>> Frequently
Asked Questions
|
-
Q.
Are bands and artists still sending CD's in this digital era?
A. It's
unfortunate that at this time that the industry is changing
and has been for some time. Record
labels have stopped sending CD's and prefer to go the digital
route. This is understandable in some ways with how the global
economy is and the practicability of it. But what it's doing is hurting any airplay a band
may receive by the quality that is sent to us. MP3's sounded absolutely dreadful on an FM
radio signal
(people forgot we were an FM radio program first) and can sound
just as bad on high end radio streams which unfortunately
forced us to limit the airplay we can with labels/bands/artists
that sent us them. In the now passed FM radio days, the digital quality
compression of low end MP3's sounded terrible as our
transmitter compressor battles with making the sound right. Then
add in the digital hiss and the digital clicks and it adds up to
'un-listenable' music. And let's face it, on our new HD stream,
you want the best sound possible. We ask that labels send us FLAC or WAV
files. If MP3 is the only file they can send, then we ask for
320 only. Nothing lower. Overall, we still prefer the CD because we still like to look at
the whole package. Booklet, insert, CD, artwork, etc. These
things are important to us in giving a band air time on our
radio program. We want to know who they are. We can't lie, those
bands and artists that actually send a CD do get preferential airplay.
-
Q.
What is the background music you use on your
radio program?
A. I
love the music of Klaus Schulze. I tend to use his Picture Music
album, and his X album. I also like use Pat Thomi's Fairy Tales
album as well. We will be incorporating music from the
heavenly bodies soon as well.
-
Q.
What happened to our beloved z889 WBZC?
A.
Sadly, we were shut down on January 18th, 2018, nearly 23 years
to the day we first went on the airwaves in 1995. There were
many factors with the shutdown. While Rowan University and
Burlington County College have now combined, the factor of
relocation came into the game. To move z889, it requires a lot
major work just on equipment alone, both externally and
internally, and the biggest elephant in the room, money. What I
feared when the merger happened, was that Rowan may shut us down
because the thinking would be, why pay for two FCC license? So
sadly, with all the fight our fearless leader Jason Varga did
without most of us knowing really how hard he tried, it just
wasn't feasible to sustain. She became costly. We will miss her
terribly. Especially myself for being its first member in 1993
and seeing it through to her sad demise. On the upswing, we are
now RCBC with a new beginning in a new world. Fingers crossed!
-
Q.
How often are you in the RCBC studios on Saturdays? Are
these programs prerecorded or live?
A. For
the most part, the radio program is done live. For years in Pemberton,
New Jersey and now in Mount Laurel on
Saturday nights, the live aspect is very important. When issues arise with travel or sporting
events, I may prerecord the radio program at our other location,
North 13th Studios in Brigantine, New Jersey. Brigantine is just north of
Atlantic City at the Jersey shore. There are always hints if a
radio program is recorded at the home studio. Only some have
figured it out :). For the most part, home studio recordings
were taking place in the summer, now they are almost always
constructed there before being presented live if not
pre-recorded. As for times? If we do an Aural Moon only program,
they are sometimes recorded just hours before the actual
broadcast at 10PM. Unfortunately, our radio show archives are
running out of room.
-
Q.
What recording gear do you use for the program?
A. I
was recording the programs for many years as .wav files in Pro Logic for Mac.
But since the Mac High Sierra disastrous update, it rendered it
useless. I now use the Garage Band program. I prefer
to use Adobe Audition for editing interviews and other
production. I use a SP C1 large diaphragm, fixed-cardioid
condenser microphone which has a low noise amplifier. I also use
a Behringer Xenyx digital/analog mixing board. For post
production I prefer using TDK CDR's since they are the most
reliable recording discs.
-
Q.
How come you
do not play more popular progressive rock bands like Yes, Genesis,
ELP, in plenty?
A.
While we respect
and love those bands and understand that the progressive
rock scene wouldn't exist without
them, we feel it is far more important to support current progressive
bands and lesser known, non-mainstream enriched music. Also,
during the heyday of those bands and artists, there were similar
bands doing just as creative and powerful work as their
contemporaries were. They will not go unnoticed. Remember
the definition of the world 'progressive'.
-
Q.
