Introduction: Setting Up the OB
WHAT IS MOBILE BROADCASTING?
"Radio stations have performed 'Outside (away from the studio) Broadcasts‟ for decades using various telecommunications and antenna technology.
New mobile broadcasting systems take a different approach.
They harness Australia's wireless internet and 3G mobile telecommunications networks to transmit an Outside Broadcast (OB) to your station through the internet. " Community Broadcasting Association
"Radio stations have performed 'Outside (away from the studio) Broadcasts‟ for decades using various telecommunications and antenna technology.
New mobile broadcasting systems take a different approach.
They harness Australia's wireless internet and 3G mobile telecommunications networks to transmit an Outside Broadcast (OB) to your station through the internet. " Community Broadcasting Association
Step 1:
OB EQUIPMENT
Your OB setup is limited only by your imagination! Below are two possible configurations to get your ideas flowing.
BASIC OUTSIDE BROADCAST MIX GOOD FOR: Traditional outside broadcasting – do talk breaks, play music and interview guests.
RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL:
1x Broadcast Producer: Liaises with all OB personnel, the public and guests.
1x OB Engineer: Controls mixing desk and music.
1x Broadcast Engineer: Monitors OB computer, liaises with OB engineer to ensure mix is OK.
2x Presenters: Conduct talks content on site.
1x Studio Operator: Ensures studio computer stream is playing into studio console. Handles cross fades between studio and broadcast.
EQUIPMENT:
Mixing desk: as many channels as you need. Ideally the desk has 2 x master outputs, so you can mix the sounds for broadcast separately from the sound for your PA speakers (like example below).
PA system: Ideally 2 x speakers so the public can hear what you're doing at the OB site. 2x audio players: You want to be able to cross fade between music tracks, and maybe have
sponsor announcement/ids loaded into one of the players. Example below uses 2x CD players.
Microphones for talk: As many as you need. Ideally get 1x battery powered microphone to 'rove' in the audience.
Microphones for crowd ambiance (optional): We recommend you get 2x microphones on long leads and hang them above the audience. Fade these up on the desk during talk break intros and outros so radio listeners hear the audience clap and cheer!
2x headphones: 1 for OB engineer to monitor mixing desk, 1 for broadcast engineer to monitor feed streaming into the OB computers soundcard.
2x portable radios with headphones: Tuned to your station to monitor the quality of the final sound hitting the airwaves. 1 for broadcast producer, 1 for broadcast engineer.
EQUIPMENT SETUP:
Mixer
as many inputs as you want
Mic1 ----->
Mic2 -----> Crowd mics ---->
Mic3 -----> CD1 -----> CD2 ----->
Master Out A ---> Master Out B --->
---> modem ---> internet ---> --->
---> --->
ToAir
Studio Console
Studio Computer
OB Computer
PA System
PA Speakers
30
Mobile Broadcasting For Community Radio Stations
TIPS FOR BASIC OUTSIDE BROADCASTING
Prepare a good program run sheet before you broadcast, including where to play music and pre-recorded pieces.
Organise your music in advance. Perhaps burn it to one CD.
Have a backup CD ready to go in case there are problems. Choose music that is long enough to prepare your team/guests for the next talk break segment.
Never mix the crowd mics into 'Master Out B' (sound going to the PA at the OB site). The crowd noise may feedback through the PA speakers.
Keep roving microphones away from the PA speakers, they may feedback as well!
Paint some large 'Applause' cards and get your team to hold them up for talk break intros and outros. Warm the crowd up before hand and get them excited about the fact that they are part of the show! Fade up your crowd mics for Master Out A so the crowd noise is in the broadcast, but do not put them through Master Out A (or it may feedback).
Your OB setup is limited only by your imagination! Below are two possible configurations to get your ideas flowing.
BASIC OUTSIDE BROADCAST MIX GOOD FOR: Traditional outside broadcasting – do talk breaks, play music and interview guests.
RECOMMENDED PERSONNEL:
1x Broadcast Producer: Liaises with all OB personnel, the public and guests.
1x OB Engineer: Controls mixing desk and music.
1x Broadcast Engineer: Monitors OB computer, liaises with OB engineer to ensure mix is OK.
2x Presenters: Conduct talks content on site.
1x Studio Operator: Ensures studio computer stream is playing into studio console. Handles cross fades between studio and broadcast.
EQUIPMENT:
Mixing desk: as many channels as you need. Ideally the desk has 2 x master outputs, so you can mix the sounds for broadcast separately from the sound for your PA speakers (like example below).
PA system: Ideally 2 x speakers so the public can hear what you're doing at the OB site. 2x audio players: You want to be able to cross fade between music tracks, and maybe have
sponsor announcement/ids loaded into one of the players. Example below uses 2x CD players.
Microphones for talk: As many as you need. Ideally get 1x battery powered microphone to 'rove' in the audience.
Microphones for crowd ambiance (optional): We recommend you get 2x microphones on long leads and hang them above the audience. Fade these up on the desk during talk break intros and outros so radio listeners hear the audience clap and cheer!
2x headphones: 1 for OB engineer to monitor mixing desk, 1 for broadcast engineer to monitor feed streaming into the OB computers soundcard.
2x portable radios with headphones: Tuned to your station to monitor the quality of the final sound hitting the airwaves. 1 for broadcast producer, 1 for broadcast engineer.
EQUIPMENT SETUP:
Mixer
as many inputs as you want
Mic1 ----->
Mic2 -----> Crowd mics ---->
Mic3 -----> CD1 -----> CD2 ----->
Master Out A ---> Master Out B --->
---> modem ---> internet ---> --->
---> --->
ToAir
Studio Console
Studio Computer
OB Computer
PA System
PA Speakers
30
Mobile Broadcasting For Community Radio Stations
TIPS FOR BASIC OUTSIDE BROADCASTING
Prepare a good program run sheet before you broadcast, including where to play music and pre-recorded pieces.
Organise your music in advance. Perhaps burn it to one CD.
Have a backup CD ready to go in case there are problems. Choose music that is long enough to prepare your team/guests for the next talk break segment.
Never mix the crowd mics into 'Master Out B' (sound going to the PA at the OB site). The crowd noise may feedback through the PA speakers.
Keep roving microphones away from the PA speakers, they may feedback as well!
Paint some large 'Applause' cards and get your team to hold them up for talk break intros and outros. Warm the crowd up before hand and get them excited about the fact that they are part of the show! Fade up your crowd mics for Master Out A so the crowd noise is in the broadcast, but do not put them through Master Out A (or it may feedback).
Step 2: Microphones - Wireless or Not Wireless
Step 3: Reciever for the Wireles Mic
Step 4: Headphones
Step 5: Modem Reciever
Step 6: Transmitter
Step 7: Mixing Console
Step 8: Output
Step 9: On Air Announcing
