M2 Explain the processes and technologies involved in producing a radio broadcast

Introduction 

In this report I will look at the processes and technologies required to produce a radio show and explain the equipment and why it is necessary. I will discuss how certain equipment is beneficial and how a radio uses it for their show.

Equipment

There are many different pieces of equipment that can be used when creating a radio show, however some are more important than others. The minimum pieces of equipment you need for a radio show is a mixer console, microphones. headphones, headphones distributor, active speakers monitors and mic arms. However, if you want your radio show to be as professional as possible and have the funds to do so then you can obtain a microphone processor, audio processor, phone hybrid interface, telephone, GSM interface, On Air Light, CD player and a RDS encoder. A mixing console is an electric device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. A microphone is a transducer that converts sound into an electrical signal. Headphones are used so you can hear the show and headphone distributors are amplifiers so that a single signal can be fed to multiple headsets at the same time. A mic arm is used to hold a mic up so that the presenter can speak into the microphone clearly without having to hold the microphone. For more professional radio shows, a microphone processor is an audio compressor that can decrease the volume of the presenter's voice when it is too loud, or amplify their voice when it is too quiet; doing so produces a sound that captures all the details of the voice but levels out volume changes. Phone hybrid interfaces provide the interface between professional audio equipment and the public telephone network. An On Air Light is imperative for professional radio stations because the light lets everybody else in the building know that you are live and presenting a radio show so they know not to disturb you or enter the room you are presenting in. Finally, radio stations use RDS encoders to show on the radio display such information as the name of the station, songs data, a program guide and traffic information. Of course, there also are workstations 

For pre-recorded shows, digital cartwalls and playlists are convenient pieces of equipment as they are pre-loaded software systems which contains all audio assets required from a playlist. Furthermore, a Digital playout system executes a scheduled and time-accurate playlist of content to generate a linear radio or television signal (or "feed). Within that playlist, there is the content that goes on live or recorded shows/programs, ad breaks, auto-promo clips.

An example of a microphone with a mic arm to hold it in place. 

An example of an On Air light so show that the radio is live.

Pre-Production

There are multiple documents that need to be prepared before the presenters are ready to present the radio show live. One of the most imperative pre-production documents is a script; this is important because it is how the presenters know what to say on the show. The presenters are not required to say exactly what is said on the script and they can talk about subjects that are not on the script, but the script is there to help if they are unsure what to say but is also required to read because they need to follow it to see when they are required to say certain things. On a radio show, the presenter does not have complete free reign of what they say, they can choose some subjects they would like to discuss but they are required by the company they work for to talk about giveaways, phone ins, or stop talking when there is a jingle or music about to play, therefore the script is very vital for the presenter so the radio show can go smoothly as there is no room for mistakes on a live presentation.  Additionally, a jingle needs to be prepared before the show goes on air as almost all radio shows have a jingle, this is so your radio show presents itself as professional and is recognisable and helps people know what radio show they are listening too. There will need to be people hired to create jingles and write scripts, therefore the company or creator of the radio show needs to consider their funds and consider how they will distribute their money to pay for the equipment as well as pay for their workers; unless the creator of the radio show is willing to write the script and create the jingle themselves however this would require them to be talented in both literature and editing which is unlikely.

Production

There are many different things/activities that can occur during a radio show, some of these being discussions, call ins, giveaways, adverts, jingles or music. Some radio shows focus on certain activities like playing music or having discussions about certain topics like the news or a niche subject, like cars. Different equipment can help with these activities. For example, a mic is imperative if there is going to be any dialogue spoken by the presenter, which is almost always the case because people don't want to listen to a radio show without anyone presenting, even if its just a few sentences to discuss what music will be playing next. A mic is needed for presenting because without it, the audio will sound improper; it is likely that background noise could be heard and the quality of the speaker's voice will not be great. Furthermore, for radio shows like Capital or BBC Radio 1 that play music, digital cartwalls and playlists are exceptionally useful as the radio host can play music or audio cues with a simple click of a button, this is very efficient for live radio shows because it means that the radio host does not have to worry about sorting the music. Also, playlists can be created beforehand with this piece of equipment so the crew can decide the music that will be played before the show starts, and once they are on air the presenter can click a button to start playing the music in order. Equipment like a mixer console are very helpful for a radio studio as they are used to control anything that the listeners hear on air, there is an input for every channel. 

Post-Production

Post-production in radio shows is very unique compared to other pieces of media, this is because a radio show is live so there is no way post-production can happen after production. Therefore, post-production occurs at the same time as production (while the radio is live). The crew has to ensure that everything is running smoothly and effectively while the show is live because there is no other alternative. 

Post-production is more generic and ordinary for pre-recorded radio shows; this is because everything can be checked and edited after it is all recorded, but before it is aired to the public. This is more convenient because it is much less stress for the crew as they do not need to worry as much about any mistakes or editing issues because they have time to repair them or make adjustments unlike live radio broadcasts where the crew has to ensure everything is optimal while it is on air. 

Bibliography 

“Mix“  Mixer Audio.” High End FM Transmitters and Professional Equipment for Radio Stations | Teko Broadcast, www.tekobroadcast.com/en/radio-studio-equipment/mixer-audio.

             “Radio Station Equipment.” High End FM Transmitters and Professional Equipment for Radio Stations | Teko Broadcast, www.tekobroadcast.com/en/radio-station-equipment-teko-broadcast.

     

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