Radio technology is changing so rapidly it's very difficult to decide what to purchase and when. Every week new products come out, many of which are digital. I think we are all getting the idea that analog tape machines and related products are definitely on the way out. It's really interesting to see what the manufacturers are coming out with each month, and it's even more challenging to purchase new equipment that won't be outdated in a few years. Here's a few products that I think you may find interesting . Many of these products are available from more than one manufacturer.

Digital Workstations

Try to demo a number of systems in your station and get feedback from your staff on what's best for you.

If you don't have a digital workstation in your facility, it's time for you to consider purchasing one. There are many available systems out there, but three systems seem to be extremely popular; The Korg Soundlink, The Roland DM-80, and the Orban DSE 7000. These systems vary in price and features, but they all allow you to lay down multiple digital tracks, edit digitally, and produce spots with amazing quality. Try to demo a number of systems in your station and get feedback from your staff on what's best for you. When possible, it's best to construct  a studio where digital production can be done exclusively.

Digital recorders - Maxi, Mini, Micro

Why not add  a CD recorder to your production studio so you can make your own custom CDs?

If your station uses compact disk players, why not add  a CD recorder to your production studio so you can make your own custom CDs? You also might want to look into the new mini-disk recorder/players. Unlike CDs, mini-disks can be rerecorded many times. Portable mini-disk recorders for interviews are the  perfect piece of gear to take out in the field. But if you really want to go small, Sony has introduced their NT-1 digital micro recorder. It uses a postage stamp size cassette and weighs just 5.2 ounces!

Centralized Audio Routing

That's it, no patch cords and no time consuming wiring!

The days of the patch bay are numbered. Interconnecting your station is snap when you use a central audio routing switcher. You equip each studio with a control panel that allows the routing of any audio source to  that studio. The same source can be simultaneously routed to multiple studios. When it's time to add new sources (phone lines, networks) to your station, just connect the source to the switcher. Rerouting of audio takes only seconds. That's it, no patch cords and no time consuming wiring! My two favorite routing systems are the ITC (International Tapetronics) and the SAS (Sierra Audio Systems).

Mikes and Mike Processing -

The best way to immediately improve the sound of your air staff

What's the best way to immediately improve the sound of your air staff? Install a good mike with a properly adjusted mike processor! With so many mikes to choose from, what should you choose?  Here are a couple of suggestions: Condenser microphone - The Neumann TLM 193, Neumann quality at half the normal price (approximately $1300.00). Dynamic microphone - The Electro-Voice RE 27 N/D, an improved version of the RE-20 with wider frequency response (approximately $700.00).

Now let's add a processor to fatten up the sound of your jocks and let them cut through the music. Take a look at the Orban 787 mike processor. It sounds good, it's extremely easy to set up, and it allows you to individually adjust the processing for each one of your air personalities.  The settings are stored in memory (99 memories maximum!) and can be recalled at any time. Valley Audio and Symmetrix also make good microphone processors. "Try before you buy" is the best way to purchase microphones and mike processors.

Remote Broadcasting

There is a good chance that these digital data telephone lines will be available in your area very soon

It seems like every day there's another way to do your remote broadcasts. UHF Remote pickup systems are hard to beat, but you don't always have a shot from the remote site to your studio. Comrex and Gentner have frequency extenders that allow you to do remote broadcasts over regular telephone lines, but you have to use multiple lines to get good broadcast quality. There is a better way to do remote broadcasts, but the special phone lines needed may not be available in your area.

The phone company has been slowly installing Switch 56 and  ISDN facilities around the country. There is a good chance that these digital data telephone lines will be available in your area very soon. Look into equipment made by Comrex, CCS and Telos. These companies  are all manufacturing systems that allow you to do high quality digital remote broadcasts over Switch 56 or ISDN telephone circuits.