Major Problems at Radio 1

Yep, it's basically just an intercom - and doesn't just connect studios but also other parts of the building such as the newsroom. The system I'm familiar with has 2 functions: a general intercom that works using a microphone and speakers (so you have to be careful not to accidentally talk to someone in a studio with the mic open, or you'll go out on air!). There are lots of buttons for the different parts of the building, so you need to say where you're speaking from or else the person you're talking to won't know which button to press to speak back to you.

The other function connects you with the presenter's headphones, so you can talk to them while they're speaking on air.

In addition, there's visual talkback which is just 2 networked computer screens - there's a screen with a keyboard in the production area, so that the person on the phones can put messages up for the presenter to see in the studio.

So basically talk back is just like the director of a tv programme talking to the presenter via the ear piece. Except obviously its done in a different way.

Well that's rather a broken system - the speakers should cut when mics are open, far too dangerous otherwise (especially considering some of the things said over intercoms...).


Although the wonderful new Trilogy system (slowly finding its way into local radio stations) tells you where the last person spoke to, which is yummy.



Yes, so other people (normally only the producer or someone in another studio) can talk in their headphones at any time.

I'm sure you're right - to be honest, I've never actually used the talkback while the mics were live, so I just assumed that's what happened seeing as there's a separate switch for talking to the cans. But no doubt the speakers cut out when they're supposed to!

The new talkback system sounds great - it's amazing how often people forget to say where they're speaking from so you end up having to make an educated guess (or just take pot luck!).

A proper Broadcast desk has two modes, Rehearsal Mode and Transmission Mode

In Rehearsal Mode the master talkback will go direct to the studio speakers, even when the mic is open. In proper studios talkback will also go onto the studio output so that the studio can be identified with a verbal ident before transmission.

In Transmission mode the talkback will just goto the studio headphones.

It used to be a problem if the SM forgot to put the studio into TX mode before going on air as as soon as the producer used the talkback this would go out on air.

I'm talking about proper Broadcast desks here, where the faders are shut when they are pushed fully away from you.

Those were the days - haven't seen faders the proper way round for a few years now.

Its not that the desks are 'proper', but that they are modified (or custom built) to meet the BBC specification by the manufacturer. Off the shelf desks come the other way round by default.

I'm sure I heard the reason was so if someone fell asleep at the faders, their arms would slump forward and close the channels rather than open them.

The legendary reason was that if a presenter died and slumped on to the desk, they would fade themselves out. Whether or not that is true in practice, I'd love to know.

I thought it was because BBC operators wore dinner jackets and the cuffs were prone to catching the faders?

So would I - can we try it out on Sara Cox?

Pull-to-open faders also have the advantage of letting you rest the knuckle of your thumb on the little holding screw, then pull the fader down to the tip of your thumb, which will leave it at 0db.

It's not just BBC desks that use pull-to-open. As I'm sure Dan will confirm, most desks in independent radio, where Quentin Howard has had a hand in the design (the majority of the GWR Group), will also be pull-to-open.

Yes - the GWR desks in Bassett certainly used to be pull open.

It's also much easier, IMHO, to segue with the faders that way around.