The Radio Imaging Podcast

By wizzFX

The Radio Imaging Podcast is the podcast for anyone interested in, or working in Radio Imaging no matter the skill level. Chris Nicoll discusses a different topic each week alongside news, reviews, au... more

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FAQs about The Radio Imaging Podcast:

How many episodes does The Radio Imaging Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.

The Radio Imaging Podcast episodes:

October 19, 2017TRIP021 – Behind The Scenes – Bojan Sabioncello
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
WHAT DAW IS THE BEST?
A recent post in facebook from my colleague Alastair Boyes asked this. Here are the results:
You can also go and vote in another poll for your favourite DAW here for Music Radar.
MORE IMPORTANTLY ILOK IS FINALLY GOING INTO THE CLOUD
Yes, really. Read more here!
Behind The Scenes with Bojan Sabioncello from Totalni FM, Croatia
Bojan is based in Split, Croatia at Totalni FM. We’ve been trading emails for a while back and forth sharing tips and so I asked him to record something for the podcast. Here’s what he talked about:
Always cut off unnecessary frequencies, especially the low end!
De-Ess and Further shape with EQ.
Use multiple compressors (multiplicative compression)
Leave enough headroom to master
Don’t overdo the whooshes and booms and zips and zaps, less is more!
If you want to get in touch with Bojan, email him here.
We Listened to Bojan’s Latest Work
You’ll have to check out the podcast to hear it.
Obligatory Halloween Resource
Spooky Halloween Design Tricks using Ableton
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Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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13min
October 12, 2017TRIP020 – Behind The Scenes – Christian Troitzsch
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
NEW PLUGIN ALERT
Ozone 8 and Neutron 2 are here… I use both a fair amount so I’m definitely going to check it out. Special deal till October 31 here!
Behind The Scenes with Christian Troitzsch from 89.0 RTL, Germany
Christian is the Imaging Producer at 89.0 RT. He’s been involved in The Imaging Days and helped coach for Studio Brussels & Music and More. He’s picked up local awards for Best Promotion in 2014 and 2013.
Christian shared his 5 tips:
Emulate your heroes.
Be organised with your filing and work parts.
Limit yourself, working within a box can make you more creative!
The Pareto Principal. Also known as the 80/20 rule. Read more here.
Share your work. If you want to get better and get heard – share.
You can check out more about Christian on his website, google translate may be your friend here (it is for me). He’s on Twitter and SoundCloud too.
We Listened to Christian’s Latest Work
You’ll have to check out the podcast to hear it.
Obligatory Halloween Resource
Well, it is October! An article called How To Create Horror Sound Effects from the A Sound Effect website.
Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE-star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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12min
October 05, 2017TRIP019 – Behind the Scenes – David Konsky
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
Intelligibility Explained – We Don’t Just Hear With Our Ears
A great explanation from ProTools Expert of how we hear by seeing in some situations. Which means the importance of clarity in what we do is even more important!
Behind The Scenes with David Konsky from 2Day FM, Oz
Dave is Head of Production Hit Network in Australia. He contributes to Reelworld’s Production Vault. He does mashups under the name DJ Konsky and he’s an all-round nice bloke.
He talked about:
Find a good mentor or coach.
Share your work with people that you respect and admire.
Always learn and be willing to learn.
Be organised, reliable and trustworthy.
Make epic shit.
Follow him on twitter. Check out his mashup Facebook page. And he wrote on the Reelworld blog an article called ‘How You Mashup.’
The audio piece Konsky sent in is pretty powerful stuff.
Context for some, ANZAC day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders “who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations” and “the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. Observed on 25 April each year.
Wanna be able to calculate delay times?
Again from ProTools Expert (I swear I don’t just keep copying all their stuff, but it’s super useful even if you don’t use ProTools) is this tutorial. Useful for calculating reverb times too.
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Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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10min
September 28, 2017TRIP018 – Behind The Scenes – Alastair Boyes
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
Waves updated their AudioTrack, Q10 and L1 Plugins!
It’s all for their 25th Anniversary… they look pretty and stuff (apparently some under the hood audio tweaks have been made too). Check them out here.
Have you got 100 Thought Starters For Radio Imaging?
100 Ideas for only £10? That’s like 1p per idea… Buy it here!
Behind The Scenes with Alastair Boyes from IMGR
