Except for an occasional check to see if we are streaming, it runs much like a regular phone patch session -- the difference being that the content is delivered immediately (with a 6-15 or so second delay) and this way you know exactly what you are getting (Audio levels, EQ, overall sound quality etc) and have the audio right away for editing. 

____________________________________________

Below are samples of a test performed on 9-7-2004 where an engineer at a studio in Arkansas connected up to my studio in California with both ISDN and my pretty much the streaming method I use now simultaneously.

I think the board may have been just a tiny bit "hot," but overall it's a good sample of our ISDN and and new Net streaming setups:

ISDN Test                                                                           Internet Stream Test

____________________________________________________

STREAMING A V/O SESSION  

T E S T I N G  1 2 3...

I would welcome you to contact me for a studio-to-studio test (at no charge).  I can provide copy or, If you have any copy to potentially audition, this would be a way to listen to it live, in superb audio quality. 

THE DETAILS:

I use Winamp + Shoutcast + a rented server (a company called "Annuna") to essentially transmit a signal to any other computer connected to the Net via broadband -- which would include DSL, Cable modem, Satellite etc. Basically all you need is 

A) A computer

B) Broadband Internet

C) The latest Windows Media Player software (for Mac or PC) -- which is free here: 

HOW DO OTHERS CONNECT UP TO ME THROUGH THE NET?

You would paste or type in an internet address or "URL" (which I email to you before the session) into your Windows Media Player and within seconds, we're connected.  You may or may not need to click the play button.

HOW DOES THE SESSION MOVE FOREWORD?

1) I am connected to you via my telephone line (or free Skype -- Internet telephone) via phone patch.

NOTE: My phone-patch equipment on this end is set up to not interfere with the recording at all. 

2) I will initiate the call.  

I use a national long distance plan on my landline so can make the phone call to you for sessions of any length to anywhere across the US.  

For calls outside the USA, not using Skype (which is free) I would  ask that you initiate the call for the session. 

3) Close down any applications which may use up memory/ram (there is  less chance of dropouts when this is done. however, In one session the engineer had 5 or more applications running at the same time with no dropouts!).   

4) Open "Windows Media Player" (for Mac or PC)

Note: An upgrade to the latest WMP that fits your operating system (Mac or PC) is recommended for optimal connection, quality etc. -- however, this streaming setup still appears to work fine with some older version players as well.

WILL IT REALLY WORK WITH A MAC?

I connected to a Mac with operating system OS9.  They were running  "Windows Media Player" for Mac Version 7 with excellent results and no dropouts etc.  The latest Windows Media Player coupled with your the latest MAC OS should work fine as well.

5) Once you have opened your Windows Media Player In the upper left corner of the Player window select "File" 

NOTE: cursor the top black frame and RIGHT CLICK anywhere for the menu.  (With a Mac, apply the analogous actions.

The other option would to select "Control + U" on your keyboard.

(After selecting "File")
3) Select "Open URL" (Omit this if you simply applied "Control + U)

4) Type (or paste) the Internet address (which I'll email  you prior to the session) into the address field.

5) Hit "Enter" on your keyboard -- (or "OK" on the player).

6) The display in the lower-left hand corner of the player should then read: "Connecting (to media)." Then, "Buffering" ... and then we will be streaming!

7) Start up your recording software (Pro-tools, Sound Forge, Cool Edit etc.) to record audio from your WM Player.  

This may be the biggest hurdle -- setting your system up so that you can record audio streaming from the Internet -- but it can be done (and might be worth doing anyway as it has other applications other than this streaming V/O recording system).

NOTE:  You would route the audio coming from the Windows Media Player into your recording software while not allowing other audio/noises, etc. to interfere with the audio capture -- such as emails alerts, etc).  

6)You then can do a level check to make sure everything is working fine and then ... record away!

-------------------------------------------

WHAT IF THERE ARE DROPOUTS IN THE RECORDING?

NOTE:  I will always record a backup in every session. If it becomes necessary, I would then transfer the file (with the missing section or sections) to you in a format of your choice through the Net via email to you (or up to my server for download if over say, 5 MB or so).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOW HAVE YOUR TEST SESSIONS BEEN GOING SO FAR?

I have done multiple tests as well as a couple of actual sessions.  All clients were very happy with the result and all remarked on the quality of the audio recorded on their end.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

connections to recording studios. 

The individuals running the boards said the sound quality was great -- and that my transmission appeared to be comparable to ISDN.  They all indicated that the fidelity was extremely impressive and quite usable for TV or radio broadcast.

IN SUMMARY

This allows my clients the ability to connect up with me and run a session of any length, using almost any computer with broadband connection to almost anywhere in the world.

If you wish to run a quick test to see how this works with your system, please don't hesitate to contact me.

---------------------------------------------

NOTES ON QUALITY AND THE DELAY ISSUE:

By changing the buffering time in your Windows Media Player (Tools; Options; Performance) from the default 5 seconds to 1 second, the delay we experience may be reduced, however, to avoid dropouts, clients have usually kept the buffer at the default level.

To avoid confusion with the delay, at the end of a section or two of audio recorded, my clients sometimes have turned up the volume for a second to assure recording is working fine, then lower the volume again for the next couple of sections and so on ...

Except for an occasional check to see if we are streaming, it runs much like a regular phone patch session. 

----------------------------------------------

The Future RE: ISDN

We will continue to use ISDN of course (hey, it's the name of da website!) however, this new streaming method has been proving to be a stable alternative platform for transmitting broadcast quality audio for those without an ISDN Box, software, phone-line, etc.

COME SESSION TIME, WHAT IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS CONNECTING?

Worse comes to worse, if a connection won't initiate at all, we simply do it the "old fashioned" way -- after the phone-patched session, we  upload a WAV, MP3 or AIFF file or files to my server or to your FTP, from which you could then download the file(s).

HOW DO I CONTACT YOU TO RUN A FREE TEST OF THIS?

Pop me an Email and we'll set up a time for a test.  

AT WHAT QUALITY WILL THE TEST BE RUN? 

We would start encoding at 224 kbps.  If that doesn't work perfectly, I would simply encode at lower rates until we have a steady stream. So far the highest stream settings have usually worked well at 96K up to 224.

Ari ("Mariconi")  Ross

HOME Pictures Combo Demo  Ari's Bio  Shameless Plug  Video Demos  

 Links