Difference between pages "Working From Home Resources/Microphone Recommendations" and "Engineering"

From URY Wiki
(Difference between pages)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(prices change also wording ambiguous)
 
 
Line 1: Line 1:
−
<small>[[Working From Home Resources|back to hub]]</small>
+
{{Team
 +
  |tstyle={{Teamstyle Engineering}}
 +
  |name=Engineering Team
 +
  |logo=
 +
  |brief=Maintains URY's audio and broadcast hardware. Also oversees building infrastructure and general maintenance.
 +
  |csec=[[Constitution|Here]]
 +
  |roles=[[Chief Engineer]]<br />[[Assistant Chief Engineer]]
 +
  |teammail=engineering@ury.org.uk
 +
  |freshermail=engineering@ury.org.uk
 +
  |hotmail=chief.engineer@ury.org.uk
 +
}}
  
−
You can get surprisingly far with even a basic mic, as long as you use it properly. A proper one will always help, though. On this page you'll find recommendations for microphones in every price range.
+
'''Engineering Team''' is the URY team responsible for maintaining URY's broadcast equipment and providing suitable set-ups for outside broadcasting, live sessions, or anything else you can think of really. If it handles analogue or digital audio and isn't a computer, its probably ours!
  
−
When looking at a mic, make sure you take a careful look at its connectivity - if it has USB you'll be good to just plug it into your laptop, if it has only XLR you'll need an external audio interface as well. Most of the mics on this page will be USB unless otherwise indicated.
+
==What do we do?==
 +
From the moment a sound leaves anything (a computer, vinyl, human, cassette, instrument, etc) to the moment it goes in to a computer for streaming, we are responsible for it! Whether that's in the studio, a session recording, the transmission (Tx) cupboard in stores or at an Outside Broadcast (OB), it's our issue.  
  
−
== Where To Buy ==
+
===[[Studio Red]]===
 +
The main broadcasting studio, Studio Red (formally known as Studio 1) was last re-built in 2011 with the support of Alumni funding (YuFund). The mixing desk is a [[Sonifex S2]] split-chassis broadcast desk. There are: 5 mics; 2 vinyl decks; 2 CDJs; 2 CD players; 4 aux inputs; a telephone channel with jack input (for a smartphone); 3 BAPs channels (from the presenter PC); a guest PC input; a presenter PC input. For visualisation, there are also 2 HD ready cameras and 2 LED lights.
  
−
A good place to start will be Amazon, bearing in mind that they are prioritising essentials and so delivery times may be ''quite long indeed''.
+
Studio Red is home to the Tardis. This contains all the outboard processing used in the studio, including a RedNet 2; compression; patch panels; headphone distribution; Wil's Black Box; sonifex power; black magic (visualisation); speaker amps.
  
−
If you're in the UK take a look at Gear4Music, if in continental Europe look on Thomann (they also ship to the UK, however it can get a bit costly).
+
===[[Studio Blue]]===
 +
Last refurbished as part of the 40k project and complete over Christmas 2018/2019, Studio Blue (previously Studio 2) has been currently being refurbished to give it the same technical capability as Studio Red (Previously Studio 1). The new mixing desk is a Split Sonifex S2 and will be functionally identical to the desk in Studio Red. The physical table in which the Sonifex is mounted is a custom design built by Knotty Ash Woodworking, with Yellowtec m!ka 'Mic Arm TV' low profile mic stands. The low profile arms are designed to give presenters and guests a direct eye-line with each other, as well as improve viewing angles for visualisation purposes.  
  
−
Do not underestimate eBay, provided you are willing to shop around and investigate the quality of the gear you're purchasing, you can get very good deals with much shorter shipping times compared to normal shopfronts with the current climate.
+
The rack, located to the left of the desk, houses an all new patch bay, new DBX mic compressors, a Samson Headphone Amp, M-Audio USB Audio Interface, Sonifex Power Supply and RedNet 2. A new 'Magic BAPS box' was also built by [[Matthew Stratford]].
  
