Evening star., 1937-07-25

inches thick constructed OF heavy
wood and sound-proofed with bullt-in
vacuum chambers. These portals are
set in soft rubber to absorb building
noise
Should sound Contrive to penetrate
beyond the first door into the studio.
it would be dispatched promptly by
the Two other protective measures
which have been taken Silence
yeStIbules,' two feet wide, have been
constructed between the outer door
and the studio proper. The observa-
ton gallery of the large studio and
the monltoring rooms are fitted with
insulated glass windows. From be-
/ hind the sound-proof partitions OF
the monltoring rooms, with which
each studio has been provided. en-
sineers end members Of the produc-
ton staff may supervise the entire
process attendant upon the evolution
Of a program be on hand to guide
the final version as it is put on the
air.
INSTALLED under the personal di-
rection of o. B. Hanson, N. B. C.'s
chief engineer. who had charge of
equipping Radio City and the new
Hollywood centers of the network.
/ the technical facilities are he most
modern and practical obtainable.
Mlcrophones and control units are
the finest vet developed by radio en-
glneerS. The master control desk.
known to the engineers as "MCD,"
and representing the heart Of the en-
tire plant, is the largest installation
ever made locally, and while not so
aWe-lnsplring by several degrees as
that nerve center. is somewhat rem
iniscent Of Radio City's control
board.
Seated before mass OF blinking
lights, meters. buttons and switches,
the supervisor has at his fngertips
complete mastery of activities in any
OF eight studios, remote" broadcasts
and programs coming through from
the two N. B. c. networks. In short,
IN him rests complete responsibility
for making certain that the proper
sequence of broadcasts is sent out
through WRC and WMAL. Through
drawing upon his concentrative pov-
ers, with which he must by generously
equipped. the master engineer is
obliged to watch meters and lights
to keep fixed in mind the position
OF every button and switch on his
board as well as those on every an
nouncer's control unit in studios
throughout the building.
From the MCD, the program trav-
els by wire to New York, if it is pro-
duced for the network, or to the
tranSmtter of one of the two local
stations if it is designed for local
oroadcastlng only. The impulses
travel into an equipment room-no
place for one not technically minded
where are to be found hundreds upon
hundreds Of relays, countless miles
OF wire, approximately one hundred
amplif1ers-all part OF the mass of
metal and insulation which makes
possible the more than two thousand
possible combinations on the MCD
board
HE announcer. too, has been
cared for in this march of prog
ress. Formerly, the switching OF
studios depended upon a black box
known familiarly as the "announcer's
delite,' constant source of tribula-
tions, for it had no less than So light.
and 2l buttons, together with two
switches. Now. however, modern
streamlined control boxes have been
installed, simplifying the task. Built
on the order of a speakers rostrum.
the compact unit contains a loud
speaker and clock Of latest design
Executives, as we'll, will have the
plant situation at their f1ngertips.
Offices aro e,I,p1ioJ with 1a,l