document r0908a - complete guide to reach onair! v3.0 (2)

A Complete Guide to Reach OnAir

R0908A

Reach OnAir Complete Guide of 33

ContentsWelcome...........................................................................................................................3

First Steps.........................................................................................................................3

Installation of AuDEC Broadcaster............................................................................................4Launching the Windows Mixer (Windows XP)...............................................................................................................................................5

Launching the Windows Mixer (Vista & 7).....................................................................................................................................................5

Sound Mixer in Windows XP....................................................................................................6

Sound Mixer in Windows Vista & 7............................................................................................8

Mixing Sound Sources (including USB microphones)......................................................................8

Can’t Find the Recording Device in AuDEC.................................................................................9

Disable Windows Sound Effects (XP)........................................................................................10

Disable Windows Sound Effects (Vista & 7)................................................................................11

Audio Level Test in AuDEC....................................................................................................12

Test Connection in AuDEC....................................................................................................13

My Microphone is Very Quiet!................................................................................................15

Submitting a Soundcheck.....................................................................................................16

Booking a LIVE Show...........................................................................................................17

Broadcasting a LIVE Show.....................................................................................................18Broadcaster Counters and Status Information.............................................................................................................................................19

Broadcaster Pop-up Messages................................................................................................21

Using AirText in AuDEC........................................................................................................23

Webcam Manager in AuDEC...................................................................................................24Using 2 Webcams........................................................................................................................................................................................24

Booking a Pre-Recorded Show...............................................................................................25

Logging Your Playlist...........................................................................................................26

Some Presenting Tips!.........................................................................................................28

How to Listen....................................................................................................................29

Frequently Asked Questions..................................................................................................30

http://www.twitter.com/reachonair

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reach-OnAir/119120321048


Welcome

Aaron, Bertie, Chris and Dan would like to welcome you to Reach OnAir andthank you for signing up for your broadcasting account.

This document is a complete guide to all the essentials at Reach OnAir and willguide you through the members area towards getting your first show on the air.It’s as simple as the steps below but we have lots of features to enhance yourtime at Reach OnAir so follow the steps, get on air and then explore the extraslike webcams, the forum, and AirText to name just three.

First Steps

Download AuDEC Broadcaster

AuDEC is our free software that allows you to connect to Reach OnAir to broadcast ashow. It 'listens' to your computer so when you speak into your mic or play music (fromitunes, winamp, windows media player, Sam, RSP etc) it will broadcast that to the world.

Download AuDEC in the Members Area (www.reachonair.com/members)Get help installing AuDEC on page 3.

1

Submit a Soundcheck

Once AuDEC is installed its time to test it's all set up properly. This guide will help withmost parts of sound setup and there’s our forum where other users and managementcan help too. All we need you to do is upload a small audio file that shows us AuDECcorrectly 'hears' your music and microphone.

The Soundcheck is simply so we can hear the clarity of your set up, just record thefollowing:

� Play a jingle

� Talk into your microphone

� Play part of a song

2

Book a Show

Once your soundcheck is accepted (shouldn't take too long) it's time to book someshows. Using your credits you can select a time in the week, then just fill in your showname and description you want to do, and you're away.

For help on booking a live show see page 17, and a pre-recorded show on page 24.

3

But there’s so much more... Carry on reading....

You can upload a photo that will show whilst you are broadcasting live...Get your webcam setup to broadcast your studio...Send updates via AirText...Buy the Reach OnAir t-shirt ;-)

www.reachonair.com/members

http://www.reachonair.com/forum




Installation of AuDEC BroadcasterAuDEC Broadcaster is the piece of software you will need to broadcast live tothe Reach OnAir servers. It doesn’t play songs but it does count you into andout of your show so everything fits together on air. (You don’t need it for pre-recorded shows, more on page 23).

You can use any software or hardware to play songs and AuDECBroadcaster will “hear” the audio and pick up any sound source. Seesoundcard settings later in this guide.

You need to install AuDEC Broadcaster on 1 PC that you will use tobroadcast. Make sure you install it and test it before you book any shows.

All Versions of Windows

1) Download AuDEC Broadcaster 2 from the Members Area(www.reachonair.com/members), and login with youraccount details that have been e-mailed to you.

2) Double-click and run the installation file (.EXE) to run the AuDEC Broadcaster 2 software.

3) Follow the installation wizard accepting the default settings.

4) Click Finish when complete. Windows XP users are ready to login and perform a test.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

After installation in Windows Vista/7 you need to change the folder permissions. On most systems AuDEC willnot have sufficient permission from Windows to save your audio tests in the default folder. To rectify this followthese steps after installation:

1) Click Start and open Computer and open your C drive.

2) Open the Program Files folder.

3) Right-click on the AuDEC Broadcaster v2 folderand select Properties.

4) Go to the Security tab and click Edit (you maythen have to confirm permission by clicking“Allow”)

5) In the top box select the line for “Users” so that itis highlighted.

6) In the bottom box tick the “Allow” “FullControl” tick box. This also ticks “Modify”.

7) Click Apply and then click OK on eachProperties window.

8) Close the Computer window down to return toyour Windows desktop.

Your installation of AuDEC Broadcaster is complete.