−
A good source for reviews on microphones is [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvOU-zTlankT-JjN3ZzvuKA Podcastage], if you fancy shopping around.
+
'''Past'''
  
−
== Budget Zero ==
+
Before the refurbishment as part of 40k, Studio 2 (Now Studio Blue) was primarily used for pre-recording. The mixing desk was a Sonifex Sovereign broadcasting desk with custom modifications. There were: 3 mic; 2 aux inputs; 3 BAPs channels (from the presenter PC); and a disconnected telephone channel.
  
−
You'd be surprised how good an earphone (e.g. EarPod) mic can sound, if you use it properly. We'll put some guidance on our [[Working From Home Resources/Microphone Technique|mic technique]] page on how to make it sound better, the tl;dr is to put it close, but not too close, to your mouth.
+
Studio 2 was home to the Blue Box. This contained a RedNet 2; compression; patch panels; Sonifex power; a speaker amp.
  
−
At a pinch you could use your laptop's built-in mic, but we wouldn't recommend it. With a laptop mic you have far less control over positioning, so if at all possible use an external one, even on your earbuds.
+
===[[Production Office]]===
  
−
If you have a gaming headset, or indeed any headset with a mic, lying around, that can work quite well as well. Similar guidelines apply: position it 3-5cm from your mouth, while angling it to avoid air going directly into the mic, because that'll cause popping, which sounds awful.
+
The production office is also the main office of URY. Day-to-day it is used by any member of the station as a space to plan shows, meet with other members or get some work done. At the far end is a production PC and mixing desk. These can be used for recording sessions, jingles, clips, etc. The desk is a [[Yamaha 01v96i]] digital sound desk with a MY-16AUD [[Dante]] expansion card. This is connected via USB and analogue cabling to the PC. It also has inputs from both office wall-PCs, the studios, the CD player, and a patch panel in S2.
  
−
== £50ish ==
+
At the end of the office is [[The Hub]]. This contains the studio selector hardware, and a lot of old analogue patching stuff (including the ends of tie lines down to the patching in stores - useful in an emergency)! It is also home to the power distro board, the input of satellite cables from the roof, some computing stuff and the door bell power adapter.
  
−
At this price range you can't go wrong with the '''Samson Go'''. It's a small condenser mic that plugs in via USB and can sit on top of your laptop (it's really that small!), or on your desk. Don't put it too close to your mouth though, because it is quite sensitive.
+
===Transmission===
  
−
== £80ish ==
+
URY is broadcast across campus on 1350AM. Our output is also streamed online at ury.org.uk, on radio player, iTunes radio, etc. The engineering team is responsible for getting the audio output to 1350AM and to the stream server for [[computing]] to stream. This all happens in the transmission (Tx) cupboard located in stores. Access to this is restricted to only the Head of Computing and Chief Engineer due to our licence, however, they can grant access to anyone except the station manager.
  
−
At this price range we'd recommend the Go's bigger brother, the '''Samson Meteor'''. It also plugs in via USB, but has a bigger sensor, so it'll sound much nicer. Just like the Go, put it a bit further away from your mouth.
+
The Tx cupboard contains a Radica transmitter and compressor, some outboard compression, a RedNet 3 and a Scarlett 18i20 (USB audio interface). It also contains a number of servers and computers.  
  
−
You'll see a lot of YouTubers and streamers using Blue Snowballs, and while they're ''fine'', if you can stretch the budget for a Meteor it'll sound much nicer for radio, so the Snowball is an option but not recommended.
+
The transmitter is connected underground to a Radica tuner and the antenna (out the back of Vanbrugh Kitchen).
  
−
The Shure PGA58 comes in below this range, but you'll also need an audio interface for it, and a stand as well, since it doesn't come with one and suffers from bad handling noise, so when you add it all up it'll end up costing something around this. You could start building up a pro audio setup - having an interface will mean that you can use more advanced mics later down the line - but if all you'll be doing is radio, you'll be better served spending it all on one mic.
+
===The bits between them all...===
  
−
== £100ish ==
+
A digital audio over IP system is used to connect the studios, office, juxebox and Tx rack together. The system sits within the URY network, managed by [[Computing]]. We are using a protocol called [https://www.audinate.com/solutions/dante-overview Dante], which is developed by [https://www.audinate.com/ Audinate]. In order to access this network, we have a number of [http://uk.focusrite.com/ethernet-audio-interfaces/rednet RedNet] devices spread throughout the building. The Yamaha desk in the office is also Dante enabled. Anyone wanting to learn more about Dante may benefit from taking Audinate's Level 1 Dante certification at audinate.com/certify. 
  