He talked about loads of great stuff, we heard his imaging reel and he played examples of what he talked about around making a connection with your audience in your imaging.
Here’s a quick summary of what he had to say:
Be in the now. Harness what’s relevant right now to your audience.
Know your audience. Nail your target listener to one person and direct everything to them.
Keep writing. Write as many as ideas as possible then test them on others to find the best few to make.
Read it out loud. This helps you make sure the idea works when spoken.
Be fearless. Push the boat out right out!
Connect with Al on LinkedIn, Twitter or Email him!
How Audio Enhances Your Brand Content
It’s a great article about finding your signature sound here.
Check out this course and learn about Parallel Processing!
It’s the latest free course on the site here.
Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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14min
September 14, 2017TRIP016 – Creating Unforgettable User Experiences
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
100 Thought Starters for Radio Imaging, an ebook from me!
It’ll be available from September 21st on this website. More info soon…
Have you seen this article about failure?
Inspired by something that happened at IMGR, check it out here.
Some upcoming episodes of the podcast will have tips from other cool folks.
Look out for those episodes soon!
Creating User Experiences – NAB Radio Show Panel
Thanks to Megatrax, IMGR and Sean Ross who got me to this show and organised the panel. In this
In this episode, I play some audio from some pretty amazing folks (I hope they don’t mind me reusing their audio I recorded). You hear from:
Carlos Manalo, Co-Founder, The Office of Experience
Chase Rupe, VP, Programming and Operations, Emmis Communications
James Derby, Chief Strategy Officer/Director of Programming, Federated Media
Kurt Johnson, Senior Vice President, Programming, Townsquare Media
Nikki Nite, Vice President, Programming and Operations, Entercom Austin
They all say some pretty interest stuff. Nikki especially touched on imaging and I blow that up into a recap of stuff I’ve talked about in episode 3.
In that episode I talked about “how it will sound on the air?” inspired from a previous post here.
Then I blew these points out a little further to include what platform you deliver your audio too.
10 Pieces of Killer Advice From Famous Creative Geniuses
Check out the article from INC.com here.
Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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16min
September 07, 2017TRIP015 – 5 Ways To Instantly Improve At Radio Imaging
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
In hours I’m on an NAB Austin Panel called ‘Creating Unforgettable User Experiences.’
Are you going to be there? Come! More info here.
Ready? 5 Ways to instantly improve at Radio Imaging…
We’re all looking for quick ways to get better, here are 5 of my favourite ways to get better instantly:
Make the VO the clearest thing in the mix.
Use less sound design. Edit up the sound design you do use to be more ‘yours.’
Line up your transients.
Think about how the piece will be used.
Don’t assume copying other peoples settings will make you better.
BONUS TIP: Listening to this podcast (LOL).
Listen to the first Radio Imaging package I ever made.
My first EVER radio imaging package. Radio Pop – a station for kids I was a part of launching as a university station in 2002. Check out the podcast to hear it.
Want more tips on how to improve your Radio Imaging?
Check out The Complete Radio Imaging Email Course here!
Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
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9min
August 10, 2017TRIP011 – What’s More Important, Technical or Creative Ability?
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
iZotope have a plug-in sale on right now!
I love Ozone and Neutron, so why not check the sale out here.
What’s More Important, Technical or Creative Ability?
I’m forever talking with people about this, I wanted to share my opinion based on my experience working and hiring in the Radio Imaging world…
I believe creative ability is more important, why?
Technical ability can be taught and learnt more easily that teaching someone how to be creative.
Learning to be creative isn’t the same as learning strategies to harness existing creativity.
Creativity is an innate skill.
I have always hired more on creative potential, rather than technical ability. I feel like I’ve been hired for the same reason.
The best work I’ve heard isn’t always the most technically gifted work, but the ideas connected much better than someone who has got that EQ just right.
Those creative books I mentioned:
“Creative Block: Over 500 Ideas to Ignite Your Imagination” by Lou Harry
“The Writers Block: 786 Ideas To Jump-start Your Imagination” by Jason Rekulak
How do you identify creative people?
Passion for ideas, not for technical data.
The ability to think about the same ideas from different perspectives.
Unique sense of humour.
Emotionally connected (understands the power of words).
Treats idea generation as a craft, not a graft.
These Vines show how creativity doesn’t depend on technical ability:

And here’s the interesting TED video I talked about, well worth a watch:

