This Week In Radio Tech (TWiRT)

guysfromqueens
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
This Week In Radio Tech (TWiRT)

“TWiRT” is your go to show if you want to get behind the scenes on what makes broadcasting possible. The show addresses common issues as well as explaining past experiences from a wide array of hosts who each come from a different background in radio technology. This show is a must for any tech geek or for anyone who is interested in what goes on behind the boards and wires.

Episodes

  1. JAN 23

    TWiRT 732 - Broadcasters Need Today's Technology with Shaun Dolan and Rob Bertrand

    Today we're diving into a critical topic: the evolution from solo engineering efforts to collaborative support models in broadcasting. Just as a one-person band can only play so many instruments at once, a single engineer can't tackle every technical challenge alone. By banding together and working in groups outside traditional broadcast companies, we can support one another, foster career growth, and achieve a healthier work-life balance. Our guests Rob Bertrand and Shaun Dolan aim to do just that at Inrush Broadcast Services,, a 14-person broadcast technology service provider Show notes: * Inrush Broadcast Services is a consulting engineering firm serving the radio industry and adjacent media fields. * Shaun mentioned PagerDuty, a web platform designed to coordinate working teams and their efficient response to customers’ needs. * Shaun likes CoScreen, a multi-user screen sharing platform that makes collaboration truly efficient. * Rob is delighted with the Scout Pro 3 Ethernet cable tester and identifier from Klein Tools. Kirk loves it, too. Guests Shaun Dolan - Partner at Inrush Broadcast ServicesRob Bertrand - Partner at Inrush Broadcast Services Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir,

    1h 23m

  2. JAN 17

    TWiRT Ep. 731 - Radio Network Engineering with Mitch Glider

    What kind of “radio station” is on-the-air only twice per hour? How about CBS Radio News? With the precision of a watchmaker, the CBS Radio News network delivers news updates to hundreds of radio stations and millions of listeners. Mitch Glider is the Supervising Engineer at their headquarters on West 57th Street in New York City. Through the challenges of at-home news anchors (through the pandemic) and changes in technology, Mitch and just a few colleagues keep the audio and metadata correctly routed. In this episode, we’re learning about past, present, and future network radio operations. Mitch encourages engineers to “Respect the past, and embrace the future.” Show notes: * CBS News Radio (web site) * Here’s where to find CBS Radio News * Skyview Networks Technology page Guest Mitch Glider - Supervising Engineer at CBS News Radio Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-qual...

    1h 11m

  3. JAN 10

    TWiRT Ep. 730 - Back to Basics - STLs and Studios with Chris Tarr

    If you’re building a new radio studio, or rebuilding one, Chris Tarr is here to help. This is your opportunity to get The Ninjaneer’s expert advice without laying out thousands of dollars in consulting fees. In this episode, we’re looking at various technologies to link your radio studio with your transmitter site. There are more choices now than ever! And we’re looking at today’s radio studios; how are they different from those of the past? We think studios can be a lot simpler than they used to be, mostly thanks to Audio over IP technology. Show notes: * Broadcasters Have More STL Options Than Ever - a Radio World article by Kirk Harnack * Understanding Studio to Transmitter Links (STLs) in Radio Broadcasting - video by Marcos O’Rourke * Studio Transmitter Link - Wikipedia article * Check out these classy and modern radio studios from Wale Ewedemi on Pinterest * Setting Up a Professional Radio Studio: What You Need to Know - video from Radio.co Guest Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum Media, Inc. Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new a href="https://angryaudio.

    1h 14m

  4. JAN 3

    TWiRT Ep. 729 - Back to Basics - Your New FM Station with Chris Tarr

    If you’re building a new FM radio station, or rebuilding one, Chris Tarr is here to help. This is your opportunity to get The Ninjaneer’s expert advice without laying out thousands of dollars in consulting fees. This episode focuses on what to do when you get your FCC Construction Permit. Chris gives hard-earned advice on towers, antennas, transmission line, transmitter selection, and more. Show notes: * Selecting an FM Antenna - RadioWorld article by Jeremy Ruck * Useful FM antenna tools from ERI (Bookmark this link!) * “FM Antennas from Theory to Practice” - TWiRT episode with Bill Harland of ERI * “Antennas for FM Broadcasting” - article by Peter Onnigian, PE, of Jampro Antenna Co. * Finding Suitable Transmission Line - RadioWorld article by Cris Alexander, DoE at Crawford Broadcasting Guest Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum Media, Inc. Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.

