The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-08-20
STUDIOS EQUIPPED
TO AVOID ECHOES
In TRANSMISSION
Platform Provided for
Soloists Keeps Them
Near Microphone.


program broadcasted by radio has
formed some mental picture of the
interior Of the station from which
the songs and speeches come. He
imagines, perhaps. a room full of
apparatus-black panels. polished di-
ais. delicate measuring instruments.
and 1.-The glow Of vacuum tubes-as
the setting where stands the even
lng's prtma donna. Were he to en-
ter an actual studio" however, he
would ind nothing in its soft car
pet and attractive furnishings to sug-
gest radio, except a small panel on
the carrying a few signal lamps
ana push buttons, and on a pedestal
a graceful metal object which he is
told Is the broadcastine microphone
A well-designed studio such as Is
found in the large stations at De-
troit or Newark begins with a room
whose walls are sound-proof and
which will accommodate comfortably
Chorus or an orchestra Of twenty
persons Usually Its walls are draped
with some heavy fabric, to prevent
echoes. and for the same reason its
grand piano. photograph and tables
are kept covered when not in use.
Platform for soIeists.
Since soloists are used to stand
ing on the hard floor of the stage.
low wooden platform Is provided
to make them feel at ease. and for
the further purpose Of discouragins
them from moving about the room
while singing. This Is a common
tendency among artists of strong dra-
matte instinct, but II Is undesirable
because 1t carries them away from
the microphone that is to pick up
their voices.
This platform Is only one Of the
many little details that are provided
for the comfort of the artists in
a well-run station, say engineers of
western Electric Company. The stu
do itself is best located where 1t is
easily reached from the street On
their arrival the performers are greet
ed in an anteroom by a courteous
attendant and made to feel at home
while they await their turn to "go
on" Shortly before each program,
the studio manager explains the few
simple points to be observei-such
as remaining from four to eight feet
from the transmitter. enunciating
clearly and maintaining perfect quiet
while the microphone is ION the air."
Manager Throws Switch.
At last the moment comes to be-
gin. In the studio a lamp flashes.
telling the manager that the cleo
trical equipment is ready. With a
last glance to be sure that everyone
Is IN place, he throws a switch
which connects the microphone
through the set to the antenna, and
in a strong, clear voice announces,
This is Station PDQ broadcasting;
We will have a solo by Miss B.
entitled -" The pianist begins
the accompaniment and the show
Is on.
The curtain has now risen on an
invisible audience of many thousand
people. but aside from a bright blue
pilot light on the wall, nothing has
changed in the studio. It is hard
for performers to realize that they
are not merely rehearsing. and some
times, to the chagrin of the manager,
Trey interrupt themelves with a ques-
tlon about their singing or some
other incongruous remark One West
ern Electric engineer relates with
glee how one day listening at the
company's radio station to a tenor
solo at another local station, he
heard the singer inquire at the con-
clusion. How do you shut this -
thing OF, anyhow"
Must Avoid "stage waits.v
Such situations must the studio
manager handle ION the minute"
and yet automatically, for he is deal
ing with ali sorts of temperaments,
from the hign-strung artist to the
busy man of politics or affairs. He
must put on one number after an
other without stage waits" and ais
resourcefulness must be equal to fill
ing in gaps as il nothing had gone
wrong
Often rehearsals are reid, during
which the electrical equipment is
connected to a dummy antenna. This
permits various groupings of per-
formers to be tried without d sturb-
ing Other stations
During these tests and during the
performance itself the station oper-
ator must give close attention to in
struments which show the peril IL
ance Of the mocrophone. the power
which its circuit delivers to the trans
uniting apparatus. and the power ra-
dated into space. The quality of the
transmitted speech is observed by lis
tening in with a receiving set. These
precautions coupled with an expe-
rienced station operator and first
class radio equipment are desirable
to make sure that you as a radio
amateur will hear a program that
will repay you for listening-in.