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MICROPHONE TO TRANSMITTER:Amplifiers, Modulator, Transmitter

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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
LESSON 19
MICROPHONE TO TRANSMITTER
Since the times of Marconi, the radio inventor, so much has changed ­ from capturing voice
and sending it to end listeners. The ordinary vinyl-records are no more in use; in fact they are
no more seen as if part of audio history, the recording equipments are a complete
transformation in looks as well as functions from the one used almost a hundred years ago.
The typical radio station microphones firmly placed in the center of recording table, the
recording panels and the soundproofing arrangements of early days are a talk of bygone
years, only an old-uncle recalling, sipping coffee and swaying on the rocking chair in some
pleasant afternoon!
Students of the radio broadcast need to understand how technical means have improved over
the decades and helped the voice message to be taken to the receiver, just as a doctor these
days needs to understand certain functions of different machines for a correct evaluation of a
disease.
Microphone ­ From human voice to electrical pulse
We know that our ordinary voice can't reach beyond an ordinary distance however high-
pitched or strong it is. It is some device, which helps us take our voice beyond the ordinary
length of remoteness. This device is the microphone also called mike. Be it a public
announcement speaker system, telephone, pilot in a ship or aero plane, mobile phone or a
studio ­ the voice first enter a microphone.
This device changes the voice (sound wave) into an electric pulse and makes matter so easy
for the signal to be carried at a desired distance in a matter of a very small fraction of time,
say a second by any medium which can afford to conduct electricity.
There was once a typical heavy looking microphone. Now they are so many in types and
shapes.
Broadcast type
Outdoor recording
In-built in various voice recording and actuating devices
Small stick with headphones
Collar mikes
Mobile phone mikes
Some microphones are fitted with wind-screens which block air (breathing) interference with
voice.
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
Amplifiers
The electric pulse goes to first voltage amplifier which works out the desired amplitude of the
voice-signal before it goes to power amplifier, which provides enough strength to it to go into
the next device. In the meantime an oscillator helps the signal to assume the form of RF (radio
frequency).
Modulator
From the oscillator and the amplifier the signal goes to modulator, an other active device
which converts the signal into a form which perfects it for transmission. It is from here that a
signal finally goes to antenna, which may be a strong transmitter itself.
Transmitter
Transmitters are a complex device which are capable to receive not only radio frequencies in
a modulated form but also enable the signals to be transmitted, broadcast, at a desired
frequency, allotted by a governing authority which controls transmission of such frequencies
carrying messages in any form.
A radio station transmitter looks like this =>
The Broadcasting House
The broadcasting house, or a radio station, is
equipped with all these devices but additionally
it also has studios to produce programs and
one special for sending the broadcast in real-
time, always labeled at its door as on-air.
At a broadcasting house, the voice has to be
treated more carefully to give it a desired pitch,
volume and bass so that its broadcasting value
is ensured, it is passed through a consol panel
as you can see here;
The consol board through its various functions
perfects the voice signal for broadcasting
through the transmitter.
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
VU
Studios
At least two types of studios are essential at a broadcasting house. One for live transmissions
­ news, speeches by VIPs, and
routine programs, and others for
production of different programs like
dramas, music, talk shows etc.
All that is recorded at the studios have
to be put in the console board to
ensuring the voice and sound quality
for the broadcast.
Broadcasting House & Transmitter
Not that all the time a broadcasting
house  has  a  transmitter  at  its
premises. At times a transmitter may
be away as far as 30 to 40 KM from a broadcasting house due to many reasons. In such a
case, the broadcasting house sends ready-for-broadcast signals to the transmitter through
ordinary transmission lines, or microwaves. The microwaves are very high frequency waves
and an ordinary radio can't read them. A transmitter with special devices receives these
microwaves, lower their frequency to mega or kilo hertz which could be tuned in by ordinary
radios, thus completing the cycles of voice transmission from a talent to the end listeners.
Broadcasting is not end of the road - wait for Podcasting
It will sound ­ and sound it must, if I tell you that you may have your own radio station just as
if someone was talking about a radio station in the first decade of the last century!
With the on-line broadcasting getting into the top gear, the time has already come for starting
your own radio station on your web site through RSS (really simple syndication) and mp3 files.
