Anybody Need This?

The BBC remains the most respected broadcaster on the planet.

The BBC remains the most respected computerised broadcaster on the planet?

I'm happy with that.

... have any of you encountered a Win application that would allow me to assign various wavs to keyboard keys and play them back when I press corresponding keys?

Back to Basics:
http://www.wizardmaster.com/bludgeonsoft/btb/

Soundplant:  (just so they are both in one spot)
http://www.soundplant.org/

I played around with Back to Basics some years ago just long enough to figure out that it can do some pretty amazing things.  I still have it set up but I'm going to have to dig around a bit to refresh my memory.  Seems like I figured out something to do with subdirectories that simplified some of the processes.  I'll get back on this later.

Here are a couple of other Computer Keyboard applications, although they involve Midi.  Using both of these, you could theoretically construct your own setup whereby you trigger Wav files from the computer keyboard.

http://www.bome.com/midi/keyboard/screenshots.html

http://www.bome.com/midi/translator/examples.html

With the Translator, you can use any control surface to control Windows programs.

At both of these links, there is a menu at the left of the screen that lets you move through various screens about the products.

... respected computerised broadcaster on the planet?

What broadcaster isn't computerized?

... respected computerised broadcaster on the planet?

What broadcaster isn't computerized?

I could show you loads of small ones in 3rd world countries that aren't computerised in the slightest. Some of them run on an abslolute shoestring, and put out almost entirely live talk radio - for which no computers at all are required.

Believe it or not, there was perfectly competent radio broadcasting before computers were even invented - and the skills neccessary to undertake this are not that difficult to acquire. Computers may make a lot of things easier (and cheaper) in terms of editing and playout systems, but they certainly don't make the content output any better than what goes in in the first place, do they?

The ancient Greeks were quick to pint out that from the moment writing was invented we used our memory less and less, and this new technology of the day was already causing some concerns. Machines allow us to work less. Robotics will, in a few decades start to have a massive impact on how we work. Think of the master craftsmen of 100 years ago, people who designed beautiful chairs, tables, buildings, cars .. all done today by machines. The craftsmen became extinct. Today's professionals will also be extinct in 100 years from now. But there will be new professions which we can only imagine at this time.  

In music radio, I would say that the late 1980s when we saw Selector arrive, that this was a massive turning point in radio. You no longer needed broadcasters to choose the music, when the case was that knowledge about music was the underpinning of a person's love and developed talent for radio broadcasting. Then the liner cards and tight formatting, added by the "suits" contributed by removing the need for broadcasters who already knew what to say. How much this has impacted News, I don't know. Perhaps something like, pre-computers you had to have a nose for a news story, make lots of phones calls (be a real journalist) and write your own well-written story putting yourself at the centre with a view, whereas now the computer does it all for you (??)

On the positive side, computerisation has allowed more people, otherwise restricted by an established level of professionalism, to do it. Using software, anybody today can easily construct a pop song, make poorly taken photos look like magazine or advert photos, we can easily design and print out our own newsletter and magazines, and we can broadcast our own radio stations, anyone can make jingles and adverts without needing a studio and we can produce and edit profesional-looking movies, and we only need a computer to do it all.

I think Steve, you imply that computerisation has resulted in radio that has less personality and probably displays less professionalism. No one could disagree with that -- but only in the context of comparing it to the past.

The craftsmen became extinct

There are still craftsmen today passing on their skills to new generations. OK not as many as there used to be. Who does all the restoration work on historic buildings and their contents? Stonemasons, carpenters, furniture makers, picture and fabric restorers etc. Restorers of old vehicles, steam engines etc. The list goes on.

... respected computerised broadcaster on the planet?

What broadcaster isn't computerized?

I could show you loads of small ones in 3rd world countries that aren't computerised in the slightest. Some of them run on an abslolute shoestring, and put out almost entirely live talk radio - for which no computers at all are required.

Believe it or not, there was perfectly competent radio broadcasting before computers were even invented - and the skills neccessary to undertake this are not that difficult to acquire. Computers may make a lot of things easier (and cheaper) in terms of editing and playout systems, but they certainly don't make the content output any better than what goes in in the first place, do they?

I agree with you 100% there! I remember the early days when I first started in radio you had to cue the records, manually put the carts in the machine, etc. It was more fun as it was all "live". Yes, computers have made the sound much better and consistant and easy from an editing standpoint and all, but as they say in the computer programming world, "garbage in garbage out". Just because you have all the fancy and latest state-of-the-art equipment doesn't mean that the content is any better content and delivery is what matters most. Screw up the content and there's nothing the technology can do to help it or fix it.

But the content changes! The machines, which are an extension of US, determine how we move forward with our ideas. I gave examples long ago, like it was the electric guitar that gave rise to Rock N Roll, it was not the case that the music was dreamed of first and then we had to invent a machine to do it. So, for instance, radio at this very moment is going through a big change, and during the cross-over period there are those who resist change, those with little imagination, those who do and will find new things to do with it and so on. Currently, the old style broadcasting is being done with the new technology. Eventually this new computerisation will give rise to new more exciting broadcasting -- we just haven't got around to it yet   Tomorrow always has to be better, the next generations have to be doing it better, it's what being human is all about.

Eventually this new computerisation will give rise to new more exciting broadcasting

Oh, it's here already - as I mentioned over on the Adobe forum, within the last couple of days we had the new exciting sound of PC error "boings" regularly overlaid on the broadcast of a Dvorak cello concerto.  Really, Dvorak should have thought of that improvement himself!

Memo to broadcasters everywhere - before using a PC in the broadcast chain, turn off system sounds, OK?

Eventually this new computerisation will give rise to new more exciting broadcasting

Oh, it's here already - as I mentioned over on the Adobe forum, within the last couple of days we had the new exciting sound of PC error "boings" regularly overlaid on the broadcast of a Dvorak cello concerto.  Really, Dvorak should have thought of that improvement himself!

Memo to broadcasters everywhere - before using a PC in the broadcast chain, turn off system sounds, OK?

Hilarious  

Computerisation should for instance make replays of shows missed, the on-demand thing possible, and it should also allow for multi-services to be done quite easily. These two simple things will change how we broadcast. At the moment just using playouts to play audio automatically is just the beginning and a bit of a waste really.

Memo to broadcasters everywhere - before using a PC in the broadcast chain, turn off system sounds, OK?

I agree there 100% especially with the newer sound cards and automation software that uses the regular PC interface to play audio. If you are using a proprietary interface as in an older AV-100 (AudioVAULT) system this is not an issue. It is an issue in the newer versions of AudioVAULT as they too have converted over to regular PC sound cards for playout.

Memo to broadcasters everywhere - before using a PC in the broadcast chain, turn off system sounds, OK?

I agree there 100% especially with the newer sound cards and automation software that uses the regular PC interface to play audio. If you are using a proprietary interface as in an older AV-100 (AudioVAULT) system this is not an issue. It is an issue in the newer versions of AudioVAULT as they too have converted over to regular PC sound cards for playout.

I agree 100% too.