Pre-Recording

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Please consider making this pre-record EVERGREEN (click to learn more about the concept).


Step by Step Instructions for your Pre-Record

1. Scheduling Contact Ronnie@kdhx.org to request pre-record support, starting with a reservation in Air 2 or Prod 1 to record. We request at least two full weekday business days after the session is recorded to have it prepared for automated playout from Wide Orbit. Particularly for the first time, we recommend reserving 3 hours in case of any problems, 4 hours for 3 hour shows. Please reference the KDHX Studio Reservations page to see current studio availability for Air 2 or Prod 1 before requesting available time.

2. Pre-enter your playlist in Spinitron Enter your playlist into Spinitron prior to recording. Even if you don’t typically enter your playlist in advance, this will definitely save time and aggravation so you can focus on recording the show. It is also nearly essential for keeping rough track of time and set breaks every 19 minutes, since it is not live. You will be able to roughly gauge where your set breaks will be and plan for them. Every segment should be roughly 19 minutes. If one segment is over by a minute or two, the next segment recorded should be under by a minute or two, but keep as close to 19 minutes as possible.

  • Choose the correct date the show will air in Spinitron. (Evergreen: If you are unsure when it will air, a date will need to be associated with it. Always select January 1, 2000 and the time your show typically airs. -- Later when you know when the show will air you can change the date by clicking playlists>browse>(select Jan. 1, 2000). Then, edit the playlist to the correct air date.)
  • Choose the “I'm working on the playlist ‘before my show’” option.
  • Choose the "I want manual time-stamps," options so your playlist correlates with the time the songs actually air, not the time it is when you enter them in advance.
 Recordings are always required to be WAV, 16-bit, 44.1kHz Stereo.

3. Check this out for complete instructions on the latest AudioHiJack 3.0 software >> Recording:_Using_Audio_HiJack.

  • Name and save your file like this [Show name - Air Date - (EV or NEV)] Add EV for evergreen, if it is not timely and could potentially be aired again after 6 months if you are in a bind. In most cases, it is ideal that all pre-records be evergreen. See the top of the page for what makes a show evergreen. If the pre-record is a holiday or really needs to be timely for some reason, add NEV.
  • Quit Audio Hijack from the File menu at the top, or at the bottom of the screen by right-clicking the program icon and choosing “quit.”


4. Just as you do your show live, keep your show running in 19-minute segments. If one segment is over by a minute or two, the next segment should be under by a minute or two. The entire show should run 1:52-1:54 for two-hour shows or 2:47-2:48 for three-hour shows. Do not make reference to any of the Wide Orbit spots. There may not always be a pre-recorded Wide Orbit spot in between segments, this is always true in instances where there would normally be a live read. Do not include any live reads in your recording.

Be sure to leave at least 5 seconds or as long as you need between 19-minute segments. The longer the gap the better for editing.

5. Keeping track of your time using your Spinitron playlist and the timer on the board. Spinitron will often insert track lengths for you or you can update the lengths as you go. Using these rough set breaks in your Spinitron playlist as a guide, you will be able to roughly guess your 19-minute segments. It’s not an exact science, but will be a helpful guide to keep track of which 19-minute segment of your show you are on.

The board timer is an exact science. It is very simple to use, and is located on the bottom-right corner of the board. Just hit “reset” before each segment. Hit Start” when you begin your segment and “Stop” when you end your 19-minute segment. Hit reset and repeat. It’s that simple. You may want to keep track of which segment of your show you are on using scratch paper.

You may also record each 19-minute segment individually rather than your whole show as a long file with pauses, if you are more comfortable doing that. Another option is to edit in Fission afterward

6. Forward announce the last song of each hour and end your show with a song or two that can potentially be faded down. Near the end of the final segment of each hour, back announce previous music, and forward announce the last song. It is always better to go a little longer on the very last segment of your show, than too short. The last track or two of your show should be an instrumental track or a track that would be okay to fade down by the next DJ, if your show runs long at all. This ensures underwriting is played on time, and you can remain respectful of the next show.

7. Double-check your playlist Review your playlist in Spinitron to be sure that it remains correct.

8. *IMPORTANT* e-mail ronnie@kdhx.org, once completed to let him know that the show is recorded and in the Pre-Records folder on the Desktop. He will need to know:

  • The studio where your pre-record audio is saved in the pre-records folder. (Air 2 or Prod 1?)
  • The time and date the show should air
  • If it is evergreen and could potentially be aired again > 6 months.
  • If there were errors (a retake) during the recording, what time of the error and which segment of the show. (1st, 2nd, 3rd segment of the first hour. 1st, 2nd, 3rd segment of the second hour etc.) Fission is audio editing made simple. If you recorded your whole show as one long file and are ready for more control of your pre-record, here's some simple instructions on how to edit the show into segments or chop off any extended pauses at the beginning or end. If you will be editing for the first time, I recommend making a copy of your recording first by right-clicking and selecting "copy." Fission - click for instructions This is optional. If you are not interested in editing sound, this can be handled for you.
Reminder:  we are not monitoring for FCC violations, as a show programmer, this is always your responsibility.

9. Sign the air room log for the time it will air Finally, sign the bottom of the FCC Log in the air room for the time/day that your pre-recorded show will air, since you are responsible for on-air content at that time. Meter readings will be handled by the DJ leaving as your show begins, so no need to worry about that.

10. You’re Done. Relax.


Alternatives to In Person Live Pre-Recording at KDHX

Assembled Show

Prepare a playlist for your program, and 10 verbal ID recordings, use your phone, a set of iBuds or a headset, or real deal mic in you home studio if you have it.

We can record and use audio from a playlist that you provide/share from an Apple Musis/iTunes, or Spotify account. Here's the process we use to prepare and "assembled" version of your show:

  1. inspect audio level, adjust/master under U
  2. cut remnants to near 57 total minutes of music per hour
  3. segment each hour (57) into 3 x 18-19 minute WAVs
  4. Drop IDs where appropriate and re-consolidate
  5. date folder and name 16bit 44.1kHz WAV files according to show category (###) and standard show segment filenaming:

Providing EVERGREEN Content

In extreme emergencies, we can create a show in Wide Orbit cycling through your program's center lane music. You favotite cuts that represent the core of your shows genre(s), most easily found as listed in the first 3 playlist for the program, submitted with your application. Make a task of gathering these songs in 16bit 44.1 WAV file format, and provide to the media or Production department to load into the Wide Orbit system.