w9lwa
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Posts: 43
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Post by w9lwa on Apr 21, 2019 18:58:54 GMT
Thanks, Boomer. That's good to know about other systems besides Zara. I've only had experience some years with a system I believe was called Audiovault. As I recall, I would play spots off it when on live but it also was our automation. So, I expect it was largely the same as the others.
Good to know about the Spitfire too, as I'm reconsidering the Rangemaster. If I just mount this thing and the antenna on the ground like some say the regs require, I have a weatherproof electrical equipment box that I can put the transmitter in so it wouldn't have to be weatherproof itself. I guess the price is right if the range is as good.
I wouldn't be above trying carrier current either, once I get other things going. We had a carrier current station in Carey Quad at Purdue. It was stereo with one channel on 600 and the other on 650. I guess it worked...
I appreciate your comments.
John W9LWA
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w9lwa
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Posts: 43
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Post by w9lwa on Apr 21, 2019 22:13:31 GMT
Does anyone have an opinion as to which rack-mounted cd players to get? My searches are generally just turning up Tascam, Gemini and Numark. I think I'd like to have one player-only and one that will also record. I'm leaning toward Tascam because I do have some small experience with Tascam things and I could just stop by Sweetwater and pick them up on the way home from work.
But, I do want to get the best ones for the money so if anyone can weigh in on these brands or any others you may be familiar with,
All comments will be most appreciated...
John W9LWA
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Post by mark on Apr 22, 2019 4:59:52 GMT
Here's a site with some info.....https://www.consumersearch.com/cd-players
And this.....http://www.bestcovery.com/best-cd-player-overall
And this......https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-cd-players
From what I see the Tascam is for professional use so if it were me and it will get a lot of use that's the one I'd get, rather than the other home hi-fi ones.
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w9lwa
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Posts: 43
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Post by w9lwa on Apr 22, 2019 14:17:43 GMT
Thanks, Mark.
I do want to get something made for professional use so I suppose Tascam it is.
I appreciate your help.
John W9LWA
Perhaps I should add that I'm wanting to get broadcast quality studio equipment in case I find a silent single-stick AM around here that I can pick up on the cheap. In case anything (or probably everything) needs replaced in the studio, it would be handy to already have it at my Part 15 station.
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Post by Boomer on May 4, 2019 10:15:54 GMT
Zara Free is tried and true, it just won't play some of the newer audio formats, like Flac, but with mp3 and a few others it's stable and lightweight. There are dozens of automation and live assist DJ programs out there, and it may be well worth it to think of what you might need a program to do and then investigate a few programs that get close to what you want.
What I see these days is a low end and a high end, with a gap in the middle. This is not about cost, it's features, where the low end are close to computer music players with a few features that can be used in broadcast, and the high end are full blown DJ programs, that are more heavyweight on the system and might be harder for DJs to learn.
For a smaller board yet still pro, you might want to look at Arrakis consoles, and other companies who have designed with the new breed of LPFM stations in mind. They're real mixers, not for the disco, with pro and consumer inputs, and USB sound card in and output to directly connect a computer to them to play and record. You might need an audition bus and mix minus for Skype calls, it depends on what you're planning to do.
Many hobby stations just use a Behringer mixer nowadays for good sound quality and shielding. When they break, it's something you might replace rather than send in for repair.
Boomer
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Post by sparepart on May 4, 2019 14:06:47 GMT
John, At the moment we are using Rivendell, which is absolutely pro grade, and is provided by Paravel Systems under the GNU License:
Used at quite a few commercial stations as well - they usually purchase support from Paraval SP
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w9lwa
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Posts: 43
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Post by w9lwa on May 17, 2019 20:24:51 GMT
I guess this is an audio processing question, which is admittedly something I know virtually nothing about. Anyway I've got this guy who wants to make me a deal on an ART Pro-VLA II 2-channel Opto Tube Leveling Amplifier. I'm not really familiar with these and he seems to know less than I do. But it's still in the box and looks and smells new. I remember the first station I worked at back in the sixties had something called a Level Devil. Is this something like that? I think everything there came from Gates, so I suppose the Level Devil did too.
This thing is for rack mounting and has a couple of VU meters and I have to say it will look good in the rack. Anyone have any experience with one of these in relation to Part 15 on the AM band? I think the price is right and for 100 bucks it might be worth it just for visual effect in the control room.
John W9LWA
Well, I realize I'm not generating a lot of traffic here, but I see there's also a matching product called an ART Pro MPA II 2-channel Tube Microphone Preamp that apparently some recommend should be used with the first item. Now, I don't know much about audio processing but would these together be good for that and in fact, be everything I'd need?
All help appreciated more than you know...
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