testraub Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 (edited) I AM getting a EDM transmitter this year and would like to RDS the song titles, etc. But I'm torn between the RDS model and non-RDS model. Currently I use a WHT 2.0 (and it works fine here, do so let's leave THAT subject alone), but want just a little more "reach" But the main question is "Do you use RDS or not" It's not about the transmitters, just RDS. ThanksTom Straub Edited December 25, 2012 by testraub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Simmons Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 I vote NO to RDS.From what I've read, which admittedly isn't much because I usually skip those threads, is that it's a PITA to set up. I'll use that time better elsewhere. But that aside, why in the world would you want someone to be looking at their radio instead of your lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdracer Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 I voted no on the RDS, I own the non RDS model for the simplicity of things... works good and less headaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffl Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 It's one of those features that I find is "COOL" but adds very little benefit. I tried RDS as well as changing my BetaBite scrolling message board every time a song changed. In the end all it did was give me more grey hair and I don't think nobody seen it or cared.Lastly is just caused my sequences to load slower because it has to execute the windows command.I think some of these things fall under the category "just because you can doesn't mean you should". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallleyes Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 I use the rds.But all i use is the radio text.All you have to do is enable the radio text in the tiny rds.Every 30 seconds it sends out the rds.You can have 4 lines of text total.I have the kids come up on the sidewalk and then we hand out bags of candy and glo bracelets to them.I also wish everyone a merry christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsMeBobO Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 It's one of those features that I find is "COOL" but adds very little benefit. I tried RDS as well as changing my BetaBite scrolling message board every time a song changed. In the end all it did was give me more grey hair and I don't think nobody seen it or cared.Lastly is just caused my sequences to load slower because it has to execute the windows command.I think some of these things fall under the category "just because you can doesn't mean you should".Not one person has ever told me they saw the RDS. So I do think its cool but completely worthless. But I would have to disagree on the load part. Are you using an 8086 computer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I'm a techno-geek, so I think IF I do a music synced show next year, I likely will have it, but I do not know if I will go to a music synced show next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I personally think the RDS is a waste.. think about like this.. once they pull up and find your display they are so engrossed watching it that some of them don't even think about shutting their headlights off..If they are looking at the radio display they are not interested in your show.. At least that is how I see it..My 2 cents.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkChaser Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I didn't think it was too difficult to setup. And I have had people comment that they noticed. I run the song info and the show times. To me it's worth it. I wouldn't upgrade the transmitter just to get it, but if you are already planning on buying one then why not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iflights Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I didn't think it was too difficult to setup.Totally agree. It was not difficult to set up. I liked having it this year, and for only a small $ investment it was worth including as part of the show. The voting seems to be split down the middle on this, and that would be exactly how I'd expect it to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imacericg Posted March 2, 2013 Share Posted March 2, 2013 It's one of those features that I find is "COOL" but adds very little benefit. I tried RDS as well as changing my BetaBite scrolling message board every time a song changed. In the end all it did was give me more grey hair and I don't think nobody seen it or cared.Lastly is just caused my sequences to load slower because it has to execute the windows command.I think some of these things fall under the category "just because you can doesn't mean you should". How much does it slow down loading sequences? fractions of seconds? seconds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffl Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 It's not a matter of how fast the computer is. When the windows command runs sometimes there are lags when it talks to the BetaBrite. In my case 150' away. The lags may have only been 3-4 seconds in some cases but that's long enough when I'm watching that I start to think something is wrong. I ran without using windows command except for at show start and show stop this year and it was nice to not have the headaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I vote for no,folks should be watching your show and not the radio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis p Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I vote NO to RDS.From what I've read, which admittedly isn't much because I usually skip those threads, is that it's a PITA to set up. I'll use that time better elsewhere.But that aside, why in the world would you want someone to be looking at their radio instead of your lights?im with George on this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasmadrive Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 We can't even get people to turn off their headlights because they get engrossed in the show.. I doubt they would even see the RDS.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imacericg Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Thank you! Last question: Is the lag with the text going to your BetaBright sign? Or with the sequences? Meaning there would be a 4-5 sec "dead air" pause in between songs? (Which I don't want) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffl Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 The delay is waiting for the sign to update. This happens between sequences so there is black space in your light show while it happens. It's like the show goes dead, no lights, no music, nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I use a LOT of "unknown" songs to the typical listener..so being able to tell/show them what song they are listening to is beneficial..I think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 (edited) I mentioned this in a thread many months ago, but instead of RDS I use another FM Transmitter close to the same frequency as the music and all it broadcasts is the song playlist in the exact order and what I do is mix the actual audio from the Light Show computer into my aux FM transmitter so if the viewer changes frequency he can still hear the song in the back ground, I get positive feedback on this from the viewers, I used to have a How Its Done thing, but the people were more interested in whats coming up Edited March 3, 2013 by PMC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imacericg Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I was able to get my RDS working with little trouble. I received my EDM-LCD-RDS-EP over the weekend and followed the RDS setup guide and got it work. Did a little testing, and there doesn't seem to be a longer wait in-between the songs, which I was fearing. I think RDS is a nice bonus, not necessary, but a nice touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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