To me, the biggest issue for HPR is, and always has been, attracting contributors. It stands to reason then, that lowering the barrier to entry matters more than anything else, including raising the audio quality. While many longtime podcasters find the process of recording quality audio to be trivial at this point, I'm not one of them. It's precisely why the audio quality of a number of my own contributions has been so bad: because if I didn't compromise on the quality, I couldn't contribute at all. Granted, I owe Ken and the community a show or three right now, but my point stands.
How many thousands of downloads does HPR get per episode, on average? I don't have that stat handy, but others do, and it's not small. Now, compare that to the number of active contributors. Whatever that statistic is, I'm willing to bet it IS small. We need more hosts, and first-time hosts are rightfully intimidated by the process. While we do run the risk of getting some shows that are either unlistenable (audio quality-wise), or expressly NOT of interest to hackers (some of my stuff), I personally believe emphasizing audio quality -- at least outwardly, to potential hosts not subscribed to this list -- would be counterproductive to attracting new contributors. I've no doubt we lose some listeners due to the audio of a few shows. That's unfortunate. But I've also little doubt we lose potential hosts, who find the process of contributing to be insurmountable. That's flatout tragic. So many people listening feel that they don't even have anything worthwhile to SAY, let alone the knowledge to put it out there. Until we can make headway against that sort of thinking, I can't see throwing up more barriers to entry. HPR is a hungry beast; it's not at all picky about what it eats, but it needs constant feeding. On 4/25/21, hpr-requ...@hackerpublicradio.org <hpr-requ...@hackerpublicradio.org> wrote: > Send Hpr mailing list submissions to > hpr@hackerpublicradio.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://hackerpublicradio.org/mailman/listinfo/hpr_hackerpublicradio.org > > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > hpr-requ...@hackerpublicradio.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > hpr-ow...@hackerpublicradio.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of Hpr digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: Article by hedorah on HPR (Klaatu) > 2. Re: Article by hedorah on HPR (Nigel Verity) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2021 07:26:19 +1200 > From: Klaatu <kla...@mixedsignals.ml> > To: hpr@hackerpublicradio.org > Subject: Re: [Hpr] Article by hedorah on HPR > Message-ID: <2925017.bBLNATMyRD@beast> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > The question raised by this blog post feel valid. I think the things to > consider are: > > * How do we encourage increased quality without also excluding those for who > > good audio quality is difficult to achieve? > > A proposed answer: maybe we have volunteers to help "produce" shows, rather > > than to generate content? In other words, if we aim for 1 show a week, then > > instead of $JANITOR feeling the best way for $JANITOR to contribute is by > pumping out 3 episodes to fill slots, $VOLUNTEER would instead "foster" in a > > new host, with consultation on how to achieve good audio quality, etc. > > * How do we reduce frequency of shows without also making a new host wait > for > months before their show goes live (an excellent de-motivator). > > Proposed answer: commit to 1 show a week, but allow for spontaneous > "impatient" bonus episodes. > > * Fewer episodes per week doesn't guarantee that $LISTENER is going to > suddenly be more interested in each episode, or even that $LISTENER will > feel > the audio quality is "good enough". The world wide audience is _huge_, and > each person has their own requirements for what they put in their ears, > and > these requirements can change with mood, weather, or whatever else. > > Just my thoughts. I personally enjoy the daily release schedule, but I > wouldn't be surprised if I also enjoyed a weekly release too. > > -klaatu > > On Sunday, April 25, 2021 9:39:26 PM NZST nstr wrote: >> On 21-04-24 20:02, BK Navarette wrote: >> > Funny, why does the blog writer not do show? Give an example of >> > quality. >> > Or if they are shy use espeak or a volunteer to read i out, I'd be >> > willing to help with either. >> > >> > Brian-in-ohio >> >> Hello, I'm the author of the post. >> >> I regret writing this post in hindsight. 