Equipment Operation

This section will give you a brief introduction to using equipment in the KPSU studio. Further, more in-depth training will be received during the production seminars and apprenticeships.

The following sound equipment are available in the KPSU studio:

Equipment Upkeep

We take great pains to keep our equipment in top condition. You are expected to be thoughtful and careful not to abuse or neglect the equipment. Of course, there will be times when a legitimate electronic or mechanical breakdown occurs. Should that happen, first check carefully to rule out a problem caused by an incorrect procedure or setting. If everything, as far as you can tell, is properly set up, go to the KPSU website and file a Problem Report, but also email KPSU's Technical Director and Web Director immediately (tech@kpsu.org or web@kpsu.org)
Include as much information as possible about the device that's malfunctioning, and what it's symptoms are. The more information you include, the faster we can locate the cause of the problem.

Equipment Checkout

As a volunteer of KPSU you may be permitted access to various types of equipment for station purposes. Ultimately, equipment check out is at the sole discretion of KPSU's Station Manager and Tech Director. Requests may be denied.

  • Equipment may only be checked out by the Technical Director or Station Manager and may only be checked back in by only those two staff members
  • Well in advance of the date the equipment is needed, contact the technical director with what is needed specifically and what it will be used for.
  • When the equipment is checked out, a form must be filled out and filed for what was checked out, by whom, when it will be returned, and signed out and in by KPSU's Tech Director and the DJ checking out the equipment.
  • While checked out, you are responsible for the safe return of the equipment! Do not pass it off to another volunteer who is planning on checking it out next. The forms signed are a contract.
  • Please contact the technical director if there are any problems or if the equipment malfunctions.
  • KPSU staff is also required to fill out forms for checking out equipment.

Console

The console (also called a control board) is the source of linkage between all music equipment, the microphone, in-studio monitors, out-going volumes, and is the key element in keeping any in-studio processes running smoothly. It has a row of buttons which control the sources that go out across the air waves, where those sources go, and for previewing material. There are also faders which control the levels of sources. Adjust the faders to keep the console VU meters peaking, but not exceeding, "0" or "Unity Gain". Most of the level controls have been calibrated to work with the knob pointers at the diamonds or "0". Sometimes the level must be set considerably higher or lower to achieve correct VU meter levels - levels too low create noise in the signal, too high cause distortion. Announcers should constantly adjust audio levels as needed.

  • The top row of buttons adjusts each channel to it's either "A" or "B" mode. This allows multiple sources to be connected to only a few channels.
  • The next 3 rows down correspond to the direction the sources go. The red and yellow "leave on" rows are for the FM and AM signal. The "Send to Phone" row is for call in guests. The Phone row does not need to be used unless a caller will be on the air.
  • The "cue" row is for previewing material before play over the air.
  • The bottom section of the board is for turning channels on and off and adjusting the levels of the sources.

Auditioning (Previewing) Material from a Music Source

While material is being played from one certain music source, other material can be previewed and cued up for efficiency in changing from one to another with the following steps for proper handling of the console and the music source:

  1. Turn the "cue" switch on for the channel to be previewed.
  2. Select the music source to be used in previewing.
  3. Make sure the channel is off or the fader is down.
  4. Start the material playing. It will be heard in the headphones and the console speaker.
  5. Cue up proper material to its beginning spot and pause the tape, record, or CD.
  6. The operator is now ready to turn the channel on and the fader up to play this material.

Playing Material from a Music Source

The console is used as a mediator in playing material from any music source to go out across the airwaves by following these steps:

  1. Select the music source to be used.
  2. Turn the appropriate channel on.
  3. Start the material at the source in use.
  4. Adjust the fader to the appropriate level while monitoring the level on the VU meter.

Microphone Set Up

The microphone is a sensitive object and that which it picks up, is that which goes out across the air waves. These are the instructions in using the microphone.

  1. Turn the microphone fader down.
  2. Turn the microphone channel on.
  3. Turn up the volume level with the fader.
  4. While speaking into the microphone, monitor the level with the VU meter.
  5. While the microphone channel is on, the control room monitors will be off. The headphones may be used for hearing the broadcast.
  6. When finished speaking into the microphone, turn the fader all the way down and turn the channel off to avoid unwanted talking over music.

Automix

Under normal operation the automix should be always running. It runs off of its own computer and to play it over the air, you simply need to turn on the automix channel on the board. Turn up the fader until the levels are appropriate.
For automix problems, first contact the Program Director, then the Computer/Web Director and fill out an online problem log.
In the event of an overall power outage, the automix will be the only source running.

IRP

The IRP (Instant Replay) is our means of playing PSA's, show promos, underwriting, and legal ID's along with many drops from artists and celebrities etc. All PSA's, show promos, underwriting spots, legal ID's, show introductions, or any other pre-produced sound-clips must be submitted to KPSU's Production Director in order to be played on the IRP machine. DJ's playing any unauthorized pre-recorded slots are subject to termination.

Operation of the IRP is quite simple:

  1. Use the up/down arrows or search function(to search by cut number or cut name) to find the cut you want to play.
  2. Push play to play the cut. Make sure the IRP channel is on and the level is up to the approiate level.
  3. You can search for other cuts while a selected cut is playing. The IRP will only play one cut at a time.

