The first decision when writing to the forums is always choosing a category for the discussion, made difficult at times by the way so many parts of hobby radio inter-relate to each other. Since the main pursuit this week is refinement of our KDX stream servers, and because to me streaming servers are virtual radio transmitters, we are here.
Rather than streamcasting directly to radio receivers the streaming station aims toward audio players aboard computers, with a strong recommendation that listeners attach low power transmitters to their audio jacks to get us on the air wherever they happen to be. This has been accomplished several times by our good friend Brooce in Hartford, Connecticut where he's relayed KDX both on local FM using a Scosche Transmitter and around town on an iPhone.
The fact that all this can be done ultimately depends on whether a given listener wants to hear what is being sent and the trick is to hold their interest for more than 30-seconds, which veers us into an entirely different category which is programming.
Well, that breaks the spell... we can't very well talk about programming under the transmitter banner. If we pursue the matter it will be in a new thread under a different category.
I would even go so far as to say that internet streaming IS Part 15 broadcasting.
Odd are that people listening to your internet stream are doing so utilizing some sort of Part 15 transmitter, and you may even be transmitting it via Part 15. Bluetooth, wifi, etc are all authorized under part 15.
Also you are certainly transmitting via radio. Odds are that people listening to your internet stream are doing so on a smartphone, either through wifi or cellular data, both of which provide the data for the audio over the air via radio transmitters. Same as for people listening on a tablet be it an iPad, Android or other -- the audio is getting into those devices via radio signals!
Even people listening one computers in their homes or workplaces may be doing so over a wireless network of some sort.
Everyone with a cell phone is carrying a transmitter. The Roller Derby Radio Network (another one of my projects) broadcasts live play by play via radio -- using an audio interface into an iPad that is connected to the world via wifi or cell data, (either a radio transmitter) which then travels through the internet to receiving devices all over the world, some wired, some via radio.
Basically, we're all transmitting at some point!
TIB
The Roller Derby Radio Network? Is this it? http://www.rollerderbyradionetwork.com/
Sounds interesting. I don't want to hijack this thread, but exactly how are you involved (feel free to start a new thread)?
Keep it Here for Roller Derby
Am I wrong that we have seen small cam/transmitters attached to skate-shoes so TV viewers could see speed action on the asphalt?
Memory reminds me that Tim once linked a Roller Derby Song that he composed and recorded, and maybe we can get that newly linked for this new generation.
And I'm pleased that Tim made the case for streaming being very part 15 in nature, as I've seen all the part 15 stickers and certificates attached to computer peripherals.
I'll reply here and if a new thread is warranted we'll go from there.
About 8 years ago a roller derby team formed in Grand Rapids, MN (9 miles away from my home and the town where I actually work). If you didn't know, women's flat track roller derby has been the fastest growing sport in the world for several years now.
Anyway, since no one was doing any broadcasting of the bouts I started the Roller Derby Radio Network, or RDRN to broadcast live play by play of the bouts. It's basically done only as an internet stream, so barely any Part 15 connection except that I have occasionally also carried them on my Part 15 station. We also allow other stations to pick up the broadcast if they like. Usually a team will travel anywhere from 60-300 miles to play and having a live broadcast available lets fans from the visiting team listen to the action as it happens. And the archive feature lets our own team members listen to the bouts after it's over.
We use an iPad connected to a sports mixer, sports headsets, etc.. just like would be used at any sports broadcast. Using either wifi or cell data (the iPad has both built in) we connect to a streaming service known as Spreaker. This allows live webcasting with a simple log in to their site. And allows listeners to log in via their smartphone, tablet or computer to listen live. It also automatically archives the broadcast as mp3 files that can be listened to at any time, downloaded and saved, etc. This all at no cost to the listener. I pay $19.95 a month for their service. Of course other costs are the data connection for the iPad, about $30 a month, plus I pay the play by play announcers and pay them for mileage (sometimes an away bout can be hundreds of miles away - we even go to Canada). Naturally I sell advertising in the broadcasts to cover expenses. It's not really a money maker but it breaks even. It would do better if I had more time to devote to it but since we opened the record store a year and a half ago that's kept me pretty busy, and it generates a nice profit. We average about 1,200 live stream listeners each broadcast.
So, that's it in a nutshell. Yes, http://www.rollerderbyradionetwork.com is the very basic website, and the link to Spreaker there will take you to where you can listen to the archived broadcasts. About the only time you hear me is in the broadcast introduction and in some of the commercials. I leave the play by play to actual play by play people who know how to do that much better than I do.
