KSER Weekend Mailbox

It’s the weekend. And time for another edition of the KSER Mailbox:

Dear Tom@KSER.org:   I hear you guys talk about your radio replayer. But what the heck is it?  There are some past shows I’d like to hear, but not sure how to do it. Help?   Robert, Arlington

Robert:  It’s easy. We archive all of our shows for two weeks. So anything you’ve heard in the past 14 days you can listen to again (or for the first time) online.  Just go to our website, www.kser.org. On the left side of the home page, click on listen live, to hear what’s on the air now or click on Radio Replayer to listen to past shows.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  A friend of mine says that all radio stations these days do what he called ‘voice tracking’ and the on-air people are actually recorded and not even in the studio. I told him it sounds like the KSER people are all in the studio.  Am I right?  What is voice tracking?  Diane, Everett

Diane:  You are right. And your friend is almost right. Many radio stations use a technique called voice tracking. The DJ records his ‘talking’ segments (the times he/she talks between records) in digital audio.  Then a computer program inserts those talk breaks between the songs being played on the station.  Sometimes there is no DJ in the studio at the time you’re listening.  Sometimes the DJ isn’t even in the same city or state.  Some DJ’s will voice-track shows on multiple stations.   We don’t use voice tracking at KSER.  Our DJ’s and local news hosts are all live.  And our local hosts are in the KSER studios.  

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I like how sometimes you guys have local bands in the studio answering questions and performing on the radio live. I just heard Austin Jenckes a while back, by accident.  Is there anywhere you can let us know in advance when you’re having bands on KSER?  Brad, Mill Creek

Brad:  Glad you like that. Austin Jenckes of Duvall (now living in Nashville) was on with Ron Taffi  on KSER’s Sunlit room two weeks ago.  Sometimes we find out on very short notice that bands/performers are going to be on the air.  But we’ll try to post a notice in advance online and on the KSERfm Twitter feed. Coming up next Thursday at about 1 p.m. Ron will have the Bellevue band Sightseer in studio.

Sightseer

Dear Tom@KSER.org: My husband and I love KSER and we like to contribute when you do your pledge drives. We love supporting local community radio.  But we were on vacation in July and we learned you did a pledge drive while we in Hawaii.  Can you tell us when you will have another pledge drive?  Doug & Sarah, Marysville

Sarah & Doug:  You are the first known humans to ever ask for a pledge drive schedule!! But, since you asked, the next KSER Pledge Drive starts Friday, September 28. But, you never have to wait for a pledge drive to support KSER. It’s fast and easy online and available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Heck, you can even go to the KSER website and purchase cool shirts and water bottles for your next trip to Hawaii!

Way Cool Water Bottle

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I drove by what I guess is the KSER building on Wetmore this week. Sheesh, what kind of place do you call that?  Nickie, Everett

Nickie:  Most of us refer to it as the KSER World Heaquarters or the KSER Compound. But, mostly, we just call it home. By the way, did I mention that you can donate to KSER online 24/7?

KSER World Headquarters

 If you have a questions, comments, compliments or even gripes you can leave a message below or email Tom@KSER.org.  Have a nice weekend!