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Technical broadcast operator BCAST has debuted a new platform that is meant to help small and medium broadcasters implement the DAB+ standard, named DABCAST.

DABCAST supports the range of functionalities needed for digital radio creation from studio to broadcasting. This is done through its Virtual Studio web app, where multimedia content can be created and managed.

The cloud application MUX processes the radio streams and converts them into the appropriate format for DAB+; while the TX transmitter, a physical device that receives signal from the cloud, modulates it for final broadcast. The signal from the air is then analyzed by the DAB+ monitoring probe.

More information about DABCAST can be found here.

 

 

The post 
DABCAST Designed to Simplify DAB+ Implementation appeared first on Radio World.

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Denial of Motion for Extension of Comment Deadlines

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Software developer and digital audio hardware maker Steinberg is expanding its line of portable and rackmountable digital audio interfaces with the UR-C line of USB C interfaces.

The UR-C family will initially offer two- (UR22C) and four-preamp (UR44C) models with a rackmountable eight-preamp (UR816C) model following. There’s also a “Recording Pack” bundle featuring the UR22C.

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

All models offer 32-bit/192 kHz conversion, 48V phantom power, Neutrik analog combo connectors, Hi-Z switch, MIDI I/O, and software including REV-X Reverb, Channel Strip, Guitar Amp Classics, dspMixFx, Cubase AI and Cubasis LE. All are Windows-, Mac- and iOS-compatible.

The UR816C also offers word clock ADAT I/O for those with legacy equipment.

There is also a UR22C Recording Pack bundle version featuring all of the previously listed plus the ST-M01 condenser microphone (with cable) and ST-H01 headphones along with WaveLab LE software.

UR22C: $239; UR44C: $439; UR816C: $789; and UR22C Recording Pack: $439.

The post USB C Audio Interfaces Come to Steinberg appeared first on Radio World.

“Best of Show Up Close” is a series about participants in Radio World’s annual Best of Show at NAB Awards program.

Broadcast Partners nominated Smart Processing, a module of the company’s Smart Radio. SmartRadio is a cloud-based radio automation platform. We asked Rene van de Kolk, manager, R&D, Broadcast Partners, to explain.

Radio World: Smart Processing was a feature of your booth at NAB. For those who couldn’t attend, what is the product and what are its targeted uses?

Rene van de Kolk: Smart Processing provides three different cloud-based modulation-processing solutions: Basic, Medium and High-End. Smart Processing uses Orban back-end software solutions for this.

Smart Processing is a part of Broadcast Partners’ SmartRadio platform, and can be used in this full cloud- and web-based platform by integrating with the Smart Playout possibilities by using AoIP protocols. Smart Processing is hybrid, and thus also standalone, available outside the SmartRadio platform and can easily be connected with other existing playout services.

[Read: Best of Show Up Close: MaxxKonnect Wireless]

Smart Processing delivers excellent Orban modulation presets and a unique sound, with all of the presets that Orban has been offering the market or years.

Smart Processing is for the increasing online and digital radio market. Media companies all over the world are launching multiple subchannels as additions to their main brand. These can be for shorter periods or select certain seasonal theme such as summer, Christmas or Valentine’s Day or used for longer periods. Branded radio channels can be launched easily without investing in hardware units or upgrading server farms. So targeted users are media companies, radio stations and publishers who launch multiple online or digital (DAB+) radio stations.

RW: You describe SmartRadio as “radio as a service.” How does it differ from other offerings in this product class?

Van de Kolk: SmartRadio is 100% cloud- and web-based. All functionality can be used in a Chrome browser. Creating and producing content can be done easily, anywhere, anytime or any place. The only requirement is connectivity. SmartRadio is a beginning-to-end solution: using Smart Database with multiple metadata options that can be used for playout, cloud-based voice tracking, cloud-based multitrack editing without delay and pushed through Smart Processing to be published on multiple platforms online or digital radio, for example.

