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Clark Novak

In a series of articles, we’ve been exploring the question: “What should radio console buyers know about developments in this product class?”

Clark Novak is radio marketing specialist for Lawo Inc. An earlier version of this interview appeared in the RW ebook “Trends in Consoles.”

Radio World: What role does the console play today in planning a studio?

Clark Novak: Choosing a console is still one of the first big steps in planning any studio build, but “console” may not mean the same thing today that it used to. Broadcasters are very interested in virtualization, and that includes virtualizing the mixer. Many forward-looking groups are looking at virtual mixing surfaces with context-sensitive, touchscreen GUIs as a way to streamline workflows and customize the controls given to operators. Others like traditional, physical consoles for their familiarity and tactile controls. Lawo offers both, but whichever you prefer, consoles are still the centerpiece of the radio studio.

RW: What are other important console design trends, and what are users asking for now?

Novak: It’s hard to pin down just one idea, but broadcasters continually ask us for two things: centralized control of broadcast peripherals, and interoperability.

The need for better control comes from today’s busy operations where talent is being asked to produce more content, more efficiently. Operators need to be able to perform complex tasks, and they need tools that make their workflows simpler, while keeping control surfaces purposeful and uncluttered.

And interoperability is key, not only for control of in-studio devices, but for interchange of program content between the radio and TV sides of the plant. The days of separate systems are gone; programming must be able to be transferred on-demand, seamlessly and easily, without worrying about format barriers.

Fifteen years ago, manufacturers had proprietary protocols that didn’t talk to other companies’ systems, and AoIP was so new and novel that broadcasters didn’t much mind. But today, radio engineers are increasingly demanding that new IP systems be able to play well with others. AoIP gives tremendous advantages in system design, operational flexibility and easy expansion on demand; but what good is all that if your Brand X system can’t talk to a device that only speaks Brand Y’s protocol?

Our customers tell us that AoIP systems mustn’t be closed. This is why Lawo has worked so tirelessly over the years to promote interoperability and open standards like AES67 and ST2110-30, and includes them in all of our products.

RW: What should engineers who haven’t bought a console in a while know?

Novak: One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that modern boards are actually control surfaces. Where older digital consoles performed switching, routing, mixing and audio shaping within the actual console frame, today’s mixers offload these functions to a powerful mix engine. This permits you to tailor engines with DSP features and an I/O count customized to your application. You might choose a very powerful engine for the on-air suite and a more modest one for production or a newsroom, but the same control surface — or virtual mixing software  works with both — so your operators have a familiar layout wherever they work, and you control costs by choosing engines that deliver features tailored to your operations.

RW: How have AoIP developments been reflected in the look and function of surfaces? 

Novak: AoIP has made it possible for nearly every studio system to include some level of multi-point audio routing. Think back a few years and you’ll remember that routing was something only the largest, wealthiest facilities could afford. Same goes for mix-minus, which used to be a complex thing provided for just one or two contributors. AoIP has turned every console into a routing controller and made it possible to automatically generate mix-minus for every local and remote guest, simultaneously. These are just a couple of examples of how AoIP has brought very advanced capabilities to operations where they were previously out of reach.

RW: What does the next generation of user interfaces look like? 

Novak: Tablets and smartphones have reshaped the way we interact with technology. Board ops, especially those newest to radio, are used to tapping, swiping and touching screens, so console designs with touchscreen GUIs make sense. Lawo’s customers have really embraced the customizable, multi-touch graphical interface that comes with our consoles, because it helps talent create content faster, with fewer errors. We expect that broadcasters will increasingly demand this kind of customizable visual control in their mixing surfaces.

RW: And what do virtualization and cloud technology mean for users and studio designers? 

Novak: Maybe the most interesting part of modern broadcasting has been the leveraging of off-the-shelf computing power to provide capabilities formerly only found in hardware. Mixing, digital signal processing, routing, content storage — all of them have moved to the digital domain and been virtualized. If these functions move further, to the cloud, consoles may become even more connected in order to blend control of local devices with remote services.

One particular benefit of cloud technology for operators is that an IP console, whether physical or virtual, can be linked to a cloud-based audio mixing engine. This is interesting because the engine software lives in a centralized location, and talent can connect to it from LAN or WAN locations. This means more flexibility for local operations, streamlined workflows and the ability to create broadcasts nearly anywhere using familiar tools and a PC connection.