'Quality' was a bad choice of >> words. I also enjoy the DIY rawness of HPR and I certainly don't want it >> to be more polished, in some professional sense. I've should have >> replaced 'quality' with 'to my subjective interest' or something along >> those lines. >> >> The main point was to bring up the question of perhaps keeping empty >> slots empty. As a non-contributing listener it's not my place to try to >> impose my ideas on the project. Therefor I choose to post it on a >> personal blog rather than, for example in this mailing list. >> >> As for the reason I'm not submitting a shining example of a quality >> show I've been a listener since at least hpr0980 :: Broadband for Rural >> North and I've considered this many times and attempted it a few but I'm >> terrible at podcasting and after this I don't want to be known as the >> asshole who complained about HPR quality but still submits shows. >> >> It was not my intent to offend anyone and I regret my choice of words. >> I have huge respect for all of the contributors and I want to apologize >> to all of you. I'm sorry. >> >> All the best >> -- >> rtsn >> >> PGP: 8F72 C5BE AAFA B4BA 8F46 9185 5C39 89E0 616B B08C > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2021 19:37:29 +0000 > From: Nigel Verity <nigelver...@hotmail.com> > To: Claudio Miranda <clau...@linuxbasement.com> > Cc: "hpr@hackerpublicradio.org" <hpr@hackerpublicradio.org> > Subject: Re: [Hpr] Article by hedorah on HPR > Message-ID: > > <db6p189mb0551af581c0574e1499e1587a3...@db6p189mb0551.eurp189.prod.outlook.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Asked in isolation if the audio quality of any recording is important my > answer is a unequivocal "Yes". Asked in isolation if coherent and eloquent > speech is important my answer, again, is "Yes". > > Despite this I feel there are circumstances where the message is more > important than the quality of its delivery, and HPR is one of them. In the > case of just about every podcast outside of HPR the presenters have > willingly put themselves forward because they have sufficient confidence in > their ideas and their ability to deliver them verbally that it is neither > daunting nor difficult for them. HPR is different. We have, of course, more > than our rightful share of great speakers who are also very adept at > producing high quality audio recordings. However, unlike other podcasts many > of our contributors might best be characterised as the kid sitting at the > back of the class who has something to say that is important to him but is > worried his ideas may be criticised or even ridiculed. His natural > inclination, therefore, is to say nothing at all. > > For a lot of contributors that first show may be a frustrating or even > harrowing experience to produce - with sections being re-recorded perhaps > over and over again in the hope of getting it "right". However, some of the > best shows in terms of interesting content come from contributors who are > clearly not at ease in front of a microphone. For high audio quality to be > deemed a key attribute of what constitutes a good show is perhaps one extra > burden on the nervous or reluctant contributor that might just prevent them > from submitting one at all. > > The stats demonstrate that it is considerably easier to attract a new HPR > listener than a new HPR contributor, so it surely follows that it matters > less if occasional sub-optimal audio quality deters a listener than the > drive for audio excellence deters a potential contributor. > > My own view is that part of the charm of HPR is precisely that you never > quite know what you are going to get - especially when it is the first show > of a new contributor. It is very rare for me not to listen to every show as > it is released as I have come to realise that subjects that on face value > have little interest to me often turn out to be quite the opposite. The > technical expertise of many contributors is both inspiring and instructive > but I have enjoyed non-technical shows every bit as much - such as Dave > Morriss' pen collection, Klaatu's urban camping or Christopher M Hobbs' > lunch breaks being particular highlights for me. > > So I find myself both agreeing and disagreeing with Claudio at the same > time. Best possible audio quality? Absolutely, but in the case of HPR in > particular not at the expense of content quality. > > Beeza > > LibreOffice - Free and open source office suite: LibreOffice > Website<https://www.libreoffice.org> > Respects your privacy, and gives you back control over your data > > ________________________________ > From: Hpr <hpr-boun...@hackerpublicradio.org> on behalf of Claudio Miranda > <clau...@linuxbasement.com> > Sent: 25 April 2021 19:08 > To: nstr <n...