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.

UNESCO and Bush Radio present “Women and Technology”

Bush Radio in partnership with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is currently hosting a two-week training course for twelve women in community radio to produce radio features on women in the fields of science, technology and engineering.

At least one radio producer from each province of South Africa is included in the training with four coming from Western Cape stations.  “The stations included in the training are mix of urban, peri-urban and rural stations,” says Brenda Leonard, the managing director of Bush Radio.

This training is taking place from the 24^th October 2011 to the 4th November 2011, and will form part of a broader project called “Upgrading the technical and radio production skills of women in community radio to produce features and documentaries on women in science and engineering” that is funded by the UNESCO International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). This activity falls within the framework of UNESCO contribution towards strengthening free, independent media and developing human capacity.

It is hoped that the project will not only benefit the women, but those radio stations they represent, and the broader community they broadcast too, as the skills attained during the training will improve the overall quality and content of each station.

Quanita Kamaar from Voice of the Cape said, “Participating in the training programme has enabled me to develop my skills and share what I have gained with the rest of the community.”

Another participant, Granny Makhinya from Phalaborwa FM, ended off by saying, “The training has given me the opportunity to develop my technical capabilities.”

Check out our Facebook page