Controller, BBC Radio 3

[french frank]

Opinions obviously differ about the CD-based, presenter-led programmes. One thing I would venture to suggest. It doesn't matter a jot who the presenter is, what they play or what other content is included: some people will like it. But whether it is right for Radio 3 is the central issue - not just a 'different' issue.

[antongould]

Opinions obviously differ about the CD-based, presenter-led programmes. One thing I would venture to suggest. It doesn't matter a jot who the presenter is, what they play or what other content is included: some people will like it. But whether it is right for Radio 3 is the central issue - not just a 'different' issue.

But is there an agreed definition of what “ ….. is right for R3 ….. “ ….. ?????

[oddoneout]

I don't think that's a correct conclusion. 'Us ancients', streamers or not, aren't a problem for the Beeb: 'we' listen to the radio as well as streaming. The 'yoof' (your word) are abandoning radio, and that's the problem for the traditional networks which the BBC is trying to solve by putting on 'pop' (broad sense) singers &c as DJs, playing their kind of music, even on Radio 3.



A change they have succeeded with is getting (older) R3 listeners hooked on presenters. All/most of the shortcomings are forgiven if you like the presenter. I don't believe that, even in the days of Patricia Hughes (who? before my time), Tom Crowe, Cormac Rigby and the rest of them, listeners considered them central to the programmes. RW even started naming programmes after the presenter - Rob Cowan, Iain Burnside, Andy Kershaw: this was later dropped but the presenters remained the lure. But wasn't the article right - that these presenters are no sort of lure for a younger generation, no matter what the content? The obvious next trick is to introduce presenters who (hopefully) will appeal to younger people but who know little about classical music. Mentioning no names.

The announcers in olden times were not the dominant presence current presenters too often are, but for this listener they did very much contribute to the listening enjoyment, and Patricia Hughes was a favourite. They "set the scene" of settling down to listen, with clear calm voices giving the necessary information about what was to come. When coping with mishaps (in live concerts such were often piano movements, or lack of) they recognised that a certain amount of silence wasn't a disaster so long as listeners knew the reason, and it wasn't a cue for panicked or inane verbiage and gap filling.

[gurnemanz]

Opinions obviously differ about the CD-based, presenter-led programmes.

I'm ignorant here. Out of curiosity, does Radio 3 still broadcast directly from physical CDs or from some kind of computer storage?

[hmvman]

Which is why I listen mostly in day time to

https://areena.yle.fi/podcastit/ohjelmat/57-llL6Y4bl

Finnish classical music station, full of surprises amongst usual favourites etc, WHOLE works 24/7.
Don't speak Finnish, but there is a translation available for everything online.

Thanks to your recommendation, Draco, I listen to this station a lot now when I'm at home near our internet radio and it's a joy. As you say, the website gives all the necessary and relevant info.

But when away from home, in the car, morning listening is a problem. I do listen to EC as it's preferable, just, to CFM. But it's not a joy....

[gurnemanz]

Thanks to your recommendation, Draco, I listen to this station a lot now when I'm at home near our internet radio and it's a joy. As you say, the website gives all the necessary and relevant info.

But when away from home, in the car, morning listening is a problem. I do listen to EC as it's preferable, just, to CFM. But it's not a joy....

YLE is one of several good random playlist classical stations I have as a preset on my internet radio. It has the drawback that unlike most of them it doesn't give a now playing readout, just an announcement - in Finnish - before and after. I don't know Finnish and, as you say, you have to go online to their website find out details of work and performers, which is an annoyance and a distraction.

[french frank]

I'm ignorant here. Out of curiosity, does Radio 3 still broadcast directly from physical CDs or from some kind of computer storage?

No, I don't think they physically put CDs into a player, but the music is mostly from CDs, not 'live' (both senses!) music.

[french frank]

But is there an agreed definition of what “ ….. is right for R3 ….. “ ….. ?????

Probably not. As I see it, for many people 'if I enjoy it, it's okay on R3'. Are there people who don't bother to stop and think about what R3 'should be' as long as it's mostly dishing up what they enjoy?

[Sir Velo]

No, I don't think they physically put CDs into a player, but the music is mostly from CDs, not 'live' (both senses!) music.

"Recordings" shall we say? It's quite probable R3 is broadcasting downloads much of the time. After all CDs are just one among many digital media these days.

