Oh? Start your own radio show? Boy, you are really aspiring. Just to make sure that I don't accidently get your hopes up, I'm going to tell you that this only teaches you how to put one together. Putting one on the air is not covered here. We do cover on how to make a pseduo-station online, but that's it.

Are you still interested? If you aren't click here. If not, keep reading. I enjoy doing this and I hope you do too.

STEP 1

The important things about a radio show is the following. You need actors, subject, script, and equipement. I'll cover each in the order given.

No radio show will go anywhere without people to act in it. It's not the same as acting in front of a video camera, but nevertheless you need actors.

SUBJECT

So, what do you plan to have your radio show about? If you haven't thought about it, you've got to now before continuing on. I'll give you a little while to think about it...........................................................................................ready?

if you still need assistance here are some ideas. A audio story (like the old Sherlock holmes with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce), Talk show (ed Sullivan show), Sit-Com (life with Riley), Comedy (Jack Benny Show), etc. You can think of something.

I think this maybe the only thing that is optional. I know with some of my radio shows I've done, it's easier for me and my friends to make it up as we go then to write it down on a script. I perfect example of this is the radio series I made called "Lost!" and "Stargate: Our Way".

This only really works if the people you have working with you are talented and interested in doing it like this. General Smith in Stargate:Our Way was better and being told his lines first then act it out while my brother Timothy and I can make it up as we go along.

The Disadvantages of doing it without a script is you have more bloobers and confusion sometimes in the story. People sometimes speak out of turn and other things. For some comedies (like Stargate: Our way) it was worth doing it that way and it gave the series a flavor.

With a script, you can read off of it as you go and you'll always have the lines with you. You are not being filmed and so you don't have problems that way.

There are really more disadvantages to doing it without the script then with it. The big thing is not as much flexablility with a script and that you have to wait till it's finished to use it.

It is really your choice on which one you want to use.

There are two types of equipement for you to use. There is the Taped radio show and the computer radio show.

The taped radio show is where you get a blank tape and put it in to the tape player and record. Sound effects are laid in by playing the sound through something and recording both at the same time.

Computer radio show is where you use the microphone on your computer to record your voices and overlay sound with a sound editing equipement. Mostly using Cool Edit.

Some people only have the equipement for Taped Radio shows so it's more then likely better for you to do those if that's all you got. That also gets you to perfect your skill till you move on.

STEP 2

This section is dedicated to Taped Radio shows because recording with a computer is very simple. I'll explain that in Step 3.

Alright, you have your tape player and blank tape. Everything is working and you should have no problems. To make sure record a little bit of your voice and make sure it comes through okay.

If you are not adding any sound effects then just immediatly begin recording and wants your done acting it out, your done. Really simple. If you plan to add sound effects, you'll have to do it the Jonathan's Way. (unless you have a mixing board, then that makes it easier.

First of all you will need a walkman or a CD player, depending on how your sound is recorded. What you do is with the Recording tape on pause, you listen through the walkman and make the sound effect is ready to be played. Then you take one of the ear pieces and place it against the microphone of the tape player. Then you start the tape again and continue the part, when you need your sound effect, hit the play button on the walkman. Does that make sense?

Some people have suggested that I play the sound or music from another player so it's easier. I've never tried it, but logically thinking, it would be muffled from the distance and tinny sounding. If you try it and it worked for you, let me know. I just may try one of my own.

If you plan to do more then one radio show, I would start a tape dedicated to sound effects only and mark it as such so you don't accidently delete them. I've learned from experience with that.

With the Jonathan's Method it takes some practice and experimenting. I've been doing this since I was 13 years old and the system I got setup works nicely. Only recently have I converted over to Computer radio shows.

Speaking of Computer radio shows, Let's move on to that subject.

STEP 3

Computer radio is recording your radio show on your computer. This is a more specialized (and sometimes more difficult) then the other. With a tape you can play it after your done recording it and you can take it anywhere. You can't do that with a computer.

If your still interested in doing it on the computer you will need a recording program and a sound editing program. I use my internal mike on the computer and Cool Edit 96.

Alright, you start the record button on your radio and you start recording and talking making your show. You do not have to stop for any sound effects like you would in Taped recordings and once you are done, you just choose the file-->Save As button and save it.

ALL your sound effects have to be on your computer unless you recorded the previously from your tapes. I don't do that because of my tinny speakers. You could have a better recorder then I do.

Now, I'm going to explain the next instruction by using Cool Edit 96. Most other editor programs are the same. You just have to find the correct buttons. The screen shots are from Cool Edit 96.

Alright, the first thing we are going to do is cut out the voice parts we do not want. (NOTE: you can't cut out certain noises. It has to be a whole section.)

Once you have deleted the sections you don't want, it's time to play it through and listen to the stuff you have finished. Picture the story as it's happening and listen for where sound effects should go. Once you have a general idea, it's not time to insert the sound effect. (NOTE: You've got to have the sound on your computer).

Go Edit-->Mix Paste and click on it.

This next screen looks complicated, but it isn't. What you are seeing is the mix-paste screen where you can adjust, pick your sounds, and overlay them.

First of all you click on the "From file" button and the "Browse". This'll bring up a window that allows you to navigate your files. Navigate to the folder that you have your sound. Once you have found it you can then adjust the volume and decide if you want to insert it directly or insert it so it overlaps.

The difference is that if you don't overlap, the sound is directly inserted at your place that you specified. If you want it to be a background noise or a gun shot as people are talking, then you'll have to overlap.

The Volume slider is how loud or soft the piece is that you are inserting. 100 is the normal volume of the sound. I found that you have insert certain pistol shots louder then if you wanted background rain or any other background noise. If the background noise is to loud, it'll drown out what the actors are saying.

Well, that is the most important thing, inserting sound. With the rest of the equipement you'll have to figure out what it does yourself. This tutorial would go the wrong direction if went in depth of using Cool Edit. Maybe I'll write a tutorial on the uses later.

Well, once you have the finished product, you may now show your friends, family, and anyone else you want the cool radio show you made. Congratulations!!!

RESOURCES

This tutorial may have covered all the stuff you need to know on HOW to make it. Now, this place will tell you WHERE to get your sound effects.

Have fun perusing this sites. Some are graphic laden while others you have to search for the sounds on their website. I have looked them over and made sure there isn't anything offensive.