Sound mixers look similar to broadcast mixers but differ in a few crucial ways. More expensive solutions often include digital and audio over IP (AoIP) elements along with more advanced features and potentially more faders.īroadcast mixers should not be confused with their 'sound mixer' cousins. In general, the lower cost broadcast mixers use analogue audio and offer fewer fader channels. There is a wide range of broacast mixers available to cover different studio sizes and budgets. If you intend to do any live broadcasts or want to record shows as if they are live then you will need a mixer.

The role of the broadcast mixing console (or mixing desk) is to provide control of multiple audio sources and combine them in to a 'mixed' output that is ready for tranmission (often via a processor).Ī broadcast mixer is essential for any radio service that wants to incorporate any live microphone sources in live or pre-recorded content. The 'On-Demand' generation expect to be able to consume entertainment on their own terms, so often a combination of live output and on-demand content is a winning formula! That does not mean that 'on-demand' should not factor into your plans. It's also a 'shared' experience - you are listening to exactly the same content as all the other listeners, making you feel like you are part of a larger community with shared interests. When you listen to a radio station, you are listening to something that is happening 'now' which is often what drives people to keep listening.

The key thing that differentiates radio from other 'on-demand' audio services is the perception of a live, 'in the moment' service (even if it is actually automated). Strictly speaking 'radio' traditionally referred to an 'over the air' transmission method but in practical terms, whether you use traditional radio waves, streaming, or any other 'transmission' method, it is still all 'radio' as far as a listener is concerned!

Nowadays, the term 'radio' is used to describe any audio service that provides continuous realtime audio to the end listener.

Opera music radio station