−
At this range a good option is the '''Blue Yeti Nano''', or if you can stretch the budget, the full-size '''Yeti'''. There's also the Yeti Studio, but the only real benefit of that is that it has an XLR port, which you probably won't need unless you already have XLR hardware (if you have to ask, you don't).
+
====RedNet 2====
  
−
== Beyond ==
+
Placed in S1 and S2, the '2' is a 16 in, 16 out A-D and D-A.
  
−
At this range, the options widen quite considerably.
+
====RedNet 3====
  
−
If you want to stick with USB, look into the '''Audio-Technica AT2020 USBi''' (make sure you get the "USBi" version, as the basic AT2020 doesn't have a USB plug!) or the '''Rode NT-USB''' - they're quite pricy, but plug directly into your laptop via USB, so no need for any extra hardware.
+
Located in the Tx cupboard, the '3' is a digital interface, with up to 32 channels via ADAT fibre optical, AES or SPDIF. This is connected to a Scarlett 18i20 to interface with the servers, loggers and AM transmission.  
  
−
You could also get the non-USB '''AT2020''', the '''Rode NT1-A''' or a '''Shure SM58''', but these are ''XLR mics'' and will need an interface to be used - buying one of those will drive up the price quite a bit (check the bottom of this page for more). If you want to get one of these, we'd recommend the AT2020 or NT1-A if all you'll be using it for is vocals, or the SM58 if you want a more flexible piece of kit. If you get the NT1-A "vocal recording pack", it'll come with a shock mount (to further reduce handling noise), which is useful. Remember though, you'll also need a stand and an interface, so don't go buying just a mic as it'll be a bit useless.
+
====RedNet 4====
  
−
== Accessories ==
+
Floating between S2 and OBs, the '4' is an 8 channel mic pre.
  
−
Here are some things that you may find useful in your radio production adventures.
+
====Audinate AVIO====
  
−
=== Stand ===
+
Installed in the Spring of 2019, The AVIO is a 2 in, 2 out AES3 interface. At the moment, the AVIO is connected to a Tandberg Satellite receiver (IRN news receiver) which replaced a cheap set top box that had a habit of crashing as well as feeding AES3 audio into a first generation Blackmagic ATEM vision mixer for visualisation. As a result of the installation of the AVIO, the last regularly used analogue run around the station was eliminated and studios can be visualised independently of eachother.
  
−
Most of the mics listed above have a built-in stand, but some may not. We always advise having a stand, or at least putting the mic down on something, rather than holding it in your hand, as many cheaper mics aren't great at rejecting handling noise.
+
====More Detail====
  
−
There's no real recommendations here - type "mic stand" on your favourite shopping site, set a price filter, and go from there.
+
This network can be controlled using [[Dante Controller]] and the RedNet devices are controlled with [[RedNet Control]]. There is also a page further detailing our set-up at URY: [[URY's Dante Network]].
  
−
=== Pop Shield / Muff ===
+
===Outside Broadcasts===
  
−
You've seen them - a thin piece of fabric in front of the mic. They're there to stop plosives, the sounds that you can hear when you're speaking too close to a mic (for an idea of what a plosive sounds like, say the word "plosive" loudly), from destroying your sound quality.
+
Our Outside Broadcast (OB) kit is ever-changing, and varies for every OB to suit the needs of the event. The main part is a Rhino wheeled flight case with table sides. Inside this is the majority of kit required for a simple studio style set up. This includes several pieces of new equipment, an Allen and Heath Zed 18 Mixing Desk, two brand new Sennheiser ew100 G4 E band wireless mic receivers, a Behringer X32 rack for mics processing, the OB PC, speaker amplifiers, and a 4 channel Behringer Headphone amp.  
  
