• Cliquetez ici pour télécharger la version française de langage de la page de FAQ (.pdf 80kb) version 2001                                         

• Click here to download the Russian language version of the FAQ page (.pdf 174kb) version 2001
                                            

• When is the summer time change in 2010?                                         

The summer time change for 2010 will take place on the night of the 27th to 28 March. On this date, GMT=Central European Time (CET) +2hours
    

• What is the EBU Musipop system?                                          

The EBU Musipop is an audio file transfer system. All concerts on the Euroradio satellite channels, Ravel & Verdi, are recorded by the EBU Geneva Musipop PC as WAV files. They are subsequently converted into FLAC files and sent via satellite over a dedicated 4.8Mbit/s xtranet channel to member stations. Concerts are stored on your local Musipop PC for up to 2 months (memory with standing) from where they are transferred to your local hard drive playout systems. Member stations who are outside the satellite reception of the xtranet channel, can receive their concert files via automatic FTP transfer. There is a web-site dedicated to this system at http://musipop.ebu.ch/info/info.htm   The EBU LOUNGE username/password is required to open this page. If you do not have such a password, please contact cutliffe@eurovision.net  

• What do I do if a concert is missing from my local Musipop PC?                                           

Simple. Email cutliffe@eurovision.net or robineau@ebu.ch and the concert will be sent to your local Musipop PC via satellite. The EBU intends to keep a library of concerts in Geneva for a period of 5 years.

• What is a FLAC file?                                           

FLAC means Free Lossless Audio  Codec. In short, it is a way of reducing a very large music file size into something more manageable. It is similar to making a ZIP file. A music file can be reduced in size by 50 to 60%. As the conversion is lossless, the audio quality is preserved. If you wish to know more about the FLAC format, contact cutliffe@eurovision.net  or ask your I.T department.

• Why should I use the FLAC format?                                            

The FLAC format will allow users to take a concert, with a duration of approximately 2 1/2 hours, and burn it onto a standard CD-ROM disc, as apposed to making a standard music CD, which will only hold 80 minutes of music. A FLAC format CD copy is a less expensive, very fast and a reliable replacement to making DAT tape copies. For the recipient, it only takes a few minutes to transfer the CD FLAC concert onto their PC!

• I cannot play a FLAC file concert on my PC. Why?                                             

To play a FLAC file concert, using Win Amp for example, will require your I.T department to install a plugin on your PC. This is easily done. The FLAC software is available free to download from the EBU web-site. Click here for the FLAC exe file. 

• Can I receive Musipop concerts over the internet or FTP?                                            

Yes. For member stations who do not possess a Musipop PC, the EBU has the possibility of sending audio file concerts over the internet to members. For more information please contact  tribolet@ebu.ch 

• What is the dBpowerAMP software?                                            

dBpowerAMP is a software which allows users to take a music CD and copy it onto your local PC hard drive. It will also allow users to convert music files to/from various formats, i.e, WAV, FLAC, MP3 etc. It is a fast, simple and easy to use software. Users must purchase a license from www.dbpoweramp.com . 

• Do you wish to know what time it is anywhere in the world?                                         

There is a very helpful timezone web-site which will give you the time of anywhere in the world, today or at any given date in the future. visit the Time Zone Converter site at; http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc 
    

• Who should I telephone at EBU Euroradio for assistance outside normal office hours?                                         

Please call the EVC television control centre (Contacts). 
     

• Why are the audio levels on the Euroradio satellite network sometimes very high?                                         

There appears to be a difficulty in understanding the difference between analogue and digital PPM meters when recordings are being made. Here are a few pointers:   

+18dB on an analogue PPM=0dBFS on a digital PPM. This level of peak programme recording is unacceptable over the Euroradio network, but it happens? +9dB on an analogue PPM=-9dBFS on a digital PPM. This is the expected programme peak MAXIMUM level. Your transmission recording should not peak above this level. 

0dB on an analogue PPM (TEST on an EBU PPM)=-18dBFS on a digital meter. This is EBU TEST level. Call the ERC for audio alignment tests if necessary. 
  

• What happens during the transmission test period?                                         

There is generally a 30 minute test period before every live transmission. However, should an international ISDN or PTT circuit form the contribution circuit, the test period maybe extended to 60 minutes. The origin is expected to play the Euroradio test CD. 
    

• What is an EDS technical synopsis?                                         

An EDS (Euroradio Data System) technical synopsis is a document which lists the necessary contribution/distribution circuits to permit your radio station to transmit/receive a particular Euroradio transmission. In short, it informs you of the transmission date, satellite channel, test and programme times (always given in GMT) and the types of co-ordination circuits to be used with ERC Geneva. All EDS synopses can be consulted on this internet site. See the EDS database. 
    

• Can I receive technical synopses via e-mail?                                         

Yes. Technical synopses are automatically distributed by EDS via e-mail and simultaneously via fax. If you are happy to receive synopses via e-mail only, you may ask the EBU to stop the fax distribution. 
    

• When is an EDS technical synopsis sent to the network?                                         

The MUS programme database has a 'dead line for order date' for each transmission. An EDS technical synopsis is issued the following working day to that mentioned in MUS. 
    

• Can I automatically redirect technical synopses within my organisation?                                         

Yes. Ask your I.T department to create an e-mail reflector address. Example; EURORADIO@YourRadio.xx. You decide who should receive a copy of the synopses, ie, programme department, circuit planning office, master control room and/or international relations. Send the new e-mail address to cutliffe@eurovision.net who will update the EDS distribution system. 
    

• Where do I find programme information relevant to a transmission?                                         

The MUS database contains all the necessary programme information pertaining to a particular transmission. It is a password protected site. All transmissions have a unique MUS reference number, typically SM/07/xx/xx/xx or EURO/2009-2010/x/xxx. Contact the EBU (for a read only access password) or your own international relations department for assistance. 
         

• When should we play the Euroradio signature tune?                                         

The Euroradio signature tune should be played upon programme start and end. It should also be played at the start/end of an interval. 
    

• Who should I call during a transmission if there is a problem?                                         

Section 1.4 of the technical synopsis gives the telephone number of the organisation responsible for the technical co-ordination of a given transmission over the Euroradio network.  
                              

• Can the Euroradio Control Centre in Geneva transmit DAT tapes?                                         

The EBU no longer supports the DAT format as a means of exchange between members. Preferred media are FLAC files or CD audio if necessary. 
           

• I wish to purchase an ISDN codec. Which type should I choose?                                         

Let us look at some options:   

- Telos Zephyr (& Telos Zephyr X-stream). An ISDN codec which can transmit 20kHz stereo of MPEG layer 3/AAC @ 128kbit/s. G.722 and miscellaneous coding standards are also available. Very realible and simple to use. visit: http://www.zephyr.com  

- Mayah Centauri 3001 I & II. The ERC installed a Mayah ISDN codec in July 2003 and August 2005. This codec can transmit high quality stereo depending upon the software options you choose to buy at the time of purchase. The ERC unit has the standard MPEG layers 2 & 3, MPEG 4 AAC, MP3 PRO and APT-X. This codec has proved easy to use and realiable to date. visit: http://www.mayah.com

• I do not have a copy of the Euroradio operations audio test CD 2000?                                         

Call the Euroradio Control Centre and the new copy will be sent to you via satellite or placed on an FTP server for you to download. Tel. +41.22-717 2770.