News, music, fun, talks, albums, and advertisements- all in your independent hands. More in
the chapter of interactive broadcasting.
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Table of Contents:
  1. BROADCASTING:Historical Facts about Radio, Wireless and Radio
  2. CLASSIFICATION OF PROGRAMS:NEWS, Language, Sensationalizing
  3. CURRENT AFFAIRS:Talk Shows, Discussions, Seminars, Live Shows
  4. OUTDOOR BROADCASTING I:VIP Movement, Suddenly Assigned Events
  5. OUTDOOR BROADCASTING II:Pakistan Day March Past, General Elections
  6. CURTAIN RAISER:Political, Financial, Sports, Academics
  7. RADIO FEATURE:Personality Features, Features on Events
  8. MUSICAL PROGRAMS:Classical Music, Light and Film Music, Folk Music
  9. RADIO DOCUMENTARY:Narrative, Dramatized, Imagination, Close to places
  10. DISC JOCKEY:Women in Focus, Daily/ Weekly Division, Making Titles
  11. VOICE IN BROADCASTING:Speech, Accent, Loudness, Stress
  12. NOISE:Physical, Medium itself, Problem at sender’s end, Semantics
  13. STUDIO:Drama Studio, Studios for Talk Shows/ Discussions, Music Studios,
  14. RADIO DRAMA I:Stage Dramas, Early Radio Dramas, Ethics, Classification
  15. RADIO DRAMA II:Selection of director, The Playwrights, Script, Voices
  16. ADVERTISEMENT – INCOME GENERATION:Similarities, More Analysis
  17. ADVERTISERS’ APPROACH:Dramatized, Dialogue based, News
  18. FM – A NEW GENERATION IN BROADCASTING:Low Cost, The Difference
  19. MICROPHONE TO TRANSMITTER:Amplifiers, Modulator, Transmitter
  20. WRITING SCRIPT FOR RADIO BROADCAST:NEWS Script, Interviews
  21. INTERACTIVE BROADCASTING:On-line, E-mails, Interview, Views in News
  22. REVISION:CURRENT AFFAIRS, RADIO FEATURE, MUSICAL PROGRAMS
  23. HISTORY OF TELEVISION:Early History, The Black & White Images, Color Television
  24. PAKISTAN TELEVISION (PTV):The Excitement, Timing, Live Broadcast
  25. BROADCASTING LAWS:Laws in the 19th century, Press Council of Pakistan
  26. REPLICAS OF RADIO BROADCAST:The Staff, News Reading, Programming
  27. NEW SCRIPT WRITING AND DIRECTION TECHNIQUES:TV Script
  28. SETS:Permanent Sets, Hot & Cover Sets, Special Sets, Economical
  29. CAMERA SHOTS – THE VISUAL LANGUAGE:Angle Shots, Movement shots
  30. LIGHTS IN VISUAL BROADCASTING:Light Temperature, Light and Distance
  31. INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR:NEWS and Interviews, Dramas and Music
  32. BROADCASTING AND MEDIA IMPERIALISM:The truth in the debate
  33. ENVIRONMENT OF TV BROADCAST:Optical Illusions, POV, Depth of Field
  34. BUDGET:First Part, Second Part, Third Part, The Sponsors
  35. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST OF DIFFERENT RADIO AND TV FORMATS:TV NEWS
  36. CURRENT AFFAIRS – FROM RADIO TO TV:Seminars, Interviews
  37. PRE-PRODUCTION:Brain Storming, Scripting a new program, Approval
  38. PRODUCTION & POST-PRODUCTION:Booking Shifts, Rehearsals
  39. TV ADVERTISEMENTS – MONEY WITH ENTERTAINMENT:Early Phase, Getting Spots
  40. ENIGMA OF MORE CHANNELS:The Investment, Fresh Ideas, Closure of channels
  41. ANCHORPERSON:Appearance and Confidence, Job Opportunities
  42. COMPARISON BETWEEN RADIO AND TV BROADCAST:The Difference, Script
  43. TERRESTRIAL TO SATELLITE TO CABLE TV:Cable Network, CD Channels
  44. CAREER IN BROADCASTING:Production, Direction, Lighting Director, Script Writer
  45. REVISION (LESSON 23 TO 44):Broadcasting Laws, PEMRA, Budget