krj
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response 38 of 39:
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Jun 29 19:56 UTC 2009 |
It's another overhaul for the BBC Radio system. The national channels
(generally the ones with numbers; I care about Radio 2 (weekly folk
show) and Radio 3 (classical/world music) the most) have been
switched over to use Flash streaming for computers that have Flash
installed.
I have a non-flash machine at home, and it still pulls up the
national channels on Real Audio.
I'm not sure how I feel about the sound quality change. Flash seems
to have a wider frequency range, but my first impression is that the
sound is less stable in the time domain -- kind of a bit warbly.
Which is NOT something one expects from digital sound.
Radio Scotland and Radio Derby, the other key parts of my listening,
remain on Real Audio.
UK listeners get MP3 streams which I hear are gorgeous, but those
are restricted to those who are UK residents who are likely to have
paid the license fee.
Frankly I'm inclined just to throw over the whole mess for a while
and take a BBC vacation.
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krj
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response 39 of 39:
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Apr 5 14:48 UTC 2010 |
Since 2002, a stable group of 6 BBC DJs have dominated my listening to
folk & world music radio programmes. In a short three weeks, half
that group is off the air, and I'm somewhat in shock. After eight
years, these voices had woven themselves pretty thoroughly into my life.
-- Charlie Gillett died on March 17. Charlie was one of the key
broadcasters in the evolution of the "world music" marketing
pigeonhole. He'd been sick for some time; he was disabled out of his
full-time weekly show in 2006(?), and about 18 months later he
returned on a part-time basis, doing two shows every six weeks for
Radio 3's "World on 3." He left that show due to health
problems in January 2010, and the
last we heard was that he was scheduled for heart bypass surgery, and
a few weeks later came the announcement of his death, age 68. Tons
of tributes from listeners and music professionals on his website
forum at http://www.charliegillett.com
-- Verity Sharp, one of the two rotating hosts of Radio 3's "Late
Junction" since the show's beginning, has left. No further
information about her departure has been available. "Late Junction"
was one of my favorite radio shows ever, a mix of world, classical,
folk and jazz. Verity has been an enthusiastic advocate for British
folk music.
-- Archie Fisher has left "Travelling Folk" on BBC Radio Scotland.
Archie had hosted the show since 1983, and he turns 70 this year. I
have conflicting reports, none authoritative, about whether he retired
voluntarily or was pushed out. I suppose I could ask him when he
plays a concert in East Lansing later this month. So far the signs
are that Radio Scotland intends to keep the Thursday night slot for
folk music.
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