For online, the best CDN network from the Netherlands is fully integrated. In addition, the specially developed headend for DAB+ services, aXemble, is as-a-service available in SmartRadio. With these services our goal is to help existing and new media-organisations to innovate without the need of heavy investment. All services are available as-a-service with specific pricing per module. For the past two years, we developed this platform with eight developers at Broadcast Partners.

At NAB, IBC, Salon de Radio and Radiodays Europe we retrieved feedback from the market to develop customized solutions. This is possible because all services (also a full Smart Scheduler, or Smart Commercial Scheduler) are developed by thinking in micro-services terms. This means hybrid and flexible development in the most modern program code-language. Connections with other innovative parties is possible by using our API. In SmartRadio, connections with VMix, Beats Newsportal and Radio Manager are already made.

RW: What does SmartRadio cost? Is it available now?

Van de Kolk: SmartRadio is fully hybrid and can be used in all preferred setups. Licenses can be used as-a-service per month/radio channel and are customizable for one channel for one month in an existing cloud environment. This includes the Smart Database (including cloud-and web-based metadata-editor), Smart-Format Scheduler and Smart Non Stop Player (including four-channel cloud- and web-based editor). SmartRadio is available in public cloud-based environments but can also be installed in private cloud-based environments. All preferred connections and add-ons for services will increase the monthly fee.

Smart Processing, is also available. Licensing/pricing is based on an as-a-service model. For one radio station you pay the required service fee per month based on your preferences.

RW: More generally, what do you see as the most important trends or changes happening these days in how broadcasters are using the cloud?

Van de Kolk: Using AoIP solutions from companies such as Lawo, Ravenna, Telos Alliance and Dante [Audinate] but also virtualized complete productions environments. That’s also why our software-defined solutions are integrated in the different mixing console platforms, to provide a full screen-based user-experience in the future. By publishing multichannel, on different platforms, hybrid software solutions are important and are more flexible in terms of updates than ever before in the past. Relevant data from listeners is key if you want to stay relevant in the future, so collecting data and receiving clear insights is also a main trend, in my opinion.

 RW: What else should we know about this product or your company’s recent offerings?

Van de Kolk: Different modules are available. Innovation can therefore be done in different projects or trajectories. Our Smart Scheduler, is a full option format planner and can be connected to all big existing solutions when they are able to connect on API. A very impressive web-based user-experience in defining your format is possible.

The Future Best of Show Awards program honors and helps promote outstanding new products exhibited at industry conventions like the spring NAB Show. Exhibitors pay a fee to enter; not all entries win. Watch for more coverage of participating products soon. To learn about all of the nominees and winners, read the 2019 Best of Show Program Guide.

 

The post Best of Show Up Close: Broadcast Partners Smart Processing appeared first on Radio World.

In this document, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in which it sought comment on proposals to change the rules governing local public notice given by broadcast station applicants. These specific rule changes were proposed based on responses to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making in this proceeding.

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Marshall’s microphone and accessories division MXL has packaged together some of its offerings into a podcasting bundle.

Called APS Podcasting Bundle, it consists of MXL’s BCD-1 dynamic broadcast microphone; its companion BCD-Stand; and the Mic Mate Pro XLR-USB digital audio interface/adaptor.

The heart of the bundle is the top-address BCD-1 microphone. It has a dynamic element, internal shockmount and tuned grille to combat unwanted noises. Its design aims to also have high side noise rejection.

The Mic Mate Pro offers gain and headphone controls with 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz conversion.

MXL Microphones Sales Director Trevor Fedele said, “In the last decade, podcasts have seen a huge surge in popularity, and our APS Podcasting Bundle provides the quality tools needed for those in this market. … With the creation of the APS Podcasting Bundle, studio-quality broadcasting technology is now within the reach of every recording enthusiast.”

 

The post MXL Releases Podcasting Bundle appeared first on Radio World.

