Lesson 04
What you need to create a radio studio
Now that you’ve established your radio project, you probably want to get down to business and broadcast live from your radio studio. But which radio equipment should you choose between the multitude of choices out there?
In this lesson, we will learn the basics of live radio broadcasting, how to choose your equipment according to your needs and how to create a radio studio.
By the end of this course, you’ll know everything there is to know about:
Understanding live broadcasting
Before diving into the deep end, it’s interesting to understand how live broadcasting works.
How does live broadcasting work?
On an Internet radio station you can broadcast in two different ways: automatic mode and live mode. When you create your playlists and schedule them to play, it’s automatic. To carry out a live broadcast on the Internet from your online radio station you must use a live broadcasting software.
A broadcasting software is a program installed on your computer. This computer will need to be connected to the Internet in order to broadcast your radio show to the world. It’s through this connection that you will be able to send your voice and music to the server that will forward your live feed to your listeners, regardless of the device they use to listen to you.
- Remember
It’s quite normal for there to be a delay when going live, this is the time taken for us to receive the stream, process it, re-encode it and then send it to your listeners. The delay can vary between 5 and 30 seconds.
How to choose the right equipment for my radio studio?
All projects are unique, as are the ways to carry out a live broadcast. It’s important to determine your needs in order to create a radio studio that is perfectly adapted to that purpose. Before you start buying, ask yourself the following questions:
- Why are you going to broadcast live?
- When are you going to broadcast live?
- Under which conditions? (Outside, on the move, in your radio studio…)
- Will there be other hosts? If so, how many?
- Do you have a dedicated space for your live broadcasts? A radio studio?
- What is your budget?
If you have read the first part of this course, you already know that you can do a live broadcast with a computer and a broadcasting software. In theory, you could easily perform a live broadcast by using your computer’s internal microphone. However, if you’re looking for more professional conditions and sound, you will need to add a microphone.
Your microphone must be connected to your computer, generally an audio mixer (also known as a mixing desk or mixing table) is used for this purpose. If you are alone or recording in outdoor conditions, you may prefer a more mobile audio interface.
The mixer allows you to connect and manage several sources at the same time (microphone, telephone, headphones…).
Finally, to achieve a live broadcast worthy of radio conditions, you will need a pair of headphones for your feedback. Feedback is when you hear your interventions, those of your guests and the music directly in your ears through your headphones.
PLUS: Don’t forget the cables that you will need to connect your equipment.
- XLR cables to connect your microphone to your mixer (or interface)
- Stereo Jack cable
- A Jack to Jack Cable / RCA to RCA Cable
Choosing the equipment for your radio studio
We have prepared a selection of the different equipment for you, but, as we have already said, there is no such thing as a good microphone or mixer. The appropriate equipment will be the one that is adapted to your needs. If you have the opportunity, don’t hesitate to test it before purchasing.
Choosing your live broadcasting software
Now, which broadcasting software to choose? It can be difficult to see clearly because there are so many options out there. Feel free to test several of them in order to see the different features of each one. Ask yourself why you are going to do live broadcasts. Retransmit a concert? Do an interview? Mix music? Not all software is necessarily adapted to your project. Add to that the fact that you will not have access to the same software whether you are on Mac, Windows or Linux.
Budget
Beginner
Intermediate
Expert
Windows
Mac
Linux
Beginner
Windows, Mac and Linux
Intermediate
Windows and Mac
Linux
Expert
Windows
Mac and Linux
BUTT: BUTT stands for Broadcast Using This Tool. It’s a small open source software for all operating systems. If its simplistic aspect can put some people off, it’s one of the best allies for Internet radio stations. It’s even used by FM stations to retransmit their streams.
Virtual DJ Pro: If you want to play a lot of music and you have a lot of songs in your folders, Virtual DJ may be right for you. Available on Windows and Mac, it will cost you $299 to get the full version, although you can test the limited free version.
Sam Cast: Sam Cast is an automation software so it may seem complicated at first glance, but it is one of the most advanced software for Windows users. Although the trial is free, you can count between $15 and $130/ month to acquire the software in its entirety.
Mixxx: Suitable for all operating systems, Mixxx offers a very high degree of customization. Unfortunately, the software can seem very complicated for beginners. However, it’s worth it thanks to the many available features, plus, it’s free!
Choosing a microphone for your radio studio
The world of microphones is very vast, there are a multitude of models and a very wide range of prices (from $10 to more than $2000). To help make your choice there are several criteria to take into account:
Directivity:
This refers to the sensitivity of the microphone and its ability to pick up the source of the sound. There are several types of directivity:
- Omni-directional: the microphone picks up sounds from all directions, interesting for some recordings, but not recommended for radio.
- Bi-directional (figure of 8): picks up sounds from both sides of the microphone (left and right, not front and back).
- Uni-directional (cardioid): only picks up the audio source that is directly in front of the microphone.
Type:
Sensitivity and rendering will depend on the type of microphone you choose. Some produce a “warmer” sound (condenser microphones), others are more resistant (dynamic microphones).
