CFUZ STUDIO ORIENTATION

CFUZ RADIO 202

Updated March 19, 2019

WELCOME TO CFUZ STUDIO ORIENTATION.

Dave Del Rizzo, Technical Coordinator

CFUZ RADIO 202

During the next 60 minutes or so, you’ll learn the basics of how to operate the CFUZ studio; how to use and control the mic, how to play CDs, LPs and your own media, how to access the CFUZ music library, and how to record your program for use later as a podcast.

I’M FEELING SOME STRESS ABOUT ALL THIS EQUIPMENT… WHAT IF I CAN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTERWARDS?

You

CFUZ RADIO 202

THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOU AT ANY TIME IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REVIEW WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TODAY.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOCUS ON THE BASICS… LEARN WHAT YOU CAN TODAY, AND RELY ON THE PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE AND THE RESOURCES WE’VE DEVELOPED TO HELP YOU GOING FORWARD.

WE’RE HERE TO MAKE THIS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU!

KEEPCALM

AND

MAKEGREATRADIO

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SOME BASICS

• no food or drink in the studio

• space is limited, keep the area clean and clutter free

• coats should be hung in the hallway on the hooks provided

• replace any music that you use from the library

• only adjust the knobs, buttons and displays that you have been trained to adjust

• if you don’t know, ask!

• take a moment to appreciate all the hard work that has gone into building this facility by many, many CFUZ volunteers

READY? LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!

LET’S TAKE A MOMENT TO IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STUDIO.

THE CONSOLE.All audio coming into or out of the studio flows through this piece of equipment. This is the most important piece of equipment in the room. If the console is ON when you arrive to the studio, it should be left on when you leave, if it is OFF when you arrive, you should turn it off when you leave.

THE STUDIO COMPUTER.The computer in the studio is an Apple Mac Mini. This computer provides you with access to the CFUZ music library, as well as the ability to record your program to an audio file. The computer is connected to the internet via a cable (not wifi). The keyboard is wired directly to the computer, and the mouse is wireless. There is a black USB plug just below the monitors if you need to transfer files from the computer to take them home with you. The computer should remain ON at all times, never shut it down. Please do not move the computer out from under the shelf.

HOST MICROPHONE + HEADSET.The microphone attached to the longest boom is the host microphone which is connected to channel 1 on the console. The headset for this microphone is the host headset.

AUX/GUEST MICROPHONE(S) + HEADSET(S).The microphone attached to the shorter booms are the auxiliary or guest microphones which are connected to channels 2-4 on the console. The headset for each microphone is an auxiliary or guest headset.The primary aux mic/headset is permanently mounted to the desk next to the host mic/headset and connected to channel 2. The secondary aux mic can be moved to temporary mounts (near the LP players or elsewhere) and will be connected to channel 4. When this mic is affixed on the opposite wall, it will be connected to channel 3.

DESKTOP RACK.The desktop rack holds equipment used in the processing of the audio signal path, as well as some equipment that hosts/DJs will use to play music. It is a 19” rack mount cabinet.

This presentation will only describe those components with which you will need to be familiar in order to operate the studio. Anything not described in this session is not meant to be adjusted by hosts/DJs.

CD PLAYERS.The CD players are a dual rack-mounted unit (Denon) with 2 independent CD trays and control panels. This unit is located in the desktop rack.

You may also use this unit to plug a USB device containing MP3 files to be played into the console.

TELEPHONE HYBRID.The telephone hybrid allows you to accept telephone calls into the studio, and onto your show. This is currently not configured, but look for it to be activated soon!

MICROPHONE LED INDICATORS.This rack mounted unit allows you to see at a glance what microphone(s) are active. The green LED indicates the unit has power. The white LEDs correspond to microphone channels. Yellow LEDs correspond to telephone lines, and the red LED lets you know the outside On-Air indicator lights are on.

TURNTABLES.

The turntables are mounted on a shelf to your left to minimize vibration transfer, and to provide some desk space.

STUDIO MONITORS.The studio monitors are specially tuned speakers which allow those in the studio to hear what is playing through the console when there are no microphones active. When microphones are active (ON) the monitors are cut and will fall silent.

