Re: Recording BBC radio

On 2005-07-19, Bruce Stephens <bruce+usenet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Whiskers <catwheezel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> [...]
>
>> Then they are trying too hard. All I want to do is 'time shift'
>> retrospectively, which is a lot more convenient than predicting
>> which programme I might want to hear at some time other than the
>> scheduled broadcast and setting up a tape-recorder to grab it off
>> the air 'in real time' (which has been common practice since
>> tape-recorders became popular in the 1960s, and standard operating
>> procedure with TV programmes since the advent of the VCR).
>
> That's what they're trying to allow, I think (for 7 days after
> broadcast, anyway, which I think is a bit mean for some of the
> once-a-week series they have on BBC7). It's just that the Radio 3
> implementation doesn't work for me where the Radio 4/BBC7 ones do. So
> I think it's (arguably) a bug rather than a deliberate feature.

Bug or design fault. I hope the BBC can start to use it's own FOSS methods
soon. Too bad the Ogg Vorbis streams were discontinued; I do not like Real
Player - it just doesn't work very well for me, quite apart from the
proprietary aspects. (I'm happy to use proprietary software that works
well; Opera is my default browser).

>> I do understand the BBC wanting to protect their copyright material
>> from 'piracy', and pirate copies are a lot easier to produce using
>> computers and the internet than using a tape-recorder, but what they
>> are doing can be circumvented by anyone determined enough, so it
>> will only deter the honest or lazy - witness the rapid availability
>> of "mp3" versions of the latest "Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
>> series in the bunny groups.
>
> Well, in that particular case they had high quality RealAudio and WMA
> streams, nicely cut to the right length (most of the Radio things seem
> to be a bit random, as though they weren't sure when the thing
> actually began or ended).
>
> I'd guess the MP3 downloads will expand a bit.

I expect the H2G2 pirated things were carefully recorded in real time from
the "Freeview" or "digital satellite or cable" broadcasts of Radio 4; the
quality is very high, better than DAB let alone VHF-FM or web-streams. The
BBC 'listen again' streams seem to be created automatically, with a 'bit
extra' at each end to allow for slight variations in the timing of the
first-time streamed broadcasts.

We shall probably be able to buy official tapes or CDs of the latest H2G2
radio series - they may even be available now. Such things are 'nice
little earners' for the BBC.

--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^
-- Whiskers
-- ~~~~~~~~~~
.

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