Forums Radionics Just had one of these delivered :)

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  • #1056116
    General Lighting
    Moderator

      100% British made, originally from 1995 but serviced and lined up properly to EBU standards by the chaps I bought it from..

      Got it delivered to my house and a few hundred quid discount from its original price too, the same cost would only have got me a non modular desk made in China (which is fine until a fader starts playing up and then the whole desk has to go back to the manufacturers or is a real pain to work on)

      Made by a company run by a original pirate engineer from the ship based stations back in the 60s and still in existence (Radio Caroline use one of their bigger desks on the Ross)

      just after arrival

      9195854410_591ae7b6b1_c.jpg

      As its modular construction the position of channel strips can be changed to suit user requirements, I’ve now got it set up so the RHS of the script tray has the mic channel, jingles and grams (MIDI controller output) and LHS is phone hybrid (not wired in yet), PC02 playout (this one), PC05 comms PC playout, comms PC mono line and a spare for a mono feed That way if I’m listening to PVR on PC02 and switch to a live transmission it reduces the risk of me howling the stream (I were to fade up PC02 output and stream it back to the server, 10 seconds later I would blast folks ears from Bolton to Bangalore) :crazy:

      9215450760_b58382114d_c.jpg

      The Behringer is still in operation as its soundcard feeds the streaming and is actually a fairly decent ASIO soundcard, if you look on the left that might give you a idea of the size difference 😉

      output section has a really smooth limiter on it (handy for fast jingles playout without accidentally redlining the program output)

      9212684557_1066dd74a7_c.jpg

      Also got talkback facilities 2 x AUX bus and test oscillator that can be routed or has separate output (50 / 100 Hz / 1KHz / 10KHz)

      9215455548_eeab8a16c8_c.jpg

      stereo channels have VCA faders

      9215471384_9f45cabcf8_c.jpg

      mono are standard analogue

      9212710423_8d15fdedcd_c.jpg

      All 100mm faders, theres a mixture of P&G and ALPS in them but both are decent ones and easily replaceable (the guys I bought it from have a ton of spares and one of them is only up the road)

      inputs are electronic balanced so I still need Cheeseweasel specials between unbalanced PC audio feeds and the desk to keep out the PSU noise, but the channels even have +14dB boost for consumer grade audio so all the levels are spot on..

      9215468336_ceab125f7c_c.jpg

      #1274484
      Pat McDonald
      Participant

        I, for one, am grateful it’s not another goose thread.

        Quote:
        Cheeseweasel specials

        Trademark! Getcher ‘ot Cheesey specials ‘ere… oh dear, where’s that search option…

        … this will have to do for techies interested in the tale…

        http://www.partyviberadio.com/forums/sound-engineering/48352-ground-loop-illustration-cheeseweasel-deserves.html

        http://ratcotel.co.uk/?p=65

        #1274476
        General Lighting
        Moderator

          @Pat McDonald 551046 wrote:

          I, for one, am grateful it’s not another goose thread.[/quote]

          but it is being deployed in the secret goose shed…

          I managed to set it up just before travelling to work today and I’ve got zararadio autoplayout running through this desk and into the VFR stream – it should say *EPC1 playout* at the end of the metadata…

          Listen to House Music on VFR Radio

          #1274477
          General Lighting
          Moderator

            This is the playout screen (the other half is just the audio level and clocks)., from 10km away via a VNC connection.

            The monitors and TV are switched off along with the monitor amp, the compressor for the mic / comms PC mono output and also the other two PC’s (as I am not there to need them!) hence why the upstairs UPS is showing a much lower load. (some of the smaller audio stuff runs via the downstairs UPS, not sure how much its using as haven’t opened up the firewall to allow SSH to the telephone exchange which it also powers..) when I get the solar panels on the roof (it needs looking at anyway as there is some hole in a corner and I want to also put up a bird box as it was being used as a nest) in this weather I would not even need any electric from UKPN to run this lot!

            9216328738_c583e872a1_o.jpg.

            #1274485
            Dr Bunsen
            Participant

              Congratulations but what is it? 🙂

              #1274478
              General Lighting
              Moderator

                An audio mixing console specialised for a broadcast studio.

                they are different from production mixers used for live sound and recording, as they have less channels spread across more space, often a gap in the middle (on which scripts, notes etc are placed but today is often used for a computer mouse and a mini keyboard), special channels for “talkback” and separate outputs for prefade and studio loudspeakers, which can be set to mute when a local mic fader is brought up to avoid feedback.