RW: Any particularly interesting recent installation to highlight?

Novak: Recently we partnered with Swedish Radio, who wanted to completely reinvent the radio studio. They wanted to open up the studio, eliminate clutter and optimize their talent’s workflow. They used Lawo’s console GUI builder, VisTool, to create a touchscreen interface that controls a powerful mixing engine. The GUI blends playout system, telephone and codec operation, machine control and mixing into a unified, context-sensitive interface. Faders are present, but de-emphasized; AutoMix handles most mixing. This is notable because even though the interface looks nothing like a traditional console, it enables talent to be more productive: they concentrate on creating, instead of controlling machinery. Plus, being software-based, it’s nearly future proof — the UI can evolve along with the needs of the broadcaster.

Another recent installation is San Francisco’s KQED, who needed a way to control their main studio operations remotely in case of a COVID-19 related shutdown. Thanks to the studio network’s IP connectivity, we were able to help them implement a way to control individual studios and main output switching from their tower site using a mirrored physical mixing console accompanied by VisTool touchscreen controls. It’s an excellent example of how IP serves as an enabling technology for solving new operational challenges, whether mixing is accomplished physically or virtually.

RW: What will the console of the future look like, if we use one at all? 

Novak: It may look a lot like that Swedish Radio model. Our world is increasingly touchscreen-centric — just look at your car’s dashboard! In the immediate future physical and virtual consoles will continue to coexist and complement each other, but I believe we will also see a continued trend toward touch-based control surfaces in radio studios.

[Related: “Lawo Adds Remote Console Operation”]

The post Consoles, Like Car Dashboards, Turn to Touch appeared first on Radio World.

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Granted Certification Application

Media Bureau reinstates certain vacant FM allotments

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RUSHWORKS is adding a new tool for at-home production, announcing the release of its Residential Prompter Kit.

The Residential Prompter Kit is a small desktop teleprompting kit that uses a computer webcam to capture home-based presentations. It is meant to serve as a complement to RUSHWORKS’ RUSHPROMPTER software for Windows applications.

[Check Out More Products at Radio World’s Products Section]

The kit includes a round base, an 18-inch flexible arm, a spring clamp with reflective mirror and a light blocking hood. In addition, RUSHWORKS has also crafted a document that provides four ways to improve the look and sound for at-home teleprompter sessions, which is available for download via RUSHWORKS’ website.

The Residential Prompter Kit is available at a base price of $295. With a 12-inch 1920 x 1080 HDMI monitor it runs for $545. A second base, 18-inch extension arm and gimbal-mounting head for a small camcorder is $175.

Info: www.rushworks.tv

 

The post RUSHWORKS Releases Residential Prompter Kit appeared first on Radio World.

Henry Goodman

In a series of articles, we’ve been exploring the question: ‘What should radio console buyers know about developments in this product class?”

Henry Goodman is director of product development at Calrec. An earlier version of this interview appeared in the RW ebook “Trends in Consoles.”

Radio World: What’s the most notable trend in console design, as seen in recent models or those coming soon?

Henry Goodman: The radio industry is a fast-paced dynamic environment, where stations need to be flexible enough to continually change and develop the programming they deliver. The ability to reconfigure and reshape the operator interface to meet the needs and styles of different program workflows and operator preferences is seen as key to success. Being able to present differing control interfaces to meet the needs of a simple self-operator set up one day, and a more complex multi-guest environment the next, without having to change your hardware, has clear advantages.

Creating very modular hardware with soft user-definable elements opens up the opportunity not only to change the console interface depending on the type of show being produced but also to tailor the interface to the needs and desires of individual operators.

It is clear that IP and touch technologies will enable the flexibility for consoles to customize complex workflows yet present them in a simple and efficient interface.

The widespread acceptance of open IP standards has also provided the opportunity for manufacturers to create a very stable and flexible backbone that can be used across multiple radio operations.

As a console designer and manufacturer, Calrec’s challenge is to create a product that exploits this opportunity to create products that work for multiple workflows, from small simple solutions to large complex networks. Manufacturers are looking to design things that can integrate into many environments yet be simple and easy to use.

RW: As a manufacturer, what demands do you hear from buyers today that are different from years past?