So you can’t learn creativity so easily, let’s learn something technical!
I’ve written up 5 tips for using reverb, check it out here!
Remember tosubscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
...more
15min
August 03, 2017TRIP010 – Is The Radio Imaging Talent Pool Empty?
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
The iPod is DEAD. Sort of.
Sort of because iPods have converged with our phones… check out the article on Mashable here.
Soundcloud is still here, and may have investors.
Check out the article here.
You can see my thoughts on this in the wizzFX article “Soundcloud Storm Clouds.”
So, is the Radio Imaging talent pool empty?
This is based on an article from a year ago – unpacking and discussing in a the podcast. I’ve talked to a lot of Radio Imaging folks over the last year so I thought it well worth a revisit.
Theory 1:
There are no great training grounds to learn the trade and prove how good you are.
Andreas’ blog for Benztown.
Future IMGR
This website – check out the resources and free courses!
The Earshot Creative Review Podcast
Ryan Drean’s Producers Podcast
Theory 2:
Everyone wants the same sound.
Most production services are not the problem.
People are still ‘idea insular.’
There is push back from creative people – check out Z100, KROQ, Nova, Triple M, ZM, The Edge.
Theory 3:
Radio Imaging producers aren’t valued anymore.
Costs are being cut everywhere.
Often the Imaging Guy is the Drive Jock and Music Scheduler.
Media suffers as a result
But many media roles aren’t being valued.
Theory 4:
The time to be creative has gone.
Because of multiple hat wearing roles
Production Services can be a saviour though!
Theory 5:
They’ve taken their talent elsewhere.
Radio is a labor of love, so when you’re done you’re done.
Fewer jobs mean people take their skills elsewhere.
* Other jobs can often pay better.
Theory 6:
Radio Imagers are taken for granted.
I still believe this to be the case. Managers of creative people need to get better at praising people.
Recommended book: Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
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23min
July 27, 2017TRIP009 – Is Radio Imaging Even Needed Anymore?
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week! Get it on Stitcher now too.
“Dear John: A Break up Letter To The Advertising Community”
A great article we talked about today around the dilemma of creativity vs data/ROI. Read it here.
Smart Speakers are bringing change.
We know that already, but here’s an interest assessment of where we’re at from James Cridland in Radioinfo.com.au.
Is Radio Imaging Even Needed Anymore?
Yes(ish).
Big brands still dedicate a lot of time to Sonic Branding.
As we know, audio helps create emotional responses much better that pure visual.
Listening to audio is easy to do while doing other things.
But Radio Imaging does need to evolve.
More stations are concentrating on creativity emotional connection
More stations seem to be investing in sonic logo’s.
We need to get better at communicating effectively.
People listen in new ways.
Digital Radio, online streaming, apps and various other listening methods show station names and logo’s.
As listener measurement will change over the next decade.
My prediction? Radio Imaging will become more minimal over time, but more effective too.
So, what do you think? Is Radio Imaging Even Needed Anymore?
Check out these Sonic Brands:

Here’s a way to instantly improve your mixing!
Thanks to George Taylor at IMGR for finding this and sharing with me.

Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
...more
13min
July 20, 2017TRIP008 – What’s On My Master Chain?
Have you subscribed yet? – don’t miss the latest episode each week!
You can get The Radio Imaging Podcast on Stitcher now!
Check it out here:
Soundcloud Storm Clouds
Have you seen this article posted the other day, who else isn’t too concerned about Soundcloud’s troubles?
What’s On My Master Chain?
You might want to check out Episode 6 “How I Make Radio Imaging” if you haven’t listened to that ahead of this episode.
Remember, this is just how I do things – it doesn’t make it the only way to do things!
Importantly, the key with mastering is to not to do too much. You’re really just smoothing out and polishing what should already been a solid mix.
Tools you might use on your master chain could be:
Compression to tighten and glue.
EQ to smoothen out. (Sorry I couldn’t find the research I talked about in the episode.)
Reverb to put everything into the same space.
Multiband Compression to tailor specific frequency ranges that need taming.
Distortion to add colour.
Limiting to catch wild peaks.
Stereo Widening.
Sonic enhancement.
So, what’s on my master chain?
API-2500 from Waves
FabFilter Saturn
iZotope Ozone 7
Other favourites?
Native Instruments Vintage Compressors.
iZotope Neutron
Check out this crazy montage from James Harness
Wanna keep the education going?
Check out FutureIMGR. It’s a course we run at IMGR. Wanna find out more? Email [email protected]! Although we’re based in the UK maybe we can figure out a way to do it all remotely?!
Remember to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Requests? Comment below or get in touch here.
...more
21min

FAQs about The Radio Imaging Podcast:

How many episodes does The Radio Imaging Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 27 episodes available.