Category Archives: Station News
We’re now available in AAC
We are pleased to let you know that in addition to our existing mp3 audio stream, we can now be heard in AAC, which may offer improved quality including better stereo and a cleaner sound, particularly as we improve other parts of our broadcast chain to match.
Perhaps more importantly, listeners will experience lower data usage as the AAC stream runs at 64kbps rather than the 128kbps that is used by the mp3 stream. We are currently upgrading our mobile apps to play the AAC stream — watch this space! The 128kbps mp3 stream is unaffected.
To tune in to the AAC stream, set your player to https://streaming.live365.com/a93871_2 Some network players (Winamp for example) won’t decode the AAC stream over an https path, so in that case use http://streaming.live365.com/a93871_2 An alternative is to use the short-cut http://aac.vcradio.org — but note that this does not work with all players (VLC works fine)
NOTE: AAC is not available in Second Life. Listeners in Second Life and other virtual environments that rely on the FMOD audio libraries should continue to use the existing mp3 stream as AAC is not supported by this library (and apparently never will be). You can, of course, run an ordinary network player while you’re in-world.
The 2023 Edition of the Dickens Project
Now open — until January 7th!
Major Virtual Community Radio sponsor and supporter Seanchai Library is pleased to announce the opening of The Dickens Project 2023 Edition.
This Second Life winter holiday tradition invites guests to walk in the steps of Ebenezer Scrooge in an environment inspired by Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.” An invited community of Second Life residents, groups, and organizations will present a variety of music events, performances, tours, and story presentations.
Other features include skating, sledding, a balloon ride, a horse cart tour, plenty of photo opportunities, and several new features this year. The Dickens Project regions opened on Thursday, December 7th, and close at the end of the day on Sunday, January 7th.
Visit the Project now, at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Dickens%20Project/129/128/1401
Winter Hollow: a Winter Wonderland Experience
Join us for a beautiful rendition of Winter and the Winter holidays in Winter Hollow 2023, conceived by Honey Heart, and presented by Virtual Community Radio sponsor Elite Equestrian.
Take a 15-minute sleigh ride through the snowy countryside, stopping off to skate, dance, or explore the many beautiful spaces throughout this extensive experience. Pause at hunt headquarters in the Tree Farm, or try the pony ride to win a special Limited Edition of the Famous and Beloved Bay Rum Royal, exclusive to Winter Hollow. Take a personal sleigh from the Ride With Me experience to explore on your own.
The magic of the season is yours, but don’t delay — this build, like any snowflake, is unique and transient and it dissolves into the ether on January 3rd.
Find Winter Hollow 2023 in the Destination Guide or follow the SLURL to the Willow Grove region to visit:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Willow%20Grove/87/106/2901
Live Tarot Readings in Second Life, Nov 23
To give thanks for the season, Honey Heart PhD, host of Virtual Community Radio’s original series, “Tarot @ Teatime”, will be giving FREE Live Tarot Readings at the Tarot Tent in Winter Hollow in Second Life, on Thursday, November 23 1:00–2:00 PM SLT.
All readings are free, performed in a private SL Voice Call, and conducted solely in English. Please make sure you are configured to accept a private SL Voice Call prior to arriving. Readings are first come-first served and the last reading will be taken at 1:50 pm.
Your carriage awaits: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Willow%20Grove/200/62/2801
Readings are for entertainment purposes only.
Live Tarot Readings — Friday, August 11th
On FRIDAY AUGUST 11th from 3–4pm SLT/Pacific Time, come along for a confidential free TAROT READING with HONEY HEART, co-host of the Virtual Community Radio series, “Tarot @ Teatime”. Just TP over to the Tarot Tent at Willow Grove/197/62/2801. (Readings are for entertainment purposes only.)
Then don’t forget that you can catch the latest episode of our original series, Tarot @ Teatime, on Sundays and Thursdays at 12 noon or 4pm Pacific/SLT, 8pm or midnight in the UK.
We’ve Got Skill!
We’re pleased to announce that you can now access Virtual Community Radio simply and quickly on your Alexa or compatible cloud-based smart speaker. Just enable the skill (and you may not even have to do that) and you’re one step away from being tuned in!
