Speed Zine _ 2024 FC: Making Sense of Radio Equipment

Hey 👋

Quick question: What comes to mind when thinking about radio?

Chances are its a big studio space, sound-proofed walls, and expensive equipment. And I wouldn't be surprised. Over the years, media has told us that's what stations should look like. But that's just not true.

On face value they look cool, but aren't practical for most broadcasters.

In a lot of cases, you just need two things:

Microphone 🎙️
Audio Interface 🎛️

The microphone captures your voice, whilst the audio interface processes and passes it onto your computer. Aside from the main two, there are things like audio processors, DJ decks, and so on. But for now, get the basics right.

Microphone

Aka, your weapon of choice.

Probably the most vital instrument for any broadcaster, there's no shortage of variety and style with countless available on the market. But for the average joe, microphones fall into two categories: condenser and dynamic.

Condenser mics, like the Neumann U87, are designed to capture audio both close up and far away. Ideal for recording music gigs, multiple presenters, and even ambient noise. But if you have noisy neighbours / offices next door, chances are they'll be picked up too.

On the other hand, dynamic mics focus on what's in-front, whilst minimising audio in the distance. That's why mics like the Shure SM7B are popular among audio professionals.

But as I mentioned, there are loads of options out there:

Audio Interface

Microphones are hungry beasts. Enter audio interfaces.

To give your mic enough juice, you need an audio interface like the Tascam MiniStudio. The interface passes audio from your mic to your computer. And you have the final say in how everything sounds with plenty of buttons and dials.

But just like mics, there are a variety to choose from:

Peripherals

You're probably thinking "peripher-what?!?"

Understandably too. The last thing anyone thinks about when setting up audio equipment is how everything clicks together. Cables, mic stands, and even windshields are all things your setup needs.