Radio stations can now monitor up to 32 audio inputs for unexpected silence using a free desktop application.
Dead Air Watchdog for Windows, macOS and Linux has been released by Graziano Melzi, a radio and broadcast engineer based in Italy.
The software checks audio from a computer’s sound card alongside Icecast and Shoutcast streams, with individual silence thresholds and alert times for each input.
When the audio level stays below the configured threshold, the application sends an email and Telegram message, followed by another notification when sound returns. Brief interruptions are logged as micro silences without triggering alerts, helping engineers adjust their monitoring settings.
For studios and newsrooms, a full screen wall display provides an overview of all monitored inputs, showing green when everything is working normally and flashing red when dead air is detected.
The application also maintains a log of interruptions, while measuring audio levels without recording or storing any sound.
Graziano said: “Dead air is a problem every station has, big or small. I wanted a monitor any station could run for free.”
The software is available without charge or registration, with downloads hosted on GitHub alongside checksums. Its source code is publicly available under an MIT licence.
Dead Air Watchdog is one of 12 free tools available through OnAir Garage, a website created for radio and broadcast engineers.
Graziano says the tools have been developed through vibe coding using Claude Code, with work on the project continuing.
Further information and downloads are available on the website.