    1h 12m

  5. 12/26/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 728 - Engineering Support for Radio Programming with John Shomby

    What’s ahead in 2025 for radio programming? For radio talent? For radio programming executives? Where does Artificial Intelligence fit in? What audience is key to attract to radio and how can radio programmers make headway on that? How will new “PPM Wearables” affect station ratings? And how important are streaming and on-demand programs to radio’s future success? We got answers and opinions on all these questions from John Shomby at Country’s Radio Coach. John’s been a consultant, programmer, and coach focusing on Talk Radio and Country Radio formats, and he’s our guest this week filling us in on the key topics and strategies for radio’s future success. Show notes: * John Shomby - Country’s Radio Coach web site * Here’s How Nielsen Plans To Roll Out New PPM Wearables from Inside Radio * Meet Nielsen’s New PPM “Wearables” from Radio World * We discussed AI’s role in creating better radio; John mentioned Super Hi-Fi as a key player. * How Anyone Can Be Successful With Podcasting--Even Radio Broadcasters Guest John Shomby - President & CEO at Country’sRadioCoach.com Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at a href="http://bionic.

    1h 11m

  6. 12/20/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 727 - Windows 11, RDS/PAD, and 11 GHz for 2025 with Jeff McGinley

    Jeff McGinley is the kind of engineer who pays attention to the important things. He’s focused on the technologies that bring value to the on-air talent and to the listeners, all the while satisfying the shareholders drive for return on investment. Jeff’s advice is based on real-world experience, so you know there’s value there, too. On this episode we’re discussing the end of official support for Windows 10, and moving to Windows 11. Plus, Jeff and Chris both relate the importance of good metadata for listeners via RDS and PAD (for HD Radio). And we discuss the significant benefits of 11 GHz IP Radio links. Show notes * End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 * There are several ways to upgrade to Windows 11. Guest Jeff McGinley - VP of Engineering at SummitMedia Hosts Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

    1h 6m

  7. 12/13/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 726 - Moving Eight Radio Stations on Maui with Russell Laferty

    Akamai Broadcasting bought six radio stations (2 AM & 4 FM) plus a number of translators on Maui. Russell Laferty has been building new facilities, and your TWiRT host, Kirk Harnack, is helping with the final wiring and configurations. In addition to a new rack room and (so far) one studio, Russell is moving several studio-transmitter link (STL) systems and installing new ones. One highlight of the work has been improvements to two tower sites on Mt. Haleakala. We visit the upper site at close to 10,000 feet above sea level where Russell gives us a video tour of the building. Plus, learn how a defective Ethernet switch earned Kirk a trip to this transmitter site above the clouds. Show notes: Mt. Haleakala Observatory: Science CityAxia StudioCore is a new I/O and Mix Engine from Telos AllianceWe’ve installed some of the first Axia xNode2 units in our rack room.The Axia xSelector is key to monitoring our multiple stations.The Axia StudioEdge handles plenty of analog and AES/EBU connections to our AoIP network.Omnia MPX Nodes are getting perfect FM MPX signals to our FM transmitters and translators. Guest Russell Laferty - Broadcast Contract Engineer Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio sma...

    1h 11m

  8. 12/06/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 725 - Babelfish Logic Integration with Alex Hartman and Jim Gray

    Necessity truly is the mother of invention. So, when Jim Gray and Alex Hartman needed to gain remote control of some late-model CD players, they developed “Babelfish.” The Babelfish Ecosystem is a solution for logic integration amongst systems that typically are unable to communicate with each other. Whether it's a 40 year old on-air light system that only speaks in relays or a new IP based system that only communicates virtually, the Babelfish Ecosystem allows unlike systems to communicate as one. Babelfish, speak any language for GPIO control. Alex and Jim join us to explain the necessity, the solution, and the tech behind these useful tools. Guests Alex Hartman - Partner at Optimized Media GroupJim Gray - Managing Partner at Optimized Media Group Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook Follow Kirk on X - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on X - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

    1h 8m

  9. 11/28/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 724 - Hall of Fame Engineers! with Mark & Paula Persons

    Engineers are usually the unsung heroes of Broadcasting. But Mark and Paula Persons have set a high bar for professionalism in our industry. They were both inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame and join us to talk about it. Did you know that Mark never wore blue jeans to work - not even at transmitter sites? And Paula’s keen accounting and PR skills made the most of Mark’s efforts both in the field and in the repair shop. We engineers can all learn from the Persons’ professionalism and teamwork. Show notes: The story of Mark & Paula’s induction into the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame“Where Have All the Broadcasters Gone?” - a book by Mark’s father, Charles B. PersonsAudio on MWPersons.com and on a YouTube playlist.Paula mentioned using D2 Biological Solution for restoring old headstones as part of her volunteer work with the Daughters of the American Revolution.Mark mentioned he’s written about 200 articles in Radio World magazine.Mark and Paula will visit the island municipality of Bonaire soon. While Paula goes SCUBA diving, Mark will visit PJB3, a powerful AM station on 800 kHz. Guests Mark & Paula Persons - Retired Broadcast Engineering Team, Now Busier Than Ever Hosts Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test DriveBroadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio ...

