[BC] Radio stations that buy new equipment...

[Mike McCarthy]

I would say not.  Depending on the listener or advertiser, they CAN hear 
MANY things.  They just don't KNOW what to listen for to establish the 
distinction.

BUT, if the other broadcasters in the area have a better sounding station, 
your listeners and advertisers WILL discern differences.  Which could be 
good or bad depending on how they perceive the difference(s).  :Louder, 
more present, more punch.

The bottom line CAN be helped by prescriptively selecting suitable 
equipment which would permit streamlining operations, thus allowing your 
attention to be allocated to better uses than babysitting a manual console.

Since there are only the 2.5 of you (plus the dog), I'm sure some of your 
time can be spent on production, sales support or related business/office 
functions.  Investing in a more advanced switching system driven by the 
automation system would allow complete automation during those non-live 
times and for you to attend to more pressing matters...like production.

So buying the fancy stuff doesn't necessarily mean better sound. But it 
does buy more time for you to spend doing more important functions.

MM

At 08:43 AM 10/27/2007 -0400, Paul B. Walker, Jr. wrote
>Maybe Imslighted by the fact Ive never worked for top notch, big budget
>stations with top dollar equipment.. but in my mind, you do what you gotta
>do to get by.
>
>Can my listeners tell, do they know or even care that I'm using a Behringer
>6 Channel Mixer instead of a "professional" broadcast console?
>Can my listeners tell, do they know or even care that I'm using a $40Shure
>PG48 Microphone for my on air microphone compared to a $300 to $500
>"professional" broadcast mic?
>Can my listeners tell, do they know or even care that I'm using a USED
>Emachines Computerfrom a local pawnshop for $210 using Raduga for
>automation?
>
>The answer to all 3 is NO!
>
>In fact, Ive had several people surprised when I tell them what I'm using
>here. A few people who've seen the studio were quite surprised that I was
>using such "consumer" equipment... not the fact that it sounded bad, but
>that I had it all doing what it was doing
>
>Sure, none of it's far from perfect and top notch, but when you're at a low
>budget station you simply have to do what you haver to do to get by. Some of
>the equipment has quirks, especially Raduga, but it's justsomething I deal
>with and find ways around.
>
>It's just me and George, The 3 yr old Beagle Dog as full time employees
>here. I have a Part Time Sales/Promotions/handyman here. I also have a
>Contract Engineer. Somehow, we manmage to keep this place in one peice.
>
>I honestly think the desire to buy new equipment is just to brag to fellow
>broadcasters about your new toys and make yourself feel better. Sure, it
>raises morale a little.. but if that late 80s/early 90s console has been
>well maintained and is still in greatshape, why get rid of it.
>
>Im perfectly content with my Behringer Mixer Board, Shure Micrphone and
>EMachines Computer. Would I like better equipment? Sure, but Im not going to
>saricfice things just to get fancier equipment when they seriously wont help
>the bottom line. A NEW computer and a real console might be ncie but they
>wouldnt improve the overall sound of the station, therefore.. not imrpoving
>the bottom line.
>
>--
>Sincerely,
>Paul B. Walker, Jr.
>www.walkerbroadcasting.com
>www.myspace.com/walkerbroadcasting
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