                On this one the red light circuit is built in as well (I’ve removed the arduino IR circuit which is going to be reprogrammed into a security alarm, but used the already existing LEDs and a 7805 regulator powered by a local 12V battery to power them (the 5V supply is also used to power a small FM/DAB radio I use for monitoring other stations)

                I haven’t had a chance yet to label the scribble strip below the faders or it would make more sense how the circuits are wired but white ones are stereo channels, yellow ones are mono or mic, red is a presenters (local) mic and blue is the telephone line circuit.

                #1274481
                thelog
                Participant

                  Wow that is absolutely wicked man. I would love to have a little studio like you. I think I mentioned your rather traditional analog clock before. The empty panel you are using as a mouse area, is that ment to be where a deck or something would go? Although it does look a tiny bit small for that. I bet you are well happy you have one of those. I know you can get all that data on multiple virtual programs across two or three LCD screens. But having the hardware is always just so much cooler.

                  Have you ever owned broadcast mixing desk before??

                  #1274479
                  General Lighting
                  Moderator

                    @thelog 551084 wrote:

                    Wow that is absolutely wicked man. I would love to have a little studio like you. I think I mentioned your rather traditional analog clock before. The empty panel you are using as a mouse area, is that ment to be where a deck or something would go?[/quote]

                    its a script tray. Although it is just the right size for a mouse and a mini keyboard, its traditional use is to keep written notes a presenter would use (such as for the breakfast show or in the newsroom).

                    Here it is in use for keeping track of which countries listeners are tuned into PVR from (thats the blank side of a laminated A4 warning sign I made for work, which is perfect as a portable whiteboard)

                    9225072427_97497bc95f_b.jpg

                    Quote:
                    Have you ever owned broadcast mixing desk before??

                    nope, never been able to find the space or cash before (a fair few folk buy second hand older ones for their online stations and then realise that they are way too big to fit into their studio space…) – the whole unit is 900mm wide….

                    #1274482
                    thelog
                    Participant

                      I think we should all migrate north to the secret goose shed.

                      #1274483
                      cheeseweasel
                      Participant

                        Very nice, looks the business!

                        #1274480
                        General Lighting
                        Moderator

                          I finally got hold of a copy of the manual / full circuit diagrams/description (right down to the last component). Thcaese things are from the era where broadcast engineers often worked on site and maintained kit to component level.

                          I’ve connected up the comms channel to a DIY hybrid using a £5 CPC soundcard and a hacked cheesweasel special to link the skype audio and VOIP calls to balanced audio (this built into a metal box what was once a printer switcher).

                          now got it set up so I can call folk on the normal phone or Skype and talk to them via the gooseneck mic on talkback circuit (can also send clean feed across this though its probably not much use on VOIP due to lag). The comms circuit is also connected to a separate squawk box so I don’t have to put it on PFL and interrupt my mixing – this is why some broadcast operation centres have the motto “SPEAK LOUD, OLD MAN” as comms lines rarely have telephone bells (they are often replaced by strobes so you have to listen out for the message)

                          I have to press the TB button and it puts a red light condition across the studio (including one outside the studio door for when my mum or other relatives are visiting) but decided that was safer than just taking an aux feed of the main pres mic (which also has compression + reverb on it which doesn’t transfer well across VOIP).

                          fader starts are set to constant on when fader up, so there is an amber warning if I put up the jingles fader or PC02 (so I don’t put wrong jinges across the stream or worse, howl the circuit by sending audio back on itself).

                          this arrangement was also used for monitoring PVR during the birthday week.

                          Unfortunately I can’t share the diagrams online as its still copyright material for equipment in current production (you can still buy a brand new Series A today) but the original diagrams are dated 1986, the text is printed out on a dot matrix printer and the component lists hand written. its good solid British design audio wise.

                          the Arduino has since been repurposed for the signal lights, I am eventually adding another audio source switcher / IR controller using a old telephone dial to call up codes to turn things on and off via IR

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                        Forums Radionics Just had one of these delivered :)