Setting Up Your SoundcardThe Reach OnAir broadcaster software (“AuDEC Broadcaster 2”) isdesigned to record your PC’s audio, taking into consideration your soundcard’s settings. This audio is then transmitted to our server for LIVEbroadcast to the world. For this reason, it is important that your sound cardrecording settings are correct.

To check your sound card’s record settings, you need to use the WindowsMixer. This utility allows you to adjust your sound card’s recording sourceand set the required volume levels.

Launching the Windows Mixer (Windows XP)

The Windows Mixer utility is called “sndvol32” and it has 2 main sections: 1 for playback control (levels, mutes)and 1 for recording (levels, recording source selection). Running sndvol32 without any options will display theplayback mixer only; we need the recording mixer, so we must provide the “/r” (record) option.

1. Click the “Start” button on the Windows Taskbar.

2. Select “Run…” from the Start Menu.

3. Enter “sndvol32 /r” (without the quotes) in the “Open” box that appears, and click OK.

4. The Windows Recording Mixer is then displayed.

Launching the Windows Mixer (Vista & 7)

This method is an alternative in Windows XP and the main method in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Double-click the small speaker icon in your Windows system tray (next to the clock on the Taskbar).

This will display the playback mixer by default. In XP you can go to Options Properties and select Recording.

What next?For live broadcasting you need to select the correct soundcard settings.




Sound Mixer in Windows XPThis procedure may differ widely between sound card manufacturers. If you cannot find any of the belowmentioned items in your Windows Mixer, check with your sound card manual or contact your sound card’s supplier.

With the Windows Recording Mixer now displayed, we need to make sure the correct recording source is selected.First we must ensure that every channel fader is displayed! By default, the mixer will not display all the faders, toconserve screen space.

1. Click “Options” on the Recording Mixer menu.

2. Select “Properties” from the menu that appears.

3. The Recording Mixer properties window will then be displayed.

4. Make sure ALL the tick boxes in the “Show the following volume controls” section, are ticked.

5. Click “OK” to save the changes.

All the recording faders should now be displayed, along with their corresponding “Select” tick boxes.

The fader that has its “Select” tick box ticked will be the target fader for the broadcasting software to record from.If, for example, you tick the “CD Audio” fader and then start broadcasting with no CD in your PC’s drive, you will betransmitting silence to your listeners, even if you speak into your microphone!

So, which fader do I choose?

That’s a good question, and the answer is dependent on your home studio set up. The most common selection isto choose everything, just to be sure. However, the majority of sound card set ups do not allow the selection ofmore than one device. These sound cards should have a special fader that will record everything on your PC.Common names for this special fader are:

What U Hear, Stereo Mix or Stereo Mixer

If you cannot see these names then perhaps a) your sound card does allow the selection of more than onerecording device (give it a try) or b) the sound card manufacturer deviated from the standard and named the fadersomething else. If “b” is the case then check with your sound card supplier or check the sound card manual formore information.




Studio Set Up 1 (No external mixer)In this studio we have 1 PC with a microphone plugged into to the sound card’s “Mic In” connector. We are usingsome music software on this PC and also broadcasting from this PC.

For this set up, we need to select that special fader or select “Wave” (used by Windows to play your MP3 music)and “Microphone”, if your sound card set up allows 2 or more selections.

Muting/Un-Muting the Microphone

If your microphone does not have an on/off switch (for when you finish talking between songs), you can control themicrophone “Mute” state in the Windows Playback mixer. Follow the steps in section 1 to launch the recordingmixer, but drop the “/r” off of the end of “sndvol32” (or double-click the yellow speaker in the system tray, next tothe clock on the Taskbar).

The playback mixer will have “Mute” tick boxes instead of “Select” boxes. When any of these boxes are ticked, thebroadcaster will not record from that audio source any longer; when you wish to speak again, simply un-tick themicrophone “Mute” box.

Studio Set Up 2 (PC and mixer)In this studio we have 1 PC used for the broadcast and an external studio mixer. Connected to the external mixerare a microphone and 2 CD players. The external mixer will be plugged into the sound card’s “Line In” connector.

For this set up we need to select “Line In” as the recording source only. Again, the name of this slider may varyfrom sound card to sound card – check with your sound card’s supplier or have a look at the manual for moreinformation.




Sound Mixer in Windows Vista & 7The Reach OnAir broadcaster software (“AuDEC Broadcaster 2”) isdesigned to record your PC’s audio, taking into consideration your soundcard’s settings.

There is usually less configuration of the sound mixer in Windows Vista(than XP) because AuDEC Broadcaster 2 will offer you the necessaryoptions when you open the program and you do not need to go into theWindows sound mixer.

The options will vary depending on your soundcard. For further helpplease consult your soundcard manufacturer’s website and/or forum forVista specific information.

Selecting the Recording Device

1. Open AuDEC Broadcaster 2.

2. The Recording Device list shows each source of your soundcard(s). In this example there are severaloptions because there are 2 soundcards installed, a “Realtek” onboard card and “Creative SB Audigy 2”.

a. Studio Setup 1 (no mixer)

Select “What U Hear” or “Stereo Mix”.This tells the broadcaster to transmit all the audio from your PC, so songs and jingles and yourmicrophone are all picked up and broadcast.

b. Studio Setup 2 (external equipment, e.g. mixer)

Select “Line In”.This picks up all the audio coming in to your PC via the “line in” connection. Use this if you havemore equipment including microphone that is all connected through a mixer. The output of yourmixer should be plugged in to the soundcard’s “line in” socket.

