Landracing Forum

East Coast Timing Association => ECTA General Chat => Topic started by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 02, 2014, 03:00:06 PM

Title: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 02, 2014, 03:00:06 PM
http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

Hey --- I think we're going to be able to make it happen.  We're pretty sure that the hardware and software will all come together and let us all hear the sounds of the ECTA event at Wilmington, OH this weekend.

Gregg Adams (gkabbt on the Forum) is going to do the audio from the track.  He's driving up to us in Skandia, Michigan -- about eleven-teen miles out of his way from North Carolina to Ohio - to get the computer and other equipment  I've got here, and then heading straight south for Milwaukee where he and Milwaukee Midget will share beers some quality time trying to make sure all of the stuff works.  I've ordered up the wi-fi device for the system -- and it oughta make all this planning and driving work just right.  I expect Gregg will set up and test on Friday and that'll let us figure out how to set up our home computers to hear the net-cast.  We've got ECTA permission and even a socket in the ECTA power generator.  Thanks, Joe.  Gregg should have it on the air from the driver's meeting (if there's a microphone there) through the end of the show.

Please take a listen and let me/us know if you think it's worth this much hassle.  If you're convinced it's the way to go -- let my know with a donation to the website.  We need to keep the kitty full as race season approaches/is here!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 05, 2014, 10:53:10 AM
Okay -- it's official:  We'll have live streaming audio from Wilmington this weekend.  Gregg has been here to get the hardware, I've arranged for the software, and Chris and Gregg got the system going last night in the Milwaukee Midget studios.  All that's left is for Gregg to arrive at W-ton and find the hardware wi-fi device that had better be waiting for him at his motel down there.

Plan on doing the same old game that you have to do when stream-listening.  We'll post a link here and probably someplace like the home page.   You'll follow that link and turn on your audio and then spin wrenches in your shop while listening to the fun while you work this weekend.  The event is a Saturday & Sunday deal, so you'll have two days to find a spot to relax and listen.

Now the begging:  It isn't free to do this.  Please consider sending a few shekels to the lr.com website PayPal buttons or a check or something in the mail to me here (509 Dukes Road, Skandia Michigan 49885) to help pay the fare - and to let me know that you want us to keep doing this if we possibly can do so.  Thanks.  Remember -- www.landracing.com was the first site to offer live audio from any land speed racing event.  I want us to be the best, too, and that's why we're reaching for this event. :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 05, 2014, 04:49:47 PM
Got into Wilmington this afternoon and the Wi-Fi hotspot was indeed waiting for me here at the hotel.
I'll be going over to the track tomorrow morning to set things up and then do some testing with Chris.
If everything works OK tomorrow, Saturday's streaming will begin just after the drivers meeting and I'll post the link in this thread!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: MiltonP on June 05, 2014, 05:46:52 PM
Good deal! But when may we see Jon and Nancy make an appearance? All quiet at tbe Wilmington Inn. None of the usual suspects here yet. Skyline time! Gen Denver tomorrow as usual!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 05, 2014, 07:52:29 PM
But when may we see Jon and Nancy make an appearance?

I asked him a similar question when I was at his place the other day!!!!!
Hopefully, he'll chime in.

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 05, 2014, 08:05:08 PM
In the words of Kate Smith -- "when the moon comes over the mountain".  Serially -- I don't know when we'll go to W-ton.  It's not that we don't want to visit, but with Nancy working full time and me doing the same at Kudos -- we don't have the freedom that we had back when we owned Star Industries and the employees did all of the work.  And since we're not actively racing we don't have that reason to make the trek, either.

I'd sure like to go there and see everyone once again.  I suspect that sooner or later - and I hope sooner - that we will journey south and east.  But not this time.  Thanks for asking, and thanks for letting us know we're not forgotten. :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 06, 2014, 11:49:54 AM
Testing

http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: sabat on June 06, 2014, 11:54:26 AM
I hear the radio :)
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 06, 2014, 11:55:55 AM
Testing

http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

Clear as a bell, best ever!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Elmo Rodge on June 06, 2014, 12:12:25 PM
I hear moosic. Wayno
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 06, 2014, 12:38:13 PM
Thanks for the testing Guys.

