TWiRT 668 - Engineering: A Better Value Now Than Ever

Every time I check in with Josh Bohn, founder of MaxxKonnect Group, he’s busy on an engineering project, or on his way to or from a project. And he’s not alone.  Seems that most broadcast engineers are absolutely slammed these days with upgrade projects, regular maintenance, and the usual off-air emergencies.  Today Josh is in Indianapolis meeting with several other radio engineers, including Matt Levin.  Wondering what kind of work is keeping engineers busy this year, I asked Josh to join us - and he did, along with three other engineers. Let’s see what’s keeping engineers so busy, and how are thoughtful engineers advising station owners to invest in equipment upgrades to avoid unscheduled off-air time.

Show Notes:
Article on Tube vs Solid State Transmitters from Engineering Radio
Nautel article: Five Reasons to Switch from a Tube Transmitter to Solid State
Josh mentioned the CR202 mobile 4G router, available with MaxxKonnect Wireless service
MicroMPX technology was mentioned. This MPX-over-IP tech is available in several products in software or hardware forms:
Omnia MPX Node
Thimeo Audio Technology

Guests:
Josh Bohn - President/CEO at The MaxxKonnect Group
Matt Levin - Broadcast Engineer - FM & Stream Processing, Axia & WideOrbit Integration
John Takach - Chief Engineer at Radio One
Nick Lopez - Assistant Chief Engineer, Radio One, Indianapolis

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

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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.

 
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TWiRT 667 - Let's Mix! with Andy Gladding & Steven Pardo

When Hofstra University’s School of Communication hosted an SBE Ennes Workshop, coordinator, Andy Gladding, added an extra event to this educational event - a Live Mix recording session in the School’s recording studio! This addition was a special treat for students, area broadcast engineers, and even for Workshop presenters.  The talented local band, “IRIEspect”, set up and played in the performance studio, while students and sound techs set up mics and configured the recording console for a recording session.  We learned important points about mixing for live sound and for recording, and the performance was later replayed on WRHU-FM, the award-winning Hofstra University station. Chris Tarr, who mixes live sound weekly, joins Kirk to interview Andy and Steven on this extra-fun episode of TWiRT!

Show Notes:
Steven Pardo's website: 4daudio.com
The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY
WRHU-FM - 88.7 MHz and Online - from Hofstra University
IRIEspect - links to the band’s social media, schedule, and merch (via LinkTree)

Guests:
Andy Gladding - Chief Engineer at Salem Media Group - New York
Steven Pardo - Music Producer and Audio Engineer Recording, Mixing, Mastering

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

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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.

 
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TWiRT 667 - Let's Mix! with Andy Gladding & Steven Pardo

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

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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.

 
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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

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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. 

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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

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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.

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