ARfm and Chilton – a cost effective Internet Station partnership.

When we set up ARfm the main task was to achieve a reliable, cost effective, solution to our equipment needs whilst maintaining a certain amount of flexibility without running the “luxury” of 2 studios. ARfm needed to be a 24/7/365 operation but we also needed the ability to carry pre-production and production work without impacting on the transmissions.

The Chilton CAD200 proved to be the perfect tool.

Our CAD200 is configured with 2 Mic modules (C201 with EQ), 2 Telephone modules (C203 with parametric EQ and level control), 4 Stereo modules (C202 without EQ), each of which has 2 switchable line inputs (making 8 inputs in total) with the centre tray for presenter notes etc. Of the 4 stereo modules, 2 are allocated to CD or Vinyl, 1 to Mini Disc or Computer audio and the remaining one dedicated to our Station Playlist® Automation system. We have, currently, 4 blank positions on the desk to allow for future additional channels/modules should we need them.

With the inclusion of the Control Room / Studio modules (C206 / C207) and sub-group module (C204) we, effectively, end up with 2 studios in one package. Channel inputs can be routed to the live transmission or to the sub-group (or to both if needed) so one can easily have the stations’ automation system looking after the “live” transmission whilst, concurrently, a presenter can be interviewing a guest and recording for later use. A good presenter can even handle both a live show and a recorded set at the same time but that is not for the faint hearted!

This configuration is also essential for presenter training. Potential new recruits can be placed in to the exact environment in which they will operate and be shown the ropes without affecting the transmission in progress.

Additionally, the CAD200 has a unique feature that allows us to take the desk out of the equation/configuration without terminating the transmission of the Automation system. A module was added by Chilton which, should the desk be switched off or switched out of the configuration, routes the audio from the Automation system direct to the MP3 encoder and, hence, to the outside world. In the event of required maintenance there is no interruption to the ARfm listener. This also covers power failures as the Automation and encoding systems sit on UPS power supplies allowing ARfm to continue broadcasting even in the event of no local electricity.

A main feature is the Telephone Modules (with Chilton Hybrid). These allow you to answer, hold, and control, calls from the desk, apply parametric voice correction, Meter in/out voice levels and automatically hold the level of the callers at a predetermined level without pumping.

The ‘half-duplex’ facility allows you to take calls from lines that would normally be too noisy or have echo to put on air. The system also has variable ‘ducking’ when the presenter wishes to interrupt the caller. We interview LIVE more Rock Stars than any other radio station so these facilities are important .

The studio can also remotely control monitoring and communication.

Steve Price

ARfm

Programme Controller