TWiRT 720 - 720 kHz with Pierre Lonewolf and Bill Murdoch

Amazing that this worked out, but thanks to Pierre Lonewolf’s topic idea and Bill Murdoch’s eagerness to join us, we have a fun and informative TWiRT episode! Two chiefs who engineer at two different high-power AM radio stations - each broadcasting at 720 kHz on the AM dial. And we’re having this conversation on episode 720 of “This Week in Radio Tech!”   It had to be fate! Between Pierre and Bill, we find plenty of similarities and some big differences in their transmitter operations. Pierre’s station is KOTZ in Kotzebue, Alaska.  Bill’s station is WGN in Chicago, Illinois.  The towers are about 3,200 miles apart from each other, so neither station gets interference from the other, but each station has interesting and individual challenges.  You’ve got to check out Pierre’s and Bill’s Tips of the Week at the end of the show. Great wisdom there!

Show Notes:
A folder containing photos of WGN’s transmitter site from today’s show.
Daytime coverage maps for KOTZ and for WGN
Austin Ring Transformers - Wikipedia Article
Austin Ring Transformers - Critical installation information from Hatfield & Dawson
History of WGN Radio
KOTZ’s website is packed with info and photos

Guests:
Pierre Lonewolf - Broadcast Engineer at Lonewolf Communications
Bill Murdoch - Chief Engineer at WGN Radio Chicago

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test Drive
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 720 - 720 kHz with Pierre Lonewolf and Bill Murdoch

TWiRT 719 - Reliable Conditional Access with Ty Magnum

Conditional Access systems for building security have always seemed like a “per building” or “per campus” proposition. But with today’s ubiquitous Internet access, and somewhat autonomous operation, conditional access systems can be deployed in remote locations. They can provide not only conditional access security, but also inform site owners of who is opening doors and gates, and exactly when they’re doing it.  It’s convenience for those requiring access, and verification for those who need to monitor such access. Ty Magnum has assembled the right ‘best of breed” security systems and is installing these systems at transmitter sites and broadcast studio facilities. Chris Tarr joins us to apply his perspective on rolling out this technology and the equipment that makes it work.

Show Notes:
Joda Media - Physical Security for Broadcast Transmitter Sites
Joda Media - Broadcast over IP - Data Center Solutions for Broadcast Infrastructure
Make Your Tower Site More Secure - Radio World article by Ty Magnum

Guest:
Ty Magnum - Director of Operations at Joda Media

Hosts:
Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test Drive
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

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TWiRT 719 - Reliable Conditional Access with Ty Magnum

TWiRT 718 - Windy City Studio Engineering with Ed Glab

We radio engineers who aspire to be fondly remembered in our careers should take a few notes from Ed Glab.  Ed engineered the studios and the remote broadcasters for WLS, Chicago, for over 40 years. His career and his positive ingenuity are fondly remembered by the DJs and radio hosts who worked with him.  On this episode of TWiRT, we get to talk with Ed and hear his perspective and stories about engineering at “Music Radio - WLS”.  

Show Notes:
YouTube playlist of WLS air checks
Ed Glab engineering a remote with Don and Roma on WLS
Radio World - Ed Glab Calls It a Day at WLS
Instagram - Ed “The Professor” Glab on location at Marriott’s Great America in 1977

Guest:
Ed Glab - Studio Supervisory Engineer at WLS, Retired

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test Drive
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 718 - Windy City Studio Engineering with Ed Glab

TWiRT 717 - Home Studio Tech Update with George Whittam

Listen fast, because George Whittam reveals a LOT of gold nuggets of useful audio capture and production information in this episode of TWiRT. Just look at the long list of Show Notes below!  George is the engineer to the Voice Over stars, and the rest of the voice talent world, too.   We engineers can learn a lot from George’s tireless efforts to help voice talent get the most from their equipment and studios, and modify or build new spaces when needed. Check out George’s advice, then follow him on other podcasts and his website to dig into solid audio engineering advice.

Show Notes:
Centrance PASport - Voiceover Actor's Audio Interface with dual USB interfaces
George highly recommends the Apollo Twin family of audio interfaces
George is a fan of the very solid Earthworks Audio ETHOS mic
The R0DE NT1 mic is also popular among George’s clients
The Austrian Audio OC818 mic boasts an impressive lineage and design heritage
Source-Connect is a longtime favorite remote audio connection software among VO artists
ipDTL is another favorite software service for remote audio connections
And Cleanfeed.net is an industry standard for remote audio production
George highly recommends Twisted Wave audio editor, now for Windows, too - and even offers a free training seminar on Twisted Wave setup and use.

Guest:
George Whittam - Owner a GeorgeThe.Tech - Consultant at Tri-Booth, Co-host VOBS.TV and Pro Audio Suite Podcast

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

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TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test Drive
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

 
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TWiRT 717 - Home Studio Tech Update with George Whittam

TWiRT 716 - Engineering for Jazz at WFSK with Rick Durham

TWiRT is on location at a Nashville radio station - Jazzy 88, WFSK-FM.  Rick Durham is a provider of managed IT services in Middle Tennessee.  He’s also the engineer for WFSK-FM. WFSK is preparing for their annual fundraising event, where they broadcast live from the parking lot and take drive through donations while interviewing numerous Nashville dignitaries and music artists.  We also spend a few minutes with Sharon Kay, WFSK’s General Manager, and Xuam (X-Man) Lawson, WFSK’s Program Director.  We discuss some engineering and how WFSK is keeping up with an Audio over IP audio plant. We also discuss the engineer’s role in keeping the jazz playing and the public affairs programming on the air, too.

Show Notes:
WFSK-FM - Jazzy 88 - Nashville’s Jazz Station at Fisk University
Jazzy 88’s annual radiothon fundraiser
WFSK-FM is at Fisk University, a private historically black liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee.
Headline: Sharon Kay to be Inducted into Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame
What’s the 411 with Sharon Kay

Guests:
Rick Durham - Owner at Diversified Electronics Service and Engineer at WFSK-FM
Sharon Kay - General Manager at WFSK-FM
Xuam (X-Man) Lawson - Program Director at WFSK-FM

Host:
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting

Follow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook

TWiRT is brought to you by:
Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test Drive
Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. 

Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.
Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.
The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

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TWiRT 716 - Engineering for Jazz at WFSK with Rick Durham