−
While with adequate mic positioning you won't need one, it never hurts to have one. Again, look on whatever shopping website you prefer - make sure, however, to check how the pop shield attaches to your stand, to avoid buying something useless.
+
It previously (prior to early 2020) consisted of: a Soundcraft Spirit M12 mixing desk; Focusrite OctoPre (donated by [[Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke]] in 2015); T.Bone Radio Mic Receivers; a Behringer 4-chan Headphone Amp; a Behringer 4-chan Compressor; OB PCs; speaker amplification. The rhino was originally conceived by [[Tom Haines]] in 2011/12. It has been reorganised a number of times since then, by ACE Sam Merryweather in October 2018 as most recently by Alice Milburn, Harry Smith and Jess Schofield in Spring 2020 with assistance of other eng team members.  
  
−
If you're not in the mood for splashing the cash, get creative! A piece of fabric (tights work well) on a wire loop won't sound much worse than the professional ones, and it'll give you something to do during the quarantine.
+
Also included in a standard OB are 3 dynamic microphones; 2 speakers and various mic and speaker stands. Finally, there are 3 banners and 2 wife's (floor standing banners). They are the [[wife]] of the station manager.
  
−
=== Audio Interfaces ===
+
===Stores===
  
−
An audio interface is like a really basic mixer that plugs directly into your computer. Almost all the mics listed above are USB, so you don't need an interface, but if you're looking into more advanced gear, or eventually recording multiple mics at once, these may be useful.
+
Stores contains a variety of kit, some of which is currently in use, some of which is ancient and doesn't work. There is a lot of history in this room. To the left is the music store, which contains a library of records and CDs which the [[Music]] team is responsible for. The main section contains the URY rolling shelves. These were acquired from CS when it moved to Hes East. The rear shelf is reserved for computing hardware. The rest is Engineering. the very back shelf also has some paints and can be accessed by one person getting into the Tx cupboard, another rolling the shelf as far forward as possible (with no stuff in the way) and the Tx cupboard door being opened again (this will now be behind the shelf).
  
−
One that the Engineering and Computing Teams use a lot at URY is the '''Behringer U-Phoria UMC22''' - we use them for a lot of events and OBs where we don't have the space or time to set up a full mixer.
+
==Broadcast Engineering==
 +
Many of the engineers that come through URY will have experience in live or studio audio engineering (although not having any is not a problem!). Whilst broadcast is not very different from these, there are a few minor differences to be aware of.
  
−
If you want to get fancier and need more inputs, good options are the '''Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2''' or the '''Focusrite Scarlett 2i2''', although these do have a price tag to match the fanciness.
+
====Broadcast Desks====
 +
Whilst on a standard mixing desk, the fader will go from -∞ to either +4 or +10, a broadcast desk will max at 0, and further adjustment should be done using the trim knob. This is to make it so, when presenting, the fader can be opened to 'full' quickly and easily by the presenter without causing distortion issues.
  
−
As already stated, '''''you probably don't need an audio interface'''''. The options are here in case you're interested, but for most simple use cases, a mic and a pair of headphones will do you just fine.
+
The broadcast desks in URY are modular, so each channel strip is its own individual module. This allows for custom layout and input design. The modules are connected together using a ribbon cable. The 2 desks are the [[Sonifex S2]] and [[Sonifex Sovereign]].
  
−
If you do buy one, make sure to check if your combo of mic and interface comes with an XLR cable - some do but many don't, so you might need to buy one separately - don't get caught out!
+
Broadcast desks usually use PPM meters to measure the audio level. The target should be 6PPM, with clipping occuring above 8PPM. Broadcast systems are usually set up for unity gain (input level = output level) with some compression and processing in the middle (URY does not currently do this).
 +
 