3. Click the Test Audio Levels button. Watch the VU bars in AuDEC as you play a song and you should seethat they move - this means the broadcaster is successfully picking up your music. Stop the song andcheck your microphone too.

TIP - Open the mixer by clicking the speaker icon and selecting the Mixer. Click the speaker icon below WindowsSounds (on Vista & 7) to mute your system sounds. This means you will not broadcast any Windows systemsounds like error message beeps during your show.

Mixing Sound Sources (including USB microphones)Generally a piece of audio equipment that connects via USB is installed as it’s own sound device, e.g. You will seea listing for a USB microphone/headset. This means you cannot “mix” between the microphone sound source andyour soundcard. You can have a similar problem with onboard soundcards e.g. Realtek Audio.Third party software enables you to combine sound sources. For example, see Virtual Soundcard atwww.e2esoft.cn/vsc or Virtual Audio Cable at http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm. Reach OnAir is notresponsible for third party software and cannot provide official support.

http://www.e2esoft.cn/vsc

http://software.muzychenko.net/eng/vac.htm




Can’t Find the Recording Device in AuDEC

Read this page if you launch AuDEC Broadcaster 2 and cannot pickthe right recording device, like this screen shot where only amicrophone is available.

Some onboard sound chips (when sound is on the motherboardrather than a separate soundcard e.g. Realtek audio) may have to have a recording device “enabled” before youcan use it. Onboard sound is common on laptop computers.

Enable a Sound DeviceBefore you begin close all programs especially AuDEC Broadcaster 2.

1. Click Start Control Panel and pick Classic View.2. Select Sound.3. Select the Recording tab.4. Right-click on any device already in the list.5. Click “Show Disabled Devices” and click “Show Disconnected Devices”6. Select “Stereo Mix” or “What U Hear” or similar and right-click on it, picking “Enable”

The devices will now be available in Windows and therefore to AuDEC Broadcaster 2 too.

Change Levels of a Sound Device7. Follow the steps above to make sure all devices show in the list.8. Right-click on Stereo Mix, What U Hear or similar (varies by sound card) and pick Properties.9. Click onto the Levels tab.10. Turn up the level. We suggest starting at 50% then using trial and error to find the best volume.11. Click OK and OK on the previous window to save the changes.

12. Use the Test Audio Levels button in AuDEC Broadcaster 2 to make sure you can hear back music andyour microphone. Experiment with levels, and repeat the above steps if necessary.

For specific sound card help check the Reach OnAir forum where other members may be able to help.

http://www.reachfm.co.uk/members/forum




Disable Windows Sound Effects (XP)Whilst you are broadcasting, you will receive e-mails and certain error boxes may pop up to inform you ofdifferent things. These occurrences will cause Windows to “bleep”, “whoosh”, “ping” or “purp” at you; these canbe quite humorous, however when you are broadcasting, these sounds could be transmitted along with yourmusic and speech – this is not something you want.

The best solution is to disable them before you begin your show. The following procedure is for Windows XP;you should be able to apply an identical procedure to other versions of Windows too.


2. Click on “Control Panel”. (Control Panel may be listed under the Settings menu)

3. From within the Control Panel, double-click “Sounds and Devices”.

4. This will display the “Sound and Audio Devices Properties” window.

5. Select the “Sounds” tab, at the top of this window.

6. Select “No Sounds” from the “Sound Scheme” drop-down menu.

7. Click “OK” to save the settings.




Disable Windows Sound Effects (Vista & 7)Method AWhilst you are broadcasting, you will receive e-mails and certain error boxes may pop up to inform you ofdifferent things. These occurrences will cause Windows to “bleep”, “whoosh”, “ping” or “purp” at you; these canbe quite humorous, however when you are broadcasting, these sounds could be transmitted along with yourmusic and speech – this is not something you want.

The best solution is to disable them before you begin your show. The following procedure is for Windows XP;you should be able to apply an identical procedure to other versions of Windows too.


2. Click on “Control Panel”.

3. From within the Control Panel, double-click “Sounds and Devices”.

4. This will display the “Sound and Audio Devices Properties” window.

5. Select the “Sounds” tab, at the top of this window.

6. Select “No Sounds” from the “Sound Scheme” drop-down menu.

7. Click “OK” to save the settings.

Method B1. Click the speaker icon in your system tray.2. Click Mixer to open all the volume sliders. Each program has a slider so your system will vary from the screenshots shown below.3. Click the speaker below Windows Sounds to mute any Windows error message beeps and other sounds.




Audio Level Test in AuDECThe broadcaster software contains a facility for recording your audio and saving it to your local hard disk, for you tocheck later. This is useful if you want to make sure you have your sound card set up correctly.

Note: You must have Real Player installed on your system to listen back to these audio tests. The FREE playercan be downloaded from: http://www.real.com/.