Goodman: Today there is a much greater expectation of what an audio console does. It is no longer just about the number of input and output channels but much more about how it works within the station environment. This covers many aspects, from how easy the installation is to how well the console interacts with the other equipment and software. Integration in the widest sense.

Centralization of operator controls and condensing multiple systems into a united workspace to simplify operation allows talent to focus on content rather than creation. This demands an open approach to how consoles work with other systems so that tighter integration can be achieved.

IP is an enabler for many modern console innovations. Tighter integration with third-party systems such as playout and phone systems are essential in any new installation — in fact, as manufacturers we are a far more closely-knit community than we were 10 or 15 years ago!

Being able to communicate with third-party equipment simplifies workflows, and customers are looking for centralized control over these systems on the console surface UI. Initiatives like user-definable soft panels are forward-thinking features that can place as much control as possible in one place.

RW: What will the console of the future look like, if we use one at all? 

Goodman: Consoles are so much more than audio controllers, and as we hurtle towards interoperability, the traditional idea of what an audio console is will be less and less relevant!

In the future there is likely to be more of a shift to decentralization of facilities and operator environments. As is so often the case, IP is a facilitator; it enables initiatives like the BBC’s VLOR project to experiment with how they control information and how they prepare for broadcast. It gives customers the ability to be more geographically diverse, with a core in one state and a mixer in another state or country — it breaks down physical boundaries and barriers.

Consoles will have to be flexible to provide a way of interacting with all this information from wherever it is — it may be from a more traditional studio environment with a physical surface, or it could be a web-based GUI that is accessed from anywhere. Operators may need a very simple user interface, or all the controls needed for a full production console. Consoles will have to mold to what is needed, and as a station’s requirements evolve, the console will need to evolve with it to provide customization across networks and changing control protocols, as well as surface personalization. Calrec’s Type R guarantees stations are not only able to keep pace with changing demands but provides the opportunity to ignite their audiences with new and innovative programming.

RW: What does the next generation of user interface look like? 

Goodman: We use a lot of the same words to describe how customers interact with technology: flexible, adaptable, virtual. Traditional user interfaces for consoles are already limiting how customers can adapt to new opportunities that rapidly changing technology is providing.

For example, this year the effects of Covid-19 have accelerated and amplified a need for more virtualized control surfaces, and we have been working with customers all over the globe to help virtualize their productions. This give people the opportunity to work from home or from other safe locations and access the same broadcast-specific features they need to mix program.

This is how it should be — user interfaces should be able to provide whatever the customer needs. On a basic level, this might be just limiting access to features that an operator doesn’t need, such as loading different setups between shows so everyone can feel comfortable operating it. Calrec already does this using soft panels that can be laid out to present just what the operator wants to see down to the individual control level.

On a larger scale, we’ll see the same core hardware with multiple elements, which can be flexed to be anything the customer needs. This might be more or fewer physical fader panels, or the opportunity to use an entirely browser-based UI. Panels with user-defined access to features depending on who is using the studio, what the program is, or what the operator needs to achieve. More faders which can be added for a live band mix, or no faders for a fully automated setup.

The user case for the next generation of user interface will be defined by the application, not limited by the hardware.

The post Consoles Will Have to Mold to What Is Needed appeared first on Radio World.

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Radio World has sought to broaden our contributor family during my tenure as editor. We have not always been successful at it, but it has been my goal.

It’s my belief that we owe it to readers and advertisers to always be seeking new and diverse industry views and voices to present. I feel we do a good job of this in our opinion pages and choice of topics to cover, but that we need to do better in our writer pool.

Never has it seemed more important than in this year of fresh and urgent discussion about the issues of race and opportunity in our society, including but not limited to the Black Lives Matter movement.

So I want to make you aware, first, that I welcome outreach from all prospective writers who have technical radio interests. And second, that Radio World and our parent company Future plc are deeply committed to fostering a transparent, diverse and inclusive workplace and freelance environment, and that people of color and other minorities are strongly encouraged to apply for such writing opportunities.

If you have an interest in writing about radio engineering, technology and products, write to me at radioworld@futurenet.com.

You should also know what our parent company has committed to.

Future issued a statement on Twitter in June: “To stay silent is to be complicit. We believe that #BlackLivesMatter. We stand with communities across the U.S. who are angry and in pain. We’re going to play our part as a plc and do better.”