Looks like we're good to go for the weekend!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: MIKE MATY on June 06, 2014, 03:03:08 PM
Testing

http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

Is this the same link to listen live tomorrow. If so Ill post it on the Ohio mile face book page.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 06, 2014, 05:15:19 PM
Sorry Mike, can't answer your question. This is the 1st time I've used this software and also the 1st time I've done a live audio streaming.
I think it would be best to hold off until tomorrow. I will post the link here after the drivers meeting then you can post that link to Facebook.

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 07, 2014, 09:39:14 AM
Ladies and gentlemen -

landracing.com - in cooperation with ECTA - proudly presents - from Wilmington, Ohio

Racing!

http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

To our man on the ground - Gregg Adams - a HUGE THANK YOU!

Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 07, 2014, 09:52:44 AM
I just got off the phone with Woody.  He's streaming off of his mobile device with good success.  I'm really pleased with the sound quality this year.

http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

Jon, I took the liberty of making this one "sticky" and inserted the link at the top of your initial post.

Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on June 07, 2014, 10:10:15 AM
 :cheers: from Portland, first cup o' java.

Mike
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 07, 2014, 11:24:20 AM
Race has been on hold for a while due to issues with the timing lights.

Please stay tuned!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: manta22 on June 07, 2014, 12:09:55 PM
Sounds good. Thanks for the broadcast!

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Peter Jack on June 07, 2014, 12:12:56 PM
WOW!!! Great sound.  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

It might be worth putting on music or something when there is dead air. I know when I first tuned in there was apparently a problem with the finish line lights having been taken out by a motorcycle. There was a long period of dead air. It was about 20 minutes later that the sound came on. Because the sound is clean with no static or anything else to indicate that it's working people could assume that there is no broadcast.

Good job to all those involved with the sound project. You've all done a fine job.  :-D :-D :-D

Pete
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 07, 2014, 12:41:40 PM
http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

Just keeping the link to the fore.

We have received one complaint, and let me explain what's happening -

It sounds as though the ECTA is using a gate-limiter in the broadcast booth.  That would explain why all of a sudden, the sound jumps from nothing to full tilt.  It's a useful tool when set properly, and given the extreme sound levels they're likely encountering, a solid decision to prevent overmodulation.  It might be something that's adjustable before the signal hits the ECTA FM transmitter - in fact, it could well be built into their transmitter.

I'm not losing any sleep over it.
 
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: saltracer1 on June 07, 2014, 02:33:52 PM
am I doing something wrong? All I get is the test.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on June 07, 2014, 02:46:44 PM
Upper left corner, if I remember, click to listen or something like that.

Mike
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: saltracer1 on June 07, 2014, 03:33:45 PM
thanks
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 07, 2014, 04:53:11 PM
It's a quarter 'til five here in the Eastern time zone and I've just turned on the stream.  It started up and is running just dandy.

As for the audio:  I'm someone that mentioned the dead quiet to full volume aspect.  It's like a voice actuated audio system -- when there's no voice there ain't nuthin'.  That's what it sounds like, but as Chris sort of mentioned, it's exactly the audio we're getting from the broadcast at the track.  There's noting we could do unless we were to station our own microphone at the announcer's console.  We'll think about it.  Ditto the dead air when he isn't talking - we're hearing everything that the folks at the track are hearing.

Could we add some background something, like music or blabbering announcer-talk to let you folks at home know that it isn't a dead link?  Sure, we could - not that you want blabbering since we get enough of that at other venues :evil: :evil: :evil: - but it'd take more than the staff we have at W-ton.  And that staff is Gregg - all by himself, and he just transported and set up the equipment.  He's not the guy that sits there all day long and babysits the system.  We don't have one of those.  This IS just a continuing experiment, and we're learning what stuff we should and what stuff we need to do/add if and when we do this again.

