Radio Studios ‘better than the BBC!’

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Tony Phillips TV Studio manger writes,

During the Summer the I.S. Specialist Services Team who provide Technical and Learning support for the  Department of Journalism  upgraded the existing Radio Studios and “booths” (initially installed 5 years ago in the newly completed redevelopment of the Journalism Radio and TV suites)  to provide  a new  “state of the art” Radio Studio complex.
 
 
This has taken the technology recently installed at the BBC’s new flagship broadcast centre in central London and given City University directly comparable facilities that will allow Journalism students to work with the identical (and some later model) equipment utilised by the state broadcaster.
 
The comprehensive upgrade includes networked Studer digital audio mixers, PhoneBox automated telephone call handling including ISDN, HD Voice and social media interfaces, playout and running order scheduling, Spot On touch screen jingle players  and solid state recorders.
 
Over £200,000 has been spent on ensuring that the studios and recording suites reflect a professional radio station  environment using specialist system designers employed by the major national broadcasters and second to none in the sector. 
 
The brand new facility was used during Induction week by the students who run  City -On-Air, the student radio station, and they made a video whilst they were broadcasting for the first time it’s very gratifying to see them using the equipment so professionally so quickly – please follow the link below..

http://cityonair.co.uk/other-media/
 
The Journalism Technical stores also moved to larger premises in order to store the ever growing number of video / audio recording kits and ancillary equipment used now by over 600 students of the Department.
 
Looking ahead to next year – 2014 – the I.S. Specialist Services Team  is in the early stages of planning the upgrade of the standard definition TV Studio facilities  to High Definition,  with the integration of virtual reality ( green screen ) TV news sets (background). This will ensure that students  continue to gain TV  production experience in the latest technology, as used by the BBC , ITV News ,SKY News and state broadcasters around the world, thus better preparing  students to work in those professional broadcast environments.