DJ Training Part 1: Basics of Programming

Welcome!

THANK YOU for volunteering with KDHX, and welcome to the Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media - our new home thanks to your time and efforts. Volunteers are KDHX! and we have earned this facility upgrade. Our donors and supporters deserve the best that we can provide, so lets enjoy, nurture and protect the community investment in us with more great programming!

Please keep in mind that the rule of thumb in caring for our facility is just like the National Park Service: LEAVE NO TRACE. Knowing that someone will have to take out the garbage, please take with you any trash that you brought in. This is particularly important with food stuff and recycling.

Likewise, please use the cleaning products available in the reception area drawers and below the sink in the kitchenette to wipe down surfaces and clean up any mess you make. (Please do not wipe down the surfaces of our studio mixing consoles, as these have special procedural cleaning handled by staff to avoid dust particles clogging the faders) The vacuum is stored in plain view, so please feel free use it anytime you see the floor needing a bit of tidying.

Eating and drinking is not permitted in the Air 1, Air 2, or Prod 1 studios, so please keep all food and drink in the reception and show prep areas, even while you're on air doing your program or working in the production rooms.

New Board Operator Orientation - discuss these

1. Input paths - sources and alternates
2. Output paths - "Program" busses, and source assignments
3. Monitoring
   1. Control room speaker volume control and source selector.
   2. Headphones - cue overrides when selected on any channel (as long as the AUTO CUE button at right is illuminated).
   3. Cue speaker volume control.
4. Levels and Meters
   1. Get in orange (over noise floor), but avoid red and blue (creates distortion).
   2. Ideal level is averaging -20 db.
   3. First meter is always Program 1, second is selectable.
   4. When selected, cue overrides meter 2.
5. Studio selector and "Talk To..." will go un-used - the intercoms mounted in the rack will allow this comm to other rooms

Sources & Devices - standard settings, functions and Cue'ing

1. Microphones
   1. Proper addressing technique - as close as an inch or two, and at a slight angle, never beyond 45 degrees.
   2. Light rings on each indicate which mic is on.
   3. A mic being on kills overhead speakers to avoid feedback
   4. Must wear headphones to monitor presence and balance with other sounds.
   5. Standing encourages better breath and diaphragm control, higher energy and less distracting mid-sentence breathing.
2. CDs and CDR - playback vs. record
   1. On/off starts and pauses.
   2. Eject locked on playback only.
   3. Single next and remain modes are recommended.
   4. If you adjust pitch, please return to standard.
   5. Please, no paper-labeled or thicker than standard audio or data CDs - it gunks up the system and causes gear/device fail.
   6. If eject becomes a problem, call for staff assistance. Do NOT use any hard plastic or metal tools to remove a stuck CD.
3. WFP = World Feed Panel, for external input device
   1. 1/8" cables are provided.
   2. Device level set no higher than 70% full. Check using cue on appropriate WFP channel prior to airing.
   3. Board orientation (L/R) is correct - ignore channel #.
   4. Avoid airing mp3s. Always use lossless compression. Least advisable quality is 256kbps - 320 preferred (custom setting).
4. Turntables
   1. Use caution with desk and room - TTs are nudge-able -> we've weighted them with sandbags and are assessing a better fix.
   2. Always return pre-amps to 1 o'clock and reset EQ to normal if you choose to adjust.
   3. DJ Coffin is moveable, and plugs in via WFP XLR cables.
5. Cassette - automated transfer to CD in A/V 2.
6. Legacy media - arrange DAT, R2R and minidisc transfers with Andy and production volunteers.
7. Vinyl transfer and FCC cleaning - assistance and training is available via Nick and the Music Department volunteers and Interns.

Board Op's Order of Operations

1. Assess remaining time -> Is there a tag? Is the next item white? = 2 spots this break.
2. Prepare or cue the next item, pre-set the level -> Tip: Use the fader as a guide to next item and always undershoot the set level - coming up from low vs. down from too high.
3. Trigger timed with feel as segue - by the time the previous content falls to halfway point in level.
4. Adjust level and await average/full amplitude before moving on.
5. Answer phone, stretch, have some water ... -> tip: release the caller with adequate prep time - no less than 30 seconds.
6. Repeat.