Thanks for all of the comments you're giving us.  Thanks for all of the reception reports, too, of course.  It's fun to be able to say that lr.com's "broadcast" of the Wilmington land speed event is being heard around the world.  Keep listening and maybe I'll be convinced that it'll be worthwhile to invest in more and better equipment.  Of course -- you all kow what "invest" calls for, don't you? :roll: :roll:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: manta22 on June 07, 2014, 05:04:11 PM
Jon;

Holding the mic a bit further away from you will allow it to pick up more of the background sounds-- cars going by, etc. If the mic is close the system AGC may be reducing the gain but I doubt that that's it, otherwise the gain should pick up during non-speaking lulls.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 07, 2014, 05:57:54 PM
Through for the day Boys and Girls.....Hope you enjoyed.

We'll be back on at 08:00 AM in the morning!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 07, 2014, 06:28:56 PM
Jon;

Holding the mic a bit further away from you will allow it to pick up more of the background sounds-- cars going by, etc. If the mic is close the system AGC may be reducing the gain but I doubt that that's it, otherwise the gain should pick up during non-speaking lulls.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

Ney, Neil -

Unlike in the past, we are not using an ambient mic.  All that is being webcast is strictly off of the FM transmission, so all you're hearing is what the announcer's mic is picking up.

I'm certain there's a gate in the chain on the low power FM side that chokes the entire signal when it falls below a certain threshold in order to minimize noise - noise that folks like me and you tend to enjoy.

Gates are great for toms on a drum kit if you don't want the guitar to bleed through, but it might be overkill in this situation.

Either way, the ECTA guys are in charge of that end of it - we're simply pirating and redistributing the end product.

Plundering from the Great Lakes has its limits. 

Chris
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on June 07, 2014, 06:35:07 PM
Personal opinion: I LIKED it the way it was. 

Out in the shop, I was streaming PANDORA at a pleasant (slightly more than) background level and streaming the broadcast, which was perfectly volumed to be completely audible over the music.

What a pleasant afternoon, except for that Mustang  :evil: , Chevrolet 300 c.i. LS1 powered, not Ford powered (a COMPLETELY different sound if nothing else).

Mike
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 07, 2014, 06:35:23 PM
Gregg said:  "We'll be back on at 08:00 AM in the morning!"

Is that as opposed to 08:00 AM in the evening, Gregg?

I was going to comment to Neil but Chris beat me to it.  There's another easy way to reduce background noise - not that we really want to do that here.  Make a "differential" microphone - out of two similar/identical mikes.  Tape 'em together - right smack together - and have the announcer talk close-miked into only one of them.  And - wire the outputs out of phase.  The announcer's voice will get picked up mostly by the one he's using, but the pair of 'em, out of phase, will pick up all of the background stuff.  Being out of phase it'll cancel itself out.  It's a great way for the announcer in a stadium or rink or something to be heard above the roar of the crowds.  Here we want some background sounds - so a separate micronome (sic) out in front of the announcer booth would help.

But since it ain't our setup we can only be glad that we've got anything, and I sure am happy to hear it as well as I have.  Good and clear and it's working.  Thanks, Gregg and MM. :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 07, 2014, 06:55:15 PM
It's a quarter 'til five here in the Eastern time zone and I've just turned on the stream.  It started up and is running just dandy.

As for the audio:  I'm someone that mentioned the dead quiet to full volume aspect.  It's like a voice actuated audio system -- when there's no voice there ain't nuthin'.  That's what it sounds like, but as Chris sort of mentioned, it's exactly the audio we're getting from the broadcast at the track.  There's noting we could do unless we were to station our own microphone at the announcer's console.  We'll think about it.  Ditto the dead air when he isn't talking - we're hearing everything that the folks at the track are hearing.

Could we add some background something, like music or blabbering announcer-talk to let you folks at home know that it isn't a dead link?  Sure, we could - not that you want blabbering since we get enough of that at other venues :evil: :evil: :evil: - but it'd take more than the staff we have at W-ton.  And that staff is Gregg - all by himself, and he just transported and set up the equipment.  He's not the guy that sits there all day long and babysits the system.  We don't have one of those.  This IS just a continuing experiment, and we're learning what stuff we should and what stuff we need to do/add if and when we do this again.

