august black

Userradio mixes the new technologies of personal communication with “old” broadcast radio technology to create an instrument for collaborative networked audio production, where an unlimited number of individuals can mix multiple channels of audio simultaneously and together from anywhere on-line using a standard (for the time) flash-capable browser.

screenshot of userradio showing 4 audio faders

graphic of 3 people connected to a radio tower through network

The audio output of the application is broadcast on terrestrial FM radio and the users are ideally within the broadcast diameter.

I initially built UserRadio in 2000-2002 for the fundamental radio show where Markus Seidl and I would stream and play sounds directly from our own server that was connected to the radio transmitter on Radio FRO. Since then, I have also used this interface at various festivals and happenings.

Userradio works with both stored audio files (on the server) and live streams from the internet.

diagram of 3 computers connected to server connecte to radio tower

Userradio works with both stored audio files (on the server) and live streams from the internet.

UserRadio was a central part in the radio and communication project, “Open Air: a radiotopia”. Part of the 2002 Ars Electronica in Linz, UserRadio controled the 4 sets of 100,000 watt speakers of the OMV klangpark. It has also been a part of the Radio Oltranzista and Aaniradio temporary FM stations.

Credits

concept and software: August Black

Related Publications

August Black. 2004. Userradio. In Proceedings of ACM Multimedia, New York, NY, USA, October 10 - 16, 2004. ISBN:1-58113-893-8 DOI: 10.1145/1027527.1027570