1. Launch the “AuDEC Broadcaster 2” software

2. The main broadcaster window should appear, along with the “Broadcaster Login” window.

3. Ensure the correct recording device is selected (if your system contains more than one sound card)

4. Click the “Test Audio Levels” button.

5. The “Audio Test Running” box should now appear and the recording process will commence.

Now it’s time to play some music and talk into your microphone. It’s best to test these 2 items separately (one at atime) and then both together, to ensure that both are being picked up correctly.

Throughout your test you must keep a close eye on the broadcaster’s recording levels (VU display). It is importantthat the VU display reacts to the music/speech – if it does not, it means nothing is being detected or recorded. Goback to section 1 above (if this is the case) to check your sound card’s recording source.

You must also make sure that if levels are being detected, that they are not too loud. Keep the VU display out ofthe pink colour at the top to avoid sound distortion. It Is best to keep the level at -4 dB.

You can adjust the recording levels by moving the selected recording fader, within the Windows Recording Mixer(see section 1).

When you are happy that everything is working OK, click “Stop” in the “Audio Test Running” window, to save theaudio test to your hard disk.

A pop-up window will appear letting you know where the audio test was saved. The default is in C:\ProgamFiles\AuDEC Broadcaster 2\

If you are running as a restricted user (or on Vista) make sure you changed the file permissions as per page 2otherwise your file will not be created.

You should now listen back to this test in your Real Player, to make sure everything sounds perfect andready for broadcast!

http://www.real.com




The last step to ensure you are ready to start broadcasting is checking that your Internet connection is workingOK, and is stable enough. The broadcaster software includes a “Test Connection” facility that sends yourPC’s audio to our main server, just like in a real broadcast.

Note: This test broadcast is not aired on Reach OnAir, but it is stored on our server and subject to checks.

1. Launch the “AuDEC Broadcaster 2” software.


3. Select your connection speed from the “Broadcast Quality” drop-down menu.Make your selection based on the following:

� Standard if using mobile broadband.� Medium if you have upload of 300k or lower.� High if you have 500k or lower.� Ultra if you have 1000k or more.

This list is not an exact science, just a rough outline. There will be times where you will need to drop to a lowersetting should your upload be suffering one busy evening etc. It is always worth doing a speed test before yougo on air. We recommend www.speedtest.net Note: If you set this too high, you will experience drop-outsand disconnections during your broadcast!4. Ensure the correct recording device is selected (if your PC contains more than one sound card)

5. Enter your Reach OnAir username and password in the “Login Details” boxes.

6 Click the “Test Connection” button.

7. The “Test Broadcast Running” box should now appear and you are now testing.

Note: If you mistype your username and/or password, a pop-up box will appear informing you so. You willneed to double-check you have them correct. If you have forgotten them, please [email protected] for advice.

As with the “Test Audio Levels” facility, start playing some music or speaking into your microphone;keep an eye on the VU display throughout your test, to make sure audio is being detected and that itis not too loud.

Run the “Test Connection” for about 2-5 minutes, to ensure everything is stable.

Test Connection in AuDEC

http://www.speedtest.net

mailto:[email protected]




When you connect for the first time you may see a pop up message from your firewall.

The example below is from the Windows Vista firewall. You need to click Unblock or Allow, or Permit. If the prompthas the option to “remember the answer” tick this box so you are not prompted again.

You can now continue through this guide and learn about audio levels, testing the connection and anytroubleshooting you may have.




My Microphone is Very Quiet!Many sound card manufacturers include a “Microphone Boost” facility to compensate for low-poweredmicrophones which are plugged directly into the soundcard.

Note: This will only apply to microphones plugged directly into the sound card’s “Mic In” connector and not via amixer or via USB.

1. Follow the steps in section 1 to launch the Windows Recording Mixer.

2. Ensure that the “Advanced Controls” option is ticked under the mixer’s “Options” menu.

3. Click the “Advanced” button located underneath the “Microphone” fader.

4. This will display the microphone’s advanced options window.

5. Ensure the “Microphone +20dB Boost” tick box is ticked (this may be named differently on your card).

6. Click “Close” to save the changes.

Note: This procedure may not work, or this facility may not be possible on your sound card set up. If you are notsure, check with the sound card supplier or have a read through your sound card manual.




Submitting a SoundcheckAuDEC Broadcaster has 2 checks which are covered on the previous pages;

Test Audio LevelsRecords a file on your hard drive so you know that AuDEC ‘hears’ everything as it should on your PC.

Test ConnectionChecks that AuDEC can connect to the Reach OnAir server.

A soundcheck is a test audio file that is submitted to Reach management to check on the quality of your sound,

How to Upload a Soundcheck

1. Follow the steps on page 12 which creates an audio file (.rm Real file).

The test file should be no longer than 1 - 2 minutes and should have you talking into your microphone (with nobacking bed) and playing a piece of music as you would on your show.

We are looking to hear the quality of your sound and will NOT be judging or looking at your presenter skills here- you can impress us by having a good quality audio file - i.e minimal interference or hiss, clear music and goodlevels (not distorted or too quiet).

Be sure to listen back to your soundcheck before uploading to make sure you are happy how it sounds!

