On-Air Radio Studio Equipment

To stabilize the voice of the speaker on a constant level, a Microphone Processor is necessary.

This is an audio compressor than can decrease the volume of the voice when it is too loud, or amplify it when it is too low.
Doing so produces a sound that captures all the details of the voice but levels out volume changes.
Too high a volume level could distort the signal; or, if too low, it could make speech incomprehensible.

A microphone processor helps smooth the audio, minimizes background noise and cleans the signal.
It helps with the mixer control, since it is not necessary to continuously adjust the level of the microphone.
It also helps to get "Radio Sound", so that it always sounds at the right level and the speaker can concentrate on performance – rather than worry about being too close or too far from the microphone, or even speaking in too loud or too soft a voice.

Moreover, it gives more presence to the voice and allows to set it at higher level – because you are sure it will contain the peaks. Adding to it, it removes hissing noises such as those produced with words that contain an "s".

DBX 286 Microphone Preamp or Behringer Ultragain Pro MIC2200 are some of the most popular ones.

In the studio there is often more than one person participating in the program. For this reason, a Headphone Distributor is necessary to connect several users to the same source.

Headphone distributors have four, eight or more outputs; each one with an independent volume adjuster so as to allow each user to set a self-comfortable level.

At the heart of any studio is the Audio Mixer Console.
This is the interface used to control what’s heard on air, and to choose which sounds should be broadcasted.

Each channel represents an “input”. The fader (slider) attenuates or amplifies the incoming signal; it can change the volume and the dynamics of the sources, and combine the various audio signals.

The Audio Mixer Console is the device that allows us to monitor and control the audio.

The Audio Processor is a very important piece of equipment, as it is usually the last one you use before your audio is transmitted.

It improves and optimizes the sound quality of your Radio, thus giving it a unique sound with its own character.

You may choose between several mood sounds such as jazz, pop, rock, classical, etc... or even create your own sound.

Mainly designed for medium/small radios (local radio stations, community radios, web radios), the Audio Processor combines ease of use, flexibility and robustness.

It is indeed a combination of a multiband compressor/limiter and a parametric equalizer together with other effects.
It compresses the overall dynamics of the program, but it is also possible to increase the volume, because it prevents against over-deviation, clipping and other saturations – all effects that create distortion.

The final result will be a “louder” and “bigger" sound for your radio.

There is a psychological reason behind it: when searching on the radio dial, people stop to listen at the radio that sounds louder, bigger and better – and this increases your audience.

Studio Monitor Speakers show you how the music sounds without headphones.

They must be of high quality, so that all the abnormal sounds can be detected.
It is also advisable to have another speaker, small and of low quality, to cross-check how the sound is even in this kind of speakers. Ultimately, the sound must be good but also understandable for every type of audience.

It is recommended to use speakers specifically designed for music, as they can provide the most accurate representation of the signal.

You also need a Telephone Hybrid Interface, to join the console with audios coming from phone calls.
This is important if you want to take phone calls while you are on-air.

In simple terms, a Hybrid is an interface that connects two-wire phone lines into input and output XLRs. These XLR connectors are plugged into an audio console or I/O node.

Many Hybrids also contain echo cancellation and an automatic equaliser.

How do you know a mic in the studio is live?

There is a special light just for that!
This light is automatically turned on/off by the audio console whenever a microphone channel is turned on.
In fact, in order to show everybody that the program is live, you need an On-Air light.

There must be one inside the studio, and one outside.
It prevents people from coming into the studio, opening doors or disturbing the show with any kind of noise.

You also need a Computer with an Automation Software.

This computer system makes it possible to play background music and commercials.

The software is called Automation Software or “Playout”, and it is designed to continually play music in the background.

The heart of these programs is the Playlist – which is a list with all the audio files that need to be played.

Most of the time these programs contain hotkeys, a music database, and a lot more.
They are computer programs especially designed to allow continuous audio playback, with exceptional granular control for Announcers and Programme Directors.

Paramount to any Automation System is also the “log": a sequential list of all the audio files and commands that need to be played at certain times.
All the music played on a commercial radio station will be pre-programmed by the Music Director and loaded directly into the log.
A separate person will often load all the advertisements into the same log.

Most automation systems also contain a Music Database, Hot Keys (to play ad-hoc audio), an Audio Editor, a Segue Editor (to change the mix between the different elements), Interfaces for Website and RDS data, and a lot more.

If you are planning on having guests on your radio show, it is important to get a Talent Panel.

With a Talent Panel, guests can control their own headphones and microphone.

It would be smart to place the Talent Panel in front of the guest’s microphone.
In fact, while the Main Announcer or Panel Operator controls everything via the Audio Console, guests often need their own individual control for headphone levels, cough mute and mic on/off.
Most panels include a headphone jack, and some also contain an XLR connector for the microphone.

Even though nowadays most of the music comes from some MP3 source, you still need a CD Player of good quality to play music.

The CD Player is used even just as a backup, or as a way to capture old archival material.

To monitor the real sound you are broadcasting a good quality Tuner is necessary.

This will also help you compare your on-air sound with that of your competitors.

RDS (Radio Data System) is a way of sending ASCII text and other metadata to the radio display.

It encodes a 1187.5Bps data stream onto the 57Khz subcarrier (third harmonic of the 19Khz FM Stereo Pilot signal).

Stations use RDS to encode the station name, song data, program guide and traffic information.

RDS Encoders are sometimes built into the FM Audio Processor or in the FM Transmitter.
If you have an external RDS Encoder, it needs to be connected into the SCA input in your Stereo Generator or Processor.

Adding some soundproofing to your studio can really help you to improve the overall audio quality – especially if there is a lot of reverb or echo.

Foam Soundproofing Panels are the last piece of the "audio puzzle". They come in a variety of sizes and can be purchased cheaply.
If placed strategically in your broadcast area, they are an excellent way to cancel out any remaining ambient and background sounds such as street noise.