Radio Station Programming for SH4

[Front Runner]

This thread is meant to be a discussion of radio station programming methods and ideas to create an atmosphere of "being there and tuning in."

First off, I want to thank all of the great modders who have developed the Radio Station Mods that we all enjoy. I want to use them as a jumping off point to see if we can take the radio to the next level.

Some ideas I have are having stations fading in and out and coming in on top of each other (ocassionally,) and perhaps some stations intentionally jamming others from time to time.
I'd also like to discuss refining daily programming so that there is a variety of generic newscasts (not date specific historically speaking,) so when there is no "breaking news," there can be some generic news and music programming to tune into that has a daily schedule.

I know that there are some bugs concerning radio station availability crossing the date line so we will have to work around that a bit.

With that I open the discussion.

[Mush Martin]

I have never yet set up my radio yet. I always end up just
using the Grammy.

but heres a resource.

http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice idea, the radio adds much to the games atmosphere, anything to enhance this would only further enhance the experience. I have about 6 stations currently in my set-up.


RDP

[Front Runner]

Originally Posted by Mush Martin

I have never yet set up my radio yet. I always end up just
using the Grammy.

but heres a resource.

http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/

Wow! Thanks! and free too!
I can see it all now....gonna need a REALLY BIG hard drive.

I think though that I could develop, say, twenty shows based on a shuffle and string them together as a single 1/2 hour or 1 hour program that has a regular daily schedule so that every day you could tune it at a particular "time" (base time is elusive, isn't it?) What I am thinking here is when it is 1900 EST it is early tomorrow morning in the South Pacific so what time does one "tune in." The closest I can figure (still experimenting) is that the time that an event plays is tied to "base time." So if "base time" is 1900, you will hear the event regardless of what local time or EST is.

So....

[ReallyDedPoet]

Check out this post with regards setting up Radio Stations, it is well done:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...30&postcount=1

As well, Digital Trucker's Radio Station Manager is worth checking out, see his sig. for the link to get it.


RDP

[Mush Martin]

Be forewarned audifiles are large files and they can be problematic
at upload.
M

[Front Runner]

Originally Posted by reallydedpoet

Check out this post with regards setting up Radio Stations, it is well done:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...30&postcount=1

As well, Digital Trucker's Radio Station Manager is worth checking out, see his sig. for the link to get it.


RDP

Thanks, I had seen that one before back when SH4 was released. Very good approach.
DT's Radio Station Manager is great, Thanks Digital Trucker.

I'm just at the playing around stage.

What I am thinking now is to produce some generic one to two hour long programs that can work as a random track outside the events folder. By having enough of them interspersed with music tracks, it can simulate an actual broadcast day. By remaining as generic as possible, they won't get repetitive, because, generally, none of us skippers are listening to the radio ALL THE TIME. The effect I am after is one that will provide the appearance of tuning into a radio station in the middle of it's broadcast day, with news, sports, commercials, Public Service Announcements, Bond Drives, etc. without having them scheduled through the events. I want to reserve the events folder for breaking news at a specific hour and day. Big stories would get a higher rotation of breaking news events (using the same news files.)
Right now, it is pretty much a music rotation between events. I am proposing combining bits and pieces of drama, comedy, sports, news, and commercials together as one long section (1 to 2 hours), which will play (randomly) between the music tracks.
I want to see just how far I can take this and simulate a WWII radio broadcast day without using up all the hard drive space I own.

BTW, I was a Radio Programmer in Real Life wearing the hats of Chief Engineer, Traffic Manager and Classical Music Program Director as well as Late Night Rock and Roll DJ at times during my over 20 year career in radio. I am now semi-retired, although I still consult for the Broadcast Industry and teach Sailing for my retirement career.

[Front Runner]

I am finding lots of FREE and some resources that are fee based that provide a great deal of programming material for the WWII era.
I am working on my project but who knows how long it will take to have anything releasable.
The main problem is keeping the files small enough so that they will be downloaded and applied when the project is complete.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by Front Runner

The main problem is keeping the files small enough so that they will be downloaded and applied when the project is complete.

Maybe spilt them up into smaller chunks Anyways, looking forward to your mod when it is completed. The radio is a nice feature in SH4.


RDP