The company, under its dynamic leader Zillah Byng-Thorne, committed to diverse representation in our original and stock photography. It issued diversity targets for contributor spending, ensuring that writers and creatives of color have a voice across its portfolio. It committed to further investment in training about inclusiveness and diversity, from the way it recruits to how our team members interact with one another.

It also is supporting the latest PSA from Love Has No Labels with donated media, digital and social support. And it gave $1 million of advertising space across its brands to organizations supporting Black Lives Matter.

We want the Radio World community to be as vibrant and inclusive as possible. Thanks for being part of it.

The post Wanted: Many Voices, Many Views appeared first on Radio World.

Voting begins Monday for a new class of the Radio Hall of Fame. The organization just announced 24 nominees; winners will be announced next month.

This year’s induction ceremony will be done as a live radio broadcast from several locations instead of a physical event; details of that aren’t out yet. The lists are below:

NOMINEES TO BE VOTED ON BY VOTING PARTICIPANT PANEL:

Longstanding Local/Regional (20 years or more)

Mark & Brian-KLOS-FM

Bobby Rich-KFMB-FM San Diego & KMXZ-FM Tucson

Bob Rivers-KJR-FM Seattle

Donnie Simpson-WMMJ-FM Washington D.C.

Active Local/Regional (10 years or more)

Angie Martinez-WWPR-FM New York City

Matt Siegel-WXKS-FM Boston

Elliot Segal-WWDC-FM Washington D.C.

Bob Stroud-WDRV-FM Chicago

Longstanding Network/Syndication (20 years or more)

Sid Mark-Host, Sounds of Sinatra

Joey Reynolds-Host, WOR Radio Network

Cokie Roberts-Political Reporter, NPR

Suzyn Waldman-New York Yankees Radio Network

Active Network/Syndication (10 years or more)

The Breakfast Club-Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, DJ Envy, Premiere Networks

Larry Elder-Salem Radio Network

Jaime Jarrin-Los Angeles Dodgers Network

Kim Komando-Host, Kim Komando Show, Westar Radio Network

NOMINEES TO BE VOTED ON BY LISTENERS/RADIO HALL OF FAME NOMINATING COMMITTEE:

Music Format On-Air Personality

Whitney Allen-The Big Time with Whitney Allen, Westwood One

Bob & Sheri-The Bob and Sheri Show, Westwood One

Sway Calloway-Sirius XM Shade 45 Channel

John Boy & Billy-The John Boy & Billy Show, Premiere Networks

Spoken Word On-Air Personality

Glenn Beck-The Glenn Beck Show, Premiere Networks

John & Ken-The John & Ken Show, KFI-AM Los Angeles

Stephanie Miller-The Stephanie Miller Show, WYD Media

Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me-NPR

(end of list)

Craig Kitchin is chair of the Radio Hall of Fame and Dennis Green heads the Nominating Committee.

Nominees in four industry-voted categories are voted on by a participant panel of 600 industry people. Winners in two listener-voted categories are determined by the public nominating committee. The outcome of the listener vote will count as one vote among the committee votes.

 

The post Who’s Next Into the Radio Hall of Fame? appeared first on Radio World.

From Radio World’s “Application Notes” page:

StreamGuys said it helped New Orleans public station WWOZ(FM) meet a “massive” live streaming demand for its program “Jazz Festing in Place.”

Pandemic restrictions cancelled the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, so WWOZ aired and streamed an “in place” version using StreamGuys’ content delivery service.

[More Application Notes: “Arkansas Broadcaster Puts WebDAD to Use”]

“Over the years, WWOZ — and its parent organization, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, which sponsors the annual festival — had amassed a huge media archive of live Jazz Fest appearances by such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, Dr. John and Irma Thomas,” StreamGuys said in a press release.

The station showcased the performances during the dates and times that Jazz Fest would have taken place. “In addition to the live broadcast on WWOZ(FM), which blankets the New Orleans metro, the station streamed the event live over StreamGuys’ global content delivery network to reach jazz aficionados worldwide.”

It said the streamed version drew a listenership more than 20 times the station’s typical daily audience size. StreamGuys quoted WWOZ New Media Director David Stafford saying the supplier increased its capacity 10-fold, “enough to handle 50,000 concurrent streams.”