    1h 13m

  10. 11/22/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 723 - Hurricane, Flooding, and Disaster Recovery with Christian Vang and Dave Anderson

    In late September, 2024, hurricane Helene hit parts of Florida and caused wind damage and severe flooding in Georgia, South Carolina, and especially Western North Carolina. Hurricane Milton hit Florida in October, 2025, causing even more damage there. In both storms, electricity was knocked out, cell phone service disrupted, and Internet was down for many. In these disasters, local and regional radio largely remained on-the-air, alerting listeners to the storms’ arrivals and keeping them updated with news of emergency services, relief sites, and a lot more. Christian Vang and Dave Anderson are broadcast engineers in Northern Georgia and Tampa, Florida, respectively. Both are seasoned in planning for disasters and working those plans while being flexible in emergency response, all the while keeping studios and transmitters operational. Chris Tarr joins us as well with some additional notes on emergency preparedness for broadcast engineers. Show notes: We ran out of time, but Christian asked that we share with you this drone video from the Asheville, NC, City Government Guests Christian Vang - Broadcast Engineer/IT SpecialistDave Anderson - Chief Broadcast Engineer at WUSF Public Media Hosts Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test DriveBroadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

    1h 12m

  11. 11/15/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 722 - Heartland Engineering with Aaron Cox

    Most broadcast engineers love a good project - especially when planning and resources overlap to enable a worthy outcome. But even solid “enablement” requires an engaged and knowledgeable engineer to guide the project’s moving parts, seeing the project through, and making sure the outcome fits the goal. That’s where Aaron Cox comes in. Aaron appreciates a good project - even a complex one - and he’s our guest, describing several compelling broadcast projects. From a couple of tower projects to new studios and upgrading an AM directional array, Aaron brings a “can-do” spirit to each job. Chris Tarr co-hosts this episode, adding his parallel expertise. Guest Aaron Cox - Regional Engineer at Relevant Radio and Owner at Omni-Phonix Engineering LLC Host Chris Tarr - Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.MediaKirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test DriveBroadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

    1h 12m

  12. 11/08/2024

    TWiRT Ep. 721 - Exacting Design Makes the Best Audio with Mike Dosch and Josh Bohn

    Mike Dosch has served as the CEO of Telos-Omnia-Axia, and is the Founder of Angry Audio. But his passion is audio circuit design and manufacturing. Mike joins us to talk about solving some vexing audio problems, and getting the best performance from analog audio interfaces. Isolating audio circuits from the noisy data circuits that connect them was a challenge - one that is solved in the USB Audio Gizmo from Angry Audio. Mike also discusses Common Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) and how this figure of merit is important in real audio facilities. Josh Bohn joins us to announce a new wireless data connection path for remote sites. And we meet Mike Hutchens, the new Director of Technical Services at MK Technical Services. Show notes: * Mike described a “gotcha” when muting a condenser mic. His Mic Drop Gizmo solves that, and here’s the manual & schematic diagram. * Mike described how the USB Audio Gizmo’s design eliminates audio whine and dirty power & ground from computers’ USB connections. Here’s the schematic diagram. * Josh Bohn announced a new satellite data connection service from MaxxKonnect Wireless, using 4G LTE as a backup data path. Guests Mike Dosch - Founder at Angry Audio & Product Leader at Triple HelixJosh Bohn - President/CEO at MaxxKonnectMike Hutchens - Director of Technical Services at MK Technical Services Host Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow Kirk on Twitter - @kharnackFollow TWiRT on Twitter - @TWiRTshow and Facebook Sponsored by Nautel and the HD Digital Radio Test DriveBroadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Angry Audio and the new a href="https://angryaudio.

    1h 14m
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

“TWiRT” is your go to show if you want to get behind the scenes on what makes broadcasting possible. The show addresses common issues as well as explaining past experiences from a wide array of hosts who each come from a different background in radio technology. This show is a must for any tech geek or for anyone who is interested in what goes on behind the boards and wires.

Information

More From GFQ Network

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada