If you’ve never tuned into the Ally Bally show, regardless of where you live in the world, why not tune in today from 1PM GMT, lots of fun, great music, your requests and gossip.
Tune into the Ally Bally show online at inverclydefm.com
Just a quicky note to say that I’m filling in for Dave Faller this Tuesday at 6pm, so you can catch an extra dose of the Ally Bally show after work. It’s on at the usual time on Wednesday as well. Hope to catch you on Tuesday where we will be talking about all things nasty that involves hair!
My bad, I totally forgot about these photos from last Saturday at the oak mall, here’s Dave Faller (mr PC), wee Craig and the auld yin (Willie).
You have no idea how hard it was to get them to all sit, look at a camera and muster something that resembled a smile. Christmas cheer indeed!
Big shouts to all in Port Glasgow tonight who were there to see their Christmas lights being switched on.
My Home Studio Rig
As you can see from the above photo, I’ve got myself a home studio rig together. It consists of a Numark C3 USB mixer, which is basic but provides all the bits and bobs I need, especially handy is the USB feature which allows for USB audio IN and OUT. As you can see I’ve also got an XLR mic, which is a Shure SM58 plugged into it, and of course, the necessary laptop powering the whole show. I’m using the MacBook Pro. At this time I’m just going to use iTunes to play my music, but we will see how that goes. To stream the audio to the Inverclyde FM Studios from Edinburgh (which is why I’m doing this in the first place), I’ve purchased a license for Nicecast. It’s essentially a nice wrapper to icecast for the mac, but lordy lordy it makes setting up the stream a breeze. Icecast, even for a seasoned tech-head like me is a bit of a pig at times and I really need something that just works at the click of a button. This provides that task and quite a lot more besides. I was missing that certain something punchy like a cartridge loader for my jingles. We use the ENCO DAD system at IFM, but since that costs thousands of pounds, I won’t be entertaining that!. Instead I bought for £17 a neat bit of software called Soundboard . The idea behind this software is that it allows you to cue up and make small edits (like fades and effects as well as volume) to your sound files. You get an array of up to 32 sound files at a time (you can have as many arrays open as you like though). Each item on your soundboard can be kicked off by pressing the relevant launch key, for example, 2 for the second sound file. It works great for jingles and so forth so that was a great addition to the armoury.
I’m using the open source, free sound-editing software, Audacity for any major editing work, and I’ve made a few jingles in Apple’s Garageband, which is reasonable-ish. The main reason I’m still using iTunes is I have yet to find some software (ideally free) that gives proper Play and Stop features as well as a Cueing mechanism. I’m not talking fancy-schmansy stuff like pitch bending or mid-track cue here, I’m just asking to have something to cue an mp3 to the first bit of audible sound, ready to be played like you would a CD in a Denon player or equivalent. A wee brucy bonus would be to have the ability to fire off your next cued music whilst your first one is ending, so it gets mixed a little. I downloaded PaceMaker, which is really nice (and now free) but that’s way more than what I’m looking for. If anyone has any ideas for me, I’d love to hear your comments!
Anyway, I’m pleased to say I’m now cooking on gas, so with any luck I should be good to go from my own home studio in Edinburgh on Wednesday 23rd Dec. I probably won’t manage the Saturday show on 19th December as I’ll be moving home the day before, but you never know!
As I said a couple of blogs ago, I’ll be in the Oak Mall shopping centre as part of St Andrews Day & Homecoming Scotland 2009′s finale. The Christmas tree lights will also be switched on later, but there will be lots of song and dance, live music, bands and other great stuff happening in the Oak Mall from 11am tomorrow morning. I’ll be on air at the usual time of 1pm but I reckon I’ll be along a little earlier.
Highlights include songs, dance and music from Port Glasgow High School, as well as local primary schools. A farmers market will be available in Clyde Square (weather permitting) and lots more besides.
You can catch the Inverclyde FM mob just by O’Briens sandwich bar in the Oak Mall. Thanks to iZone web cafe for helping with the rig on the day.
Remember to pop up and say Howdy Doody to me and I’ll give you a shout out on air!
Yeps, it’s the middle of the week again folks. It can mean only one thing. Time to strap on the pants of pride, put the headphones on, tune to inverclydefm.com and let me come into your ears (if you pardon the pun).
All the usual nonsense is on tonights show including the ‘Hard One’, where I play a short snippet of a song and you have to guess what it is. If you guess correctly, then you too can wear this weeks pants of pride and claim rightly that you are truly brilliant. Everyone will love you and champagne will fall from the heavens but only for the weeks duration.
So, if you’ve no idea what I’m babbling on about, just tune in with your web browser or iTunes (or other media player) tonight from 6pm to hear lots of good laffs and music. Don’t forget, if you want a request, a shout out of a wee menchie, gonnae no text me or put it on Facebook, because I can’t really read it while I’m in the studio. Instead, simply email me or text me at the studio:
Email: studio@inverclydemedia.com
Text: 07811 963 860
Till tonight peeps…
Hello everyone. Fairly excited to say that this Saturday, Inverclyde FM Online will be coming to you from the Oak Mall Shopping Centre in Greenock. From 10 in the morning we will be hosting a variety of Scottish dance, song and other shenanigans.
The children from the local schools will be involved in many of the acts during the day, as well as some local talent from Inverclyde. It is being held for two reasons. Firstly, it’s the end of the Scottish Government’s Homecoming 2009 campaign, which celebrates St Andrews Day and also the event of the Greenock town Christmas light switch on.
I’ll be in the Oak mall from 1pm until around 2.15pm. If you pop up and say ‘Howdy Doodie’ I might even let you on air!
Don’t forget tonight from 6pm the Ally Bally show returns only on Inverclyde FM Online!
If you have any requests, dedications, shout outs, mentions or other trivia please get in touch, love to hear from you!
Get In Touch!
E-Mail: studio@inverclydemedia.com
Text or Phone: 07811 963 860 (texts charged at standard operator rate).Make sure you tell us who and where you are!
…Alternatively leave a comment on this blog and I’ll try to remember to read it whilst on air.
Tonight’s show kicks off at 6pm right after Dave’s Workday Hits. The usual competition ‘The Hard One’ will be on at 6.30 so get your headphones on or your speakers up high and listen in to guess what that music is! The winner as usual will win the now (in)famous Streak-free ‘Pants of Pride’.
Every Thursday night at 7.30 - Ally Bally goes through his voicemail to hear what nonsense you have left on his answering machine. If you have something to say (anonymously or not) then drop him a line at any time on 0843 2895653.
Calls are charged at a lo-call rate but will cost considerably more from mobiles. Ask bill payers permission.
Gossip Column
