community radio commercial radios aim is for profit. This means that there are lots of adverts and choice of music would lean towards chart music.

Analogue Technology

Analogue would require physical tuning (8 Track tapes, Vinyl), this is time consuming and very expensive. There would also be a disc jockey who would run all this technology which is very demanding and seen as a skill. He would physically cut the tape and put it back together when splicing tracks, he would also do this with sound effects.

Note: Remit (Law)

History

80's
Compact disc replace analogue disc during the 80's, which were easier to operate and saves money

90's
Mini disc and DAT (digital audio tapes) where introduced being more efficient and more digital.

21st
Computers revolutionised radio, with the introduction of things like a Play server. This was a program where all the music is stored and would be directly played from. The play server would also vary from station to station, for example: Hallam FM's would be contemporary aiming for chart music.

Play servers today can often be touch screen and are click and play rather than manual. Outputs will be controlled from a digital mixing deck. (Volume, song choice, adverts, conversation, jingle, timing, sound effects)

Play Servers

Commercial - They will contain main-stream music, like pop etc.

Community - They will play niche music and will be considerably smaller.

Note: WAV & FLAC are a high quality format (and would also be a big file).

Non-linear editing packages: Pro tools, audition, sound booth, cubase. Used for creating jingles, ident and pre-recorded content. They can be cut up and moved.



Analysis Of BBC Radio Tour

Digital Technology:
- Song noise tracker
- Monitors (shows tracks & spec)
- Lights (warnings)
- Mixer (control's everything)

Computer Use:
- Social media
- Running order
- Cartwall (cue up)
 

Notes:

Pre production: 
Planning meetings, Running order producer, DJ, Guidelines and regulations

Production: 
Software and hardware used (Audition, Cubase, Pre-recorded/ live, Sound booth, cart walls, desk, play servers)

Post Production:  
Software and hardware used (Audition, Cubase, Pre-recorded/ live, Sound booth, cart walls, desk, play servers)

- How does it differ between form etc (variety/range of places/people)?
- Who is producing it?
- Target audience?
- Commercial OR non-commercial?