Broadcasting (Oct 1931-Dec 1932)

Film Records Solve Audition Expense Unique WGY Equipment Used to Sell Prospects Talent, Supply Program Background, Make Sound History THE TIME, money and trouble involved in selling radio talent to a commercial prospect often are considerable, as any broadcaster can testify, and so a scheme for simplifying this process should be welcomed. WGY has solved this problem by recording the best work of available talent; thus no studio, musicians or talent is necessary when a client is selecting a program, at least not until the choice is narrowed. The WGY recording equipment is also useful in many other station activities, such as supplementing studio programs, enabling talent to correct defects and recording, for history, important events or speeches. By KOLIN HAGER Manager of WGY, Schenectady talent to a commercial prospect, K "^"WsB sentative or to of'^15j|f JH ncials °f the client organization is k| often beset with K less the client has very definite Mr. Hager views on his program requirements, many hours may be spent on auditions until the prospect is convinced that he has the best possible unit to carry his advertising message. After a client has set a time convenient for him, the program department must schedule studio space for rehearsals and for the performance. In most cases today studio space is at a premium. Then the further problem of freeing the talent from other engagements presents itself. Musicians must be paid, and the selling expense may run high. Library of Talent AT WGY we think we have solved this problem by recording .the best work of all our available talent. We have a sound library in which is filed, and properly indexed, film records of orchestras — in popular, classical and semi-classical programs, vocalists in groups and solo, instrumental soloists, dramatic sketches, the voices of performers available for parts in dramatic sketches, voices of continuity readers, men and women, and the voices of all announcers. The client is able to hear these records at his convenience, and from them he can make his selections. After narrowing the choice a second audition is offered, this time presenting live entertainers in a complete program. This plan has proved less tiring and far more satisfying to the client. After two such auditions he is convinced that he has heard the very best the station has to offer and he is prepared to make his decision. Unique Recording Device WGY's sound recording equipment is unique. It is a development of the research laboratory of the General Electric Company and is, in fact, still in process of development. The best trained ear would find great difficulty in identifying the reproduction as from a record. The sound recording method is similar to that used in the Photophone motion picture process, but there the similarity ends. Whereas the Photophone provides for a sound track paralleling the picture with which it is synchronized, WGY's sound recorder uses the entire film width for paralleling sound tracks, from one to eighteen tracks being possible on standard width film. No sprocket holes are needed on the film and thus additional space is afforded for sound recording. A standard 200-foot film roll with fourteen sound tracks gives nearly one hour of continuous program. By uniting three such rolls for a total of 600 feet it is quite possible to record an entire grand opera. Exceptional fidelity to the original tone is the striking characteristic of this method of recording. Frequencies not normally obtainable by recording processes are captured on the film. Rapid Reproduction SOUND FILM is developed by the same process as is used for picture film and it is quite possible to reproduce a program within one hour after recording. The sound equipment of WGY is both recorder and reproducer, some slight changes being necessary to convert the outfit from one function to the other. Our recorder has many other uses, some of which have not yet been developed to their fullest possibility. For example, when a commercial radio program has been whipped into shape for its inaugural presentation, we record the program complete. Music director, production man, announcer and entertainers then listen to the results. It is criticized freely from the standpoint of musical quality, program balance, emphasis and unity. The director may find that slight changes in the placement of his men with relation to the microphone will give better balance and improved musical quality. The announcer notes his faults and has an opportunity to correct them. Musicians, hearing themselves as others hear them, have fresh inspiration to excell. Supplying Background ANOTHER practical use for the record is to test the voice of a new announcer or even an old one. The announcer may be unconscious of some tricks of emphasis which rob his message of effectiveness. By means of the record he can give critical ear to his own air personality. One of the most interesting possibilities of the equipment is its use supplemental to studio produced programs, particularly in dramatic sketches. Sound is the scenery of the radio sketch. That is to say, the listener gets his image of the action from the words of the performers and from the attendant sounds. With this equipment it would be possible to record a surf, the traffic at a busy street corner, the applause at a concert, a prize-fight, a political convention, a baseball game, the sounds of a barn yard, and the like. Voices for History STILL ANOTHER use for our sound equipment is that of recording, for posterity, historical events or speeches. WGY now has in its library the voices of Calvin Coolidge, the late Dr. Charles P. Steinmetz, and Pope Pius XI delivering the first encyclical ever to be broadcast. New uses are found for the equipment from time to time, and it is reasonable to expect that in time a sound recorder will be an essential part of the equipment of every modern broadcasting station. Commission Actions (Continued from page 28) KGEW, Ft. Morgan, Col. — Denied extension of authority to remain silent. Renewal of license application has been designated for hearing. WEVD, Brooklyn, N. Y.— Protest of WEVD to the granting of application to move station WCGU from Brooklyn to Long Island City was dismissed at request of protestants. Examiner's Report . . . WMBR, Tampa, Fla., and NEW, Peoples Broadcasting Corp., Jacksonville, Fla. — Chief Examiner Yost (Report 435; Dockets 1653 and 1661) recommended that the Peoples Broadcasting Corp. be permitted to withdraw application for CP with prejudice and that WMBR be granted a renewal of license. Teacher's Guide Issued For CBS Radio School A HANDSOME brochure to be used in connection with the American School of the Air courses has been sent by CBS to educators throughout the country. The 80page booklet offers visual aid and supplementary instruction to be used with the radio courses in geography, history, literature, elementary science, music and current events. The American School of the Air, now in its fourth season, has been heard over a CBS network of 85 stations every day of the school year, except Saturday and Sunday, since Oct. 24 and will continue until April 13. New Business Group CREATION of the Proprietary Radio Service, 507 Fifth Ave., New York, to function as radio station representatives with activities confined to the field of proprietary products, was announced Dec. 12. Arthur G. Montagne, formerly with the Eastern merchandising department of WLW, and Byrne Bauer, former agency man, are the organizers. Mr. Montagne said the service will act as headquarters for vital facts and information on broadcast advertising in the proprietary field, "particularly on the attitude of individual stations towards this type of product". The service, he added, is open to all agencies and their clients without cost. New Dodge Account ABOUT 70 stations will be used during January for a series of 5-minute transcriptions sponsored by Chrysler Motors to announce the new Dodge car. Account is being handled by Scott Howe Bowen, Inc., New York. Lame Duck Radio (Continued from page 5) phere about the Commission with uncertainty. Changes are contemplated by the incoming administration, it is reported, in both the legal and engineering divisions, probably striking those in the upper salary brackets. Efforts will be made by the Commission, however, to prevent political interference with most of those incumbents because of the highly specialized nature of their work and the crippling effect that would be wrought by a wholesale turnover. The pay cut recommendations by President Hoover call for an additional 11 per cent reduction over the 8V2 per cent "furlough" reduction now in effect. If adopted, this would mean a total reduction of about 15 per cent from base pay. In other words, the salaries of commissioners, general counsel and chief engineers would be reduced from $10,000 per annum to approximately $8,500. Corresponding reductions will result in the pay of all subordinates, with an initial $1,000 exemption. December 15, 1932 • BROADCASTING Page 29