STUDIO CLOCK.The studio clock is large and orange, and mounted above the window. This clock keeps official studio time, and tells you when your show is beginning, and when it is over.

Look up

POWERING ON/OFF

Let’s power on all the equipment you may need to use in the studio. Powering off is just as easy!

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POWERING ON

• CONSOLE

• there is a small push button at the back of the unit on the right hand side

• if there are no lights on the console, feel around for this button and push it

• the board should light up

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POWERING ON

• DESKTOP RACK

• there is a single space rack mounted unit about half way down which contains one switch, and two LEDs (one green and one red)

• this switch should be ON

• this supplies power to the mic amps, the CD player and the studio monitors (speakers)

CFUZ RADIO 202

POWERING ON

• TURNTABLES

• there is a power bar mounted under the turntable shelf, turn it ON

• the under shelf lights will come on

• if LP2 isn’t already on, turn the power knob to the ON position

• LP1 turns ON with the power bar

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POWERING ON/OFF

• COMPUTER/MONITORS

• the computer should always be ON

• each display monitor has a small button at the bottom centre of the screen which acts like a kind of joy stick

• push this button to turn each monitor ON if they are not currently on

• to turn the monitor OFF, push the button, and then pull it towards you

YOU ARE NOW READY TO MAKE SOME SOUNDS AND PASS THEM THROUGH THE CONSOLE.

Disembodied Voice

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THE CONSOLEThis unit is the heart and soul of the studio.

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THE CONSOLE

• the console is designed specifically for broadcasting…

• for normal input, the fader for a given channel should always be at the top of it’s range - this is UNITY GAIN

• The red fader is the MASTER, and should always be at the top of its range

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THE CONSOLE

• the console contains 10 independent channel strips with colour coded faders for quick reference

• grey = microphones

• yellow = telephone (not implemented)

• blue = audio input

• each strip allows one type of input to be routed into the master mix

• each channel is labeled at the bottom corresponding to the input for that channel

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THE CONSOLE

• we use the ON button as the main mute switch for the channel

• if the light is GREEN, the channel is live into the mix

• if the light is OFF, the channel is not sending into the mix

• we use the FADER as the volume/level control for the channel

• the SIGNAL LED below each mute switch indicates whether there is signal in the channel… the red PEAK LED lights up when that signal is too loud

PLEASE PUT YOUR HEADSET(S) ON NOW, WE’RE GOING TO TRY OUT SOME MICROPHONES…

Disembodied Voice

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THE CONSOLE

• turn a microphone ON - note the LEDs to indicate the mic is on

• push the corresponding microphone FADER all the way to the TOP

• position the mic so that it is approximately 1 inch from your mouth

• talk into the mic

• you should hear your voice in the headset

• play around with the microphone, the on/off and the fader with both the host and guest microphones to get a feel for it.

• take note of the ‘sweet spot’ where your voice sounds best in your headset as you move closer or further from the mic while speaking

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THE CONSOLE

• you can adjust the volume in your headset with the phones knobs on the console, just above the master fader

• guest mic volume is controlled by the guest phones knob, but guests can control their volume independently of this by using the unit shown

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THE CONSOLE

• ideally, when speaking into the mic at a normal speaking volume, you will want the meter to be at or near full GREEN (0VU - +3).

• YELLOW is a bit on the high side

• lower than -12 is too low

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THE CONSOLE

• Microphone pre-amps located in the desktop rack perform a fine adjustment and some special processing on our microphones.

• The settings have been dialled in, and we ask that you do not adjust these settings.

LET’S PLAY SOME MUSIC…

Disembodied Voice

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PLAYING MUSIC

• the CFUZ studio is capable of playing music from a variety of sources:

• dual CD player

• turntables

• studio library

• your digital device (computer, tablet or phone) via other auxiliary inputs

THE CD PLAYER HAS 2 INDEPENDENT DECKS, AND A CONTROL PANEL FOR EACH

CFUZ RADIO 202

CD PLAYER

• the power button is in the centre of the unit, and has a red LED above it… it should always remain on

• open or close the tray with either open/close button - there is one beside the tray, and one on the control panel

• NEVER push the tray closed, always use the button!

