A brief lesson in how streaming audio gets to you on the web
and on devices.
WION originates AM stereo at our studios. (WGLM originates it's stream at theirs.)
That audio is received in Jim Carlyle's Office on a Carver
AM stereo tuner.
(At WGLM it's from a processed in-house source)
(At WGLM it's from a processed in-house source)
The audio is fed into the office computer/streamer and sent
to two places.
1) Our carrier of the two streams at 48k and 128K in AAC+
format for tune-in radio app and other devices like
the Alexa, Google and our own phone and tablet apps.
2) The second destination is a different stream in mp3 format for backup, and to be used by older internet devices that don't decode the newer style of stream.
2) The second destination is a different stream in mp3 format for backup, and to be used by older internet devices that don't decode the newer style of stream.
At the sending computer, the data of song title and artist from our studios merge
with the audio and are sent for "multiplying" by the streaming
company, which actually supplies YOU with the audio you hear. Meanwhile another company takes the stream
and logs the songs we play, how m any listeners are online when, and for how
long, and they bill us for the royalties and provide the player that you see
online.
There are many links in ANY streaming chain. There's the
originating software, (up and running now for nearly 3 months since restart,
it's very stable)...there's the STATION's internet connection to the outside
world, then there's the "Carrier" or "Server" that
multiplies the amount of streams, enough for all our listeners to have one when
they want, and of course that means there's THEIR servers that can have
troubles even if all the other links in the chain are UP and running.
Today was audio day from HELL for us. Our local outgoing
streams are fine, but the company that keeps us legal with royalties has
continued issues. THEN, the OTHER company that carries the streams to your
devices went down and as of this writing still IS down.
Understand that streaming is an expensive and complicated
process. We chose the services we have because "other" services don't
allow local commercials to be carried which is of value to our listeners and
advertisers. Some don't allow network programming, and some don't allow
syndicated programming like we have on weekends. Thus, to have the most
services takes involving the most links in the chain.
There will be those times and those days beyond our control.
It's frustrating to us even more than you, but know that we monitor ALL parts
of the process and work with those people to get things back and running as
quickly as possible. And remember, the bottom line is, The Internet is
not a guaranteed delivery service. For the MOST reliable entertainment, we're
ON THE AIR for you 24/7/365, (minus time
for maintenance which keeps our equipment functioning at it's best.)
Thank you for understanding!
