Monday, February 9, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Evaluation
I believe that my radio show is quite accurate with existing sport-related radio shows, for example 5Live or others. I feel that my target audience was reached on the basis that it was a sports-related show and it appealed to all age groups, from the younger generation to the elderly. I brought in a relevant guest (an all-round sportsman), and this is the factor that I feel would appeal to the older generation, for example I included sound clips of snooker and table tennis, not necessarily sports that younger people would watch. With these archive clips and a 'famous' guest alongside me, I feel that this made my radio show more believable and more relevant to the cause.
Other Codes and Conventions that I included were the show host, a jingle and a guest, which are the key factors of a radio show.
I feel that my jingle followed the C&C's used in normal radio shows, in the sense that it was catchy, short and distinguishable from other jingles. I believe that this jingle is not particularly 'sports-esque', however it still serves it's purpose as a catchy jingle. Included in the radio show is a bedtrack, which I feel diverts the audiences attention more towards the host of the radio show. It is a calm bedtrack, which is easy listening; elevator-esque. The bedtrack, again, is not necessarily associated with a sports show, however I believe it still serves it's purpose of being a smooth tune and something that can be easily spoken over.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In terms of social groups, I don't think that it represents any in an obvious way, however I feel that the slightly hectic introduction jingle can represent how sport, in some cases, can be quite fast-paced. The bedtrack is slower, thus showing how sport can on the occasion be slow-tempo and calm, for example snooker (one of my archive clips can relate to this representation).
The use of a 'well-known' sports personality will be relevant to most, even non-lovers of sport and so this media product can be shown to include all members of the public, thus representing that celebrities will be widely known, even out of their niche audience.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I believe that the most common media institution, the BBC, would distribute my media product. For this to happen, I would obviously have to make things more interesting, and make the jingle slightly more relevant for the cause. Clarity in the archive clips would be needed also as this shows bad sounds, which is not particularly good for a radio show. I believe that this radio show could compete with a sport show on the BBC, whether it be Radio 5, 6, 7 or 8. I feel that my radio show has enough about it to become a widely listened to programme.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
As stated earlier on in the project, the audience for my media product would be for 15-60 year olds who share a common interest; that of sport. I feel that it is not necessarily relevant which class of people tune in (be it ABC1, C2DE), as long as they tune in to find out more about the sport that they are interested in. I believe that all communities can come together to share their views and opinions on the sports that the love, and therefore my media product is not specifically classed, however it was aimed at 15-60 year olds.
How did you attract/address your audience?
My audience was attracted by my use of jingle and bedtrack, not to mention the topic of my radio show. I feel that the jingle was catchy, thus enticing the listener to listen more to the show. The bedtrack was calm, which would keep the audience listening after a sudden change of genre. I feel that it does not matter what jingle or bedtrack you are using, so long as your radio show has a specified point or topic of conversation which would appeal to the public. I believe that my radio show has a vast audience and therefore this alone would attract my audience.
In terms of addressing my audience, I feel that I incurred a fairly laid-back approach, giving the listener something easy to listen to whilst they drive home from work, as this is what time I was intending for my radio show to be broadcast. The topic of conversation is what I feel would attract my audience, and the tone of voice used would address the audience well.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
From this project, I have learnt how to capably use GarageBand pre-, during and post-production. This includes creating loops, tunes and rhythms to effect. With this newfound knowledge, I feel that I will be able to further construct a radio show to a full length discussion, whilst keeping the same topics and such going. I have learnt how to alter settings, such as sound and volume of different tracks, and this I feel will be a valuable concept to take into later life.
Overall, I have learnt how to use GarageBand consistently and to, I hope, a high-quality.
Voice
Me : Hello and welcome to Sport on Eight, with your host Gary Coward. With me today is Dom Norman, a talented all-round sportsman. Here are some of your best bits... (Archive sound clips play)... Hello Dom, lovely to have you here. How are you today?
Dom : I'm very well thanks Gary
Me : Great news, we'll talk more about you after the news
I finished with a fade out and another of the radio sounds.

This clip shows where the voices were placed in relation to all the other aspects of my radio show. These were placed accordingly and, when there was no sound, the bedtrack was louder to ensure that there was no silence in my radio show.
Archive Clip

Bedtrack

Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Making my jingle

This image shows the screen that we are greeted with when opening the GarageBand software. This opens with a pre-selected track (grand piano) with an interactive piano which you are able to create a tune. I decided to stray away from the improvisation and use the loop instead, shown below this text.

I started off with some pre-recorded radio sounds, which I had to create myself. This was simple, as when radio sounds was selected from the 'instrument' section, shown to the left.Once decided which of the options for radio sounds I would use, I set about recording it. I opened up the keyboard from earlier, which gave me a wide range of radio sound options. From these options, I chose the best and most relevant for a radio jingle. To record, click on the record button (red) and simply key in the tune / rhythm that you require.
After the radio sounds are sorted, it was time to place in the loops. I chose to use 'Headspin Short' and 'Galleria Short' as the main beat for this. I felt that this loop sounded the best and would be the best way to introduce my radio show, as this was a distinct loop which would, hopefully, be instantly recognisable. After placing these two loops, I then chose to cut 'Galleria Short' into two sections. This enabled me to create a finishing beat which would indicate the end of my jingle. This finishing beat was a distinct beat which ensured a smooth transition.
The finished introduction is shown below:

I feel that the jingle has met the criteria that I stated earlier on in this project. I feel that it is catchy, creative and sounds good.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Planning
- An introductory jingle
- A presenter, introducing the show, themselves and welcoming their guest
- The guest's response
- The archive sound clip, relating to the guest
With these in place, my audio project will have conformed to the codes and conventions required within this project.
An introductory jingle - With this introductory jingle, I will use GarageBand, an application for Macs. GarageBand is used to create different tunes either by the user typing / playing the specific notes, or by the user creating / placing pre-recorded loops into different positions which will combine to create a nice sounding piece of music. Within GarageBand, there are many different genres from rock to jazz, and within these genres are unique instruments from distort guitar to dark organ. By using the effects of GarageBand, I aim to create a catchy introductory jingle that will conform to my target audience.
A presenter, introducing the show, themselves and welcoming their guest - As I am the presenter, I will need to introduce the show appropriately so as to appeal to the target audience. My guest will have to be relevant to my target audience, therefore it will have to be sport orientated. I will record the show using a dictator from Mr. Winn's vast supply of media-related technology. I will write a script so that I know exactly what I am going to say and therefore have no stumbling blocks which would cause silence, being bad in radio.
The guest's response - My guest will be a classmate. I will write a script for my guest so as to ensure a smooth transition between me introducing them and them responding. The guest will be standing / sitting next to where I am so that there is not a big noise difference from different rooms etc.
The archive sound clip, relating to the guest - I will record the sound clip as a different clip in a different area so that it is distinguishable from the dialogue between me and my guest. I will introduce the sound clip by saying something along the lines of "Now lets hear some of your best bits". This sound clip will, again, have to be relevant to my target audience and therefore will have to be sport-themed.
If I follow these 4 key points then I will have conformed to the requirements of this particular task and I will have therefore created a popular and successful radio show.