In addition to this normal operation of the IRP there are many other convenient functions. Please ask the production director if you would like to learn more.

Compact Disc Player

The KPSU CD players have a lot of powerful functions for efficient on-air or off air use. The following functions and procedure should be understood clearly.

Auto Cue

This function allows the specific track that the operator wishes to play, to be ready, waiting at the very start of the track.

  1. Press the auto cue button.
  2. Select a track to be cued up for play by turning the track dial to the appropriate track. This track is now paused, ready to play.
  3. When ready, press the play button, and the track will start.
  4. When the track reaches its end, it will automatically stop. This avoids running over into other tracks.

Direct Play

This function is used to start the CD player from any specific track on the CD. When started playing, the CD will be played continually through all subsequent tracks remaining on the CD. Additionally, the CDs can be set to play one track at a time (the CD player stops playing after the track is over) or the entire CD continously (moving from one track to the next). This can be adjusted with the single/cont. button. Look for the word "single" or "cont" on the LCD readout to see what mode the players are set to.

  • To start the CD beginning with the first track, simply press the play button.
  • To start play from any other track, make sure auto cue is off and turn the track dial to the appropriate track. Play will begin with that track and continue.

Search

This function is used to scan forward or backward to a particular place in a track.

  1. To search backward to a specific track while it is playing, simply turn and hold the search dial counterclockwise to move backward to the desired location within the track. Let go of the dial when the location is reached.
  2. To search forward to a specific track while it is playing, simply turn and hold the search dial clockwise to go forward to the desired location within the track. Let go of the dial when the location is reached.
  3. The scanning will start slow at first, and will then pick up the speed if held longer.

Time Mode

This function is designed to assist the operator in showing the “time remaining” for different functions of the player such that the operator would be fully aware of when the tracks will be finished, the CD will be finished, the track number and total CD time.

  1. The operator should make sure that the track is playing.
  2. While in play mode, the display window will show the track in play and the elapsed time.
  3. Press the time mode button once, the display window will show total remaining time on the CD.
  4. If the time mode button is pressed a second time, the display window will show the time remaining in the track in play.
  5. If the time mode button is pressed a third time, the display window will show the total elapsed time since the beginning of the track.
  6. When the button is pressed a forth time, the display window will repeat from step 2.
  7. When the track playing finishes, the display window will return to original setting.

Dj Mixer

When using the turntables, the dj mixer links the turntables to the console. To use the dj mixer in cueing-up and playing records, follow these directions.

  1. Set up the turntable as presented in the previous section.
  2. Adjust the bottom right cue fader to the left or right in relation to the turntable to be used.
  3. To cue up a material, place the needle on the record just before the desired "cut". Use the headphones which are plugged into the jack on the dj mixer to listen to the material.
  4. Listen for the beginning of the "cut", and stop the turntable once you hear the first sound of the "cut".
  5. Manually move the turntable backwards(counter-clockwise) until you hear the silence just before the "cut", and you are now ready for on-air play.
  6. Adjust the bottom cross fader to it's appropriate side in accordance with the turntable that will be outputting the cued up "cut". Press the start button.
  7. When preivewing cued material, push the cue fader to the cue setting. Adjust the control knob for correct volume.
  8. While one turntable is being used on-air, the other can be used to cue up a "cut" to be used next. Simply adjust the cue fader to the opposite side, wear the headphones, and follow the steps to cue up the desired "cut".
  9. When the time comes to use the newly cued-up "cut" on the opposite turntable, simply fade the bottom cross fader to it's opposite side and start that turntable to play.

Record Player (also called turntable)

This is the procedure by which you set up the turntable.

  1. With the turntable stopped, place a record on the turntable.
  2. Select the proper setting (33 or 45) for the record.
  3. Place the stylus (also called needle) on the record.
  4. Examine the pitch adjustment for proper speed. (Usually this should be set to 0.)
  5. Start the table.

Call-In Broadcast

Listeners often call the station for giveaways, to address their comments, get involved in talk shows, and make song requests. When calls need to be put on air, an announcer should watch out for the following:

  • The announcer should make sure the broadcast mic is set up, ready to go.
  • The announcer should be polite and professional when communicating to a caller on air
  • The announcer should remember to tell the caller to turn down their personal radios to avoid confusion due to delay and feedback.
  • The announcer is responsible for the content of the conversation. Communicate with the caller off the air if necessary.

When a caller is ready to go on the air, these procedures should be followed:

  1. The control room mic channel should be on.
  2. The green "Send to Phone" buttons, located across the top of the board, should be turned on for any channel you want the caller to be able to hear(i.e. control room mics, cd players, interview room mics, irp, etc.).
  3. The announcer should get ready to use the broadcast mic. The headphones should be used to hear the caller.
  4. When the call is directed into the studio, it will come into the mixer on the channel labeled “phone”. Turn the phone channel on and up to just under the diamond or "0" (unity gain).
  5. The announcer should address the caller, and adjust settings to achieve the appropriate volume levels.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - quite frequently, people will call into your show in hopes of swearing really loudly on the air unexpectantly....so be prepared.
There is a definite risk in taking live callers and thus KPSU has always discouraged this. If a caller violates KPSU/FCC/KBPS rules concerning content, the DJ will ultamitely be held responsible resulting in strikes and/or suspension.