[rfu-automation] Fwd: [grc] Fwd: [ncra] Open Source Station Technology

[Andrew Ó Baoill]

For those interested in the systems under the hood, this is an insight  
into what some other stations are doing as regards automation,  
streaming/podcastin, and editing software. I'd love (if we had time  
and volunteers) if we were able to look at open source solutions that  
would allow us the same functionality as iTunes and Zara.

Andrew

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Frieda Werden <wings at igc.org>
> Date: January 29, 2009 1:30:42 AM CST
> To: grc at peak.org
> Subject: [grc] Fwd: [ncra] Open Source Station Technology
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Stephen Kelly <stephen.kelly at dal.ca>
> Date: Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 10:59 AM
> Subject: [ncra] Open Source Station Technology
> To: frieda.werden at gmail.com
>
>
> Hey All,
>
> I thought I'd pipe in to let you know what CKDU in Halifax has been  
> up to.
> We've been operating on almost %100 open source software since 2003.
> This is
> documented here:
> http://ckdu.dal.ca/ckdu-os
>
> The site is a little bit outdated but I think its a good overview of  
> the
> stations computer structure.  It would be interesting to have other  
> folks
> contribute their cc radio-related open source solutions to the site...
>
> To sum things up in relation to your questions:
>
> a. logging / live streaming
> We also use Tom Cleggs fantastic software mp3cat. As an example, you
> can access
> our web interface here:
> http://ckdu.dal.ca
>
> b. podcasting
> We use bashpodder (http://www.lincgeek.org/bashpodder/) for  
> "podcatching",
> automatically downloading syndicated programming.  Currently we're
> modifying
> the script a bit to better accommodate our needs.  I can recommend  
> this
> version:
> http://podracer.sourceforge.net/
> As for podcasting our own programming, we provide a bit of web space
> for each
> individual show (in-house freebsd web server) and let them manage  
> their own
> podcast if they want... only about 4 or 5 shows actually maintain a
> podcast.
>
> c. recording / playback
> We primarily use Audacity and Ardour for recording and editing.  Most
> people use
> Audacity because its so simple, especially new volunteers.  However,
> more and
> more people are starting to learn Ardour because its a much more
> powerful and
> user-friendly tool.
> We use xmms for on-air playback of all digital audio because of its
> simplicity
> and because inertia rules.. this is what we've been using for years  
> and its
> fine aside from a few annoying quirks.  This will probably change in
> the near
> future to either a full-fledged automation system like Campcaster
> (http://www.campware.org/en/camp/campcaster_news/) or a music  
> management
> program like Amarok.
>
> Hope this helps.
> --Stephen
>
>
>
>
>
> Quoting "terrence.eugene.brennan" <terry at kootenaycoopradio.com>:
>
>> Hello Nick,
>>
>> Thanks for asking this, we at CJLY in Nelson are always interested in
>> learning what others are up to, as well as sharing info.
>>
>>>
>>> a. What kinds of digital logging systems/software are other
> stations using
>>> for CRTC program logs?
>>>
>>
>> We are just on the verge of moving to a digital playlist written by
> one of
>> our volunteers, which will see the same dbase as our music library  
>> (no
>> audio, just records of cd's in our library).
>>
>> As Magnus noted earlier,  Tom Clegg (CJLY volunteer extraordinaire),
> wrote
>> some software (http://tomclegg.net/logger) that we use for audio  
>> logging,
>> streaming, and studio playback.  We have a freebsd machine in our  
>> studio
>> dedicated to mp3 playback: promos, sponsorship spots, repeat shows,  
>> and
>> syndicated programmes.
>>
>>>
>>> b. What methods of podcasting are other stations using? i.e. podcast
>>> hosting, software, servers, etc...
>>>
>>
>> Last fall we moved our website to an Expression Engine CMS, with
> some  extra
>> scripting that takes care of our podcasts.  The audio files are  
>> hosted at
>> GoDaddy.  As well we are listed at itunes (great for getting the
> word out).
>>
>>>
>>> c.  What methods of recording are other stations using? Digicarts  
>>> and/or
>>> computer software?
>>>
>>
>> For field recording we're still using minidiscs, but are hoping to
> pick up a
>> couple of Olympus LS digital recorders in the summer.  Studio
> playback - see
>> above.  For production we mainly use Soundforge and a few folks  
>> work with
>> audacity.
>>
>> It is a station goal to move to all open source software.  We just  
>> took
>> another step in this direction by implementing a browsing computer  
>> in our
>> on-air room running Ubuntu.  We do not have audio going from this
> machine to
>> the console, to prevent youtube / myspace type of content being
> broadcast.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Terry Brennan
>> Operations Manager
>> Kootenay Coop Radio
>> CJLY - 93.5 FM - Nelson, BC
>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Frieda Werden, Producer
> WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service, Vancouver BC,  
> Canada
> www.wings.org
>
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