MAINTENANCE How Deep Is Your Bench Strwth?
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November/December 1996/$10.00 An IN NEC 1K -Ill Publication MAINTENANCE How deep is your bench strwth? STUDIO `t-LLICI-LII_L Pay someok- stuff behin HIRING ENGINEERS The right staff DATACASTING ,Becoming a bit -radiator CD,6341 t:1 1111 MS'202-VLZ 12 -CH MS1402-VLZ 14 -CH COLLECT 'EM TRADE 'EM WITH YlLIR FRIENDS 111.1 MICROSERIE& SMALL MIXERS WITH WHAT IT TAKES TO HANDLE SERIOUS PROJECTS. an BOTH MODELS HAVE: 161202-VLI 12)12 11 MIC PREAMPS BOTH MODELS HAVE: 4. at every Radio Frequency MICRO Studio -grade mic production inject preamps with discrete Interference protection SERIES circuitry for high via metal jacks & requires donns of input washers plus internal headroom low noise (-129.5 channels and boatloads 1202 d5m E.I.N.) and wide shunting capacitors. of buses. VLZ frequency response (over High -output headphone 300kHz!). amp can drive virtually But doing alY audio 4 MONO Low Cut filters (15d5/ - any set of phones to job well requ res a CHS. oct. 075Hz) on mono levels even a drummer can mic/line channels appreciate. mixer with apart] 4 STEREO allow use of low- frequency Aux I Master level control & pre/ specs...and tile right EQ on vocals without post switch. CHS. boosting room rumble, mic combination if useful Effects Return to Monitor thumps, P -pops and wind '429* switch folds Aux features. noise. Return 1 effects into a Our lificrories Trim Controls on mono - stage monitor mix via Aux MICRO channels have 60d5 total Return 2 level control. 12E1111 and1402-V1.1 gain range for boosting weak RCA -type tape inputs 5 outputs. SERIES sound sources and a 10d5 might have snail "virtual pad" for taming ki514[2-VL2 14a2 6 MIC PREAMPS - Peak -reeding LEO meters footprints, bt t when it 1402 hot digital multitrack with Level Set LED comes to performance, VLZ outputs. combined with In -Place 2 Aux Sends per channel - Solo allows fast, accurate they walk very tall. MONO (one globally switchable setting of channel operating levels for Since both re CHS. pre/post, one post - fader), each with 15d5 of maximum headroom and basically chip off our lowest noise floor 4 STEREO gain above Unity to boost blockbuster E Bus weak effects. - Control Room/ CHS. Phones Matrix adds " Co, Series conso es, they 3 -band equalization '599* with 12kHz High monitoring, have big -board specs: mixdown & metering shelving E61, greaser than broadband musical flexibility. Select any 2.5kHz peaking Midrange combination of Main Mix, 90dEu signal to CALL Tape In and Alt 3-4 signals & 50Hz Low shelving EQ. noise ratio, IQs than TOLL for routing to phones, Constant loudness pan - Control Room outputs 0.005% distortion, controls. FREE. and meters. Can be used Stereo in -place Solo. -I as extra monitor or more dynami: range FAX Mute button routes headphone mix, tape than compact discs and signal to "bonus" monitor, or separate OR frequency response Alt 3-4 stereo bus submix. Way cool. E-MAIL outputs & Control Room - Tape Assign To Main Mix that's only kiln IdB at matrix. Handy for both FOR assigns unbalanced RCA Al nputs 5 outp its VLZ(Very Low 60,000 Hz. recording and live tape inputs to main mix. ar I balarredI tc cut rnpeclance) YOUR applications. Besides its obvious use as Why own at imitation Ah..rn & a low extra- - circuitry first a tape monitor, it can also when you car awn the 40 -PG MSI402-VLZ ONLY: long cable "uns, caa - - developed fo- our 30f3Lis add an extra stereo tape 60mm logarithmic - also beU6 ?GIwits console series dramatically or CD feed into a mix or brand of comma mixer "IN taper faders based unbalarce-4 electronics reduces thermal r oise play music during a break. exceptF.C4topejacks, that serious pros YOUR on our exclusive 505us crosstalk in critical areas. design. Long -wearing wiper heaphorej.t :k &inn ert6. MSI4O2-VLZ only: GlobalFor prefer. Call ftr info Solo Mode selects FACE" material and tight !II polymer lip seals to AFL solo modes. today. COMPACT protect against dust & Solid steel chassis & thick MIXER other crud. fiberglass internal circuit Built-in power boards resist abuse. TABLOID 13 supplies - no Channel inserts on mono AND outlet -eating wall channels. warts or hum -inducing line APPLI- lumps. CATIONS Phantom power so you can use high quality Control gm outputs fend GUIDE condenser microphones. monito speakers wit ho XLR outputs with mic-line -tying up 4-heactohone level switch (along with 1/4" jack. `suggested U.S. TR5 outputs on top rent, panel). TM 01996 MACKIE DESIGNS INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED IMO Nor dinville WA USA 98072 1. 800/898-3211 t,. 