2. Login to the Members Area and click Soundcheck.

3. Browse to the .rm file which is on your computer and submit it.

4. You will receive a confirmation and then an approval or rejection, and if rejected you will be told why, andadvised how to improve the quality. You will need to adjust your settings before submitting another soundcheck.

Another Soundcheck?

It is a good idea to submit a new soundcheck if you have changed your computer or any part of your setup so youknow it is all working well ready for your show.




Booking a LIVE ShowAll account types may broadcast live to the Reach OnAir audience. You need to have installed AuDEC Broadcaster2 to connect during a live broadcast, but you can use any software and/or hardware you like for music playout etc.

DO NOT proceed to a book a live show until you have tested your audio settings and have an approvedsoundcheck.

You can book a live show anywhere on the schedule subject to availability. You can book up to 2 weeks ahead orjust 24 hours ahead (minimum).

Booking a Show

1. Go to the Members Area (www.reachonair.com/members)

2. Under the heading of Shows click on the Book Show icon

3. You need to enter a show title, description and genre.

4. Submit your booking.

5. This will be approved or rejected and you will be e-mailed accordingly.

If you have an approved show make sure you are ready at your show broadcast date and time and get ready tologin to AuDEC 15 minutes before you are due on air. See page 18 for more.

Rejected Shows

99% of shows are approved. The reasons why a show may be rejected are:

� A show description is lacking in detail� A title/description that contains swearing or inappropriate content.� A show that may offend listeners e.g. A religion or a belief.

In most cases we will endeavour to e-mail you and ask you to change the booking rather than just rejecting ithowever this is not always the case.

Queries

Should you have any questions, comments or queries regarding show bookings, descriptions etc please [email protected]






Broadcasting a LIVE Show

You should only start reading this section if…

ü You are 110% sure that your audio is working correctlyü You are 110% sure that your Internet connection is working

correctlyü You have booked your show on our web siteü It is about 15 minutes to the hour when your show is due to start

Logging In

You can only log in within the hour leading up to the show start time. Forexample, if your show starts at 3:00pm, you can login between 2:00pmand 2:59pm. The counters within the broadcaster will count you down to the start of your show. We alwaysrecommend logging in between 5-15 minutes before your show is due to start.

1. Launch the “AuDEC Broadcaster 2” software.


3. Select your connection speed from the “Broadcast Quality” drop-down menu.Note: You must make sure this is selected correctly – if set too high, you will experience drop-outs anddisconnections during your broadcast!

4. Ensure the correct recording device is selected (if your system contains more than one sound card)� In Windows XP this lists different sound cards (e.g. “Soundblaster”) but in Windows Vista it lists each “channel”

of a sound card (e.g. “What U Hear” or “Line In”).5. Enter your Reach OnAir username and password in the “Login Details” boxes.

6. Click the “Login” button.

7. The login window should now close and you will see the counters in the broadcaster start counting down.

Note: If you mistype your username and/or password, a pop-up box will appear informing you so. You will need todouble-check you have them correct. If you have forgotten them, please contact [email protected] foradvice.





Broadcaster Counters and Status Information

The following describes the functions of AuDEC Broadcaster 2.

Server TimeThe “Server Time” counter shows the current (Atomic) time. This time is in-sync with the time on the ReachOnAir servers and every 60 seconds the time will re-sync to ensure everything stays together.

On Air

The “On Air” counter will count down to when the broadcaster will start sending your PC’s audio to the server.This is NOT when you start your show, as both the “on air” and “remain silent” lights will be lit.

Show StartThe “Show Start” counter is only a few seconds behind the “On Air” counter. This difference in seconds isimportant for the server to build up a delay, which is used as a buffer to ensure a more stable broadcastconnection. When the “Show Start” counter reaches zero (00:00), your show starts. The “remain silent” light willgo out.

Show EndThe “Show End” counter starts counting as soon as your show begins. This is the counter you need to watchwhile you are broadcasting. As soon as this counter reaches zero (00:00), your show has ended and the “remainsilent” light will illuminate. You must wait for the “Thank you for broadcasting…” pop-up box to appear beforeclosing the broadcaster – this is important.

Status InformationLogged In As: Displays the current username that is logged inShow Length: Displays the number of hours your show is due on (according to your booking)On-Air Time: Displays the exact on air broadcast time you have (after delays, adverts, news etc.)System Status: Displays the current operation status of the broadcaster (i.e. what it is doing)




Watch Those Audio Levels!As we keep repeating, it is important that you monitor your audio levels as you are broadcasting.

It is important that the VU display reacts to the music/speech – if it does not, it means nothing is being detectedor recorded. Go back to section 1 above (if this is the case) to check your sound card’s recording source.

You must also make sure that if levels are being detected, that they are not too loud. Keep the VU display out ofthe pink colour at the top to avoid sound distortion. It Is best to keep the level at -4 dB.

You can adjust the recording levels by moving the selected recording fader, within the Windows Recording Mixer(see section 1).

Silence DetectionIf you are broadcasting silence for 15 seconds you will be prompted with a warning message. Our server willdisconnect your show after 20 seconds if you do not rectify this, therefore you have 5 seconds of warning.