If you need to enable the Skill, say “Alexa, enable Skill” and then reply “Virtual Community Radio” when asked for the name of the Skill.
Then you can just say, “Alexa, Play Virtual Community Radio”!
*Note that this feature may not be available outside the US, Canada and the UK.
VCRadio Presents… Live Tarot Readings at SL20B
Honey Heart, co-host of the original Virtual Community Radio series “Tarot @ Teatime” will be on hand at the VCRadio installation on SLB Breathtaking to give Tarot readings to visitors — free of charge — from 1 to 2 pm SLT on Saturday June 24th and Friday June 30th. Don’t miss this opportunity for a personal reading!
Readings are for entertainment purposes only.
We’re Moving to Willow Grove
As we write, we’re moving into our third year, and we’re in the process of moving our headquarters to a new location on the Willow Grove region. The SLURL is http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Willow%20Grove/192/31/2801
All our Sponsors, Friends and Patrons’ rental panels are now in the back room at the new HQ. There shouldn’t be any interruption in these services.
Over the coming year, you can expect a continuation of our unique programming, including new episodes of our original series, some of which are currently on hiatus. “The Magic of The Musical” will start a new season in April, and until then we’ll be running some favourite episodes in the Saturday 2pm SLT slot. And when the series returns in the Spring, it’ll be broadcast live from a brand new location. Similarly, there will be new episodes of “Where Have You Been?”, where we visit places of interest around the Grid, beginning next month — and until then we’ll be re-running some shows covering still-current SL locations and activities.
Keep an eye on the web site here for the latest details.
October 27–31st at Haunted Hollow
The celebration of the spirits of autumn continues this week, and Virtual Community Radio is pleased to be there right alongside Tarot @ Teatime and Seanchai Library to support this event, produced by Elite Equestrian.
Join us on between Thursday, October 27th and Hallowe’en itself, Monday, October 31st, at Haunted Hollow on Chestnut Hills in #Secondlife for the following events — all times SLT/Pacific …
Thursday, October 27, 6–7pm - Live Tarot Readings with Tarot @ Teatime’s Honey Heart- Thursday, October 27, 7–9pm - Freebird Live Trick Or Treat
- Friday, October 28, 11am-1pm - Freebird Live Trick Or Treat
- Saturday, October 28, 7–9pm - Freebird Live Trick Or Treat with DJ Cale on-the ‑air
- Sunday, October 30th, 1:30pm — Ray Bradbury’s “The Halloween Tree” live reading with Seanchai Library — Conclusion
followed at 2:30pm approx to midnight — A Samhain Ball at The Peak overlooking the entire region, with DJ Elrik Merlin - Monday, October 31st at 2pm — Tarot Talk — The Scary Cards where the hosts of Virtual Community Radio’s “Tarot @ Teatime” give a live presentation on why they’re not so scary at all.
followed at 3pm - Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” presented by Seanchai Library’s Caledonia Skytower
Thursday, October 27, 6–7pm - Live Tarot Readings with Tarot @ Teatime’s Honey HeartStay Tuned to VCRadio.org for featured music Wednesdays and Saturdays, our programs Where Have You Been? (Weds/Sat) and Tarot @ Teatime (Thurs/Sun), and ZBS Radio Drama Fridays all on-the-air.
SUNDAY 23rd at Haunted Hollow
The celebration of the spirits of autumn continues this week, and Virtual Community Radio is pleased to be there right alongside Tarot @ Teatime and Seanchai Library to support this event, produced by Elite Equestrian.
Join us on Sunday, October 23rd, at Haunted Hollow on Chestnut Hills in #Secondlife for …
- Sunday, October 23, 1:30pm — Ray Bradbury’s “The Halloween Tree” with Seanchai Library — Part 2
- followed at 2:30pm — Classical Autumn Ball at the Ballroom overlooking the sea with DJ Caledonia Skytower
- PLUS Tarot @ Teatime at 12 noon and 4pm Pacific/SLT
And there’s still more happy hauntings to come.
Review the full schedule of events between now and All Hallows Eve.
Stay Tuned to VCRadio.org for featured music Wednesdays and Saturdays, our programs Where Have You Been? and Tarot @ Teatime, and ZBS Radio Drama Fridays all on-the-air.