@riseup.net> > Cc: hpr@hackerpublicradio.org <hpr@hackerpublicradio.org> > Subject: Re: [Hpr] Article by hedorah on HPR > > Hi nstr, > > Since I follow you on Mastodon, I noticed the article when someone boosted > it and decided to give it a read. I also join in with the others in saying > that an apology is not necessary and I also believe you made some great > points. > > Personally, I don't mind if the shows aren't polished as far as the > recording is concerned. In some instances, maybe the volume is a bit too low > and I just can't be bothered, but if someone records something from their > phone on the way to work (which I have done as well as some others that have > contributed), that's OK for me. It doesn't have to be polished as those > "AAA" podcasts do, but it also can be if that's what the contributor wants, > so long as the content is "of interest to hackers," the slogan of HPR in the > first place. There have been some episodes I've heard that were a bit raw > but provided some amazing info, and others that were a little more polished > but personally saw no value in them. It is a rare occasion that I skip an > episode even if I think I won't be interested, but it happens, and even > that's fine because not everything will appeal to everyone. > > As far as the schedule is concerned, it hasn't been something that's > affected me directly. That being said, I know I need to contribute a show > because I want HPR to continue for a long time. Life just gets in the way > sometimes. All things considered, you've given everyone a lot to think > about given all the mailing list responses from your blog post, so that's a > win in my book. > > Welcome to the community! > > -claudiom > > On Sun, Apr 25, 2021 at 5:40 AM nstr > <n...@riseup.net<mailto:n...@riseup.net>> wrote: > On 21-04-24 20:02, BK Navarette wrote: >> Funny, why does the blog writer not do show? Give an example of quality. >> Or >> if they are shy use espeak or a volunteer to read i out, I'd be willing >> to >> help with either. >> >> Brian-in-ohio >> > > Hello, I'm the author of the post. > > I regret writing this post in hindsight. 'Quality' was a bad choice of > words. I also enjoy the DIY rawness of HPR and I certainly don't want it > to be more polished, in some professional sense. I've should have > replaced 'quality' with 'to my subjective interest' or something along > those lines. > > The main point was to bring up the question of perhaps keeping empty > slots empty. As a non-contributing listener it's not my place to try to > impose my ideas on the project. Therefor I choose to post it on a > personal blog rather than, for example in this mailing list. > > As for the reason I'm not submitting a shining example of a quality > show I've been a listener since at least hpr0980 :: Broadband for Rural > North and I've considered this many times and attempted it a few but I'm > terrible at podcasting and after this I don't want to be known as the > asshole who complained about HPR quality but still submits shows. > > It was not my intent to offend anyone and I regret my choice of words. > I have huge respect for all of the contributors and I want to apologize > to all of you. I'm sorry. > > All the best > -- > rtsn > > PGP: 8F72 C5BE AAFA B4BA 8F46 9185 5C39 89E0 616B B08C > _______________________________________________ > Hpr mailing list > Hpr@hackerpublicradio.org<mailto:Hpr@hackerpublicradio.org> > http://hackerpublicradio.org/mailman/listinfo/hpr_hackerpublicradio.org<https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhackerpublicradio.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fhpr_hackerpublicradio.org&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ce9ae746a81d74318c07308d908155e9e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637549710137788988%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=ZFL4NHjrfVBbChkgdvHEI8ZQ6rDnShMFjDnb6FQ2oF0%3D&reserved=0> > > > -- > Claudio Miranda > Contributor - Hacker Public Radio > http://hackerpublicradio.org<https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhackerpublicradio.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ce9ae746a81d74318c07308d908155e9e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637549710137798982%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=TruGBbqFoH8buVmVrKmed6T%2B9jyuen75Xvac5SXS0Cs%3D&reserved=0> > > > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > <http://hackerpublicradio.org/pipermail/hpr_hackerpublicradio.org/attachments/20210425/82201251/attachment.html> > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Hpr mailing list > Hpr@hackerpublicradio.org > http://hackerpublicradio.org/mailman/listinfo/hpr_hackerpublicradio.org > > > ------------------------------ > > End of Hpr Digest, Vol 151, Issue 9 > *********************************** > -- http://www.cavalcadeaudio.com/ _______________________________________________ Hpr mailing list Hpr@hackerpublicradio.org http://hackerpublicradio.org/mailman/listinfo/hpr_hackerpublicradio.org
