Day 7/8 - More discussions on radio programme + First assignment

On day 7 the group got together to have a discussion about our progression with research, as we were all given research roles. There was a lot of good information on the subject we had chosen, but not a great deal in material that was going to aid our radio programme greatly. So based on our research we seemed to have compiled a lot of information and opinions from the modern day christmas (1990-2008) but found less material from other decades we could use. Hence we made made a choice to alter our line of research but stick with the same subject.

On day 8 we had our first assignment, which was the 3 minute new production, using various jingles (of our choice) and blending in the best answers i got from the pier vox pops which i gathered previously. On the week before the exam i felt it bit nervous as, it i the first exam i couldn't really revise for, but when i started to do it and laid the foundations i managed to find my feet. For the exam we used Pro tools sound editing software. I think i did well at the project as a whole, but due to the time limit of 3 minutes i found it hard to fit in as many jingles at the beginning, and end, that i would have liked to. I think the thing i did best was integrating the vox pops into the programme without any disturbance between vox pops. it turned out to be quite fluent.

Day 5/6 - evaluations and subject Choice, more editing

First of all we looked at two ten minute exam entries for the BC1003 project from the previous year. We briefly came to some conclusions individually and as a group on what we thought of each entry. The first piece we listened too had an into that was far too long, it was purely instrumental and was almost 45 seconds long. This, in my opinion wouldn't really keep the attention of the audience. Also if you flicked over to a radio channel and it was playing you are likely to flick channels, as, due to its length, feels like a song that would, in my mind, not be desirable of the public ear. So the opening is dragged out and misleading.

When hearing their vox pops, i thought this was not executed very well. The question was simply "what is insomnia" leaving no real option for a long, detailed answer, 90% of the answers must have consisted of "insomnia is lack of sleep". The questions were left in for each vox pop, instead of the effective, and somewhat conventional introductory question followed by the answers. Also there were too many vox pops included, quantity is not a bad thing, when the material makes for an interesting broadcast, but it was the simple repetition of the same answer. In conclusion, the audience would not gain any knowledge from this segment. However, they had good strong, clear interview with professionals within he subject area, and was quite impressed that they had done this and very well. It was a very bland broadcast however, and was quite ironic that a broadcast on insomnia, can actually send you to sleep.

The second entry in which i listened too was a slight improvement in my opinion. It had a good use of music, it was more up-lifting and grabbed your attention more than the previous piece i had listened to. So therefore grabbed it was more interesting to me, and i would imagine the audience also. There was a good use of vox pops, intelligently incorporated into their broadcast, which produced a good amount of detail. However, their project, based on buses and generating solutions, was not directly answered by these vox pops. There was also a very well taken interview with a bus driver, but it drifted from he subject matter and it gave the audience more of a comedic tale, than an answer to problems with bus travel.

It then, although very amusing and enjoyable, began to drift downhill, mainly due to the content completely diverted away from the original intention of the broadcast. This included all footage taken from other sources rather than their own. This consisted of a comedic cat story catching the bus to a chip shop, and a man with a ventriloquist sitting on the us (which was actually a poem). However i did enjoy this piece more than the first, as it was more entertaining. Highlights was the good use of soundscape and transitions.

So next we began on our group discussion on what would be our subject for the BC1003 module. It started of as a brainstorm from the group, taking ideas, and taking into account the enthusiasm of the group towards the subject in question, and also its feasibility.

During the group discussion we came up with a few ideas. The main ideas we came up with were; a sports radio production, a music radio production, a production on oral history e.g. world war II, a radio production on the carnival, and also a production on christmas. After a debate and some further ideas, we managed to whither the 5 options to 3, which consisted of the oral history, carnivals and christmas. Christmas seemed to be the most popular choice.

We were then assigned a topic each, and within a time period of one hour we were to come up with some research on our given subject, to pitch an idea to the group, and then based on that pitch we would decide on our final topic. The ideas that rose during these pitches was based on world war II life in Weston, mods and rockers oral history, the future of carnival, and how has christmas changed in the last 50 years (which was my pitch) bringing up questions on commercialism, and researching into the thoughts of people within forums, it seemed to be a hot topic, In the end my pitch was chosen as the subject for our group.

Day 6 - We continued familiarising ourselves with the Pro tools editing software in preperation for our assignment a week today.

Day 4 - Microphones

On day 4 we learnt about how microphones work, in particular the condenser and dynamic microphones, and when it is most appropriate to use these. The Condenser microphone is more sensitive; it's diaphragm has gold plating, causing less resistance, which results in better sound capture. The Dynamic microphone operates using a coil, that moves a magnet, hence changing the magnetic field. The Dynamic microphone is not very sensitive, and is not always the best choice depending on your task.

For a Condenser microphone to work phantom power is required. Phantom power is 48 volts. However the back electret microphones do not require the Phantom power. Condenser microphones often enable the user to change the polar response patterns. This changes the way in which the microphone picks up the sound.

