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Ira Wilner with son Matthew behind an RE20 at WKBK(AM). Wilner suggested the caption, “act your age. Don’t fuss with the mic.”

June is Microphone Month here at Radio World. This is one in a series of interviews with people who work in and around radio about the kinds of mics they love and why.

Ira Wilner is owner/engineer of Wilner Associates and the chief engineer of Monadnock Broadcasting Group and Saga Communications of New England.

Radio World: What are your choices for microphones?

Ira Wilner: The range of answers is very wide depending upon the situation. We engineers have very personal biases when it comes to studio mics. My favorite for on-the-street interviews was the EV 655C, a long omnidirectional stick mic made by Electro-Voice. It had a very large three-pin connector, precursor to the more diminutive XLR. It sounded really good when connected to a Nagra tape deck.

The Electro-Voice 635 is a small dynamic that works quite well in the field as a handheld mic mostly because it’s so rugged. Back in the last century EV warrantied it for life! They’d replace it even if you dropped it into a lake or down a waterfall and couldn’t retrieve it. Hammering nails with it was not too unusual.

Shure SM81

My personal “go to” mic for recording musical events indoors and outdoors has always been the Shure SM81 electret condenser mic. I’ve used them in all sorts of inclement weather where the talent was uncomfortably cold or hot, in rain in bright baking sun and the mics have always worked well.

For studio voice I’ve always liked the Neumann U 87, but it’s a difficult mic to use. I’ve also used the same mic for location concert recording. For noisy locations the EV-666 used to be a workhorse along with the RCA 77-DX ribbon mic made famous by “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

For most radio jock use, I prefer the EV RE20. Easy to talk into and fairly insensitive to room acoustics. I’ve found the lower-cost RE320 to be good for most of the voices at my Saga stations. The RE27ND with higher output and more mid high peaking sounds a bit closer to a condenser mic.

Likely the best dynamic studio mic is a moderately priced Neumann BCM 705. Moderate only by Neumann standards. Some folks prefer the Sennheiser MD-421 for its fairly bright response. I find it a bit grating. But then I’m spoiled by pricy German condenser mics.

Then for sports and other events there are a bunch of headworn boom mics to choose from!

RW: What advice would you want to impart to someone learning how to shop for mics?

Wilner: First and foremost, don’t assume you can fix bad room acoustics and poor mic choice with mic processor equalization. That’s a Band-Aid approach.

Second, expensive condenser mics are typically poor choices for radio studio announce mics, even though they have the best sonic quality.

Third, consider different mics for different voices, male versus female.

Fourth, microphone sound and ease of use can be quite subjective. If possible demo the mic in the actual space it’ll be used.

Fifth, pay attention to the mic mounting structure. Not only can it conduct undesirable noise from the furniture, it can somewhat alter the mic sound itself. Use a good shockmount. And secure it with a boom arm or stand that has well-damped hardware.

Sixth, use audio cable designed for microphone signals, which are very low energy. Excessive capacitance will roll off the highs. Wire designed for permanent in-wall installation, where it’ll never be wiggled, will likely be microphonic! True mic cable is more flexible; does not use foil shield, which is likely to fracture; and is not microphonic, won’t generate an electrical signal when touched or wiggled.

Finally, a mic is only as good as the electronics it’s attached to. You can really screw up the sound if the pre-amp is mediocre and the gain structure from mic to final processor in the air chain is improperly set.

Read more of our recent coverage of microphones.

 

The post My Favorite Mics: Ira Wilner appeared first on Radio World.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by WGEM License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WGEM-TV (NBC), channel 10, Quincy, Illinois. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy in the DTV Table of Allotments.

Grand Junction Media, Inc. enters into consent decree to resolve political file investigation

Petition to Deny Date: June 25, 2021, Opposition Date: July 12, 2021

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Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of 1,500 to Suncoast Broadcasting of Lafayette County for failure to timely file a license renewal application for Station WXCK-LP, Chiefland, FL

Issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $3,000 to Henry B. Holmes, Jr. for failure to timely file a license renewal application for Stations W14DQ-D and W36EC-D

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The Federal Communications Commission may be getting closer to opening an application window for new low-power FM stations.

Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel previewed the commission’s June meeting and said certain LPFM matters will be on the agenda.

“Last year, the commission modified the low-power FM engineering rules to improve LPFM reception and options for station relocation while maintaining core LPFM goals of simplicity, diversity and localism,” she wrote.

“This June, we will address two petitions seeking reconsideration of those rule changes, which will provide clarity and finality to these rules, bringing us one step closer to opening an application window for new LPFM stations.”

Rosenworcel also said the agenda will include a vote on several rule changes we’ve been telling you about in recent months.

These would expand FEMA’s ability to send Wireless Emergency Alerts during national emergencies, improve emergency communications organization at the state level, and enable new reporting for false alerts.

And she said the FCC will vote on rules to expand opportunities to “import, market and conditionally sell radiofrequency equipment, including mobile devices, prior to the equipment completing the equipment authorization process.”

She said this change would allow manufacturers to assess consumer interest for products and take advantage of new mechanisms for marketing devices like crowdfunding, “while still ensuring that the important goals of the equipment authorization system and security are not undermined.”

The post FCC June Agenda Includes LPFM, Alerting appeared first on Radio World.

As part of the rollout, social media personality Bella Poarch promoted her “TikTok Tastemakers Playlist.” She is among the platform’s top content creators, with 70 million followers.

Fred Jacobs says radio managers need to pay attention to TikTok Radio.

The longtime consultant and president of Jacobs Media Strategies dedicated a blog post to the topic Wednesday.

He writes that TikTok Radio “has the ability to impact every music radio station in the country – whether you play Country, Top 40, Classic Rock, or Hip-Hop.”

The music channel is a collaboration of TikTok, SiriusXM and Pandora that will launch this summer. It was announced Monday.

The companies say “the channel will feel like a radio version of the platform’s ‘For You’ page” and feature “a diverse group of TikTok creators showcasing trending music and stories behind the songs throughout each day, as well as a weekly music countdown dedicated to TikTok’s top trending tracks.”

Jacobs writes that when SiriusXM debuts a feature or product, “it should be on our radar screens. But sadly, most radio execs give SXM precious little thought.”

He thinks the launch is important because of its music discovery aspects, its emphasis on teen consumers and the fact that once again, SiriusXM is embracing the word “radio” even as so many broadcast companies seem to be running away from it.

Read his blog.

The post TikTok Radio Draws Some Attention appeared first on Radio World.

The audio media company led by President/CEO Mary Berner on Wednesday (5/26) initiated actions designed to pay down $175 million of debt.

And, it is doing so by using cash on hand.

First, on May 17, Cumulus completed a $60 million repayment of its ABL Revolver due 2025, which represented the entirety of the amount outstanding under the facility.

Following the paydown, the ABL Revolver due 2025 is undrawn and available as liquidity for general corporate purposes.

Importantly, Cumulus was required by the terms of its debt agreements to make mandatory debt prepayments from the proceeds of its 2020 land sale in Bethesda, Md., once home to the broadcast towers of the old WMAL-AM 630, now an ESPN Radio affiliate under different call letters.

Then, on Tuesday (5/25), Cumulus moved forward with paying down approximately $89 million of its Term Loan Credit Facility due 2026 related to what Cumulus is calling a mandatory prepayment obligation.

Approximately $65 million of the prepayment is related to the Land Sale, and approximately $23 million of the prepayment is related to the Tower Sale.

Additionally, pursuant to the terms of its 6.75% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2026, Cumulus launched a tender offer for the Notes at par for approximately $26 million, which represents the pro rata amount required to be offered from the proceeds of the tower sale.

Following the expiration of the tender offer, any amounts that remain untendered will be directed toward an additional prepayment of the Term Loan.