Eugenio Lateana, head of research and development for EuroDAB Italia (left); Federica Gentile, RTL 102.5 presenter (center); and Mary Hockaday, controller of BBC World Service English, announce the Italian launch of BBC World Service on the EuroDAB Italia multiplex.

MILAN — BBC World Service and EuroDAB Italia have entered into an agreement to broadcast the global network’s rich mix of BBC News, documentaries, business, sports, arts and science programs as a new service included in EuroDAB Italia’s DAB+ multiplex.

On Oct 9, Mary Hockaday, controller of BBC World Service English, and Lorenzo Suraci, president of EuroDAB Italia, officially launched the new service and presented the vision behind this agreement and their expectations for the future.

TRUSTED BRANDS

Mary Hockaday (left) and Lorenzo Suraci, EuroDAB Italia present, presented the vision behind the new agreement and their future expectations.

Although about 30% of Italians can speak some English, including a large part of the younger generation, no English-speaking service is at present broadcast in Italy on regular basis.

“We live in a world with an infinite number of information sources and making a choice among those sources often makes us feel confused,” Hockaday said. “It’s wonderful to have such a diversity, but in this surrounding noise actually many people seek trusted brands, and they seek media and information they can trust.”

According to Hockaday, trust is at the heart of what BBC and BBC World Service can offer, including “accurate and impartial means and good information.”

In a world where everyone can have on his or her smartphone a multitude of headlines and news from all over the world and from as many different sources, Hockaday emphasized how hard the BBC World Service works to provide their listeners with a rich editorial mix with news but also information on business, sports, culture, technology, politics and stories.

DIGITAL CAPABILITY

The BBC World Service logo displayed on a visual-capable DAB receiver tuned to the EuroDAB Italia multiplex.

“Whenever you turn on the radio, you will always find something engaging, informing, delighting and feeding curiosity within our offer ,” she concluded.

“We are very proud that BBC World Service choose the EuroDAB digital network to broadcast its content in Italy,” added Suraci. “It improves and extends the offer of the contents of our bouquet and helps the radio, in general, in an increasingly global world.”

DAB+ broadcasts are already available to 80% of Italians and that percentage is set to grow due to the Italian legislative requirement for all radios sold in Italy from Jan. 1 2020 to have digital capability.

[Read: Does 5G Make Sense for Radio?]

In Italy, 46% of new cars are now sold with DAB+ as standard, and according to the Italian media regulator AGCOM, radio is the second most frequently used media after television, while 68% of the population listens to radio for an average of 2.5 hours per day.

 

The post EuroDAB Italia Begins Airing BBC World Service appeared first on Radio World.

RW Editor in Chief Paul McLane prepares for his time in the almost-Broadway lights with his fellow actors, Robert Alvey as Mark Twain and P.J. Ochlan as Nikola Tesla. They’ll be appearing in a special performance of “An Intimate Evening with Tesla and Twain” for an AES Show audience, Wednesday.

The post Tesla, Twain and McLane appeared first on Radio World.

Would you like to get an early start on one of the industry’s biggest annual trade shows? Come along for a free webinar from Radio World International, hosted by editors Marguerite Clark and Paul McLane, on Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. CET.

Marguerite and Paul will provide a peek at new products they expect to create buzz; explore the newest digital radio sessions; and share what they’re hearing from our industry’s leaders about important tech developments and standards.

IBC is a huge and fabulous event, but it can also be daunting. With more than 55,000 attendees expected and more than 1,700 exhibitors covering 15 halls, the job of getting the most out of IBC2019 requires a lot of planning. Radio World International will help you learn about key pieces and products the show selected with the radio reader in mind.

The webinar was sponsored by: Comrex, Digigram, ENCO, GatesAir, Rohde & Schwarz, StreamGuys, The Telos Alliance, Veritone and Wheatstone.

NOW AVAILABLE HERE ON DEMAND

 

The post 15 Things You Can’t Miss at IBC2019 appeared first on Radio World.