I'm trying to tighten up my aircheck. So...you pro - vet - super DJ's; what is your best advice on making the best damn aircheck that was ever made? Software? Hardware? Stunt double?

I'd say go back to college and get a meaningful degree that'll ensure you a job in a field with a future. Forget airchecks as nobody wants or needs them any longer.

If you MUST stay in broadcasting, however, get into engineering or management. That's my 2-cents.

Ouch talk about harsh. I have studied media in all formats the past four years in school. Radio and TV (ratings are really down)are suffering. Why? Well internet, mobile media (ipod, cell phones, PSP/DS)are diversifying the market. Does that mean the two are dead? No, it means the
old model needs to adapt to the new technology available. Rating's systems will have to change (in the works) and the way in terms of radio content is destributed needs to expand (Podcasting, live internet feeds, MP3, good old fashion AM/FM). This is all happening now. I know change sucks and it's costing a lot of hard working people their jobs but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. I'm still young I'm a handful of classes away from a bachelors degree I have a nice wall full of accomplishments, and I was on the air at an not to be named FM station. I just want advice on tightning up my demo. I've heard the business sucks before..hell the entire economy sucks but if you want something bad enough and you have the fortitude to do it. WHY NOT?

Put your best breaks at the beginning of the aircheck. Many PDs only listen to the first couple of breaks before they hit stop.

I've put together airchecks using reel tape (in the old days) and Adobe Audition more recently. What you use to create your aircheck is not as important as what the PDs hear on your demo (as long as the sound quality is good).

Here's a great site for aircheck examples.
http://www.theaircheckdepot.com/audio/

Good luck with your job search.

Go Dirk!!

Changing does suck, but it happens suckage or not. If you really want it, you are highly likely to be one of those people still around for those changes.

Might even profit from them.

Subscription podcasts are taking off nicely. So are webcams (why did this take so long?), linkable downloads, playlists, and more are here on some of the more trendy efforts.

IMHO, there is so much existing radio infrastructure and there is no beating the use value radio has over all the other technologies.

Most all of the other things you listed require other enabling technologies to be really useful. Radio can and will continue to stand alone, meaning it's always an option when enabling technologies are not available or do not make sense.

Radio almost always makes sense, and that's the competitive feather in it's cap that will take it through the long haul.

IMHO, the core problem(s) are:

content innovation is needed

Somehow, new content forms that leverage new media when appropriate need to happen with more frequency than they are right now. Personally, I think that takes people, but it might just be an aggregation problem. (leveraging new content produced outside the mainstream, established channels.

set better radio expectations

Radio is taking a beating over it being OLD. OLD is not necessarily bad. It could mean robust and vital, for example. That's how we see radio depicted in the movies. So the elements are there, but I think lots of people just like to bash things to generate controversy.

Sure would be helpful if we didn't have the industry itself often saying radio sucks. Should be rule #1 -- Radio Does not Suck. Build from there.

(And it just doesn't suck, but too many people like to say that. I'm a new tech kind of guy and all the new stuff is great, but so is plain old radio.)

Anyway, I for one, support anybody wanting to do what they love and who appears to have the attitude to get after it. Cool.

Why not get really good at the Internet / Computer stuff? Being able to double dip appears to be core right now. Seems to me a perfect value add for you, while you search.

Mike Kolb...I totally disagree. I'm a prime example of a person who has adapted to the changing ways of radio.

I don't have a full time gig in radio, but I still get to be involved with a radio show through voice tracking. During my 5 years at Z100 (all part-time) I was introduced to the digital revolution.

Along with Matt Jones' help and a pretty hefty learning curve I have been able to sustain a decent living in the voice over industry along with my wife.

Dirk-I agree with Steve Naganuma, like a voice over demo, give your most marketable breaks at the start and don't have too much music being played. let them hear you. If you got some phoners great, show off your interaction skills.

Keep it short, PD's usually decide within the first break if you're a keeper or a sleeper.