Transmitter Log Readings

Our 40,000 watt transmitter is located in Lower Arnold,MO, and is controlled and monitored by a device in AIR1. As primary technician on air during your show, you are responsible for taking readings from the transmitter monitor, and writing them in our FCC required transmitter log. This task will be demonstrated by your trainer prior to your first air shift. The general requirement is to handle this task one time every 2 hours - review the readings of plate voltage, plate amps, temperature in the room, and power percentage, and if you're broadcasting after dark, the power reading for the red lights physically mounted on the tower. The log will show proper parameters, and if you find readings outside of these, consider it an emergency that needs to be reported to staff immediately.

Dump Button / Delay

Use is strongly encouraged - protect our license!

- After the first dump, prepare and execute an immediate segue and continue programming.

- Turn off the mic, move to a spot or song and brief the guest about their infraction before turning the mic back on.

2 levels of dump @ 7.5 secs each -> we will broadcast with a 15 second delay

- Button is illuminated when "safe" - dark after 2 dumps.

- EXT 1 is our FM signal picked up by a receiver in the building - briefly monitoring will give us sense of where you are.

Review and Practice

Some standard tasks worth practicing:

- Segue and announce using bumper and bed music.

- Review and practice Board Operators Order of Operations.

- Guest mic and headphone guidance.

- Prohibited speech, the FCC/our license and you.

- Wide Orbit re-cue after fail.

- Cue button operation / headphone override reminder.

Please plan to either stay behind today and/or schedule an appointment with staff to come and record a segments of your show in an "Evergreen" (not time sensitive) fashion. This will help give you a true sense of how the gear and environment feels in Air studios 1,2 and Prod 1, and the recording will serve as both a good tool for you to review and for us to load into Wide Orbit for use in the event that you are running late for your show.

Always use courtesy when entering and leaving the air rooms:

- Prepare to leave by gathering belongings and moving to the outer DJ prep area by the :45.

- If you have guests, confer and brief them in the DJ prep area prior to the show.

- Check in when you arrive at 15 minutes prior to your shift and call the air line to alert the previous DJ/Host if you are cutting it closer than that.

Telephones and Telos Interface

1. Listener Lines
2. Telos/Phone Interviews

Emergency Alert System (EAS)

When the red light on top of the alert pole flashes, it means there is an incoming alert.

Stay calm. After the alert is fully received (1-3 minutes) the blue SAGE ENDEC box will display a timer that counts down until the message will automatically play out. You do not need to take any action in order for the message to play out. When the timer reaches 0, the alert will play out automatically. The timer will reset and begin counting down to the end of the message. The Outgoing Alert indicator will light up for the duration of message playout.

Important things about message playout: - You will not hear the message. It is “behind” the monitor signal that comes out of the board. - While the message is playing, make sure that you continue to play music. Do not stop the music, and do not open the mic. - Terrestrial (that is, FM radio) listeners will hear the alert. However, the fact that the alert is sent out “behind” the board in the air chain means that we have the ability to configure the signal sent online so that the alert is not part of that signal. This is one of the reasons that it’s important to continue music playout. - Do not comment on or give instructions for listeners to take. Alerts will describe any action that people should take. You may refer listeners to other sources, but do not give emergency or safety instructions. - You should be aware of any emergency alerts, especially considering that you won’t hear the outgoing alert. Click on the “Severe Weather” link in the browser of the Air Room computer to view watches and warnings in the area. If you need to take shelter, do so in the 2nd floor restrooms, or in the main stairwell. Place a Live at KDHX CD in one of the CD players and turn off Single play mode, to make sure there is no dead air.

Weekly tests are relayed and logged automatically by the machine, no action is required of DJs.

We have an 80-mile listening radius. If a gnarly weather system is rolling in you will get multiple alerts and your broadcast will be interrupted multiple times. That’s OK. Keeping our listeners out of harm’s way is the highest priority. If you are unsure as to what action should be taken, do not editorialize. Read the message from the NWS and take it seriously.

Help & Answers

Emergency numbers are posted on the computer workstation, and additional information is available on the KDHX Intranet site.

To report non-emergency issues, e-mail:

- Underwriting spot played late, early or missed: underwriting [at] kdhx.org

- Facility/Equipment: techsupport [at] kdhx.org