 +
==Recent History==
 +
 
 +
==Members (past and present)==
 +
 
 +
===Chief Engineers===
 +
* ''2021 - Present'': [[Harry Smith]]
 +
* ''2020 - 2021'': [[Jessica Schofield]]
 +
* ''2019 - 2020'': [[Jessica Schofield]]
 +
* ''2019 (summer)'': [[Morgan McKay]]
 +
* ''2018 - 2019'': [[Jack McPoland]]
 +
* ''2017 - 2018'': [[Neave Spikings]]
 +
* ''2016 - 2017'': [[Marco Bolt]]
 +
* ''2015 - 2016'': [[James Rudge]]
 +
* ''2014 - 2015'': [[Adam Brain]]
 +
* ''2013 - 2014'': [[Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke]]
 +
* ''2012 - 2013'': [[Tom Haines]]
 +
* ''2012 (summer)'': [[Wil Bennet]]
 +
* ''2010 - 2012'': [[Luke Sarjant]] & [[Wil Bennet]]
 +
* ''2009 - 2010'': [[Clement Sun]]
 +
* ''2008 - 2009'': [[Dylan Jones]]
 +
* ''2006 - 2008'': [[Matt Gray]]
 +
* ''2006 (spring)'': [[Jonny Hardman]]
 +
* ''2004 - 2006'': [[Iain Kelly]]
 +
* ''2003 - 2004'': [[Matt Fullerton]]
 +
* ''2003'': [[Terence Withers]]
 +
* ''2001 - 2003'': [[Philip Stewart]]
 +
* ''1997 - 2000'': [[Jonathan Ledbury]]
 +
* ''1996 - 1998'': [[Paul Burns]]
 +
* ''1996 - 1997'': [[Dave Stevenson]]
 +
* ''1993 - 1994'': [[Mark Patrick]]
 +
* ''1993 - 1994'': [[Alistair MacDonald]]
 +
 
 +
===Assistant Chief Engineers===
 +
* '' 2020 - 2021'': [[Harry Smith]] & [[Alice Milburn]]
 +
* '' 2019 - 2020'': [[Harry Smith]] & [[Alice Milburn]]
 +
* ''2019 (summer)'': [[Jacob Dicker]]
 +
* ''2018 - summer 2019'': [[Jacob Dicker]] & [[Morgan McKay]]
 +
* ''2017 - 2018'': [[Sam Merryweather]] & [[Jack McPoland]]
 +
* ''2017 (summer)'': [[Toby Fox]] & [[Timothy Pilbeam]]
 +
* ''2016 - 2017'': [[Neave Spikings]] & [[Jed Fulwell]]
 +
* ''2016 - 2016'': [[Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke]] & [[Timothy Pilbeam]]
 +
* ''2015 - 2016'': [[Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke]] & [[Marco Bolt]]
 +
* ''2014 - 2015'': [[Andy Durant]] & [[James Rudge]]
 +
* ''2013 - 2014'': [[Andy Durant]] & [[Tom Haines]]
 +
* ''2013 (summer)'': [[Andy Durant]] & [[Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke]]
 +
* ''2012 - 2013'': [[Wil Bennet]] & [[Andy Durant]]
 +
* ''2011 - 2012'': [[Tom Haines]] & [[Jonathan Rees]]
 +
* ''2010 - 2011'': [[Launrence Hobden]]
 +
* ''2006 (summer)'': [[Matt Gray]]
 +
* ''2004 - 2005'': [[Jonny Hardman]]
 +
* ''2003 - 2004'': [[Terence Withers]]
 +
* ''2002 - 2003'': [[Matt Fullerton]]
 +
* ''2001 - 2002'': [[Adam Leith]] & [[Jonathan Aitken]]
 +
* ''1995 - 1996'': [[Wim Roose]]

Latest revision as of 23:19, 9 March 2021

Engineering Team
Maintains URY's audio and broadcast hardware. Also oversees building infrastructure and general maintenance.
Constitution
Created ???
Defined Here
Roles Chief Engineer
Assistant Chief Engineer
Contacts
General Enquiries engineering@ury.org.uk
Get Involved engineering@ury.org.uk
Head of Team chief.engineer@ury.org.uk


Engineering Team is the URY team responsible for maintaining URY's broadcast equipment and providing suitable set-ups for outside broadcasting, live sessions, or anything else you can think of really. If it handles analogue or digital audio and isn't a computer, its probably ours!

What do we do?

