Explain the processes and technologies involved in producing a radio broadcast.
When creating a radio programme, the equipment that is to be used is really important, and all have different uses.
Here, I can be seen using the microphone to record the introduction of my pre-recorded radio segment. The microphones that are used for radio are different to the microphones that are used for other media products as they are single direction mics rather than multidirectional mics. It is important to use single direction mics in radio to get a clear sound from the person speaking into that mic. It is especially important when there are several people being recorded at once that the microphones are single direction microphones as it is important to record each person individually, so to avoid there being an echo, and to allow the levels of the different recordings to be mixed appropriately. There is also a microphone in the mixing booth which is not recorded but is for the radio producer or the other people in the mixing room to be able to communicate with the people recording sound in the studio.
Another important piece of equipment are the headphones that are worn by all the people who are recording sound. It is important to wear headphones as it allows the guests and presenters who are recording sound to be able to hear the recording as it is being heard by the microphone rather than in their own head, and to be able to hear each other. Another important use of headphones, is that it allows the producer and other people in the mixing room to be able to talk to the person recording the sound without it being picked up by the microphones.
The mixing desk is an important piece of hardware when recording radio as it allows the mixer to control the levels of the interviewees and the presenter. In radio, it is important to make sure that all the people who are heard on the radio can be heard at the same volume. To do this, each of the different microphones that are recorded can be controlled from a different channel on the mixing desk. If one of the people being recorded is louder than the others, then the mixer, can adjust that specific level so that all of the volumes are the same. The mixing desk is also used during the pre-recorded portions of the radio programme, for example when a song is being played or the news is being announced; during this time, the technicians can turn the sound to mute for the presenters and the interviewees so that they can talk without being heard by the listeners during the song.
Another piece of hardware that is in every radio studio are speakers. Speakers are important in the mixing room (not the recording room) as it allows the mixing technicians and radio producers are able to hear what the listeners are able to hear. This is important as it allows the technicians and producers to hear if there are any mistakes or problems that the listeners can hear so that the problem can be fixed.
Finally, in terms of equipment, it is important that in the radio studio, that the desks are always kept clear and that the chairs are not squeaky as any noise that would be made by a cluttered desk or noisy chair would be picked up by the microphone and would be distracting to the listeners. Also, it is important that the working space is comfortable, and that the chairs have a good amount of support and are the right height for the presenter as they will be sat there for a long period of time. It is important that the presenters are kept comfortable so that they will provide a positive attitude for the radio show.
When making a radio programme, it is also important to have the correct software. There are several pieces of software that could be used to organise a radio playlist; like Airtime or Sam DJ, but the best software to use for producing radio is Myriad. Myriad is a radio producing software that uses a cartwall organising system to create a playlist.
Each of the boxes, is a different piece of recorded sound that can be added to the radio playlist that will be aired. For example, it could be a song that is wanted to be played, or a jingle that the radio station likes to used. Each of the boxes or 'carts' can then be given a clock so that the program knows when to play each recording. This can be especially useful if there are certain things that are needed to be aired at a specific time. For example, the news that has to be played every day at the hour. The program will know that whatever is being played at the time that the news starts, must be stopped for the news to be played at the correct time. Myriad is also useful for commercial radio as the pre-recorded adverts will be on one of the tabs and can be added to the clock so that they will play automatically as part of the playlist. The computer that the radio producing software is downloaded onto will usually be touch screen as using a tough screen computer is quieter than using a computer that needs a mouse which, will make the quality of sound of the radio product better.
