Locality Switch

With the CBF now accepting applications for the Audio over IP Outside Broadcast grant, I thought I would put together a hypothetical outside broadcast rig. Is it possible to put together a complete rig within the limits of this budget? We’ll soon find out.

This isn’t just the computer and 3G modem – this is my attempt to fit all the essentials into a rig (computer, modem, mixer, as well as PA gear). Let’s see if I can juggle it. All prices are for information only, and will probably change before the end of the week.

Laptop: Compaq Presario CQ60-210TU (Dick Smith Electronics – $748.00)

3G Modem: Huawei E1762 (Exetel – $145.00)

Mixer: Yamaha MG102C ($269.00 RRP)

Amp: Behringer EP2000 ($529.00)

Speakers: 2x Behringer B212XL ($275.00 each)

Microphone: Sennheiser E816 ($129.00)

Total: $2370.00 This leaves $130 to spend on some accessories (e.g. mic cables, stands, etc.)

So, this is pretty much the cheapest rig I could piece together. Remember, you may have some bits and pieces lying around, such as a computer and some better mics. Also, I have assumed that we will be using free software on the PC.

I don’t really like the Mixer, speakers, or microphone in the above rig. We can do much better than that cheap stuff!

What happens if we up the budget a bit? Let’s say, $4000. Here’s what I would do:

Laptop: Compaq Presario CQ60-210TU (Dick Smith Electronics – $748.00)

3G Modem: Huawei E1762 (Exetel – $145.00)

Mixer: Yamaha MG124CX ($566.00)

Speakers: 2x Yamaha R112 ($449.00 each)

Amp: Yamaha P2500S ($699.00)

Wireless Mic: Shure PG2/PG58 ($599.00)

Total: $3755.00 Leaving $245.00 for accessories

That’s much nicer. Now we have a proper mixer with faders, rather than cheap pots, as well as a wireless mic and some nicer speakers and amp.

What if we decide we want a full two way audio link, so you can have chats with the people in the studio? We’ll need something like the offering from AudioTX, coming in at a bit below $5000 (based on some rough calculations, only).

Finally, remember that I haven’t included any ongoing costs, such as the 3G connection charges. That will cost extra, but I don’t think you can claim these ongoing charges from the grant.

Can we get a full OB rig for less than $2500? Yes we can! Is the equipment ideal? Not quite, but it will work and will allow you to establish a regular presence in the community. What I suggest is that stations get the core equipment from this grant, and then buy the rest from additional station funds (or perhaps do some fund raising or a sponsorship drive to raise the cash).

(For the record, many of the prices on this page came from Turramurra Music‘s website. I have no hesitations in recommending them as a great place to buy PA gear from.)

The Community Broadcasting Foundation announced in their July 2009 Email Newsletter that they would soon be offering grants for IP based Outside Broadcast equipment. Well, it’s finally arrived. Here’s the details.

Any long term or temporary community station without any existing IP OB equipment may apply for the grant of up to $2,500. This opportunity is only open this year, so if you miss the 12th October 2009 deadline for submissions, then there is the chance you may never be able to apply for this type of grant.

Taking a look through the application form, you are asked how many OBs you did in 2009, and are asked to list the last five OBs you have performed. While it does say “if applicable” next to this bit, my guess is that stations with a previous history of OBs will be given priority.

The application form has a table with different categories of items, with a place to write in your quoted amount for each of the ones you are applying for. Categories include notebook computers, USB modems, Mixing consoles, Microphones, Audio interfaces and most curiously, Audio Streaming Software.

The Audio Streaming Software category is either badly worded, or implies that they don’t want to fund hardware solutions. It looks like AudioTX and Tieline are out of the question. I suppose this isn’t surprising, as the OB-over-IP Manual released by the CBF didn’t really cover any hardware solutions (or any open source software packages, either!).

What does this grant opportunity mean for the sector? It means that it may now be possible for many stations to move away from POTS codecs and leased lines which have been used for traditional outside broadcasts, and move towards IP equipment over 3G connections. It will allow for much more programming freedom, and will possibly allow for more OBs to occur.

Easier and cheaper OBs will hopefully allow for more community interaction and involvement, and that’s what we’re here for. Right?

The Community Broadcasting Foundation has just announced in their July 2009 Update that they will soon be introducing grants for IP-Based Outside Broadcast equipment. Here’s the full announcement:

If your station would like to do outside broadcasts (OBs) using the internet, you will soon have the opportunity to apply for up to $2,500 toward IP-based OB equipment through CBOnline grants. These grants will be available only during 2009/10 – with applications closing on Monday 12 October 2009.

If you’re new to IP-based OBs and need some ideas for how to go about it, download the Mobile Broadcasting for Community Radio Stations Manual. It describes what options are available and whether IP-based OBs are suitable for your station.

This is fantastic! I’ll start putting my application together ASAP. While I couldn’t put together a full OB rig (kitted out with proper PA gear, outboard processing, UHF mics, etc.) for under $2,500 it would certainly buy the basics any station would need to get started. And that, I believe, is what this grant is about – getting stations started.

The part I find most interesting about this announcement is the Mobile Broadcasting for Community Radio Stations Manual. Let me say first that this is a great idea, publishing a concise manual to give stations a run down 0f how to perform an IP-based OB. It’s the right idea, but I think it has been executed in the wrong way.

The part that was unexpected and disturbing to me was that proprietary software was used for all of the examples! NCH’s Broadwave was pretty much used exclusively for the streaming, and Hamachi’s Log Me In was used for remote computer access. Both proprietry pieces of software, and both require you to buy a licence (they both have limited free versions, but it’s a licencing minefield).

While there is nothing wrong with each of these pieces of software, and I don’t blame them for using them as an example, mention should have been made of the open source alternatives. Shoutcast or Icecast are both massively popular pieces of software which allow you to stream stably for long periods of time. Shoutcast is closed source, but 100% free, and Icecast is 100% open source. I know they both work incredibly well because I use them both on a regular basis.

As far as remote access goes, I thought VNC would have been the option of choice. It’s open source, has a massive community around it, and is also easy to get running.

There was an appendix which made a brief mention of other streaming solutions. On this list I found NCH VRS (a logging program, not even proper streaming!), Real Producer Basic, VLC, Audio TX Communicator (a hardware solution), Ustream and Ubroadcast. At least mention was made of one open source piece of software, that being VLC.

The CBF is on the right path in producing this manual, but surly community radio should be trying out the open source products before dishing out cash to companies for proprietary software. It would be great if this manual could be revised to include mention of open source software.