TIB
OK, here's the song:
http://www.ironrangecountry.com/rollerderbygirls.mp3
With apologies to the Beach Boys. I wrote the lyrics, the music is all played by me using MIDI, the announcing background and crowd sounds in the beginning are from video I shot at a Minnesota Roller Girls 'bout I attended in Minneapolis years ago, all the "singing" voices are me. You can tell, I'm no singer LOL.
TIB
#WATCHOUT!
Roller Derby Women are too fast to catch but they are fun to watch.
Been experimenting with home streaming using a staggering cavalcade of inter-connected software.
Zara Radio v1.6.2 rides atop WMP (Windows Media Player) which sends over a Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) to Stand-Alone Version of Stereo Tool the audio processor. That's just the half-way point.
Stereo Tool works fine using two VACs for input output, but the documentation recommends using ASIO Audio Drivers for proven stable performance and reduced latency (audio delay), so I plugged-in ASIO4ALL, freely available.
The latency between studio origination and reception online is about 5-seconds, whereas without ASIO4ALL I think it's about 30-seconds.
We are getting closer to the objective of having KDX received before it is sent.
Learning More Confusion
Anyone seriously interested in using Windows computers for audio work should have the documentation that comes with Virtual Audio Cable by Eugene Muzychenko.
It very frankly explains why Windows O.S. is badly designed for stable audio and that software can only improve things somewhat but not completely.
The most stable performance happens when a computer is dedicated to a single purpose, such as streaming, and used for no other applications. This same advisory has been stated by Artisan Radio and other experienced operators.
Here at KDX we have been pushing things by using the same computer for streaming, hosting our website, browsing, downloading files, and composing The Blare Blog.
This week we started moving some of those activities to another computer and the stream server is becoming more stable.
Perversely we have discovered that fine-tuning the stream performance it is useful to intentionally cause unstable conditions, such as causing the stream to jitter, and making adjustments until the jitter is reduced. It is science applied backwards while blindfolded.
Another Day Another Digit
It's a question.
Zara Radio V 1.6.2 plays audiofiles from a playlist. Those audiofiles can be many different configurations, such as MP3, WAV & OGG either mono (1-channel) or stereo (2-channel) at different bitrates, and yet they play smoothly and fade from one to the next driving two output channels.
The two output channels are stereophonic if the audiofile being played is stereophonic, and if the file being played is monaural then the mono sound comes out of both channels, therefore Zara always outputs two channels and no adjustments are needed.
I'm still setting up the question, it hasn't been asked yet.
Now the two channels from Zara need to get to the Standalone version of Stereo Tool for audio processing, which also operates in two-channel (stereo) mode, and since VAC (Virtual Audio Cable) is being used for the inter-connection, it should therefore be set to pass two-channels, even when the sound in the channels is mono.
Right?
I'm answering this with a question.....all what you say seems logical BUT, my question is, is that not what's happening?
But if you are taking the output from your computer headphone jack from Zara it's not truly two separate channels unless you have a splitter to make the output from a headphone jack two separate channels.
I could be completely wrong but if what you are describing that should be happening and isn't happening then look at the output from the computer and see what anyone else says.
Here's the Thing...
Mark says "...if you are taking the output from your computer headphone jack from Zara it’s not truly two separate channels unless you have a splitter to make the output from a headphone jack two separate channels."
Thing is the input and output jacks on both of my computers are stereo mini-plugs, whether the signal they are carrying is stereo or 2-channel mono.
The input jack for the C.Crane stereo FM transmitters are male stereo-miniplugs and that's where it picks up its audio.
Also thought of something else.....balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs are different and aren't intercompatable....that much I know, it all should work like you say. You go from one computer to another for stereo tool and then to a transmitter but somewhere you are not getting what you are expecting at the end....two channel stereo from the CCrane transmitter. Assuming you have everything right(can't be there to see the actual set up) check to see if there is any balanced or unbalanced conflicting.
The output of the Zara computer is a headphone jack but to have a true 2 channel you have to have the 3.5 mil. stereo adapter to 2 RCA plugs for example, for true 2 channel.
This is how I go from my audio source to the compressor/limiter and 2 RCA to 2 RCA cable to the transmitter. With the Ccrane the adaptor cable has to be converted back to the tip ring sleeve 3.5 mil. input of the Ccrane.
Not familiar with VAC (cable) but check what I mentioned and even if the contact is good at the computer jacks.