Upgrading the Mothership

The following is a repost of an article which appeared on The Buck Broadcast Blog

While planning to undertake a major transition to digital in 2012, Bush Radio, AKA “The Mother of Community Radio”, recently found themselves in a position where an interim studio upgrade was urgently required in order to maintain quality broadcasts.

The stations on air studio has been in service for many years and critical items such as the mixing console and CD players have surpassed their useful working life and are close to failure. To avoid the risk of disappointing their listeners with poor quality or interrupted broadcasts, an appropriate solution that targeted technically weak areas was urgently required. To implement this, Bush Radio contracted Buck Broadcast to supply and install key new equipment while undertaking a major service and calibration of their existing systems.

The Soundcraft MBI Series 5 which Bush Radio used for more than 110 000 hours of use (1994-2011)

The upgraded* studio features a new Soundcraft console and Tascam CD players

In addition to the the installation of a new Soundcraft modular broadcast mixing console and two Tascam CD players, all existing studio equipment was removed, cleaned, serviced and reinstalled within a four-day period. Furthermore, customized wiring looms and system interconnects were fabricated and installed. After a smooth switchover from their back up studio, the new system has been met with enthusiasm from the many presenters who have struggled along with the old equipment for so long.

Rewired, serviced and running

Buck Broadcast looks forward to the opportunity of implementing a more comprehensive digital solution in the year to come but in the meantime are satisfied that Bush Radio now has a more reliable interim system in place to see them though to the digital phase.

– post courtesy of  The Buck Broadcast Blog

* The studio upgrade was made possible through a joint project by Bush Radio and the  UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) which included a “Women and Technology” training course.