The post WWOZ Used StreamGuys CDN for “Jazz Festing in Place” appeared first on Radio World.

Ben Palmer

This is part of Radio World’s series exploring trends in radio broadcast consoles.

Ben Palmer is sales manager and engineer for Arrakis Systems. An earlier version of this article appeared in the RW ebook “Trends in Consoles.”

Radio World: What’s the top trend in consoles for radio studios?

Ben Palmer: The broadcast radio market is becoming more and more competitive every day. As such, stations are needing equipment that is more innovative, flexible and cost effective. The tools need to make the staff’s life easier but more dynamic. All the while, the installation needs to be user- and engineer-friendly.

Our ARC series analog boards broke the price barrier years ago. And adding features like USB, Bluetooth, Cat-5 wiring … it has continued to meet most studios’ needs. The ARC series has continued to be feature-rich, and helped keep new installation costs down.

AoIP has been a great step forward in our industry. It has simplified wiring, and has amplified flexibility. Our personal focus has been to make AoIP more affordable, and available to all. We introduced Simple IP over 4 years ago, and now pair it with our DARC Virtual Software Console & DARC Surface line. These are extremely cost-competitive for the AoIP market and, with Dante and AES67 protocols, will work with any system.

The DARC Virtual is a software-based board, and it is becoming more and more common for studios to use touchscreens. Yet we are finding that an equal portion are wanting a physical surface, which is why the DARC Surface does so well.

We feel like software consoles will become more and more affordable, and will add to the flexibility of the modern radio studio. The hardware interfaces will become more and more affordable, as we continue to innovate the manufacturing process and development. It is an exciting time in radio.

RW: What demands do you hear from potential buyers?

Palmer: Connectivity. People want to connect themselves, and their devices easily, while being inside and outside the studio. When we introduced Bluetooth to our boards, we found that the majority of our users want the ability to wirelessly connect their devices. It made it so simple to pair a phone, a tablet or a recording device. It was much the same with the USB channel on our ARC boards. Connect your Windows or Mac PC, and play anything you want. No need to mess with complex wiring or switches.

Owners, along with their talent, are also wanting to be able to reach their studio from anywhere. We are seeing this with the software consoles, such as the DARC Virtual. With it, you can sit at home and manage your studio’s board remotely. People want their devices to easily connect, but also want to control their board from anywhere.

RW: What role does the console play today when planning a broadcast studio?

Palmer: The radio console is the main hub and foundation for your studio. It is where any engineer should start for their design, and should meet the current and future needs of your buildout. Considerations should be made for what a studio will need 5 to 10 years down the road. But don’t stress about this. Realize that you can start with what is needed today, knowing that expandability is very feasible while utilizing AoIP.

RW: How vibrant is the marketplace for analog consoles? How long will manufacturers of analog consoles support them?

Palmer: Analog consoles and equipment will be around for a long time. The beauty of AoIP is that you can connect any analog equipment to your network using nodes, such as Simple IP. So if you buy an analog board today, and expand your studios tomorrow, you can easily utilize AoIP with any existing analog studio. As it stands, you’ll need analog interfaces for your mics, headphones, etc. And even though touchscreens have helped foster the use of software consoles, there are still many who prefer the feel of a physical interface.

I believe that we will see analog boards for a long time, but we’ll continue to see a growing cohesion between digital and analog, such as with Bluetooth, USB, AoIP, etc.

RW: Any other thoughts for someone who is setting out to make a console system buying decision?

Palmer: Don’t put off replacing your old board, or buying that new studio. We often hear of stations nursing 30-year-old boards, or getting used boards off Ebay. The cost of your time, stress and energy maintaining old equipment adds up fast. Whereas, high-quality brand-new boards are extremely affordable today.

The best part is, new boards are now future-proof. You can easily start off with a smaller system, but then expand using AoIP. For example, you purchase an ARC-10 console today. A couple years down the road you add a couple new studios and want the DARC Virtual console while utilizing AoIP. Just add a Simple IP (or Dante AVIO) node which connects your ARC-10 sources to the Dante network. With a simple ethernet network, you just connected multiple studios and your audio is accessible anywhere.

With the affordability of new equipment, and it being future-proof, there is no reason to wait. Don’t be intimidated, and make the move.

The post With Consoles, It’s All About Connectivity appeared first on Radio World.

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