What’s On Next?You can quickly find out which show is on directly after yours finishes. Simply click the “What’s up Next” link inthe broadcast status information panel. A pop-up box will appear containing the show title.

Note: This feature will only work whilst you are onair, not while using the test buttons.




Broadcaster Pop-up Messages

There are numerous pop-up boxes that may appear while broadcasting, here are some of the most common:

“A new server message has been received!”When you receive a message from the Reach OnAir studio, it will contain important information about your showfrom the management team. You must read this and act quickly if necessary.

The message received will be stored in the “Server Message” pane (as above) for your review. All messages arestored in this pane until you close the broadcaster – the newest message is at the top of the list.

“Broadcaster Connection Error”

You will see this error message when:� There is a congested Internet connection between yourself and the Reach OnAir server.� You have been broadcasting silence and have previously seen the silence detection error.� There may be a fault at the Reach OnAir server.

“Invalid Time Data Received from server.” Or “Error updating time from remote server”

This pop-up box appears if the broadcaster failed to receive a time-sync from the server. Clicking OK on this boxwill log you out of the broadcaster because it assumes there has been an Internet connection fault. If this messageis ignored you may still be able to continue broadcasting, however you will no longer receive any more pop-upmessages and your broadcaster time will drift, causing an inaccurate show ending time. You must wait at least 30seconds before logging back in.

“The system has automatically logged you in for your next hour.”

If the length of your show is greater than 1 hour, at the end of the first hour the broadcaster will automatically logyou back in to commence your second hour (or more). This pop-up box informs you of this process.

“You are not due any shows in the next hour. Please login again later.”

This pop-up box will appear during the login process if you have no show booked for the next hour. You will alsosee this message if you try to login while the news and adverts are being aired.




“Show Cancelled Error”This is a message you don’t want to see! You will receive this message when your show has been taken off air

by Reach OnAir Management either due to broadcasting rules being broken or poor broadcast quality (after youhave been warned). You will not be able to re-connect for the duration of your show.

“Thank you for broadcasting with us!”

The final message you will see at the end of your show! When the “Show End” counter has reached zero(00:00) and the “remain silent” light goes out, this pop-up box will appear. Click “OK” to log out.

Logging OutAt the end of your show, or if an error pop-up box appears during your show, you will automatically becomelogged out of the system when you click “OK” (returning to the broadcaster login screen).

You can however, log out manually for whatever reason, by clicking the “Log Out” link in the broadcast statusinformation panel. If you are currently broadcasting, a confirmation pop-up box will appear, giving you a chanceto back out. When you log out you are no longer on air and automation from the server plays instead.




Using AirText in AuDECAirText allows the on air presenter to post updates about what is going on during their show. It allows the listenerto follow whatever they are doing.

A lot of presenters use AirText to show what is currently playing, show questions for competitions and on airdiscussion topics.

Posting AirText

Broadcasters can find AirText above the server message window as the speech bubble icon in AuDECBroadcaster 2. Enter your message in the window and press Update. You are limited in length to 140 characters

140 characters

Reading AirText

Currently you can view AirText updates on the website at www.ReachOnAir.com and in the future we are lookingtowards pushing these updates to Twitter.

http://www.reachonair.com




Webcam Manager in AuDECWhen broadcasting a live show AuDEC Broadcaster can also connect your webcam to the server so listenerscan see your studio setup. The webcams are shown on the website and web players. You can have up to 2different webcams when they are plugged in to the same PC that you broadcast from.

You can only click Start Upload when you are broadcasting live (not during tests or while waiting for AuDEC’scounters to count you in.

Message OptionsYou can set an optional message e.g. “Daniel LIVE from Tamworth” and place it at a position on your image.

Upload OptionsSet the frequency so you can decide how often you want the webcam to take a snapshot. Reach does not supportlive webcam streaming.

Using 2 Webcams

Webcam 1 is detected automatically within AuDEC Broadcaster and is uploaded without requiring any additionalsoftware.

Webcam 2 requires you to use any webcam capture software (e.g. http://www.yawcam.com/ - Reach OnAir is notresponsible for downloading or supporting third party software).

You must set the software to output the webcam image to the file location in the screenshot above (this will varyautomatically according to your PC username e.g. Daniel is shown above).

The image for webcam 2 must be named as “webcam2” (not case sensitive) and must be saved in JPG format.

Login to the main AuDEC Broadcaster 2window and click Webcam Manager tolaunch the settings below.

http://www.yawcam.com/




Booking a Pre-Recorded ShowAll account types may broadcast live and have the option to playout a pre-recorded show. This would be a showthat you have recorded offline at any time and have recorded in it’s entirety, i.e. 1 mp3 file.

Tech Specs

Shows must be booked and uploaded (as below) at least 24 hours in advance of the show air time.

Your pre-recorded show must be saved in 1 mp3 file per hour which is saved at a bitrate of 128kbps.

The length that your recording should be will be displayed at the top of the ‘Book Pre-Record Show’ page within themembers area. It is important that you keep to this length.

Your hour’s files should have no silence at the start or the end of the file.

Booking a Pre-recorded Show

1. Go to the Members Area (www.reachonair.com/members)

2. Under the heading of Shows click on the Book Pre-Record Show icon

3. You need to enter a show title, description and genre and then click Browse to find the pre-recorded file onyour computer.