Thanks for all of the comments you're giving us.  Thanks for all of the reception reports, too, of course.  It's fun to be able to say that lr.com's "broadcast" of the Wilmington land speed event is being heard around the world.  Keep listening and maybe I'll be convinced that it'll be worthwhile to invest in more and better equipment.  Of course -- you all kow what "invest" calls for, don't you? :roll: :roll:

Mr. Head Handlebar Holder, Sir.....Thanks for this reply!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 07, 2014, 07:01:40 PM
Today's audio stream was archived on the Meridix server.

To listen, go to the regular link:
http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing
and look on the right side of the screen for Wilmington 06072014 Archived.

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 07, 2014, 07:06:10 PM
Gregg said:  "We'll be back on at 08:00 AM in the morning!"

Is that as opposed to 08:00 AM in the evening, Gregg?


I think the worry of getting this to work combined with the sun fried what little brain cells I have left.

Gregg

On second thought, there have been a few times in my life that 08:00 AM in the evening was perfectly acceptable!!!!!!  :-o  :-)  :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 07:51:48 AM
GOOOOD Morning out there in LSR internet land!

Audio streaming is up and we are just waiting for racing to start.

Joe T. just told me that the schedule for today is 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
He also said that it will probably end before 4:00 as we might run out of competitors!

Hope you enjoy!

Gregg

PS
Brian just started announcing!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: ThumbBiker on June 08, 2014, 10:04:11 AM
As long as we're going to wish for the moon, a mic at the starting line and a mic at the finish line - few seconds of the start mic during the launch, start mic off, radio comments, few seconds of the finish line mic of car/motorcycle going through the traps  , finish line mic off, radio comments.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Elmo Rodge on June 08, 2014, 10:14:03 AM
It seems really "choppy" today. I'm talking about the way the sound comes in and drops out in the middle of a sentence. Yesterday seemed smoother to me.  :| Still glad to have it, though.  :cheers: Wayno
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 10:52:24 AM
Wayno, It might have something to do with the nasty headwind screwing with the ECTA FM antenna.
I noticed the same thing on the FM radio in my truck.
Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 11:56:28 AM
Meet is completed and we're shutting down.

Hope you enjoyed and we'll do this again next month!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 08, 2014, 12:27:02 PM
As long as we're going to wish for the moon, a mic at the starting line and a mic at the finish line - few seconds of the start mic during the launch, start mic off, radio comments, few seconds of the finish line mic of car/motorcycle going through the traps  , finish line mic off, radio comments.

Well, yes.  That would be beyond cool!

But . . .

Logistics rear their ugly head.

5200 feet of microphone cable is a little pricey, and you'd need a pretty substantial spool to roll it out and help spooling it back up after the event.  

Routing the cable in such a way that it isn't a trip hazard is a concern, and I don't think we want to sink telephone poles along the track.

Most commercial wireless microphones have an operating circumference of about 300 feet.  Anything with a longer throw is going to require some sort of FCC licensing.  Don't forget that the batteries will get you about 3 hours before they'll need to be changed out.

Someone to operate the mixer to switch between the sources as you described - while an elementary task, is going to require someone to operate the mixer to switch between the sources as you described.

The moon?  Give me NASA's budget, and I'll make it go.

But for now, I'm just pleased as punch that the whole deal pulled off as easily as it did.

To Gregg!  :cheers:  :cheers:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: tauruck on June 08, 2014, 12:34:01 PM
Thanks all and Gregg I gotta try that  weird Chicago hot dog!!!! :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 12:41:00 PM
Like yesterday, today's audio stream was archived on the Meridix server.

To listen, go to the regular link:
http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing
and look on the right side of the screen for Wilmington 06082014 Archived.

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on June 08, 2014, 01:10:44 PM
Thanks all and Gregg I gotta try that  weird Chicago hot dog!!!! :-D

Ooooh - are we talking the Chicago style dogs, the Vienna sausage with relish, pepper, mustard - essentially a sausage salad on a sesame seed bun?

http://www.tastydawgs.com/Trivia

A can of Old Style in your left hand, one of these miracles in your right, and a bleacher seat at Wrigley, and life's REALLY GOOD!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 04:44:26 PM
Thanks all and Gregg I gotta try that  weird Chicago hot dog!!!! :-D

 :?   :?   :?   :?   :?