Like anything you have a passion for do your best and learn as much as you can. And as you'll find out you're always learning new stuff.

Thankyou, thankyou, thank...you all are wonderful. Even the negativity helps, it keeps me motivated. I have diversified what I have learned in college and have gained valuable experience with webdesign, video production (a little), and have been rebuilding computers since my comador 64. Technology is king and it's ever changing. I'm glad I'm not alone at welcoming that change.

C64 Huh?

Atari Guy here. Same deal though. Started working with them at an early age and never looked back.

Good to hear others doing the same kinds of things. Computers are a lot like radio is in a way. Started out working with high end SGI systems. Now, it's all so cheap it's silly. Core skills never seem to die though. I might be one of the last, but I still make money on that stuff.

What Chris is doing makes a whole ton of sense, BTW. With networks today, and powerful computers for the home, it seems to me the barrier for entry on a pro quality home studio is just not that high.

From there, generating content has got to work. There is a vacuum right now, created by the tons of choices people have. (most carry the same crap and could use clear differentiators)

Steve's right Dirk! Also as you venture down the road and get more under your belt with experience from station to station, like creative liners, sweepers, etc., DON'T put them on there. Save that for the batch when they ask what else can you contribute on the creative side.

A great buddy of mine plan on doing mornings together someday, hopefully before I die, and he sent off some stuff to a place I was full time a while back. I had to tell him, get rid of the extra, the OM didn't want it, just the voice. He was too proud.

However, time goes by and he finally tweaked it down a notch, and landed. Plus, he took the advice I gave him and picked up some MD stripes which will eventually get him his APD stripes. I was able to jump past those and right into PD, but just like Mikekolb mentioned above, try to get some management. I waited nearly 20 years before I did, and now wished I had done in MUCH sooner. Sure I'm in a smaller market, but love sailing the ship, especially when I think about all the places I've worked and titles I've held, then realize, I can kick the competitions butt with my eyes closed. P:LOL

Keep the fire alive! If you have the passion, then be ready for the rollercoaster ride of good and bad, but plenty of fun too. My wife knows I don't make much, good thing she make more ... but respects my passion for the business!

Good luck, MANY of us have been where you are now!

I would say put in as many different examples of your capabilities as possible. I can't tell you how many aircheck recordings I've heard that consist of ten or fifteen cuts of the jock doing the same darn thing over and over. "Live" recordings are best; almost anybody can sound professional if they have 100 takes to do it. If you do voices, accents, etc., make sure you contrast examples of them, with stuff like newscasts, traffic reports, PSAs and the like. Remember, the more jobs you can do, the more valuable you are to a potential employer. This is especially true in a market where you have multiple stations owned by a single entity -- you enhance your employability if you can do a shift on the AOR station in the morning, traffic reports in the afternoon, and play Christian music after dinner! (I have a friend who does this schedule.)

I agree with Steve: Open with great stuff.

The average PD gives you two sets, probably one, to decide if they're going to listen to any more of it or move on to the next of many others. They are busy (busier than ever these days) and they need to quickly cull the wheat from the chaff.

Remember: The PD assumes this is your best work, or you wouldn't have sent it to them. Listen with a critical ear. If it isn't your absolute best, don't send it.

Keep the aircheck under 2 minutes and if they want more, they'll ask for it.

You guys are so helpful. I'm trying to clean up and cut together things from the past and lay some stuff down in my homestudio/office/nerd paradise. Again, I wasn't expecting all of the useful teachings. Thank you all.

Dirk....I would be more than interested in pre-viewing what you have when you're done. You can send me an mp3 and I'll give you my honest feedback.

Just wanting to help.

I will take you up on that.

Here's some aircheck advice that you might find helpful. Be sure to scroll down near the bottom of the page. There are also some good "Tips & Warnings".

http://www.ehow.com/how_2133126_radio-dj-aircheck-tape.html

Dirk-

I will be getting you some feedback in about a week or so. Things got crazy but I have not forgotten about you.

Patience please.

It is all good.