Location Recce

 When thinking about where I am going to record my radio programme, I would like to record in these areas:

Chadwell Heath Academy 

When thinking about my radio show, Chadwell Heath Academy is the perfect environment to film. This is because the main part of my radio show is set in a school environment. Considering on choosing this location to film, I will have resources in the school. This will help me create sounds and be able to change the volume of sounds as the school has multiple areas I can film in. This can save time when I am editing my radio show. Furthermore, when looking at this location, I am able to have access to all the recording equipment I need. This is because this is where they store all the equipment. Also this is where I can start to upload my recordings in a short period of time after I finish recording. When I compare this to where I would have to record in another location, I would have to upload another day. When looking at the other locations I could film in, I can see that it would not be as effective. This is because when I am recording my radio show, it is based on students in school and how social media can harm the life of students. This means that I may not be able to portray this to the audiences well if I was to record in the other locations for the main parts of my radio programme. 

A118 Highroad

Another location I would consider filming in is the A118 highroad. This is because some parts of my radio programme needs to be students walking to another location. Furthermore, when looking at the benefits of recording in this location, cars are going to be driving passed. This means that I would not need to place other recordings in editing as there are cars sounds in the background. This will allow me to save time. However, one thing I will need to consider when I am recording in this location is that the microphone can be sensitive to these sounds and may impact the other audio that is being recorded. This will disrupt the audio and will be difficult to edit when I am in the post-production stage of my radio programme. One way I will solve this problem is to not film directly where the cars are but somewhere I can still hear the cars passing. Also, with recording in this location, I will not be able to get more equipment if I would need to. This means that if I would like to get another microphone for another voice actor, I would need to go back to school and go and collect the equipment. 

Goodmayes station 

Finally, another location I would consider filming in is Goodmayes station. This is a train station where I would like my radio programme to end. When looking at this location, I will be able to capture the environment and the sounds that I would not get in the other locations. When looking into where this matches in my radio programme, the students are getting prepared to go out and will need to get a train to get there. This will be beneficial to my radio programme as I can take advantage of the sounds in the location. Despite this, before I start to record, I may need to seek permission to record others in the train station. One way I will solve this problem is speaking to the guard in the station and the people so that I have permission to film. This can lead to a lot of time and resources being used up and could impact on how much time I have left to record in the location. This can lead to me having to come back for multiple days and could take up to a week to ensure that I can get the best sounds possible when I am recording my radio programme. 

This is for Unit 14 and Unit 16.

Risk Assessment

 

Key Personnel

 

Task Allocation Week 1

Production Log Week 1

Investigate the technologies for multi-platform radio broadcasting - UNIT 14

BBC Radio 4.

When looking at the technology needed to a run a Radio Station, we know that every radio station has similar equipment but have different appearances. For example, below is a setup of a radio station by BBC Radio 4:

Some of the equipment that BBC Radio 4 use are:

• Microphone - Microphones are used by presenters so that the audience can hear them clearly about the content they are giving out. Presenters use the microphone to record the content so that they can place it on their radio station so that future audiences can catchup on listening the programmes.  
• Headphones - When presenters are on air, they typically use headphones to hear other presenters to understand and know what they are going to be discussing in the programme and listen to audiences depending on the type of programme it is. 
• Computer - Presenters will need a computer so that they can power their systems and be able to present their programme on a radio station to audiences. 
• Multiple Monitors - In the images above we can see that presenters have different number of monitors to keep track of their programme. Every monitor has different purposes for example, one monitor could be to look at social media channels of specific artists that they are presenting with or have a monitor playing music in the background. 
• Radio Broadcasting software - Every radio station will need to have a radio broadcasting software. By having a broadcasting software, it will allow the audiences to be able to access and listen to the programmes efficiently but it will also allow the presenters to know what is going to be presented throughout the day. 
• Digital cart wall - In the image, there is a digital cart wall. The digital cart wall is used to play different types of music, presenters have available. 

And many more.  

What is a digital cart wall?

A digital cart wall is a digital screen that has multiple audio tracks loaded and saved on their systems. Majority of radio stations use this to load all audio files that are needed for the radio station. When looking at BBC Radio 4 and how they use a digital cart wall, from researching, we can see that they collect the music that matches with what they are presenting on the day. Furthermore, when looking at this, we can see that they edit their audio to match the length they want it to last for. Also when looking at the setup of the radio station, they have multiple screens. They have multiple reasons for this, but they use one screen that has all the audio. they are going to use. 

What is a playlist?

A playlist is a list of songs chosen to be broadcasted on a radio show or a specific radio station. When looking at BBC Radio 4, we can see that they have multiple playlists of their own. This is so that they can match with what they are going to be presenting on that certain day. BBC Radio 4 shares their playlist on their website and app. This allows audiences to access them if they like the playlist. 

What is a digital play-out system? 

A digital play-out system is where radio stations put together all jingles, sounds, adverts and music on a digital system. A digital play-out system acts like a live-radio station but in reality is playing everything the radio station has put on the system. When researching BBC Radio 4 and I don't think they use a digital play-out system. This is because they don't need a digital play-out system as they don't need to act like a live-radio station as they are a live radio station. 

This is for Unit 14.

Platforms for listening - UNIT 14

When audiences are listening to radio, there are a variety of ways for them to have access to them. When looking at BBC Radio 4, we can see that there are multiple devices for all audiences to access them. For example some devices that can be used are:

• Smartphones

• Radio box 

• Laptop 

• Internet radio box 

• Television

• Tablet

When using these devices, there different ways that audiences can access BBC Radio 4. Below is a poster explaining them:

Examples for platforms for listening:

Analogue broadcast - FM Radio
Internet - Social media
Satellite and terrestrial TV channels - Channel 4
Digital broadcast - BBC Radio 4

THIS IS FOR UNIT 14.