Cleanfeed lets you contribute links from a remote location. This is our plan for allowing you to continue running programming from home during a lockdown without specialist equipment.
What you need
- Computer with Google Chrome browser. Other browsers are not supported.
Get Chrome from www.google.com/chrome if you haven't yet installed it - Headset (or headphones and microphone) plugged into your computer
- Decent internet connection. If you can use a wired connection, rather than Wifi, that would be best
Preparation
This will require some amount of preparation. In any event, we'd strongly recommend testing the technology with the engineering team before you need to use it for real. We aren't generally available during weekday daytimes but can probably make arrangements at all other times.
- As early as possible, and in any case more than 48 hours before broadcast, submit an engineering ticket requesting Cleanfeed for your programme. Ensure you include the transmission time in your ticket and names and email addresses for all contributors (both co-presenters and any guests). We'll also need a phone number in case anything goes wrong.
Assuming you are not currently logged into Freshdesk as an Engineer, you can use the New Support Ticket link above to create your ticket. - We'll get back to you confirming that we can assist, who your engineer will be, and their phone number in case of problems.
- Reply to the nominated engineer with your playlist, in the order you'll want to play it in your show. Your playlist should include details of any imaging required, any tracks to be used as beds, etc.
We have a copy of the studio music library. If you want to play something else, you'll need to send MP3 format copies of your music to the engineer via Dropbox, WeTransfer, or similar not less than 24 hours before broadcast. This is because we'll need time to 'ingest' your files and create the playlist. - About 15 minutes before transmission, you'll receive an email from the engineer with a link for your web-browser.
Important: This link is personal to you. If anyone else uses it after you have connected, they will kick you off the system. That's why all co-presenters and guests will need their own link. - Put on your headset, ensure you allow your web browser to use your microphone when prompted, and you'll be able to talk to the engineer.
If you use CDs, most CD playing software can 'rip' CDs to MP3 files. For Windows 10, you can use Windows Media Player by following these instructions.
If you aren't sure how to transfer files to engineering, one of the simplest methods is https://send.firefox.com/ - For a small amount of music, you won't even need to create an account. Drop your files onto the page and email us the link on the next page.
On-air use
At the start of the programme, you won't hear the news. We'll say something like ''Counting to on-air. Your mic live in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5' and then there'll be silence. That isn't a fault. This is because we need a few seconds to clear our link to you before putting your mic live. Keep counting in your head and start talking when you get to zero.
At the end of the link, make sure it's very clear when you want us to play the track. Don't introduce the track and then continue talking about it, because chances are we'll have already started it. We can't read your mind, so use phrases like 'But now here's Blondie, with Maria. <silence>'.
During your track, keep your headphones on. We'll be able to talk to you during the track to confirm the next track, any timings and the like. Again, at the end of the track you'll hear something like 'Going live in 10, 9, 8 ,7 ,6 ,5 <silence>'. Keep counting in your head and start talking on zero.
You are welcome to bring guests and co-presenters in on your show, as long as they keep their mics muted when they aren't in use. (We have an override if necessary, but we'll have enough to do in not ideal circumstances!). Again, tell us during a track who will be talking in the next link, so we know what to expect.
Email / texts
Emails, tweets and texts sent to the normal studio contact details will reach your engineer. We'll pass on messages during a track. We won't be able to access any other messaging systems you might use (eg. show-specific twitter handles), so ensure you use the studio details only.
Ending your show
We won't easily be able to giving you directions for timing the end of your show while you're talking and there's a delay to the studio, so the normal timings don't apply using this system. Plan to end your show with a track that fades out. We'll look after the ending during that track.