Spring Break
Radio studio gets needed upgrade
Tyler Kegolis
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
When you walk into the newly upgraded radio studio perched on the seventh floor of Robinson Hall at Lock Haven University, the brightly lit computer monitors and sound board look more like something from a science-fiction movie than a radio studio.
Purchased in the 1980s, the equipment being used in the studio was outdated and no longer what the professionals use in the industry today.
With the authorization of spending by Dean White, $35,000 was spent to upgrade the old analog system to fully digital. According to communications media professor Dr. Sharon Stringer, "This new equipment is state of the art and what's being used in the field today."
The old studio used shareware and freeware applications such as Audacity for audio editing. The new studio is complete with licensed audio editing software by Adobe Audition. Everything else is also new from the microphones, software and monitors, down to the desk it is all sitting on.
NexGen Digital is the most widely used studio automation software in the United States and is currently being used by over 2,500 stations worldwide to broadcast their audio daily.
NexGen has Clear Channel stations available across the country and the automation software allows for 24 hour broadcast. This means that shows can still run when no one is in the studio. Penn State University is currently using the same setup.
The new studio equipment especially benefits broadcast majors because it allows for real experience, which they can directly apply in the field. With the outdated equipment, this would not be possible.
According to radio club president Kyle Cicilioni, who has used the old and new equipment, "the new (equipment) is really nice and easy to work with. Everything is more organized." This will make broadcasts run much smoother.
"I love it. I am happy," says Dr. Stringer. "Many thanks go out to the tech team led by Steve Smith who had it installed in less than two weeks."
The equipment is not only to the benefit of communications majors, but to radio club members as well. There will be a meeting this week to teach some students the basics but radio segments may not begin until after the fall break. According to Cicilioni, "until everyone is trained, no one is allowed to go into the studio and use the equipment."
Students do not have to be communications majors to join the radio club. Some students are already showing a sincere interest in claiming a weekly radio spot so if interested, contact Kyle Cicilioni at kcicilio@lhup.edu.
Radio broadcasts will be available on-air at www.lhup.edu/radio.
Purchased in the 1980s, the equipment being used in the studio was outdated and no longer what the professionals use in the industry today.
With the authorization of spending by Dean White, $35,000 was spent to upgrade the old analog system to fully digital. According to communications media professor Dr. Sharon Stringer, "This new equipment is state of the art and what's being used in the field today."
The old studio used shareware and freeware applications such as Audacity for audio editing. The new studio is complete with licensed audio editing software by Adobe Audition. Everything else is also new from the microphones, software and monitors, down to the desk it is all sitting on.
NexGen Digital is the most widely used studio automation software in the United States and is currently being used by over 2,500 stations worldwide to broadcast their audio daily.
NexGen has Clear Channel stations available across the country and the automation software allows for 24 hour broadcast. This means that shows can still run when no one is in the studio. Penn State University is currently using the same setup.
The new studio equipment especially benefits broadcast majors because it allows for real experience, which they can directly apply in the field. With the outdated equipment, this would not be possible.
According to radio club president Kyle Cicilioni, who has used the old and new equipment, "the new (equipment) is really nice and easy to work with. Everything is more organized." This will make broadcasts run much smoother.
"I love it. I am happy," says Dr. Stringer. "Many thanks go out to the tech team led by Steve Smith who had it installed in less than two weeks."
The equipment is not only to the benefit of communications majors, but to radio club members as well. There will be a meeting this week to teach some students the basics but radio segments may not begin until after the fall break. According to Cicilioni, "until everyone is trained, no one is allowed to go into the studio and use the equipment."
Students do not have to be communications majors to join the radio club. Some students are already showing a sincere interest in claiming a weekly radio spot so if interested, contact Kyle Cicilioni at kcicilio@lhup.edu.
Radio broadcasts will be available on-air at www.lhup.edu/radio.
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