PSBLUploader
The PSBLUploader is a Mac, Windows and Linux client side utility that performs a number of important audio-processing functions for the Podango Show Builder Lite Platform. The functions are:
- RMS Normalization. At the core of our technology is the ability to assemble shows from audio components. As a result, each component must be adjusted to the same apparent loudness as all the others. One cannot merely use peak levels as a guideline for loudness because different waveforms of the same peak value can represent widely differing power levels, and it is power, not voltage, which correlates to what we perceive as loudness.
- MP2 Encoding. We use MP2 (MPEG-1 Layer II) as our interchange format. Unlike MP3 (Layer III) files, which are intended to be used only as a final format, MP2 files may within reason be decoded, modified, then re-encoded as MP3s. MP2 is the intermediate-format standard in the radio broadcast industry.
- Uploading. The PSBLUploader includes a secure and structured upload system so that components are uploaded only by authorized individuals, properly named, tracked, and uploaded to the proper user account.
- The Levelator. The complete functionality of The Levelator is built into the PSBLUploader. The user may elect whether or not to add this stage of processing via the "Auto Levelate" option box under the Configuration > Personal Option menu un their PSBL Platform account.
PSBLUploader Controls
The PSBLUploader interacts closely with your web based Podango Show Builder Lite account. No settings are made in the desktop client but instead are set in you GVM account. You can control the PSBLUploader choices via the Configuration > Podcast Configuration menu. The PSBLUploader will react accordingly as you enable or disable settings via your online GVM account.
Use With The Podango Show Builder Lite Platform
If you're creating audio components for your GVM account, use the following instructions:
Download and Install the PSBLUploader
Install as appropriate.
Editing
- Use your standard tools for editing the audio, but focus on getting the mix to sound good with even levels throughout. Don't perform any normalization. Even if the peaks are many dB below 0dBFS (Full Scale), don't worry about it. The PSBLUploader will adjust that. Just get the best mix you can with levels that are consistent.
- Lead-Ins and Trail-Outs. Because components will be assembled into complete shows, you must include silence at the start (lead-in) and end (trail-out) of your tracks. (See below for suggested settings.)
- Lead-In: always 20ms of silence, regardless of component type
- Complete Sentences and Sentence Endings: 400ms silence trail out
- Unfinished Sentences: 150ms silence trail out (such as for credit intros like "The Series Producer was...")
- Components with music to follow 150ms after fadeout etc., for a tight segue to music
Prepare your Audio
- Save your file in a lossless format, .WAV or .AIFF. The sample rate must be 44,100Hz using 16 or 24-bit samples. If your original is recorded at a different sample rate, you must re-sample to 44,100Hz. Save as mono (one-track) or Stereo (two-track). Please remember that unless you need the use of stereo, you are increasing the size and time it will take to convert and upload your files. It is recommended to use stereo only when stereo separation is required. To use Stereo, enable the "Allow Stereo" checkbox under the Configuration > Podcast Options menu.
- Start the PSBLUploader application. It will prompt you for your username and password. This is the same username and password you use for your GVM platform account.
- Simply drag and drop your .WAV or .AIFF file onto the program's window.
- Enter the Metadata. Depending on what type of component your are uploading, click on the associated radio button and enter the appropriate information:
- Show Body. If you're uploading the body of a program, enter the ID# of that show. [original filename is irrelevant]
- Show ID. If you're uploading a Show ID (examples would be a short segment at the top of every show), enter the ID# of that show.
- Spot
- Other. If you're uploading any other type of component (intro, outro, etc) enter a simple filename for the component. Do not include any path prefix or filename extension such as .mp2 or .wav. The system will add these as appropriate.
Process
- Click on the Process button. The file you have submitted will first be normalized to our standard loudness level, then encoded in MP2 format and uploaded to GVM platform show-assembly system. You can observe the progress in the PSBLUploader window status bars.
- Remnant Files:
If you like, the PSBLUploader will leave behind its temporary files, which you may find useful. This setting is controlled by the "Save Tempfiles" checkbox under the Configuration > Personal Profile menu.
- .norm.wav is the output of the normalization process.
- .norm.mp2 is the output of the MP2 encoding process.