Another important thing to think about when making radio is the actual production process. Just like all other media products, radio goes through pre-production, production, and post-production. In the pre-production of a radio product, there has to be an original idea followed up by planning and the creation of a script. Radio scripts are slightly different to other media scripts as it is not exact word for word dialogue, but more a set of guidelines for the generic concepts that are to be discusses and what is going to happen in that radio programme. As part of the pre-production, there as to be documentation, for example; permission from the presenter and any interviewees to use their voice, and permission to use the songs that are to played as part of the radio segment. The production process for a radio product involves the rehearsal of the radio segment. As the programme is usually distributed live, the timings of everything has to be perfect as there can be no second take. Therefore the presenters and the mixing technicians have to rehearse what is going to happen. If the radio product is to be broadcast live, then part of production is the recording and distribution of the radio product. Post-production is necessary if the radio product is not to be distributed live, if this is the case, then there is editing of the recordings. After any radio product has been finishes (live or pre-recorded) the final stage of post-production involves archiving that particular episode of the radio show and saving it.
In making a radio product there are several important people that are needed. There is the script-writer. The script-writer is important for the radio product to be made smoothly so that the presenters know what is going to happen. For dramatisation radio products, the scripting is especially important. Another important role is the presenter, as they are the talent of the show, hosting and also work as the Disk Jockey (DJ) choosing what songs will come next and using Myriad to make the radio playlist. Another important role is the radio producer, they oversee everything, making sure that the radio playlist is appropriate, and that everything is flowing on time. Finally, the mixing technician is very important when making radio as it is their job to use the mixer to control the sound levels and make sure that all the equipment is working correctly, and that the sound quality is good. If there is an interview happening in the radio product, then there are also the interviewees that are going to be interviewed.
When making a radio programme, it is also important to have the correct software. There are several pieces of software that could be used to organise a radio playlist; like Airtime or Sam DJ, but the best software to use for producing radio is Myriad. Myriad is a radio producing software that uses a cartwall organising system to create a playlist.
Each of the boxes, is a different piece of recorded sound that can be added to the radio playlist that will be aired. For example, it could be a song that is wanted to be played, or a jingle that the radio station likes to used. Each of the boxes or 'carts' can then be given a clock so that the program knows when to play each recording. This can be especially useful if there are certain things that are needed to be aired at a specific time. For example, the news that has to be played every day at the hour. The program will know that whatever is being played at the time that the news starts, must be stopped for the news to be played at the correct time. Myriad is also useful for commercial radio as the pre-recorded adverts will be on one of the tabs and can be added to the clock so that they will play automatically as part of the playlist. The computer that the radio producing software is downloaded onto will usually be touch screen as using a tough screen computer is quieter than using a computer that needs a mouse which, will make the quality of sound of the radio product better.
Another important thing to think about when making radio is the actual production process. Just like all other media products, radio goes through pre-production, production, and post-production. In the pre-production of a radio product, there has to be an original idea followed up by planning and the creation of a script. Radio scripts are slightly different to other media scripts as it is not exact word for word dialogue, but more a set of guidelines for the generic concepts that are to be discusses and what is going to happen in that radio programme. As part of the pre-production, there as to be documentation, for example; permission from the presenter and any interviewees to use their voice, and permission to use the songs that are to played as part of the radio segment. The production process for a radio product involves the rehearsal of the radio segment. As the programme is usually distributed live, the timings of everything has to be perfect as there can be no second take. Therefore the presenters and the mixing technicians have to rehearse what is going to happen. If the radio product is to be broadcast live, then part of production is the recording and distribution of the radio product. Post-production is necessary if the radio product is not to be distributed live, if this is the case, then there is editing of the recordings. After any radio product has been finishes (live or pre-recorded) the final stage of post-production involves archiving that particular episode of the radio show and saving it.
In making a radio product there are several important people that are needed. There is the script-writer. The script-writer is important for the radio product to be made smoothly so that the presenters know what is going to happen. For dramatisation radio products, the scripting is especially important. Another important role is the presenter, as they are the talent of the show, hosting and also work as the Disk Jockey (DJ) choosing what songs will come next and using Myriad to make the radio playlist. Another important role is the radio producer, they oversee everything, making sure that the radio playlist is appropriate, and that everything is flowing on time. Finally, the mixing technician is very important when making radio as it is their job to use the mixer to control the sound levels and make sure that all the equipment is working correctly, and that the sound quality is good. If there is an interview happening in the radio product, then there are also the interviewees that are going to be interviewed.
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