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 04:46:09 PM
Thanks all and Gregg I gotta try that  weird Chicago hot dog!!!! :-D

Ooooh - are we talking the Chicago style dogs, the Vienna sausage with relish, pepper, mustard - essentially a sausage salad on a sesame seed bun?

http://www.tastydawgs.com/Trivia

A can of Old Style in your left hand, one of these miracles in your right, and a bleacher seat at Wrigley, and life's REALLY GOOD!

Chris......Now that does REALLY sound good!
Maybe another road trip next month!!!!!!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 08, 2014, 05:02:07 PM
Sitting here in the hotel enjoying a cold beverage and thinking about this weekend and just wanted to say;
"I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed the live audio".

To have done this is kinda like when I post my pics. I know what it's like to be sitting at home when you'd like to
be where the action is so maybe this helps a little!
Already kicking around some ideas for the July meet audio!    :-) :-D :cheers:




MANY thanks to Jon for spending the $$$ on the Wi-Fi and Meridix and to Chris for putting all the equipment together.  
:cheers:   :cheers:   :cheers:   :cheers:   :cheers:
Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: maj on June 09, 2014, 05:04:11 AM
 Gregg i thought it was great  :cheers:
Too late at nite to listen for long , but much appreciate the ability to join in for a while  

Thanks
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: sabat on June 09, 2014, 09:15:47 AM
I enjoyed it very much - thanks Gregg  :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: tauruck on June 09, 2014, 10:06:32 AM
Thanks all and Gregg I gotta try that  weird Chicago hot dog!!!! :-D

 :?   :?   :?   :?   :?

Gregg

I think I was listening to someone else and not you Gregg. The other commentator maybe?. He mentioned some guy from Chicago with a real Chicago accent that probably ate weird hot dogs with all kinds of stuff on it. :-)
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Strokerface on June 09, 2014, 07:02:09 PM
Streaming the live audio was fantastic! Big thanks to you guys who made it happen.  :cheers:
My girlfriend got to listen in on my day  :-)
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Graham in Aus on June 09, 2014, 07:43:09 PM
I also took the opportunity to listen in, was real late (Early am) for us down here in the antiopodes!

But much appreciated, well done guys.....  :cheers:

Many Thanks  :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 10, 2014, 06:56:12 AM
Just as a reminder, both days of audio streaming are archived on the Meridix server.
This is the original link:  http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing
and on the right side you will see the days and archived under those, so just click and you got it.

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: relaxedphit on June 24, 2014, 12:19:31 PM
For dead air time, sell shout-outs from the racers and ads for contributors.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 24, 2014, 12:24:36 PM
Great idea - but that'll then require someone to announce 'em and that means standing/sitting by the equipment all the time.  Not that that's all that bad, but what if Gregg (why do I keep wanting to call him Gerry?) or I want to mosey around the track?

And speaking of me - Nancy tells me that yesterday she finally got permission to take the weekend off so we can go to W-ton in July.  Next all I have to do is figure out how to get there.  I don't seem to find direct routes from Skandia, Michigan, to Wilmington, Ohio.  Motels also - are there any cheap crack whore motels?  We like 'em that way -- lots more entertainment, you know. :roll:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 24, 2014, 04:10:04 PM
Mosey around, take pics and chat is what I mainly what I do at all the meets I go to.
At the June meet I went to the timing tower about every 1 - 1/2 hrs. and check to see if the audio stream was still up and working!
Still have new stuff to try for the next two meets!

GREAT NEWS THAT YOU AND NANCY ARE COMING!!!!! You're going to LOVE this place.....so MUCH different than Maxton!
As for getting here, do the reverse of what I did:
From Skandia cross the UP to the bridge. From the bridge, I-75 down the LP which becomes US-23,
I-475 around Toledo which will get you back on I-75 to Dayton then US-35 and US-68 to Wilmington.
About a 10 hr. drive.

I usually stay at the HIE in Wilmington but they sell out pretty quick.
Here is a link to motels from the ECTA website:
http://www.clintoncountyohio.com/hotels-motels.php

See you two in July,
Gerry
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Peter Jack on June 24, 2014, 04:40:46 PM
He's playing with your mind Jon!!!   :-D :-D :evil:

Pete
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 24, 2014, 06:19:28 PM
If that's the case, Gregg's gotta be easy to entertain.