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CD PLAYER

• open a tray, place a CD in the tray and close it

• note the display changes for the player in which you’ve put a CD

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CD PLAYERTrack progress meter

Track beats per minuteTrack number

Track elapsed/remaining time indicator

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CD PLAYER

Track pitch adjustment

Track selector knob

Cue button - returns the track to the start

Play/pause button - starts/stops the track playingTrack search/scan controller

Tray open/close

Time display selector

Track repeat mode selector

Track info selector

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CD PLAYER

• use the track selection knob to select the track you want to play

• use the play/pause button to start the track playing

• the white circle around the search/scan knob will FF or REW your track

• these are the basic controls you will use 99% of the time

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CD PLAYER

• these channels control the CD players… CD1 is on the LEFT, CD2 is on the RIGHT

• CD players will play into the mix only when the CD/LP switch is set to CD for each corresponding CD deck

• push the grey button to toggle between CD and LP

• remember, the mute button must be GREEN

• see if you can make the CD player play into the mix

set to LP

set to CD

VINYL IS MAKING A COMEBACK… WE’RE READY TO PLAY IT AT CFUZ!

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TURNTABLES

• turntables can be as delicate as vinyl records, and have been carefully calibrated… please use them with care!

• always manipulate the tonearm by its handle

• always ‘drop’ the needle using the tonearm lever, never DROP the needle onto a record!

• adjust the speed with the buttons near the front of the unit (33rpm or 45rpm)

• start and stop the record with the large silver button

tonearm lever

speed controlstart/stop

tonearm handle

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TURNTABLES

• there is one channel for LPs on the console - this is shared with CD1 - push the grey button to toggle this channel between CD1 and LP - it must be on LP

• remember, the mute button must be GREEN

set to LP

set to CD

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TURNTABLES

• both turntables are fed into the stanton 2 channel mixer, under the turntable shelf

• LP1 is controlled on the left, LP2 on the right.

• the fader at the bottom mixes between the two turntables.

• the vertical faders control the volume - ideally they should be at 0

• cue the deck not playing by plugging headphones into the front of the stanton mixer, and by using the cue-pan fader to select the deck.

• note: the cue/master switch should be on ‘cue’ if you are intending to cue the next track. Cue volume is not related to the fader for the deck.

LP 1 volume

LP 2 volumeLP1/LP2 fader

cue pancue-master switch

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TURNTABLES

• things to know but not touch:

• Phono/Line switches at the top of each channel should be set to ‘Phono’

• headphone volume is on the right side - this will adjust cue volume

• levels and EQ for each deck have already been calibrated

phono/line switches cue volume

OUR DIGITAL LIBRARY WILL HAVE 1000’S OF TRACKS FOR YOU TO PLAY…

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LOGGING IN

• Turn monitors on, then press a key on the keyboard to wake the computer

• select a login account (use either screen)

• choose STUDIO

• the password is cfuz

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STUDIO LIBRARY

• open the ‘Finder’ window by selecting the icon from the bottom of the screen

• click on the ‘electronic’ Shared folder on the left hand side, and ensure that you are connected as studio

• start the iTunes audio player by clicking on the iTunes icon at the bottom of the screen

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STUDIO LIBRARYplay controls

library

playlists

search

columnbrowser

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STUDIO LIBRARY

• search the library by genre, artist or album using the column browser

• double click on a song to play it immediately

• Pause playback using the pause/play button at the top left of the screen

• further training on this software will become available in the future

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STUDIO LIBRARY

• this channel controls the playback from the computer/studio library

• the selector at the top should always be set to USB - this channel allows audio to stream both TO and FROM the computer

• remember, the mute button must be GREEN

• see if you can make the studio library player play into the console

set to USB

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STUDIO LIBRARY

• to close the iTunes application (or any mac application)

• select the window for the application you need to close

• hold down the command key

• press Q

• However… you can leave iTunes open if you desire.