From the moment a sound leaves anything (a computer, vinyl, human, cassette, instrument, etc) to the moment it goes in to a computer for streaming, we are responsible for it! Whether that's in the studio, a session recording, the transmission (Tx) cupboard in stores or at an Outside Broadcast (OB), it's our issue.

Studio Red

The main broadcasting studio, Studio Red (formally known as Studio 1) was last re-built in 2011 with the support of Alumni funding (YuFund). The mixing desk is a Sonifex S2 split-chassis broadcast desk. There are: 5 mics; 2 vinyl decks; 2 CDJs; 2 CD players; 4 aux inputs; a telephone channel with jack input (for a smartphone); 3 BAPs channels (from the presenter PC); a guest PC input; a presenter PC input. For visualisation, there are also 2 HD ready cameras and 2 LED lights.

Studio Red is home to the Tardis. This contains all the outboard processing used in the studio, including a RedNet 2; compression; patch panels; headphone distribution; Wil's Black Box; sonifex power; black magic (visualisation); speaker amps.

Studio Blue

Last refurbished as part of the 40k project and complete over Christmas 2018/2019, Studio Blue (previously Studio 2) has been currently being refurbished to give it the same technical capability as Studio Red (Previously Studio 1). The new mixing desk is a Split Sonifex S2 and will be functionally identical to the desk in Studio Red. The physical table in which the Sonifex is mounted is a custom design built by Knotty Ash Woodworking, with Yellowtec m!ka 'Mic Arm TV' low profile mic stands. The low profile arms are designed to give presenters and guests a direct eye-line with each other, as well as improve viewing angles for visualisation purposes.

The rack, located to the left of the desk, houses an all new patch bay, new DBX mic compressors, a Samson Headphone Amp, M-Audio USB Audio Interface, Sonifex Power Supply and RedNet 2. A new 'Magic BAPS box' was also built by Matthew Stratford.

Past

Before the refurbishment as part of 40k, Studio 2 (Now Studio Blue) was primarily used for pre-recording. The mixing desk was a Sonifex Sovereign broadcasting desk with custom modifications. There were: 3 mic; 2 aux inputs; 3 BAPs channels (from the presenter PC); and a disconnected telephone channel.

Studio 2 was home to the Blue Box. This contained a RedNet 2; compression; patch panels; Sonifex power; a speaker amp.

Production Office

The production office is also the main office of URY. Day-to-day it is used by any member of the station as a space to plan shows, meet with other members or get some work done. At the far end is a production PC and mixing desk. These can be used for recording sessions, jingles, clips, etc. The desk is a Yamaha 01v96i digital sound desk with a MY-16AUD Dante expansion card. This is connected via USB and analogue cabling to the PC. It also has inputs from both office wall-PCs, the studios, the CD player, and a patch panel in S2.

At the end of the office is The Hub. This contains the studio selector hardware, and a lot of old analogue patching stuff (including the ends of tie lines down to the patching in stores - useful in an emergency)! It is also home to the power distro board, the input of satellite cables from the roof, some computing stuff and the door bell power adapter.

Transmission

URY is broadcast across campus on 1350AM. Our output is also streamed online at ury.org.uk, on radio player, iTunes radio, etc. The engineering team is responsible for getting the audio output to 1350AM and to the stream server for computing to stream. This all happens in the transmission (Tx) cupboard located in stores. Access to this is restricted to only the Head of Computing and Chief Engineer due to our licence, however, they can grant access to anyone except the station manager.

The Tx cupboard contains a Radica transmitter and compressor, some outboard compression, a RedNet 3 and a Scarlett 18i20 (USB audio interface). It also contains a number of servers and computers.

The transmitter is connected underground to a Radica tuner and the antenna (out the back of Vanbrugh Kitchen).

The bits between them all...

A digital audio over IP system is used to connect the studios, office, juxebox and Tx rack together. The system sits within the URY network, managed by Computing. We are using a protocol called Dante, which is developed by Audinate. In order to access this network, we have a number of RedNet devices spread throughout the building. The Yamaha desk in the office is also Dante enabled. Anyone wanting to learn more about Dante may benefit from taking Audinate's Level 1 Dante certification at audinate.com/certify.