One polar response pattern allows the alteration of the proximity effect. The proximity effect is an increase in low frequencies when the microphone get closer to the source of sound. Bass roll-off is the polar response pattern that combats the proximity effect by cutting artificial bass gained through the microphone. However this is not always desirable, e.g. for a deep strong voice in a movie trailer, the proximity effect comes into great favor.

Condenser microphones often allow alteration of the decibels, the most common options are 6DB, 12DB and 18DB. Altering the decibels can increase or reduce the sensitivity of the microphone. 6DB is the halving of sound, this can be called the "pad switch" or the Attenuator. Compared to dynamic microphones, the Condenser microphone is very versataille.

More polar response patterns available to us, courtesy of the Condenser microphone, are the Omni-directional. Bi-directional and the Uni-directional capabilities. First of all, the Omni-Directional polar response pattern, picks up all the sounds around the microphone, which is best for ambient recording, such as creating a soundscape for a tube station or the seaside. The Bi-directional option picks up sound from two directions. This option would be good for things such as interviews. The Uni-directional microphone picks up sound from one direction. Best for recording a specific subject.

Small diaphragm condenser are much more accurate than microphones with large diaphragms. They react quickly to transient sounds (short, sharp, loud) e.g. drums or electric guitar. Large diaphragms are better for sustained sounds such as a singer of a band.

Day 3 - Vox Pops

Today we went out and did some real vox pops within the public, in my hometown of Weston-super-Mare. As a group of four it was our target to reach 50 vox pops between us. Our vox pops were based on the recent loss of the pier, each one of us had a different question, which we would use in our vox pops. But before we asked them the question, we had to make sure that we approched the public correctly, increasing our chance of getting a response.

Here is a photograph i took of the pier:

To get a response it is good to include how long you want to stop them for, what it is about? who are you? and why you are doing the vox pop? The line i used was; "hello, can i just stop you for 30 seconds, to do a recoring for our media project, i just need you to answer one simple question on the pier?". The question i used within my vox pops was "where were you when the pier burnt down and how did it make you feel?"

We used the two sets of equipment in which we were taught to use the previous week, which was the minidisk and the Fostex sound recording equipment. In paticular for this event i used the Fostex sound recording system. My friend Dan was the sound-man, checking audio levels, and carrying the equipment - we would later swap roles.

As this was the first time in doing vox pops with the public, i found the process very daunting, and i didnt know where to begin, but managed to engage myself with the task and get the vox pops i needed. The best way for me was to just get in and do it, rather than walking around worrying about it. I felt that it built my condifdence a little, as it is something i wouldnt normally be able to do. I was worried about the noises of the wind, sea and cars going past, but managed to get some clear audio through the use of the equipment.

Note: Research for job titles starts, useful sources and terms for useful information:

http://www.startingtv.com/
Broadcast Magazine
Broadcast Free-lancer
Production base
Shooting people (sign up)

Day 2 - New equipment and sound physics

On the second day we began a practical, but first we needed to familiarise our self with the equipment involved, that we would need for the task. Our task was to create Vox pops, small, one sentence interviews on a specific subject. The subject in hand this time was to do with the Grand pier of Weston-Super-Mare, which recently burnt down.

Weston Grand pier burning down:

To do this we used two tools, a minidisk with a dual microphone attachment, and also a Fostex field memory recorder. We were introduced to the basic controls of the equipment, and shown how to judge quality of sound by reading audio levels (on the Fostex field memory recorder) using decibels and hertz (amplitude and pitch/frequency).


Once we had learnt how to get the balance of sound right for recording, we also needed to take into account any local variables within the surrounding space, which we wish to record, which may disrupt sound quality. When interviewing someone it is best to have a quiet room, this also means appliances such as fridges (which sound may change during the recording) to be turned off. Also rooms must be tested for echo. Small noises, even the constant noise from air conditioning, can ruin audio in some cases, as "the sound-man" is able to hear things much louder than the human ear, in order to pick up things that may disrupt the recording.


We also learnt about how sound travels. with reference to Young's modulus showing us how sound travels faster through spaces that have tighter molecules (see Figure 1A) like a desk which is a solid. Sound travels slowest through air, as the molecules need the time to stretch and compress like a mexican wave, as they are more widespread. Liquid is in-between solid and gas and therfore sound travels slower than through a solid, but faster than through a gas. The speed of sound is 344m/sec with relative humidity and sea level.

Figure 1A

We also learnt a bit about soundscapes. Soundscapes can create an atmosphere within e.g. a radio broadcast, if the soundscape was a playground, the sounds you would pick up would be ones associated with that are. Some sounds you may pick up to create this soundscape are: kids in park, football being kicked, birds, dogs, roundabout, swings etc. These sounds are best recorded seperately and mixed in together later using the Pro tools editing software.

Pro Tools user interface: