MUMBAI: With radio seeing good days in India, Radio Jockeys and their shows are quite popular. But, do you know about the technical equipments that make a radio show successful? We doubt anyone knows much about it. Hence, we thought of giving a general brief on every piece of equipment, you might find in a radio station. Here is a comprehensive list of 10 things that are essential part of a radio studio.
Audio Console
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At the heart of any studio is the audio console, sometimes called a radio panel, sound panel, or sound desk. This is the interface the radio announcer uses to control what’s heard on air. Every channel represents one ‘input’.
Radio Audio consoles are very different from regular form or Live Sound audio console. When you turn a microphone on or off, a radio console will mute any speakers and illuminate an on air light. When you turn on a CD Player, Phone or Computer channel, often it will trigger that input so it starts playing immediately.
Microphone
Another important element is a microphone that captures sounds from the studio and turns it into electrical impulses. Broadcast microphones are designed a little differently to public microphones, when it comes to the sound that can come through speakers.
Microphone Arm
Studio microphones are often mounted on a special arm that keeps the microphone at the correct height. These arms often extend over the audio console, computer monitors and other equipments.
Play Out and Automation Software
The computer system that plays back music and sweepers is called a Play Out System or Automation Software. These are especially designed computer programs that allow for continuous playback of audio with a lot of granular control for people performing. Also, Automation System is storage is the database of all audio files and commands that need to be played at certain times.
Level Meters
To ensure output of the station is somewhat consistent, radio studios contain different level meters. These allow the speaker to see if their audio is too loud or too quiet at any given time. This helps you to detect content and spot any problem in source material, which is likely to cause issues.
Studio Monitor Speakers
Studio Monitor Speakers provide an easy way to hear what is going without headphones. Often, these are very high quality speakers so any abnormalities in sound quality can be detected.
Preview Speakers
A separate speaker is often provided for the announcer to hear all audio. By having a separate speaker for this, announcers can be sure their preview audio isn’t going to air.
Headphones
Studio Monitor Speakers are automatically muted whenever a microphone is turned on. As a result, anyone in a studio needs headphones to hear what is going on. Headphone selection is often a very personal decision based on your preferences in comfort and frequency response.
Talent Panel
While the main announcer or panel operator can control everything via the audio console, guests often need their own individual control for headphone levels. These panels are generally mounted in front of each guest microphone.
On Air Light
There is a light especially for being live. This light is automatically turned on and off by the audio console, whenever a microphone channel is turned on.
