Babbel

Headless REST API for generating audio news bulletins. Combines news stories with station jingles to create ready-to-air audio files.

Overview

Babbel is a headless API-only system designed for integration with newsroom workflows and front-ends. It provides REST endpoints for managing stations, stories, and bulletin generation. No built-in UI - bring your own front-end or integrate directly with your systems.

Works with any radio automation that can fetch audio over HTTP and any newsroom system that can connect via REST/HTTP.

Features

• Headless API - REST API designed for integration, no built-in UI
• Single or multi-station - Manage one or multiple stations
• Station branding - Custom jingles and audio identity per station
• Story scheduling - Air dates and weekday scheduling
• Voice management - Multiple newsreaders with station preferences
• Audio processing - FFmpeg-based mixing and normalization
• Direct audio URLs - Automation systems can fetch bulletins directly

Installation

See QUICKSTART.md for installation instructions.

Newsroom Workflow

1. Setup: Configure your stations and newsreaders
2. Upload jingles: Add station-specific intro/outro jingles
3. Create stories: Upload or POST news items with scheduling info
4. Generate: API creates bulletins with appropriate jingles
5. Broadcast: Automation systems fetch bulletins via HTTP

Radio Automation Integration

Automation systems can fetch the latest bulletin directly:

GET /api/v1/stations/{station_id}/bulletins/latest/audio

Returns a WAV file ready for broadcast. Most automation systems can schedule HTTP audio downloads.

Compatible Systems

• mAirList (HTTP audio source)
• RadioDJ (URL tracks)
• PlayoutONE (Network audio)
• StationPlaylist (Remote files)
• RTV AudioDownload Tool
• Any system that supports HTTP audio

Requirements

• Docker and Docker Compose
• 2GB RAM minimum
• 20GB disk space
• Linux server recommended

API Documentation

OpenAPI specification available in the Git repository and human-readable API docs in /docs.

Development

git clone https://github.com/oszuidwest/zwfm-babbel.git
cd zwfm-babbel
docker-compose up -d
make test

Tech Stack

• Go with Gin framework
• MySQL database
• FFmpeg for audio processing
• Docker for deployment

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file.

Credits

Developed by Streekomroep ZuidWest for newsroom operations across multiple local radio stations in the Netherlands.