RedNet 2

Placed in S1 and S2, the '2' is a 16 in, 16 out A-D and D-A.

RedNet 3

Located in the Tx cupboard, the '3' is a digital interface, with up to 32 channels via ADAT fibre optical, AES or SPDIF. This is connected to a Scarlett 18i20 to interface with the servers, loggers and AM transmission.

RedNet 4

Floating between S2 and OBs, the '4' is an 8 channel mic pre.

Audinate AVIO

Installed in the Spring of 2019, The AVIO is a 2 in, 2 out AES3 interface. At the moment, the AVIO is connected to a Tandberg Satellite receiver (IRN news receiver) which replaced a cheap set top box that had a habit of crashing as well as feeding AES3 audio into a first generation Blackmagic ATEM vision mixer for visualisation. As a result of the installation of the AVIO, the last regularly used analogue run around the station was eliminated and studios can be visualised independently of eachother.

More Detail

This network can be controlled using Dante Controller and the RedNet devices are controlled with RedNet Control. There is also a page further detailing our set-up at URY: URY's Dante Network.

Outside Broadcasts

Our Outside Broadcast (OB) kit is ever-changing, and varies for every OB to suit the needs of the event. The main part is a Rhino wheeled flight case with table sides. Inside this is the majority of kit required for a simple studio style set up. This includes several pieces of new equipment, an Allen and Heath Zed 18 Mixing Desk, two brand new Sennheiser ew100 G4 E band wireless mic receivers, a Behringer X32 rack for mics processing, the OB PC, speaker amplifiers, and a 4 channel Behringer Headphone amp.

It previously (prior to early 2020) consisted of: a Soundcraft Spirit M12 mixing desk; Focusrite OctoPre (donated by Stephen 'Stevo' Clarke in 2015); T.Bone Radio Mic Receivers; a Behringer 4-chan Headphone Amp; a Behringer 4-chan Compressor; OB PCs; speaker amplification. The rhino was originally conceived by Tom Haines in 2011/12. It has been reorganised a number of times since then, by ACE Sam Merryweather in October 2018 as most recently by Alice Milburn, Harry Smith and Jess Schofield in Spring 2020 with assistance of other eng team members.

Also included in a standard OB are 3 dynamic microphones; 2 speakers and various mic and speaker stands. Finally, there are 3 banners and 2 wife's (floor standing banners). They are the wife of the station manager.

Stores

Stores contains a variety of kit, some of which is currently in use, some of which is ancient and doesn't work. There is a lot of history in this room. To the left is the music store, which contains a library of records and CDs which the Music team is responsible for. The main section contains the URY rolling shelves. These were acquired from CS when it moved to Hes East. The rear shelf is reserved for computing hardware. The rest is Engineering. the very back shelf also has some paints and can be accessed by one person getting into the Tx cupboard, another rolling the shelf as far forward as possible (with no stuff in the way) and the Tx cupboard door being opened again (this will now be behind the shelf).

Broadcast Engineering

Many of the engineers that come through URY will have experience in live or studio audio engineering (although not having any is not a problem!). Whilst broadcast is not very different from these, there are a few minor differences to be aware of.

Broadcast Desks

Whilst on a standard mixing desk, the fader will go from -∞ to either +4 or +10, a broadcast desk will max at 0, and further adjustment should be done using the trim knob. This is to make it so, when presenting, the fader can be opened to 'full' quickly and easily by the presenter without causing distortion issues.

The broadcast desks in URY are modular, so each channel strip is its own individual module. This allows for custom layout and input design. The modules are connected together using a ribbon cable. The 2 desks are the Sonifex S2 and Sonifex Sovereign.

Broadcast desks usually use PPM meters to measure the audio level. The target should be 6PPM, with clipping occuring above 8PPM. Broadcast systems are usually set up for unity gain (input level = output level) with some compression and processing in the middle (URY does not currently do this).

Recent History

Members (past and present)

Chief Engineers

Assistant Chief Engineers

Retrieved from ‘https://ury.org.uk/wiki/mediawiki/index.php?title=Working_From_Home_Resources/Microphone_Recommendations&oldid=1201’