WSCA Station Handbook and Training Manual - Prometheus Radio ...

III. OPERATING THE MIXING BOARD
A. What is a Board? ‐ Mixing boards are used to combine a number of sound sources into one
output, usually stereo. For example, if you were recording a rock’n’roll band using 8
microphones, you would need some way of combining the 8 signals together. In the case of
WSCA, we need to switch from one source to another as well as blend (for example when a
DJ transitions from one song to another, or when music is heard behind voices). The
components of the board that you need to be familiar with include:
Input Channels
Gain
Master faders
Mute and Cueing
Channel faders
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(See “The 10 Second Tutor” and a detailed diagram of the board for more information)
B. Cueing – cueing is the process of previewing and/or readying a recording for broadcast.
There are currently two “signal paths” with which you work in the studio. The first is the
“on‐air” path which is broadcast and heard by your audience. Materials listened to in the
studio that are not being broadcast are referred to as being “in cue”. To listen to a recording
in cue:
1. Press the gray button labeled “solo”. This will override the on‐air broadcast in your
headphones and in the studio monitors so you can listen to material other than what
is being broadcast. This is important for previewing new music that you’ve never
heard before to ensure it complies with FCC standards.
2. When finished previewing a recording for broadcast, make sure to take the channel is
out of cue by releasing the solo button.
3. Stay in check with what is currently playing the air before engaging the next
material.
C. Signal levels – Turntables, records, cds and voices all give out signals of varying strengths.
It’s the role of the DJ to maintain a consistent broadcast level regardless of the source
(insuring that what the audience hears is neither too soft nor too strong). Meters located at
the far right side of the board (above the main faders) display output level. The ideal output
level of broadcast programming is at 0db, represented at the lower end of the yellow output
LED’s. Peaks (levels which are temporarily higher, then fall back) above 0db but still in the
yellow portion of the LED are OK. Levels consistently in the green are two low and levels
consistently in the red are two high and indicate that there is distortion present. The “peak”
LED is a red light above each channel fader that indicates a input signal level is distorting
when it peaks.
1. Faders located at the far right side of the board adjust the left and right channel
board output. Individual faders control the individual levels of each input on the
board. The use of faders is discussed more fully below Individual variations in
program content and signal strength are adjusted with the individual channel faders.
D. Input Selection – The process of choosing what the DJ or operator is going to broadcast. The
current in‐studio WSCA inputs include:
4 microphones
4 CD players
1 Cassette deck