4. You must upload each hour individually. You cannot book your time slot until 1 hour is successfully uploaded.

5. When the file upload is complete go to the “Book Show Slot” heading below and book your day and time foryour show, as you would with a live show. The booking can be made with either credits from your broadcastingaccount or from the station pot.

6. Once you receive the confirmation of your booking you do not need to do anything else.Don’t forget to log your show (after it has been broadcast, see page 24).





Logging Your PlaylistEvery show that is broadcast (whether live or pre-recorded) needs to be logged. You have 48 hours to log yourshow after it was broadcast. Please do not submit it before your show (even if you plan everything) because youmay make a change. You MUST login to the Members Area to access and submit your logs for full shows and partof your log if the show was not broadcast in full.

Logging RulesLogging is necessary in order for Reach OnAir to comply with all necessary music royalty licensing. Not all licensesrequire the same information at the same time but by keeping full logs the management team will be able to submitthe samples required.

As a broadcaster you have agreed to the Reach OnAir rules including:“You must log a playlist of your show once it has been broadcast. The deadline is exactly 48 hours after your firstlogging e-mail is sent. This is the end of the day after your broadcast. Failure to log a show will result is one creditbeing deducted from your account. Continually failing to log will result in your account, including any services on it,being suspended.”

All logs are transferred into our database so any breach of the rules or abuse of the system will be discovered.Incomplete logs will be treated as a failure to log and your account will be terminated.

How to Complete Your Logs1. Login to the Members Area at www.reachonair.com/members and use your broadcast account details.2. You will see all the logs including how much time is left to log. Click Log Now to go to the next page.

3. You will either type in songs manually OR upload a log file in one of our supported formats. Different softwarehas different formats so please select the correct one.

If you use this option click Browse to select your file and then click Continue. Ensure the details are correct andclick Log Show.

4. If you are logging the show manually click Continue and fill in each of the artist and song title boxes. Do notworry about the time played, this is a rough estimate only.

http://www.reachonair.com/members




When you type an artist’s name common artists will be suggested which you can click on to save you typing itall.

5. Click Log Show when you have completed all boxes.

Exceptions

If you have played a track that you know is royalty free (e.g. unsigned bands) then you do not need to log this,just skip on to the next item. If you are in any doubt after your show please log the track anyway. Do not wait toquery the track otherwise your account may become terminated because the process is automated!

Penalty for Not Submitting a Valid LogIf you have not submitted the log within the time limit your broadcasting account will have 1 credit deducted fromit. If your account is currently at 0 credits, 1 will be removed when the next addition of credits is made.




Some Presenting Tips!

· Be yourself.

· Have fun!

· Try to sound confident on the microphone.

· Try not to shout.

· Try not to sound too relaxed, it can give the impression you don’t really care.

· Don’t talk to "the listeners" – talk to me.

· Always have something interesting to talk about; perhaps even a personal funny story.

· Don't just read quirky news stories off the web word for word; tell the story in your own way.

· Express competence: string songs and jingles together without gaps. Be on the ball with that "Play"button. Gaps tend to sound un-professional.

· Don't overplay promos. They can get very annoying and tedious. 2 in an hour is more than enough.

· Don’t continue to refer to your “technical problems” – remember the saying “a bad workman alwaysblames his tools”.

· Don’t get too “technical” on air, explaining the principle of gravity or the chemical consistency of liquidnitrogen – listeners may not understand what you are saying, and become bored.

· Don’t sound desperate if you have yet to receive any contact, this will discourage rather thanencourage listeners to get in touch with your show.

· If you don’t have a certain request, perhaps play an alternative track – remember, the listener whorequested the track, made a special effort to contact you.

· Remember that to some listeners, the music you play will be a major reason for listening. Try not tospeak unnecessarily during songs or interrupt the music for no reason.

· Don’t rely completely on competitions – if you don’t get a contact, it can be disappointing.

· Check and double-check e-mails and/or voicemails before reading them out or playing them on air.You (the presenter) will be responsible if the content in either case is unsuitable.

· Try not to sound too “final” at the end of your show – encourage the listeners to continue listening afteryou go off air.

For more tips and discussions visit the Reach OnAir forum at http://www.reachonair.com





How to Listen

You can listen to Reach OnAir in lots of ways:

Website

All you need to do is click and listen. Go to www.reachonair.com.This Web Player provides a choice of embedded players in a web browser window - Real, Windows Media, Flash

You can also download the Live Player to listen directly from your desktop. See the Goodies page.

Stream URLs & Mobile Listening

Of course you can listen to the station using any piece of software that will accept a stream address or any mobilephone with a player. (Beware of using mobile data if listening via a cellular data connection, as this can quicklybecome very expensive. Check your tariff and usage!) You may also need these addresses for some Internetradios.

Reach has one for each quality of web stream. You need these:

Low quality (24 kbps) - http://reachonair.net:8024/live

Medium quality (64 kbps) - http://reachonair.net:8064/live

High quality (128 kbps) - http://reachonair.net:8128/live

Some desktop media players require you putting '.m3u' at the end of the address (eg.http://reachonair.net:8128/live.m3u)

Bandwidth Usage

You may be interested to know how much data is used when you are listening to Reach OnAir, especially if youhave a bandwidth restriction on your Internet connection.