206/487-4337 eme I IV salesWnackie.com Outside the USA t, 206/487-4233 t. 208/485-1152 Represented in Canada by S.F.ai?.ting k.,811/363-8855 Circle (1) on Free Into Carc Harris DIGIT Digital Exciter World Standard Digital FM Exciter When we introduced the 6.00.34110 your station is capable of CAIMMM DIGIT"' we knew it was producing. ,7101.1.110, going to be a world class Included with the DIGITTm's >N", 01017LACA A.1.00 SCA PA FM exciter. In a little over a year the osr maw >4-.00m. VOLKAATO1 digital input module is a DSP COre';Te .1111.0G DIGIT"' has proven to be the world based digital stereo generator <0k101/01 standard with over 500 DIGIT which provides lower distortion exciters shipped. ..... and greater separation than any Harris DIGIT"' Signal Blocks The DIGIT^I FM exciter can competing exciter.Also, included convert studio standard digital audio shows that although DIGITTm is a digital composite limiter (DCL) is revolutionary, its technology (AES/EBU) directly to FM stereo withwhich is an implementation of the no analog steps. Additionally, an is easy to understand. analog input module is available to WAVES L1 UltramaximizerTv, used accept analog composite stereo for by digital recording studios. Harris The DIGITTm FM exciter is capable those who have not yet upgraded toexclusive DCL allows DIGITTm to of N+1 operation and is completely digital. sound louder than competing FM frequency agile with modulation Direct Digital Synthesis is exciters without over -modulation. level and linearity independent of accomplished with a numerically The DCL uses "look ahead" carrier frequency. controlled oscillator. This digital circuitry to predict and correct Besides the DIGIT", Harris has a implementation of FM assures you overmodulation peaks before they wide range of "Clearly DigitalTm" of the highest quality sound that can occur. products for all your broadcast needs. Harris Corporation Broadcast Division FEATURES: Ple° U.S. and Canada Proven Reliability backed by a 3 Year Warranty TEL: 217-222-8200 Digital FM Generation for 16 Bit Sound Quality FAX: 217-224-1439 Drift Free Digital Circuits Elsewhere: TE-: 217-222-8290 Immunity to Subsonic Transients FAX: 217-222-2764 Compatible with all RDS/SCA requirements http:.1www.broadcast.harris.com Full N+1 capability MI HARRIS iL)1996 HARRIS CORI' Circle (4) on Free Info Card ogolookwohommiwied BFzi,40 Oniients November/December 1996 Volume 2, Number 6 FEATURES 24 Maintenance: The Skill that Time Forgot By Chuck Lear. ens Your facility is only as good as its maintenance, but preventive techniques are becoming a lost art. 32 Studio Infrastructure By Christopher H. Scherer Those miscellaneous, behind -the -scenes elements of studio design don't get much attention unless they aren't right. 44 Field Report: Aphex Air Chain DEPARTMENTS 04 Editorial By Slap Pazi Techno-literacy is a must -have skill today. 06 Contract Engineering 24 By William Fawcett There's more to a successful contracting business than meets the eye. 10 Managing Technology By Margaret Bryant Good engineers are hard to find, and may be harder to keep. 14 RF Engineering By John Batuson Datacasting allows broadcasters to expand service and revenue. 20 FCC Update By Harry C. Martin & Richard Estevez New public file rules and rumors of movement on some long -stalled items. 22 EAS Update By Leonard Charles The end is near, but there's help if you need it. 49 News 50 Business/People 52 New Products 63 Preview 63 Classifieds 14 64 Ad Index ON THE COVER:Keeping things running smoothly requires the right people, proper skills and sufficient timeto check under the hood. (Cover design by Stephanie Masterson, BE Radio art director.) 2 BE Radio November/December 1996 Ifyouneedmoreprofessional help than this thenewDSE 7000FX hasashrinkonboard. Relax. Lie back. And think about all those timesstudios spend thousands on. Except these come standard you were editing spots, racing against a deedline, and with the new OSE 7000FX. They work seamlessly with fie suddenly you had to send out for sound effects.Isit any DSE's legendary mixing console and on -screen interface wonder you need professional help? Well, consider this And they're incredibly easy to use. sound therapy. You'll also find that the fastest workstation in radir On board the new USE MDR, you'll find every digitalhas gong turbo. With added processing power, you'll get effect you need to create the coolest, most professional more spots done. Be able to add more effects. And on spots: ER by Orban, Compression by OPTIME'D, Reverb by those occasions when sessions get ugly and your :60's seem Lexicon. In effect, you get the very same effects professional to run into :70's, relax The OSE's time compression will shrink to fit. orbon H A Harman International Company © 1996 Urban. IncUrban. OPTIMOD. and Lexicon are registered trademarks 1525 Alvarado StSan Leandro. CA 94577 USAPhone 1.510.351.3500Fax 1.51.351.0500E-mail custservalorben corn Circle (5) on Free Info Card Making historyvs.