In a statement, Berner noted that the continuing improvement in economic and public health conditions has created a backdrop where Cumulus can accelerate debt repayments, which will more rapidly de-lever the balance sheet and reduce interest expense, further increasing Cumulus’ cash flow.

She added that since Cumulus’ 2018 emergence from voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, the company has reduced its net debt by nearly $600 million.

“Looking ahead, our better leverage profile and more than $200 million of available liquidity will provide us meaningful financial flexibility as we continue along our strong rebound trajectory,” Berner said.

The author is project director of RadioDNS.

Radio World recently (24th May 2021) published a commentary titled “Is the Car Dashboard Radio’s Next Battlefield?” by Ruxandra Obreja, chair of Digital Radio Mondiale.

I was really pleased to read her comments on how hybrid radio can improve the experience of listening to broadcast radio. She mentioned some concerns, and I thought it would be useful to explain how we’ve addressed those.

RadioDNS is a standards organization, so we can’t force anyone to do anything. Stations can choose themselves the extent to which they publish metadata and content using our standards. We certainly don’t (and can’t) require stations to support switching to streaming, nor publishing their metadata completely openly.

Recent updates to our SPI standard include the capability for stations to “geo-fence” use of their streams, and for stations to provide their metadata only to trusted third parties.

RadioDNS fully and emphatically supports broadcast radio of all technologies. As well as working with FM, HD Radio and DAB+, our standards have worked with DRM since their inception. I’m pleased to say that there are broadcasters who are using our standards to enhance their DRM transmissions.

The best standards are constructed collaboratively. Many of the leading organizations who collaborated to create DRM are also collaborating at RadioDNS to design the best standards for hybrid radio.

Comment on this or any article. Email radioworld@futurenet.com.

The post Letter: RadioDNS Supports Collaboration appeared first on Radio World.

Radio and Television license applications are due Tuesday (6/1) for stations located in several states.

What are the other highly important deadlines you should take note of between now and the end of August? Fletcher Heald & Hildreth put together a handy checklist that’s worth sharing with your leadership team.

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When it comes to broadcast media companies, political advertising revenue is a huge boost to the bottom line.

That said, the FCC has a bottom line when it comes to the purchase of radio broadcast time made by a legally qualified candidate for office, or by a Political Action Committee.

Section 315(e)(3) of the Commission’s Rules says that a radio station must maintain a file, publicly accessible upon request, and upload any and all information about these requests to view a political file, “as soon as possible.”

The Commission considers this act critical. But, a Colorado radio station owner didn’t abide by these rules. To settle the matter, a Consent Decree has been reached between the licensee and the FCC.

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A pair of low-powered digital television stations in the Sunshine State — one due east of Panama City and the other to the northwest of this one-time Spring Break capital — have each been warned by the FCC that they could face a financial penalty for failing to file their license renewal applications in a timely manner.

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Greg Alexander has been promoted to the position of market president of iHeartMedia Minneapolis.

The cluster includes KDWB(FM), KEEY(FM), KFXN(AM/FM), KTCZ(FM), KTLK(AM) and KQQL(FM).

Alexander succeeds Jeff Tyler, who now leads the Madison and Milwaukee markets for iHeartMedia.

[Visit Radio World’s People News Page]

He will report to Division President Scott Hopeck.

Though his degree was in broadcast journalism, his work experience is in sales. He started with Interep National Radio Sales, then took a leadership role with Spanish Broadcasting System in Miami/Fort Lauderdale. He became director of national sales and later general sales manager for iHeartMedia Miami.

Then he moved to Minneapolis in 2012 as SVP of sales for iHeartMedia in that market, and in 2016 his role expanded to oversee advertising for the Western Great Lakes Region .

Send items for People News, particularly engineering and executive management, to radioworld@futurenet.com.

 

The post Alexander Will Lead iHeartMedia Minneapolis appeared first on Radio World.

Nexstar Media Group has selected a woman who is now charged with leading the company’s efforts to expand diversity in hiring, promotion, and retention.

It’s an individual who presently serves as VP of Human Resources at the nation’s No. 1 owner of broadcast TV stations.

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