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RADIO BROADCASTING TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT
Training course

1. Basis of broadcasting.
2. Technology of an broadcasting.
3. Structure of a radio station.
4. Engineering of broadcasting.
5. Automation Broadcasting.

Basis of broadcasting.

 Annotation  (Course topics)
  Concepts of: audio broadcasting, transmission, program, broadcasting station. Specific features of LW-band, MW-band, SW-band and FM-band broadcasting. Stereophonic broadcast systems with polar modulation and pilot-tone; spectra of complex stereo signals; parameters of system quality. Bi-aural broadcasting. Decibel as measure unit for level, attenuation (fading) and amplification. Data transmission integrated with broadcasting.
  Characteristics (peculiarities) of human perception of audio signals. Loudness of sound. Equal loudness curves. Frequency-dependent acoustic sensitivity. Psophometric curve. Dynamic range of programs. Frequency- , Linear- and Non-linear distortions of audio signals. Noticeability of sound distortions.
  Quality parameters of audio broadcast equipment. Balanced and unbalanced inputs/outputs. Influence of high-frequency (over 20 kHz) components and low (less than 1%) harmonic distortions on sound quality. Compatibility of stereo programs. Phase and level imbalance in stereo channels and it's influence on compatibility. Basic parameters of radio-frequency cables and their influence on sound quality.
  Measurements of input and output impedance, measurements of signal-to-noise ratio. Equivalency of measurement conditions and operating conditions of amplifier. Application of weighting filters.
  Basic requirements to digital audio broadcasting system. Eureca-147 digital broadcast system. Alternative digital audio broadcasting systems. Current status and future trends of digital audio broadcasting.

Technology of an broadcasting.

 Annotation  (Course topics)
  Main stages of program production: acquisition and preparation, recording, editing, production, play-out, archiving. Drawing of current operation schedule. Requirements to equipment, used on various stages of production. Instrumental and subjective program evaluation. Manual and automated modes of program play-out. Origination of new program, production of information and advertising programs. Linear and non-linear editing.
  Main tasks of broadcasting. Functions of play-out (on-air) studio manager. Play-out methods for different programs. Starting of next phonogram. Application of audio workstations for automation of broadcasting.
  Audio level control methods using one and two level meters. Testing of sound pattern with stereo goniometer. Phase correlometer and it's output information. Various kinds of quasi-peak level meters, their main parameters. Application of VU-meters for level evaluation. Audio signal meters and distinctive features of their applications. Level measurements in digital audio systems.

Structure of a radio station.

 Annotation  (Course topics)
  Purpose and tasks of play-out studio. Structure and main components of studio. Structure of studio complex. Requirements to play-out mixing console. Telephone communication with listeners (audience). Monitoring facilities for play-out program. Matching of studio parameters to transmission channel parameters.
  Purpose and tasks of editing studio. Structure and main components of editing studio. Structure of studio hardware complex. Requirements to mixing console. Reservation (back-up) of functions of other studios.
  Purposes and tasks of information and advertisement studios. Workstations for journalists. Style and schedule of operation.

Engineering of broadcasting.

 Annotation  (Course topics)
  Main functions of mixing console: signal mixing, level control for selected sources and output signal. Phase adjustments, frequency and dynamic processing, combining of sources in groups, visual and acoustic monitoring of selected sources and output signal. Structural components. Signal processing by external devices. Communication with participants of program (talkback). Digital mixing consoles. Parameters and specifications of mixing consoles.
  Principle of operations for moving coil microphones, condenser microphones and electret condenser (piezo-electric) microphones. Main parameters: sensitivity, standard sensitivity level, frequency response, maximum sound pressure level (SPL), background noise level, dynamic range, output impedance. Unidirectional and omnidirectional, monophonic and stereophonic microphones, digital and vacuum tube microphones. Characteristics and applications of microphones. Wireless microphones.
  Acoustic parameters of studio. Sound diffusion and absorption characteristics of studio. Acoustic processing. Sound reverberation, reverberation time. Requirements to reverberation time for studios of various applications. Frequency response of reverberation.
  Necessity to use audio signal processing. Principles of operations and parameters:
   - Dynamic processing - compressor, expander, gate, level limiter, level controller;
   - Frequency spectrum processing - low-pass filters, high-pass filters, band-pass filters, graphic equalizer, parametric equalizer, enhancer, exciter, cross-over;
   - Time domain processing - time delay line, reverberator.
Sound processors.   Basic concept of recording and reproduction of electric signals. Magnetic, optical and magneto-optical recording systems. Analogue and digital recording methods. Reel-to-reel and cassette audio recorders. Quality parameters of audio recorders.
  Parameters of Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM) recording. Digital bit rate. DASH and R-DAT digital recording formats. Specific characteristics of hard disk audio recording. HD recorders. Redundancy of audio signals. Application of digital compression.
  Physical principles of optical and magneto-optical recording. Role of laser radiation. Compact Disc system. Types of CDs. CD players. Magneto-optical disc recorders. Mini-Disk system. Problem of storage of phonograms.
  Application of semiconductor memory devices for audio recording. PCMCIA memory cards. Recording of compressed signals. Technical and economic parameters of solid-state recorders.
  Reliability of audio broadcasting station. Conditions ensuring compatibility of studio equipment. Standardisation of recording formats and interfaces. Electric noise protection and electro-magnetic immunity of studio complex.
  Conditions of measurements. Requirements to measuring and auxiliary equipment. Measuring disc. Procedures of mechanical and electrical measurements.

Automation Broadcasting.

 Annotation  (Course topics)
  Problems to be solved by automation. Requirements to automaton system. Specific of broadcasting station operation.
  Sound cards and software for automation system operation. Requirements to sound cards. Modular structure of software. Requirements to user interface. Alternative schemes of system implementation.
  Main and auxiliary software modules. Principle of hardware independence. Mixing abilities of sound card mixer. Off-line operation and insert (drop-in) mode. Operation modes with and without compression. System operation in LAN configuration.
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