Connectivity:
It’s advisable to buy a microphone with an XLR connection in order to be able to connect it to a mixing desk. But if you’re on your own, a USB microphone that connects directly to your computer may be a wise investment.
Remember that condenser microphones require an external power source (phantom power) to operate.
Dynamic
Condenser
Small budget
T.bone SC 400
Medium budget
Shure SM58LC
Marantz Pro MpM-2000U
(USB Connection)
High budget
Neumann BCM 705
Neumann U87 Ai
Condenser
Small budget
T.bone SC 400
Medium budget
Marantz Pro MpM-2000U
(USB Connection)
High budget
Neumann U87 Ai
Choosing a mixing desk for your radio studio
A mixer will allow you to connect all your devices (inputs) and send them to the broadcasting system. You will be able to manage these inputs independently. A mixer can be digital (more expensive, but allows you to process the sound beforehand as well as save your settings) or analog. A mixing desk has several channels, depending on its size. A channel corresponds to a source.
2 mic inputs
4 mic inputs
+4 mic inputs
Small budget
Behringer XENYX 802
t.mix mix 802
the t.mix xmix 1402 FX USB
Medium budget
Yamaha – MG06YEM
Behringer XENYX X 1204USB
Mackie 1420 VLZ4
High budget
Rode RODEcaster Pro
Yamaha MG16XU
When choosing your mixer, be careful to take into account the number of inputs. How many devices do you want to connect? Be sure to check the number and type of inputs you want to connect before purchasing a model. Each input is different, so a microphone can be XLR (or USB) type, you may also need a jack, USB etc.
Remember: Also consider buying a USB interface to connect your mixer to your computer.
Here is a selection of mixers according to your budget and the number of inputs:
2 mic inputs
Small budget
Behringer XENYX 802
Medium budget
Yamaha – MG06YEM
High budget
4 mic inputs
Small budget
t.mix mix 802
Medium budget
Behringer XENYX X 1204USB
High budget
Rode RODEcaster Pro
2 entrées micro
4 entrées
+4 entrées
Petit Budget
Behringer XENYX 802
t.mix mix 802
the t.mix xmix 1402 FX USB
Budget intermédiaire
Yamaha – MG06YEM
Behringer XENYX X 1204USB
Mackie 1420 VLZ4
Budget confortable
Rode RODEcaster Pro
Yamaha MG16XU
+4 mic inputs
Small budget
the t.mix xmix 1402 FX USB
Medium budget
Mackie 1420 VLZ4
High budget
Yamaha MG16XU
If you don’t want to invest in a mixer or if you want to be mobile while enjoying a microphone, the iRig Pre could be a good alternative.
Choosing headphones for your radio studio
Finally, the last essential element for your radio studio is a pair of headphones. Don’t neglect the search for good headphones, it’s an important piece of equipment for a radio host. Your headset will allow you to judge the quality of your broadcast.
There are several things to remember when it comes to choosing the ideal headphones for your radio studio
Choosing open or closed headphones: There are many debates on this subject. Open headphones allow a better sound reproduction, whereas closed headphones isolate you from your environment, therefore they allow better concentration during your radio shows.
Choosing comfortable headphones: This must be one of your top criteria, especially if you are doing long shows. You need to ensure that you can wear your headphones for hours at a time without them becoming uncomfortable. You’ll be wearing them during your live broadcasts, but also whilst you prep the content of your radio show. Plus, some headphones allow for you to replace the ear cushioning if they begin to wear out over time!
Small budget
Shure – RH550DJ-E
Medium budget
Sennheiser – HD-280 Pro
High budget
Beyerdynamic – DT770 Pro
budget
Headphones
Small budget
Shure – RH550DJ-E
Medium budget
Sennheiser – HD-280 Pro
High budget
Beyerdynamic – DT770 Pro
Remember: For the set up of your radio studio, you may need to invest in a headphone amplifier. This will allow you to connect 1 or more headphones to your mixer.
Setting up your radio studio
So, you now have all your equipment and are looking forward to your first live broadcast. In that case let’s move on to the next step: setting up your radio studio.
First of all, in addition to a mixer, headphones and a microphone you will also need cables!
To connect your computer to your mixer, you will need an RCA cable. You will also need a stereo jack cable to connect your headphone amplifier to your mixer. Finally, you will need as many XLR cables as microphones.
It’s now time to connect your radio equipment. First, connect your microphones to your mixer. Then connect the amplifier to the mixer. Add the headphones to the amplifier. And finally, connect your computer with your broadcasting software to your mixer.
Don’t forget your USB interface so you can connect the mixer to the computer.
To sum up
Your needs
Before making any purchases, ask yourself what are your needs?
Test!
If you can, try and test your radio equipment before purchasing
Setting up
Don’t forget the cables and other necessary elements to connect your equipment (interface, amplifier, etc…)
We’ve reached the end of this lesson, thanks for reading!
We hope you enjoyed this course and that it provided you with answers to your questions before starting your Internet radio station. You can now move on to the next lesson!
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