Low (24 kbps) stream uses 10.55 MB per hour

Medium (64 kbps) stream uses 28.13 MB per hour

High (128 kbps) stream uses 56.25 MB per hour


http://www.reachonair.com/Goodies




Frequently Asked Questions

I have an Apple Mac. Can I broadcast?

Yes, but you need to make use of Microsoft Windows to do so and you have a couple of options. AuDECBroadcaster 2 is used to broadcast live shows and this is Windows only software.

You can run Windows:

Via Boot Camp which is available on all Apple Macs with an Intel processor and enables you to dual bootbetween Mac OS X and Windows. Bootcamp is included in OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard and you wouldneed a full licence of Windows too.

Virtually You can use Parallels or VM Ware Fusion which enable you to install Windows as a virtual machineso you can use it at the same time as Mac OS X.

What happens if I am cut off?

If you are cut off during a show, you need to wait for 1 minute before logging in again. This is so the 'buffer' is usedup and AuDEC will be ready to broadcast again. You will not be 'charged' a credit for each time you log in - it's onlytaken at the end of the show.

Why am I some times cut off?

There can be many reasons why a broadcaster can be cut off, mainly this is due to a poor or slow Internetconnection. Routing or general congestion on the Internet can slow things down and 'packets' can be lost in transit.Another common cause is too much demand on your connection. If you do get cut off, you just need to wait 1minute before you can log back in again.

Unfortunately due to the nature of the Internet, connections can be unpredictable.

Is there anything I can do to minimise cutting off?

Yes, make sure all programs that use the Internet are switched off before logging into AuDEC Broadcaster. Alsomake sure that no other PC or mobile device is using the connection. This will ensure maximum bandwidth isavailable for your broadcast. Things like Skype and Dropbox will 'hog' the bandwidth if used while broadcasting.You could also use the 'Standard' setting of broadcast quality as this uses the least amount of bandwidth.

Where can I get further help?

We believe what makes us different is our community. Therefore our forum is the best place to start asking anyquestions you have as someone is bound to know the answer!

How will I know if I am cut off or don't have enough bandwidth?

If you are cut off, AuDEC Broadcaster will display a message telling you an error message. Just hit OK and log in 1minute later.

If you don't have enough bandwidth to sustain a stream - you will be broadcasting what can only be described as'robotic' sounds and periods of silence. You need to disconnect at this point and stop all unnecessary programsbefore logging back in again under the 'Standard' broadcast quality setting.




Can I use Skype to interview or co-present?

Yes! We encourage this. We as management do our monthly Your Voice show like this as all managementmembers are remote from each other. It's a great way to put something a little different in your show!

How do I upload a picture for when I am on air?

You just need to log into the members area and click on "OnAir Picture". Here you will find out all youneed to know and upload your picture. Please be aware, there can be a delay in approving picturesas we need to view each one.

Where is my test audio file?!

If you can’t find your test audio file you could be running Windows Vista or Windows 7 and you need to havecompleted page 4. Also ensure you have RealPlayer installed.

How do I receive contact during the show?

All contact received, including instant messages, texts, voicemails etc. are forwarded to the e-mail address youhave given at sign-up or what you have set within the "Personal Details' section of the members area.

Remember to read/listen all contact before you air it and report any abuse should it be received.

I can't get AuDEC Broadcaster to pick up my audio

Please see page 5 as this can be for a number of reasons.

What are credits?

Credits are broadcasting 'tokens' that are taken from your account when you broadcast a show.These are your own credits in your own account. You get some every week (Loyalty and Lite) orevery month for free accounts

What are tokens or station pot?

These are tokens available to every Reach Loyalty and Loyalty Lite member. Station Tokens getput in the station pot!

Is there a maximum amount or credits?

Yes, it's 12 for Loyalty and Loyalty Lite accounts and 2 for free members.

When are credits added?

They are added for Loyalty and Loyalty Lite members every Monday at a random time. They are added for freemembers once a month.




How many credits is it to broadcast a show?

1 credit or token per hour.

How many hours can I broadcast?

You can broadcast up to 3 hours everyday.

Can I play more than once song by the same artist?

Sort of. You cannot broadcast more than three tracks by the same artist in any given three hour period. This is toensure we comply with the stipulations set by the licensing bodies.

Can I use my own imaging (jingles) for my show?

Yes! Of course you can! However, please ensure it's not rude or offensive to anyone.

Can I swear during my shows or use songs with explicit lyrics?

No! We aim to be a family orientated station and therefore no swearing is allowed. There is no watershed due toReach OnAir being a global station.

What would you recommend as a playout software?

We would recommend Radio Server Player 2 (RSP2) from Chris Moses Productions - www.rsplayer.co.uk

http://www.rsplayer.co.uk




R0908A

Version 3.0

© 2010 Reach Broadcasting Limited for Reach OnAir. Company Number 06510833.

Edited by Daniel Hoult for Reach OnAir.

http://www.danielhoult.co.uk




document r0908a - complete guide to reach onair! v3.0 (2)

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