Difference between revisions of "Pre-Recording"

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(Alternatives to Pre-Recording at KDHX)
(Alternatives to Pre-Recording at KDHX)
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'''Assembled Show'''
 
'''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. Provide audio selections via a Spotify playlist at least 3 days in advance of your program along with these verbal recordings (they don't have to be studio quality, but should be changed up regularly if intended to be re-used):
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Prepare a playlist for your program, and 12 verbal ID recordings, using your phone, or a set of iBuds or a headset, or real deal mic in your home studio if you have it. Send recordings in WAV format to production [at] kdhx.org via WeTransfer.com (not Dropbox!).
  
 +
Provide audio selections via a ''Spotify playlist'' (or Apple Music) at least 3 days in advance of your program airdate, along with these verbal recordings:
  
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HOUR 1
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- first greeting, hello with general show description and host ID (placed after first song)
 +
- station, show ID, more to come (placed after 1st segment)
 +
- thanks for listening, find playlist info at kdhx.org, from home (mid 2nd segment, at :30)
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- station, show, and self ID follows 2nd segment (plug social?)
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- KDHX promo begins 3rd segment
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- end of hour 1, ID station, self and show, back after this
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 +
HOUR 2
 +
- hello with general show description and host ID (placed after first song)
 +
- station and show ID, with playlist info follows 1st segment
 +
- show ID, social, playlist info at mid 2nd segment (:30)
 +
- thanks for listening, find playlist info at kdhx.org, from home ends 2nd segment
 +
- live read promo for next show begins 3rd and final segment
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- goodbye, stay tuned (before last ideally fade-able song)
  
 
'''PROVIDE EVERGREEN Content (NOW!)'''
 
'''PROVIDE EVERGREEN Content (NOW!)'''

Revision as of 20:42, 9 December 2020

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
  • 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
  • If EVERGREEN: Add the word Evergreen to your show title, and date the playlist to any day in the far future, such as 2030, and use the standard start time. This will save it to the top of the list when we go to find it later using Spinitron's Playlists > Browse function. Here, you can reassign the actual date when you inform us of your need to air it.

3. Recording using Audio HiJack software, directly from the Mixer

  • You'll want to be saving to the Desktop, as explained in the Audio HiJack instructions
  • Files recorded should appear there and use this naming format: [Air Date YYYY-MO-DA format, Show Name, and EVG or NEV .WAV]
    • 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. Record 6 (or 9) x 19 minute average segments

  • Just as you do your show live, keep your show running in 19-minute segments on average. 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. You may include live reads in your recording if you know them, or request via email production [at] kdhx.org.
  • Start and stop the recording after each 19 minute mark, or record in one long file and edit afterward using Fission. Be sure to leave at least 5 second gaps or some other visible indicator of break points near the 19-minute mark to facilitate the edit. (clap your hands, countdown 3, 2, 1, etc.)

5. Keep track of your time using your Spinitron playlist 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. The counter in Audio HiJack should also guide to lengths of recordings as they're happening.

6. Record assuming Time Variance at the End of each Hour To keep from your final announcing being cut due to overage or underages in time, and the innate variance of announcement lengths vs planned lengths, you should 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. DROP Recorded Show Files for Backup and Support BEFORE Wide Orbit Upload

  • If there were errors (a retake) during the recording, we will use Fission editing software to make simple removals and volume adjustments where needed. Here are more details about editing with Fission - click for instructions If you do choose to edit your self, reminder that Fission is a destructive style software, it is not Non Linear. Always make a copy of your recording instead of editing it directly by starting with "Save As..." and retitling this new copy as the "EDIT" somewhere in the filename.
  • The production department will support editing needs and train volunteers to edit themselves if desired, upon request. Please email productioon [at] kdhx.org to arrange.

Reminder: STAFF IS NOT monitoring for FCC violations, and as a show host/programmer, this is always your responsibility.

  • When files have been prepared, edited, or are awaiting edit support, they are best copied/saved into the Pre-Records or Evergreen DROP folder on the MacOSX Server. There are "alias" folder icons on the desktops of the AIR 2 and Prod 1 room's Macs. "Dropping" your files into this folder is our best means of Backup, and assures that staff can get to it from other locations. Begin by double clicking the appropriate folder, and then coping your files into a new folder there, or from the desktop.

9. Sign the air room's monthly FCC and Transmitter log for the time your pre-record will air 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. (This also does not apply to Evergreens)

10. *IMPORTANT* e-mail ronnie [at] kdhx.org, once your recordings are completed. Please note the time and date the show should air, and/or if it is evergreen or specific to that airdate only. We will earmark if it is Evergreeen, in order to be available to air again after 6 months.

Alternatives to Pre-Recording at KDHX

Pre-Record at Home

Use the instructions above to prepare your show in 6 (or 9) x 19 minute WAVs, and deliver to your staff supervisor via WeTransfer.com (do not use Dropbox, please)


Assembled Show

Prepare a playlist for your program, and 12 verbal ID recordings, using your phone, or a set of iBuds or a headset, or real deal mic in your home studio if you have it. Send recordings in WAV format to production [at] kdhx.org via WeTransfer.com (not Dropbox!).

Provide audio selections via a Spotify playlist (or Apple Music) at least 3 days in advance of your program airdate, along with these verbal recordings:

HOUR 1 - first greeting, hello with general show description and host ID (placed after first song) - station, show ID, more to come (placed after 1st segment) - thanks for listening, find playlist info at kdhx.org, from home (mid 2nd segment, at :30) - station, show, and self ID follows 2nd segment (plug social?) - KDHX promo begins 3rd segment - end of hour 1, ID station, self and show, back after this

HOUR 2 - hello with general show description and host ID (placed after first song) - station and show ID, with playlist info follows 1st segment - show ID, social, playlist info at mid 2nd segment (:30) - thanks for listening, find playlist info at kdhx.org, from home ends 2nd segment - live read promo for next show begins 3rd and final segment - goodbye, stay tuned (before last ideally fade-able song)

PROVIDE EVERGREEN Content (NOW!)

In extreme emergencies, we can create a show in Wide Orbit cycling through your program's center lane music. This would consist of your favorite cuts, representing the core of your show's genre(s), most easily found as listed in the first 3 playlist for the program that you 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.