YOU MIGHT PREFER TO USE YOUR OWN COMPUTER OR TABLET TO PLAY MUSIC FROM…

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AUXILIARY INPUTS

• the auxiliary switch allows you to connect your audio device to the console

• it sits directly ahead of you, just below the monitors

• 2 1/4” mini jacks and 1 RCA stereo pair should be sitting on the desk, just ahead of you

• it’s all colour coded!

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AUXILIARY INPUTS

• plug one of these cables into your device, and ensure that the corresponding coloured button on the aux switch is pushed in

• only one input channel is able to be active at any given time (ie. 2 computers cannot play into the console simultaneously)

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AUXILIARY INPUTS

• the auxiliary switch is controlled by this channel strip

• ensure that your device is plugged in, and that you have selected an input (red, white or green)

• remember, the mute button must be GREEN

• see if you can make your device play into the console

HOW ABOUT RECORDING YOUR SHOW?

Disembodied Voice

CFUZ RADIO 202

UPDATE: All programmers should now be transitioning to, or using the

B.U.T.T. (Broadcast Using This Tool) utility to record their programs.

Piezo is no longer the recording tool of choice and will soon be removed from the computer.

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RECORDING YOUR SHOW

• use the B.U.T.T (Broadcast Using This Tool) app, found in the dock at the bottom of the screen

• all audio recorded through this tool is timestamped and placed in the ‘CFUZStudioOutput’ folder

• settings -> Audio -> Audio Device should be set to ‘USB Audio CODEC’ - this is audio from the console. If you do not see levels, ensure this is set properly before proceeding. If you see levels, all is good and there is no need to adjust the settings

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RECORDING YOUR SHOW

• settings for B.U.T.T. should never change. but in case they do, here is what the Settings -> Audio page should look like:

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BEFORE YOU START

• Ensure that the GAIN setting for B.U.T.T. is somewhere in the middle of the range

• You cannot (and should not) change this while you are recording

• If you choose to ignore this advice, PLEASE REMEMBER TO RETURN THIS TO THE MIDDLE BEFORE YOU QUIT B.U.T.T. AT THE END OF YOUR SESSION

• (Please don’t ignore our advice)

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RECORDING YOUR SHOW

• to begin a recording, hit the red ‘RECORD’ button - you will see the screen change to ‘record time’ and a clock will be counting the length of your recording

• to stop a recording, hit the ‘STOP’ button

• the program will ask you to confirm that you want to stop recording… hit ‘Yes’

• your file will be in the CFUZStudioOutput folder, accessible through a Finder window

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RECORDING YOUR SHOW

• your file will be in the CFUZStudioOutput folder, accessible through a Finder window

• move this file into the folder associated with your program - we would like to keep this folder clear from clutter, and you would probably not like to lose your audio files

• this would be a good time to edit and/or update meta data…

• when you are done, you can copy it to your USB stick via the usb cable on the desk

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• Note that ‘going live’ is different from ‘recording audio’

• however, the same tool (B.U.T.T.) is used for both purposes

• aren’t you glad that you only have to learn to use one tool!?!?

TIME TO GO? DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE THE STUDIO AS YOU FOUND IT…

Disembodied Voice

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LEAVING THE STUDIO

• please ensure that you leave the studio as you found it

• close all windows and LOG OUT of the computer

• replace any CDs/LPs to the shelves

• leave the desktop clear

• power down anything you powered on

• turn the lights off and ensure doors are locked behind you

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ALWAYS ASK FIRST…

• Also note that what you see today is the current configuration of the CFUZ studio - this is always changing.

• We will do our best to keep you all up to date with new features and tools.

• Please, if you are not trained on a piece of equipment, ask before you touch! We’d hate for anyone to accidentally cause damage or render a piece of equipment unusable.

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WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION

• this was a lot to swallow!

• all of this information, and more will be available on the website in the resources > programmer section of the menu, so that you can review on your own

• we will be issuing codes soon, so that you can reserve time to come in and practise in the studio on your own

• the Programming Committee is always ready to answer your questions via email prog@peachcityradio.org

• look forward to further training opportunities - keep up to date by joining our E-Cast and check your email for messages from the Programming Committee

SEE YOU SOON!CFUZ RADIO 202