LO2 Technology and Processes

The Beginning of Radio:

Radio has been a source of media affected greatly by technological convergence, and the way it is consumed and produced has drastically changed since its creation. Radio began in the 1960/70s and at that point was in analogue, this means that it was a physical media and had to be made through practical means in production and distribution. It was broadcasted on either AM or FM channels and shows could run for weeks on end without stopping. There would always be a DJ or a 'Disc Jockey' who controlled the shows broadcasting, phone-ins, song choices and pre-recorded elements. The DJ was always the main focus of the show, which hasn't changed much over the years, and the host was synonymous with the show they hosted to the listeners. Radio shows often took weeks of preparation and production due to the queuing of packages and songs that was required. The songs would have to be played and queued through the use of 8-track tapes and vinyls; where they would then need to be skipped and added to the shows queue ready to be played. This was the original way of playing music on radio shows, but it had issues, it was incredibly inefficient to make physically and it was very time consuming as well. Everything that was played had to have their respective tape or vinyl purchased (often for the use of just one song) meaning that it was an expensive process to obtain the required content for every show. Plus there was the issue of having to physically store all the tapes and vinyls they needed in the studio. The forms of media (particularly vinyls) are also highly temperamental and are easily scratched or damaged, and also need to be cleaned or wiped from dust. 

Pre-Recorded Packages:

The pre-recorded packages would have to be physically put together by the DJ. The process involved glueing and splicing the recorded segments together. They would then be played during the broadcast intersecting the songs. The process was disadvantageous as it took lengthy periods of times to physically splice sounds together. This also meant that any mistakes made by the DJ would lead to a new recording being required which would have to be made from scratch all over again. 

Introduction of CDs:

As time passed, the use of tapes and vinyls became far less common due to the invention and introduction of CDs. This change of media occurred around the 1980s, as technology was advancing and innovating far more regularly. CDs went on to completely replace the previous methods due to their superiority in both sound quality and how they could be stored far easier than vinyls or tapes could. They also became popular due to the fact that they can hold more songs, meaning that DJs would have to buy and store less than before. The songs on CDs can also be easily skipped allowing the DJ to have a more efficient show. The 90s also saw innovation with the creation of both mini discs and 'DATs' or Digital Audio Tapes. However, they didn't last long due to the fact that they were expensive and specialised forms of storage, so they weren't cost effective to use on radios compared to regular CDs. 

The 21st Century:

The 21st Century began, and radio revolutionised once again, now there was a bigger digital focus than ever before. The development of digital radio and better technology allowed for DJs to produce their radio digitally. This could then be edited and distributed digitally as well. The previously mentioned phenomena of 'technological convergence' made this possible, and because of this, radio DJs have a reduced responsibility compared to what they used to. As queuing songs only takes a matter of moments unlike how analogue radio which could take up to ten minutes per song. The equipment needed is expensive but allows for easier production, editing and distribution, meaning it is overall cost effective. CDs are often still used in radio but are now in the format of play servers. This is when songs are stored on a computer and can then be queued by the DJ. These are advanced as being able to count down for the DJ for when the first lyric will begin.

The 21st Century Continued:

Further in to the 21st there was another development in technology, an improvement of mixing desks. They became advanced enough to be able to fade in and out, control volume, transition, and control microphones. This is now a crucial part of live mixing and broadcasting, rather than pre-recorded sounds. 

The Digital Cart Wall:

The Digital Cart Wall is used in order to fade in and out of features, adverts and interviews, so as to make a smooth transition for the show. Both FLAC and WAV are used for digital broadcasting, and non linear packages such as Soundbooth and Adobe Audition can be used alongside to edit features such as adverts, idents, packages and recorded programmes. Technological convergence has allowed editing software to be built into modern laptops and blackbox devices, making it easily accessible to members of the public. This has also allowed the public to contribute to radio shows and interact with them, whereas a researcher works through the internet to source the public. This is through social media applications such as Twitter, SMS Messages, Email and even Facebook. Webcams allow people to simulcast alongside listening to radio as well. This has developed from the previous methods of phone ins and letters to the show that would have been the only options for analogue radio. 

Play Servers:

A play server allows for presenters, of radio shows, to observe the timing and duration of songs. This also includes songs that have already played and that are yet to play, in order to let them time the sections in between the music. It allows for them to queue songs to be played and is used today for this exact reason and is it allows presenters to create a clear plan for their show.