HIExpresso - sounds kinda pricey.  Is it more than $12/night?  If so -- what else is there?

Okay, seriously.  I see the list on the ECTA site - which is kinda near the race track, and which has a bad reputation, and which is great except it's about 20 feet from the interstate expressway's crossing over the railroad tracks, and so on.  I know, I know -- I could go back through the various threads and posts and learn the information I'm seeking, but once in a while I like to be ignorant and ask for help. :evil:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: gkabbt on June 24, 2014, 06:34:01 PM
Very easily entertained..... :-D

Try the Wilmington Inn. If I remember it's about $55.00 per night.
The ECTA June and July meets are usually lightly attended (70-80 bikes and cars) so they might have something.
Like the HIE, it's relatively close to the track.

These are the only two places I've stayed.

Gerry/Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 7 & 8 June 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on June 24, 2014, 07:51:53 PM
HIE is about $100/night, and the $60/night Wilmington appears sold out.  As I get other information I'll let you folks know what I find.

Racing ends around 3PM, right?  I expect that we'll be ready to hit the road sometime, therefore, after 3.30.  That'd put us near Toledo at bedtime.  And from Toledo home is only about 7 hours or so. . . :cheers:

I'm about to open a new thread for the July ECTA event, by the way.  This one, while fine and dandy, gives the incorrect information (about the date of the thing) and therefore might as well be corrected.  Maybe I'll just change the title.  Yeah, shoor, dat's what I'll do.

Nope, i won' do dat.  The machine won't let me retitle it.  I thought it would.  Ah, well, look for the new one.

And while you're looking, please be advised that we are planning to do the streaming audio again.  We'll see if we've streamlined (pardon the pun) our efforts to make the audio youse guys hear even better.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 09, 2014, 10:24:39 AM
Well heck/dang/firt/poop.  I tried to re-title this to say July 12 - 13, but I see it didn't take.Read on if you're thinking of W-ton for this weekend.

Franey -- salt262 - just called to say that he cancelled his room at the Wilmington Inn this morning -- and the lady there said that they ARE NOT SOLD OUT.  They do have some rooms available and would be happy to have you decide to stay there.  Rates are about half what the H I Express asks, although the services aren't quite so lavish at the W-ton Inn.  For $50 or so every night -- I'll drive to a breakfast restaurant.  C U There.  We'll roll in about late suppertime Friday.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: MiltonP on July 09, 2014, 11:38:52 PM
Friday night is dinner at the General Denver for some of the folks.  I'ld be honored to buy you and Nancy a round if you make it to town.  If you are going for decent meal on the trip.  It is the best in town for probably the same money as Damon which is next the Wilmington Inn.  Breakfast is usually fruit at the Inn followed by a sandwich at track but Dennys is by inn and fast food on the way to the track. Folks staying at the Denver get some there but haven't found a local favorite for that meal yet!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 10, 2014, 07:14:36 PM
Here's the link to the live audio stream for this weekend at Wilmington.   http://www.meridix.com/everywhere.php?liveid=Landracing

I'm also going to put it on the home page of the website so you can tell all the girls and boys back at home how to find it - without having them need to dig through the Forum.

I may try to set up a tiny URL for it -- lots less characters.  In the meantime this is what you'll need.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on July 12, 2014, 10:26:35 AM
Audio sounds great. 

155 - that'll get Amy her C license.

Congrats!

MM
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on July 12, 2014, 10:33:07 AM
I've got to hand it to Brian - that guy knows how to call an event.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 12, 2014, 05:03:16 PM
Has anybody notice that the system is working okay?  Greg reports that there was an apparent dead time for like a half-hour/forty five minutes - a few hours ago.  Did any of you notice it?  Things are okay now -- I think.

Other than that, Nancy and I crashed from the heat, went to the motel to cool off around 1.30, and now are back here watching things again.  The sun is behind the clouds and it's mid-80s or less, gentle breeze from the SW, and it's all good.  Chances are that we'll end a bit before 8 tonight - we'll see.  And as for tomorrow -- 8 to maybe noon?  WE expect there won't be all that many competitors and the weather will be closing in after that, so. . .

