Vintage Audio: Unlikely Portables
The advent of the transistor made radio a truly put-it-in-your-pocket device. The earlier suitcase radios of the 1940s got radio out of the living room, but weren't really portable by today's standards. The first transistor radios were AM receivers. As the technology improved, short wave bands, and then FM were added to the mix. By the mid-1970s, AM-FM portables of various sizes and styles were ubiquitous. There were also radios with other bands included. These were never hugely popular, but they are still an interesting chapter in the history of portable radios. This Found in the Attic is a twofer, and features the Lafayette Radio Electronics Guardian 11 and the Panasonic RF-1104.
Read More
Vintage Audio: Ampro TTP-S Turntable Preamp
The lowly turntable preamp was one of those things that got no respect at most stations. It was often left in the dark, hanging by the wires inside the turntable pedestal. Stations that would spend a princely sum on a new console, audio processor and transmitter would simply move the old preamp into the new studio. As the drive for better audio quality ratcheted up, that began to change, but slowly.
Read More
Capturing Audio for Podcasts with Mike Phillips
If it sounds sketchy, distorted, or muffled, they won’t listen. Podcasting studio guru, Mike Phillips, divulges his secrets for capturing clean, clear audio. Mics, pre-amps, consoles - what he recommends and how to use them. This is a must-watch for podcasters and any audio content creators!
Read More
POWER101 Goes Digital with Axia iQ & AoIP
Sean Martin may like to joke about holding the title of 'Head Tea Boy' at POWER101 in England's Exeter / Devon region, but as Director of Business Development for Talk Productions Ltd (POWER101's parent company), he's got his hands in just about everything at the area's coolest local broadcast station.
Read More
Naughty or Nice? Christmas Gifts for Engineers
Who’s the engineer on your Christmas list? Perhaps it’s you! From network and audio analysis tools to weather stations, cameras, and stocking stuffers, Chris Tobin and Kirk Harnack check out some gift ideas for us engineers to put on our wish lists.
Read More
Smooth Sailing at River Radio
In the future, the battle for the hearts and minds of listeners will be fought on smartphones and in connected cars. Matt Levin, Chief Engineer of One Connection Media Group is one of the engineers who gets it. And he's got the streams for 104.9 the River and 89.3 the River running with the Omnia Z/IP Stream 9X/2. 104.9 The River serves Columbus and Central Ohio, while 89.3 The River reaches out to Chillicothe, Newark and Southeast Ohio. Both stations have a Contemporary Christian format.
Read More
Adaptive Streaming Details with Ioan Rus
We’ve covered Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio Streaming extensively. But new streaming methods bring other advantages, too. Ioan Rus, Lead Developer for Telos Alliance streaming products, explains how new features in today’s streaming encoders really improve the listener’s experience.
Read More
The Man on the Front Lines of Telos IP Telephony
Joe Talbot has spent a lot of time as a technologist in the broadcast industry, and has an extensive background in the Navy. As a Product Manager for the Telos Systems division of The Telos Alliance, Joe has a wealth of knowledge in the realm of Broadcast Telephony including IP phones VoIP technology. Joe recently sat down for a chat regarding the latest in IP phone tech, and discussed his dual career as broadcast engineer and military professional.
Read More
AERO.soft - Bringing Audio Monitoring and Processing into AoIP
In the past, audio processing and monitoring required the purchasing of multiple, specialized hardware to support each function in the air chain. But now, thanks to the increase in the speed of Ethernet connectivity, and IT-based processing power, many of these same processes can be condensed and supported over IP. Audio in particular is making a move to the IP realm with the recent AES67 standard bringing interoperability between manufacturers. Even with this standardization, Audio over IP (AoIP) is still not being used to its maximum potential in the broadcast space.
Read More
Engineer's Seminar & Tribute to the FM Master Antenna
Great achievements deserve recognition. Fifty years ago in New York City, two FM stations began transmitting from the new Alford Master FM Antenna on the Empire State Building. It was nearly an engineering miracle. Since then many improvements have been realized, including a new, main Master FM Antenna. This TWiRT episode covers a seminar and tribute from broadcast engineers and consultants contributing to the success of FM broadcasting in New York City over the decades. Your hosts are David Bialik and Scott Fybush.
Read More