The end selection playlist challenge can be interesting, some of the listener input adds facts not just opinion

Surely the job of the presenter or am I missing something? :):

[Ein Heldenleben]

I'm ignorant here. Out of curiosity, does Radio 3 still broadcast directly from physical CDs or from some kind of computer storage?

I would be surprised if they’ve ingested the entire library of CDs and vinyl as that would be a mammoth task and take up a large amount of memory. My guess is that the majority is preingested the day before transmission. but that occasionally CD’s are played on spec. I do know that the local radio playlist , which is a limited number of recordings is all digitally stored. From what I remember CD players , which were just coming in when I left , had a horrible habit of glitching even though they were very high spec professional ones. So much so that the more cautious producers copied them to tape.

[french frank]

From what I remember CD players , which were just coming in when I left , had a horrible habit of glitching even though they were very high spec professional ones. So much so that the more cautious producers copied them to tape.

Yes, and I read some years back that they had more than one CD player (i.e. probably two) so that they could switch players if there was a malfunction. More recently the phrase 'play out'? has been used, though I'm not sure exactly what that meant. However, the phrase CD-based means that these are commercial recordings which some listeners might well have in their collection. Presenter-led CD-based programmes are ones like Breakfast and Essential Classics, plus the late night offerings with Little Mix or whoever they've roped in for duty on R3. CD Masters and Mixing It were the 'gold standard' with knowlegeable presenters talking about the music they were playing. Hard work for listeners to Breakfast no doubt but Essential Classics could graduate (under a different name) to being a classical MUSIC programme with the likes of ... oh, I don't know ... maybe presenters like Jonathan Swain, even Rob Cowan if you could stand the talk of rucksacks and garden sheds.

[oddoneout]

"Recordings" shall we say? It's quite probable R3 is broadcasting downloads much of the time. After all CDs are just one among many digital media these days.

Surely the job of the presenter or am I missing something? :):

From this evening's schedule

19.50 Interval (off CD)

Listener input tends to be viewed negatively, with considerable justification in the earlier versions of the morning programmes, but has moved on now; references to domestic matters, people, animals, of no interest to the outside world, are just about non-existent. I agree that the imparting of facts should be part of the presenter's job, but no one person can know everything and the contributions from listeners about composers, performances, etc in connection with the music played can add to presenters' knowledge as well as that of the listeners. The playlist challenge, by its nature, can elicit those.

[Old Grumpy]

Yes, and I read some years back that they had more than one CD player (i.e. probably two) so that they could switch players if there was a malfunction. More recently the phrase 'play out'? has been used, though I'm not sure exactly what that meant. However, the phrase CD-based means that these are commercial recordings which some listeners might well have in their collection. Presenter-led CD-based programmes are ones like Breakfast and Essential Classics, plus the late night offerings with Little Mix or whoever they've roped in for duty on R3. CD Masters and Mixing It were the 'gold standard' with knowlegeable presenters talking about the music they were playing. Hard work for listeners to Breakfast no doubt but Essential Classics could graduate (under a different name) to being a classical MUSIC programme with the likes of ... oh, I don't know ... maybe presenters like Jonathan Swain, even Rob Cowan if you could stand the talk of rucksacks and garden sheds.

Ah, yes. Rob Cowan...

... I missed this http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...-by-Classic-FM
the first time round. I didn't realise he'd left CFM!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Yes, and I read some years back that they had more than one CD player (i.e. probably two) so that they could switch players if there was a malfunction. More recently the phrase 'play out'? has been used, though I'm not sure exactly what that meant. However, the phrase CD-based means that these are commercial recordings which some listeners might well have in their collection. Presenter-led CD-based programmes are ones like Breakfast and Essential Classics, plus the late night offerings with Little Mix or whoever they've roped in for duty on R3. CD Masters and Mixing It were the 'gold standard' with knowlegeable presenters talking about the music they were playing. Hard work for listeners to Breakfast no doubt but Essential Classics could graduate (under a different name) to being a classical MUSIC programme with the likes of ... oh, I don't know ... maybe presenters like Jonathan Swain, even Rob Cowan if you could stand the talk of rucksacks and garden sheds.

In live broadcasting you tend to have an absolute minimum of two of everything technical - two mics rigged on each contributor for example . With digital servers I’m guessing they back everything on a computer in the cubicle - that’s what happens in TV . If anything servers are more unreliable than CD’s.

[Old Grumpy]

In live broadcasting you tend to have an absolute minimum of two of everything technical... .... If anything servers are more unreliable than CD’s.

Or, indeed, CD players!