How's it out there in internet land?
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on July 12, 2014, 05:21:26 PM
Slim - I was in and out of the house.  I noticed it had shut down at one point, but I simply reclicked, and it came back.

Sounded good in Beerhaven.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: manta22 on July 12, 2014, 05:27:11 PM
I listened and enjoyed it. The feed stopped a couple of times but as Chris said, a click and it restarts.

BTW, "Wilmington" is misspelled on the pop-up page  :-P

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Graham in Aus on July 12, 2014, 05:54:49 PM
Listened last night........ late, then again now over breakfast! they are calling 10 minutes before closing the track.

Guy on the mike is good! Good to hear the cars / bikes go by!  :-D

Thanks again to all for making this happen!   :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: gkabbt on July 12, 2014, 06:46:52 PM
Thanks all for the updates on how thing are going. Sounds like we're headed in the right direction.
I think the drop in Meridix is from the old desktop we are using. I don't remember that issue at the last meet with my laptop.
Jon is going to look into upgrading to a newer desktop.

We will be back on the air tomorrow at 08:00 AM and my guess is we probably shutdown the meet around noon.

Glad you are enjoying the audio stream!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: RansomT on July 13, 2014, 09:17:51 AM
As of 9:15 am, we are getting no announcer, but hear the vehicles going down the track.  Over the years, I've got pretty good at identifying certain vehicles on the course based on sound, but it is darn difficult to figure out the speed based on the just the Doppler effect.   :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 13, 2014, 09:31:06 AM
I'm willing to go talk into the ambient noise mike if you'd like to hear me, Ransom.  I don't promise it'd be entertaining.  The announcer has made a few comments - every ten or twenty minutes - but there's no regular stream of stuff being streamed 'cause there ain't nothing going on.

Stay tuned - we hope.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: RansomT on July 13, 2014, 10:05:27 AM
I'm willing to go talk into the ambient noise mike if you'd like to hear me, Ransom.  I don't promise it'd be entertaining.  The announcer has made a few comments - every ten or twenty minutes - but there's no regular stream of stuff being streamed 'cause there ain't nothing going on.

Stay tuned - we hope.

That's o.k. ... I heard you already this morning go through some poetry.   :-D
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: gkabbt on July 13, 2014, 02:14:00 PM
Sorry for not posting earlier.
Race was called about 1 hour ago due to the continuing issues with the timing lights.....Never got them working correctly.
Also, Thunder shower came through about the same time and I had to quickly shutdown and pack-up the equipment.

We'll do the audio stream again for the September so stay tuned!

Gregg
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: wheelrdealer on July 13, 2014, 06:47:47 PM
Thanks to all for the live streaming.

BR
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: RansomT on July 13, 2014, 07:39:36 PM
Yes, the live streaming is great!  and the archive ability is even better.

I do have a suggestion that would be easily done.  Announce the current time on occasion.  When you go back and listen to the archive wanting to listen to a freind or even your personal runs, it's difficult to find a specific run.  The time slips have the time, so an occasional time announcement would give a reference to work from.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 13, 2014, 08:07:33 PM
Thanks, Ransom.  That's a fine idea and something I'll figure out a way to do, whether I have to walk up to a microphone and chant the time or figure some auto system that'll give a time announcement -- but I've kindas wondered about finding specific things in the archive and you've given me some good input.

Anyone else?

PS  Ransom:  Dynamite run you made Saturday.  Great sounding, fun watching, and what was it - 238+?  Was that fast time of the meet?  Wish we could have seen more on Sunday, too, but in the meantime -- corngratulations on making a jolly good pass.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on July 13, 2014, 08:12:29 PM
An issue I noticed this morning was wind noise in the mic.  This was to be expected.

The Shure SM 57 being used is a cardioid pattern microphone - in many respects, an industry standard for dynamic microphones.  I can't think of an audio engineer in the field who doesn't have one in his ohshit kit. 

But due to their directional nature, even with wind screens - of which I installed 2 - one can't keep the wind noise from buffeting the diaphragm.

I'd like to come up with a less goofy looking omnidirectional mic for this application, which are much less susceptible to wind noise.

