THE advent of mobile phones has also brought about running live wireless soccer commentaries; the commentator speaks through the cell phone like an ordinary call.
Much as the innovation does not require much technical set up, it takes away the sound effects, which are most important factor of live broadcast.
Sound effects (or audio effects) are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasise artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media.
Sound effects are as important to radio listeners as pictures and good grammar can be to television viewers and newspaper readers respectively.
Those who heard fallen soccer commentator guru Dennis Liwewe run live soccer commentaries would remember how he, at some point, allowed ‘noise’ from the crowd into the microphone.
The sound effect came in whenever Zambia scored, Liwewe went; it’s a Gooooooooal!, andhe would  let the background cheering noise loud into the microphone to the listeners.
Apart from giving minute- to- minute descriptive actualities of the match with appropriate words, the sound effects made listeners ‘watch the match’ by listening to radio commentaries.
Liwewe’s son Ponga, now Football Association of Zambia general secretary who sometimes ran commentaries with his father stated that it took the full participation of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) engineers to come up with good quality commentaries.
“We had sound engineers who made sure they balanced our voices well, they knew what to do with the main commentator and co-commentator’s voices,” Ponga said.
CHIMWEMWE
Radio Chimwemwe’s Lameck Zulu, otherwise known as Four Legs was running live soccer commentaries of the football match involving Forest Rangers and Nkana from Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe last weekend.
In that match, which ended 4-1 in favour of Nkana, Zulu deserves commendation for being brave to take up the responsibility to run live commentaries.
It must be noted that running live commentaries is not an easy undertaking, it takes a commentator to WATCH, PROCESS and INFORM listeners simultaneously.
That means, as the commentator could be watching the match, he must find appropriate words to explain such actualities to the listeners in split seconds. Now, that is tough.
With such commendations, Zulu, however, needs someone along as he runs commentaries. With another commentator alongside; Zulu could be taking breaths and sip water at intervals.
Listeners will agree that it is difficult for anyone to speak for an hour without taking a break, therefore, it is the co-commentator who will give the main commentator time to regain breath.
With many years of experience, Dennis Liwewe always had someone with him in the commentary box, if it was not Lazarous Kanyungu, Frank Mutubila or Macha Chilemena then his son Ponga was at hand.
It was from that scenario a joke emerged that during a live commentary Liwewe asked for a comment from Ponga, who referred to him as Dennis.
It was alleged that when Liwewe asked Ponga for comment; “Over to you Ponga,” then Ponga answered, “Yes Dennis,” and Dennis said, “No Ponga, am your father, don’t call me Dennis.”
RCV
Radio Christian Voice (RCV) listeners on the Copperbelt have an opportunity to meet their presenters at this year’s Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola.
Being a Lusaka-based radio station with fan base across the country, it is good initiative for the radio station to have a one-on-one interaction with the people they only hear on air.
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Manasseh, the man we knew as MKV in the circular musical world is now a born again gospel singer. He appeared on RCV night light last week.
Manasseh who was presenter for that particular hour preached, prayed and played his own music during the show.
It was interesting to hear Manasseh encourage listeners to turn to God each time they were faced with challenges.
ICENGELO
Kellys Kaunda, one time Media Institute of Southern Africa Zambia chairperson was on Radio Icengelo hosted by Ackim Mugala to discuss the role of journalists during the campaign period.
Kellys’ explanation was that just like any other profession, be it medical doctors, engineers and others would serve society with impartiality, journalists were not exempted.
LETTERS
Mukanaka wrote referring to last week’s column in which we questioned some radio presenters’ habit of reading time in old way; “Hi Jack, my favourite radio station in Chingola says; “The time is 50 minutes past… should this be ticked? Should it be 10 minutes to?”
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Kennedy wrote referring to our write up about Witchdoctors advertising on radio; “Hi Child of God, surely, we have witchdoctors advertising on the national radio station. It is on radio One, especially before ‘Ilyashi lyapano isonde,’ Witchdoctors should not be given space in Christian nation like ours.”
Stay tuned, don’t touch that dial! – jackmwewa@gmail.com   0955115777