Why does it take so
long to hear some new releases, when other times it is on 3 weeks
before it is released?
A.
This is
our most popular question we
receive.
In some ways, it's luck of the draw. Imports of a new release usually come out before a North American release date. We are
fortunate to be serviced by overseas outlets that ease the wait.
But lately, labels are forgetting about us...again, the industry is
changing.
-
Q.
What is your policy
on reviewing and airing music?
A.
We
receive
many new releases on a monthly basis. When we do receive a
recording, and it
has been tracked and aired, it is then put into rotation and
into the database for the year end top 100 polling. We work on a 3
week rotation depending on the established artists new release
schedule dates, and request buzz. A band or artist, when sending their
recording, will be notified by email and/or their site's
forums/social media site up to that week prior to airplay on how to
listen . Now with the new RIAA Radio
Streaming laws, we can only air a certain amount of tracks from
a release. Playlists will
be posted AFTER the reruns are aired currently on Tuesdays due
to file sharing
laws.
-
Q.
Is the program just you or are/were
there other staffers involved?
A.
Over
the years we have had many people that have assisted in many
aspects of the show's programming. From 1991 to 1993, we were
often joined by Keith "The Man" Myers, Reginald Szatny,
and Jon Most.
Their contributions were in music, production, and new talent. By 1994, we
worked with other staffers such as Roger Beckwith who was host
of Roadhouse Radio
opposite Janet Watts, and Steve Huston who assisted us for live
in studio performances and interviews. We then became involved
with Charles Nolan as a consultant who was with us from 1996 to
1997. During that time, we also became involved with George
Piatkowski. George became a co-producer and took the program to
even deeper levels with music obscurity. He was part of the crew
until 2006. For live events, we were continuously helped by Roger
Beckwith and Bob "Big Bob Lovin' Volpe at countless venues.
Ken Golden of Laser's Edge has co-produced many thematic
programs over the years and continues to, to this day. He is an
honorary staffer. In
2000, Jack Webster came on board and archived many in-studio
events and continues to assist as videographer, photographer, and contributes
to programming as well. He at times was also joined by his assistant Frank Alfeeri. There is also Brian Schenkenberger, our online engineer at Aural Moon
who maintains live broadcasts internet streams at progressive
rock events and the program itself. We are assisted by Jason Varga for in studio events
as well, who has now become 88.9 WBZC's Program Director.
Michael Cohn is a newer part the radio program since 2013 and is
our assistant and contributor. We
also have added the great Kevin Feeley who is our technical
advisor. He has been the focal point with our live and abroad
radio shows such as NEARfest. He has always supplied top notch equipment and
contributed endless hours of technology. We are also assisted in
imaging by Grace Stewart and Connie Louis.
- Q.
What were the FM frequencies that
the radio program used to be on for all those years?
A.
From January of 1995 to January of 2018, the
radio program was heard every Saturday night at 88.9FM WBZC in Pemberton, NJ
which served southern New
Jersey, the Jersey Shore, Philadelphia, and Eastern
Pennsylvania.
Our former coverage map is located
here.
We were also heard at 95.1FM W236AF in Burlington, NJ. Our
coverage map was located
here
and served the New Jersey towns of Burlington, Burlington City,
Beverly, Edgewater Park, Willingboro, Florence, Roebling,
Delanco, Riverside, and the Pennsylvania towns of Bristol,
Cornwells Heights-Eddington,
and
Trevose. We were- also heard at the 100.7FM W264BH Mount Holly,
NJ. Our coverage map is located
here
and serves the New Jersey towns of Mount Holly, Woodlane,
Southampton, Hainesport and Eastampton.
- Q.
We don't hear any selections from the labels Mellow and
Musea. You know these labels exist right?
A.
Mellow
Records and Musea
Records do not
send promos to radio stations.
- Q.
What exactly are the FOG lines?
A. The FOG
lines simply stand for Friends Of Gagliarchives Hotline. The
term was first coined on July 9, 1992 and it stuck ever since.
When I want the listeners to call in, I say "The fog lines
are open at 609-894-8900..."
The one time band Finneus Gauge recorded a song on the phrase on their 1999 album,
One Inch Of The Fall.
Updated:
7/19/18
|
|