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Why do you call your show "Low End Radio"?
The goal of the show is to demonstrate what is possible "on a shoestring budget". When I started broadcasting, I had no money invested into any studio equipment at all, apart from the cost of the music and some of the cabling. Over time, I have poured a bit more money into it by replacing troublesome pieces of equipment, adding new pieces and overall enhancing the studio. It's still far less than a "professional" setup would cost, however, and works just as well, especially for what I want to do.
What got you into doing a show?
Watching other broadcasters have fun. Most of my inspiration actually comes from watching both The Weasel Show on Thursdays and also Don't Watch This, but other broadcasters certainly kept the idea brewing. It's hard to point it all on just one person. Most of what has kept me going, however, is that it is a fun activity that has support. I wouldn't keep doing shows if it wasn't for the support of the wonderful folks who show up and make it a good time.
Can I be on the show?
Sorry, no. I do have a "party line" of sorts but it's only used for taking requests and for calls with people I know.
Do you take requests?
Usually, but not always. There are certain shows where I do not take requests (you'll know about it then), and I generally stop taking requests 30 minutes or so before a show ends. Leave your request anyways, the worst I will do is say I can't play it now and make note of it for a future show.
If you wish to leave a request, you can do so through the LER MRS, the SDP forum, or through the live show chat. Links are available here. It's preferred that requests are left using the MRS or the forum, as I don't have to rely on memory and people can see what's already been requested.
What if you don't have my request in your library?
Then you won't hear it, unfortunately. I usually take note of what it is and make an attempt to play it later on, but sometimes this doesn't happen.
The song I want to hear is on YouTube at <link here>!
I have no capabilities to pipe a YouTube video through my audio chain (although all computers are connected to a working internet connection, they are resource-challenged), and because of the wildly fluctuating quality of YouTube uploads, I refuse to play them. I do care about the sound quality of my broadcast.
I want to hear my request NOW!
Don't ask. Begging, pleading and/or crying for a satisfactory result won't get you one any faster, and in reality will likely push your request further down the list, so don't.
Do you archive shows?
Yes.
Can I record your show?
I would much prefer no one archives my shows themselves, in whole or in part. The reason (good or not) is that I'm human. I've made big mistakes live on the air, I've said intemperate things into the microphone about people or things that may be offensive (knowingly or otherwise), and I'm not a "public person" believe it or not. I find it very hard to talk in front of an audience, small or not, in-person or not, something that comes through on the show in a big way at times.
However, I cannot and will not stop people from recording part or all of my show. Just please respect my wishes and keep the archives to yourself, except where told otherwise.
How about re-broadcasting?
Ask first. Partial reuse is probably fine. Rebroadcasting an entire show probably isn't.
Do you have any on-air experience?
No. I have never been on public radio or "the airwaves", except for the few times where someone has put me on their own broadcast transmitter.
Why do you have so much equipment when you could do all of it in software?
Each device in the studio has exactly one (maybe two or three) purposes, which greatly reduces the risk of failure. Plus, if something does fail, it isn't a bother to continue on or fix. Plus it's hard to argue with the ability to beat the snot out of a malfunctioning piece of hardware, something you can't do with software.
That stuff is crap. Throw it out the window and buy some new crap that is much better and more efficient.
I've been told this several times in the past. Let's count the problems I have with this statement (which, if you're keeping score, isn't actually a question):
- That will cost a great deal of money, something I am against doing.
- The point isn't to have shiny new equipment to play with, the point is to do things on a tight budget.
- This equipment works.
- This equipment is paid for.
- I'm happy with the setup as it is, and so too are many others.
- Most importantly, it's not your studio. It's mine!
If you find it to be such a bother, then you'd be better off finding something else to watch.
Your show sucks and I can do better!
This isn't a question either, but if you really can do better, feel free to prove it!
Will you do an HD broadcast?
No.
Why not?
Bandwidth concerns, none of the equipment I use is remotely close to high definition anyway, and what's the point when most people can't (or don't) watch in HD anyways? I never watch anything in HD myself!
Where do you broadcast?
Generally I can be found on the iVlog streaming site. Deviations from this are mentioned in show announcements.
<insert site name here> sucks, why don't you broadcast on <insert other site name here>?
I hold accounts on multiple sites in the event that one is (or starts) having technical difficulties, but in general, I want to be predictable so as to maximize the number of viewers I get (and minimize the numbers of those who are angry it took them so long to find me!)
If you are having trouble by all means let me know, but my decision to stream on a certain site is final and not up for debate.I don't care what you think of it. If the site simply doesn't work, then I'll change, but otherwise it isn't happening because one person can't get along with the fact that it's my choice and my choice alone.
Furthermore, I don't care what sucks about the site. Every site sucks, in different ways, another matter that is fact and isn't up for debate. I've chosen where I want to be, and I am sticking with it because change for the sake of change isn't healthy. If change is necessary, change will happen, until then it won't. So, there's that.
What software do you broadcast with?
Whatever the latest release of Open Broadcasting Software is around when you're reading this.
What about for playing music?
RadioDJ.
Where did you get all your music?
The majority of it came from physical recorded media, in the form of cassette tapes and CDs. Everything else was received on various computer hard drives or was sent to me.
I try to make sure everything I get is legally acquired. I do not encourage the illegal downloading of music, because this is, well, illegal. You aren't doing the record labels a disservice by stealing, ultimately you are only affecting the songwriters. Some of what I have comes from sources like Napster, I am slowly replacing these with CDs and such.
Where can I get my own equipment?
Do what I did: search eBay, second-hand shops like thrift stores, scour the curb, ask friends and family, look around the house.
Can you send me something?
No. Likewise, don't ask if you can send me something. I value my privacy.
Do you have chatroom rules?
Since society as a whole cannot be trusted to maintain a civil and respectful environment even in the face of a disagreement, yes. The rules can be found here.
I am well aware that rules are a nuisance. Unfortunately, there are folks running around who think it is their right to treat the chatroom on various shows as a free-for-all, or who for one reason or another think it is right to berate a caster and/or members in the caster's chatroom for something or another. Neither of these two things are something I allow, and so rules are in place to help deal with this, and to provide a baseline as to what is expected in the chatroom.
I'd prefer to steer clear of the politics surrounding the implementation of rules, as they just serve to kill the fun of doing a show. If you have a question about the rules, contact me.
If you don't like the rules, or disagree with my having rules, that is fine. I'd prefer you don't make it a point to disrupt a broadcast or an ongoing chat with that point. If you don't like the fact that I have rules, then you'd be best advised finding somewhere else to be or not participating in the chat. Complaining about the presence of rules will result in your taking a very long vacation from chatroom participation. In other words, I have a zero-tolerance policy for people complaining about rules non-constructively. Don't test this policy.
Do you allow guests to chat at your show?
No, guests are not allowed to chat at any show that I do. I do not feel like having to constantly kick problematic users in order to retain those users whom are there to actually have a good time.
Do you run no-guest shows?
I try to keep my show open to all viewers. However if I have a reason to suspect allowing anyone to watch is going to be a problem then I will make the show more private than "public".
If you have any other questions that you think *should* be on this list, feel free to contact me and ask.
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