We spoke with Rachel Millington, Production Director at Trend Radio, to learn how Wondercraft has transformed the station’s approach to local broadcasting by saving time and making voice cloning more dynamic.
Trend Radio started as a passion project during lockdown, aiming to keep the local community connected and entertained. Initially, all shows were presented live from home, making it challenging to maintain a consistent schedule while ensuring quality content.
Key Challenges:
- Time-Intensive Processes: Presenting live radio shows required significant time investment from hosts, with no option for pre-recording.
- Flat AI Voices: Early attempts to use AI voices for jingles and filler content were limited by flat, robotic tones that didn’t meet the station’s creative needs.
- Scheduling Gaps: When a key presenter went on a 3-month cruise, the station needed a scalable solution to fill a significant gap in their schedule without overwhelming the team.
- Enhanced Sound Quality: Cloned voices now include emotional nuances, creating a more engaging experience for listeners.
- Uninterrupted Broadcasting: The station maintained a consistent schedule even during a key presenter’s absence, covering 3 months of radio time seamlessly.
- More Time for Creativity: Automating production freed up the team to focus on interviews, event coverage, and building community partnerships.
- Affordable Innovation: Wondercraft provided high-quality AI tools at a price point accessible to a small, local station.
Rachel concluded:
“As a small station, we rely on innovation and affordability to stay competitive. Wondercraft has been a vital tool for us, bridging the gap between creativity and efficiency.”
Trend Radio turned to Wondercraft to streamline their production process and tackle their challenges head-on. By leveraging Wondercraft’s advanced AI tools, they were able to enhance their workflows and maintain a high standard of local radio content.
Key Solutions:
- Voice Cloning with Emotion: Rachel’s voice was cloned, allowing the station to create lifelike, expressive content that matched her real voice. Wondercraft added the crucial ability to convey emotion—whether excited, serious, or cheerful—giving the station a more authentic sound.
- Pre-Recorded Content: Wondercraft enabled the team to pre-record entire shows, ensuring uninterrupted broadcasting even when key presenters were unavailable.
- Time-Saving Automation: With Wondercraft handling much of the production workload, the team gained more time to focus on creative tasks like securing interviews and producing new content.
- Affordability: For a small, community-driven station, Wondercraft’s cost-effective platform delivered high-end solutions without breaking the budget.
Rachel shared:
“Wondercraft has allowed us to clone our voices and add expression, making our shows sound lifelike and engaging. It’s saved us so much time and given us the freedom to focus on the creative side of radio.”