The one we included last year - which never really was properly proven - is actually a half-omni pattern, which is better, but a true omni mic would all but eliminate the noise.

Gregg - we're going to make a broadcast engineer out of you, yet!

Well played, my friend.

 :cheers:

Oh, by the way - Gregg - you left Budweiser in my fridge, I ran out of Pabst, and - well, I owe you a beer or seven . . .
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 13, 2014, 08:22:02 PM
Hay Chris.  I forgot the one mike that was in the crate of stuff that I've still got in the barn at home.  Might that one be an omni?  I'll take a look at it when we get home and maybe get you a part number.  If that's the case we can use it next time.  Thanks for all the help getting Greg (that is his name, right? :evil:) up and going.  I'm not going to stream from SpeedWeek (as far as I know.  If SCTA elects to not do so I'll see if they'll let me do it :-D), but from World of Speed I sure do plan to do so.  I hear the announcer that'll be on the CB for all to hear is a pretty good race event announcer.  We'll see. . .

This weekend made it pretty clear that streaming audio from the Shootout will be a technical possibility - but maybe a practical not worth it reality.  Hours of dead air punctuated by an occasional announcement by Mike Cook (something like:  "Speed Demon is going to run in about 45 minutes, and Nish is buttoning up the bodywork and planning on making a pass later, and Greg Waters is going to town for lunch but does want to make runs this afternoon" - - - followed by a half-hour of dead air.  Then we'll have maybe fifteen minutes of real stuff -- getting in the car, starting the engine, a run with the Rice Brothers announcing speeds, then - - then that's about it.  There's no real announcer and not any information system (like a computer with all of the data in it for said announcer to read to the folks back at home).  I'll be glad to give it a try -- but would appreciate it if one of the folks out there in internetland would show up to be the announcer.  Thanks in advance.

Over to you, Chris.
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: gkabbt on July 13, 2014, 08:34:01 PM
An issue I noticed this morning was wind noise in the mic.  This was to be expected.

The Shure SM 57 being used is a cardioid pattern microphone - in many respects, an industry standard for dynamic microphones.  I can't think of an audio engineer in the field who doesn't have one in his ohshit kit. 

But due to their directional nature, even with wind screens - of which I installed 2 - one can't keep the wind noise from buffeting the diaphragm.

I'd like to come up with a less goofy looking omnidirectional mic for this application, which are much less susceptible to wind noise.

The one we included last year - which never really was properly proven - is actually a half-omni pattern, which is better, but a true omni mic would all but eliminate the noise.

Gregg - we're going to make a broadcast engineer out of you, yet!

Well played, my friend.

 :cheers:

Oh, by the way - Gregg - you left Budweiser in my fridge, I ran out of Pabst, and - well, I owe you a beer or seven . . .


All that was about 500' over my head except the thing about Beer!
Maybe I need to hang out at a freeway exit with a sign that says:
"Wannabe Broadcast Engineer Will Work For Beer".......LOL...LOL...LOL    :cheers:  :cheers:  :cheers:

Gregg

PS
As for the owing me a Beer or 7, it has to be paid off at my house in NC.....so you and Kate, come on down!!!!!
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Stan Back on July 15, 2014, 06:33:28 PM
I tuned in on once for about 30 seconds -- all I heard was the wind noise.  Led me to believe I was "hooked up".  So maybe it's not that bad(?).
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on July 15, 2014, 07:19:07 PM
Stan - and everyone that might be interested:

Well, let's see.  If you heard only wind noise - it makes it difficult to be sure you're hooked up to the streaming sound.  We could find an announcer to sit/stand there making totally inane remarks and talking about things he used to do and trying to tell lousy jokes and otherwise filing the blank time between runs, or instead we can try to find something that's a little bit worthwhile to let you know you're listening to our program - when there's no "real" audio being sent down the wire.  What would you prefer, or should we first bother with trying to make sure what we do send is reliable and easy enough to link up to?

I thought so. :cheers:
Title: Re: Live audio from Wilmington on 12 & 13 July 2014
Post by: Stan Back on July 15, 2014, 08:13:04 PM
We had the inane announcers at SpeedWeek -- I never lasted more than 3 or 4 minutes.