Sample question paper -GDMC 202 Management of Broadcasting Media operation UNIT I RADIO PROGRAMME PRODUCTION FORMAT 1-What is radio live show? Ans- A radio live show is a programme transmitted live by the broadcaster as it actually takes place, instead of being previously recorded and edited later.live shows are always difficult but great to make because you do not have a second chance. It is live. 2-What do you mean by writing for ear? Ans- Tips for writing for the ear are,as with all writing, scripts should be accurate and clear. However, this style of writing is not as formal as that used to produce a research paper written in an academic style. 1.Keep sentences short. This tip relates to the informality of the spoken word. It's possible for a reader to reread a sentence if it is long and complicated. Not so easy when listening to a podcast; possible, but most folks won't hit the rewind button. Example: Do: My grandmother came to America when she was a little girl. Yesterday she told me she still remembers the first time she saw the Statue of Liberty. She said it made her cry. But I'm not sure why. Don't: My grandmother, who came to America when she was a little girl, told me yesterday that she still remembers the first time she saw the Statue of Liberty, which she said made her cry, but I'm not sure why. 2.Use Contractions This is another tip related to the informality of the spoken word. Do: Use... it's... I've... aren't Don't: Use... it is... I have... are not 3. Paraphrase rather than quote... round off statistics Unless your quote is an actual recording of the person who said the statement, avoid quotations. "Quotation marks" are difficult to communicate in speech. Provide essential elements of a citation. Likewise, round off large numbers. Do: Say "As Henrietta Spring wrote in 2003, digital media allow us to connect with friends and family across distance more easily than prior communication channels." Don't: Quote Henrietta and then say, Henrietta Spring, December 2003, "Digital Media and the Family," Journal of Mediated Communication. [Although you will provide your sources in an annotated bibliography.] Do: Say "ll million dollars" Don't: Say "11 million, three hundred thousand, two hundred dollars."
3-What is Radio Drama? Ans- Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play,[1] radio theater) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story: It is auditory in the physical dimension but equally powerful as a visual force in the psychological dimension. [2] Radio drama achieved widespread popularity within a decade of its initial development in the 1920s. By the 1940s, it was a leading international popular entertainment. With the advent of television in the 1950s, however, radio drama lost some of its popularity, and in some countries has never regained large audiences. However, recordings of OTR (old-time radio) survive today in the audio archives of collectors and museums, as well as several online sites such as Internet Archive. As of 2011, radio drama has a minimal presence on terrestrial radio in the United States. Much of American radio drama is restricted to rebroadcasts or podcasts of programs from previous decades. However, other nations still have thriving traditions of radio drama. In the United Kingdom, for example, the BBC produces and broadcasts hundreds of new radio plays each year on Radio 3, Radio 4, and Radio 4 Extra. Podcasting has also offered the means of creating new radio dramas, in addition to the distribution of vintage programs. The terms "audio drama"[3] or "audio theatre" are sometimes used synonymously with "radio drama" with one possible distinction: audio drama or audio theatre may not necessarily be intended specifically for broadcast on radio. Audio drama, whether newly produced or OTR classics, can be found on CDs, cassette tapes, podcasts, webcasts and conventional broadcast radio 4-What is panel discussion in radio? Ans- A panel discussion is designed to provide an opportunity for a group to hear several people knowledgeable about a specific issue or topic present information and discuss personal views. A panel discussion may help the audience further clarify and evaluate their positions regarding specific issues or topics being discussed and increase their understanding of the positions of others. How to Proceed 1. Identify, or help participants identify, an issue or topic that involves an important conflict in values and/or interests. The issue or topic may be set forth as a topical question, a hypothetical incident, a student experience, an actual case, etc. 2. Select panelists who are well informed about and have specific points of view regarding the issue or topic. A panel discussion that includes three to five panelists is usually most workable. Select a leader or moderator. 3. Indicate to panelists the objectives the panel discussion is designed to promote and allow-time for panel members to prepare for the discussion. In some situations ten or fifteen minutes may be sufficient time for preparation while in
other situations, panel members may need to prepare several weeks in advance of the scheduled discussion. 4. Decide upon the format the panel discussion will follow. Various formats are appropriate. The following procedures have been used effectively: a. The leader or moderator introduces the topic and the panelists present their views and opinions regarding the issue or topic for a set amount of time. b. The panelists discuss the issue or topic with each other by asking questions or reacting to the views and opinions of other panel members. A specific amount of time should be established. c. The leader or moderator closes the discussion and provides a summary of panel presentations and discussion. d. The leader or moderator calls for a forum period during which the members of the class may participate by addressing questions to various panel members or by voicing their views and opinions. The forum period should be conducted by the panel leader or moderator. Principal Responsibilities of the Instructor 1. Identify, or help participants identify, issues or topics upon which to base a panel discussion. 2. Insure that all panelists and the moderator are familiar with the procedures for panel discussion in advance of the discussion itself so that they will be able to fulfill the responsibilities of their roles. 3. Assist panelists and participants (when necessary) in preparation for the discussion by directing them to various source materials, authorities in the field, etc. 4. Help participants understand the need for fair procedures in discussing an issue or topic, e.g., the freedom to discuss an issue, the obligation to listen to other points of view, the need for orderly, courteous discussion, etc. 5-What is radio documentary? Ans- At its best, radio combines the power and immediacy of great documentary films with the intimacy and poetry of a New Yorker-style magazine piece. Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Staring red-eyed at the mirror in front of me, having spent another day and half of the night with my computer, I ask myself fundamental questions: Why radio? Why documentary? Answer: No other medium can provide me with more freedom of creation and investigation. It meets my urgent interest in reality and the desire for a 'musical' expression. The material (der Werkstoff) is sound. And sound always surrounds us. And: I'm not so much interested in the description of stable situations, but in processes. Our medium is not space, but time; our stories are not glued to the ground, but have motion, life... That's why! Helmut Kopetzky, German author,
A radio documentary or feature is a purely acoustic performance devoted to covering a particular topic in some depth, usually with a mixture of commentary and sound pictures. It is broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. Some radio features, especially those including specially composed music or other pieces of audio art, resemble radio drama in many ways, though non-fictional in subject matter, while others consist principally of more straightforward, journalistictype reporting but at much greater length than found in an ordinary news report. UNIT II BASIC EQUIPMENT 1-What is Nagra? Ans-Nagra is a trademark of a series of mostly battery-operated portable professional audio recorders produced by Kudelski SA, based in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland. The machines were initially designed by Polish inventor Stefan Kudelski, and his company won numerous technical awards for their precision and reliability. Nagra means "[it] will record" in Polish, Kudelski's mother tongue. Nagra-brand tape recorders were the de facto standard sound recording systems for motion picture and single-camera television production from the 1960s until the 1990s. 2-What is the basic difference between DAT and Marandz. Ans- A DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder refers to a magnetic tape signal recording and playback medium which records sound and plays it back digitally in high-fidelity reproduction.the DAT recorder was developed by Sony and is similar to a compact audio cassette.and the other side Marantz, the Marantz PMD-660 is a portable, solidstate, compact flash audio field recorder. It has 2 XLR (balanced) inputs, 2 line-in inputs, 2 internal microphones and can record in raw WAV or MP3 formats. It is powered with four (non-rechargeable) AA-sized batteries which offers 3.5 to 4 hours of uninterrupted recording. 3-Write a short note on types of Microphone.. Ans- There are a number of different types of microphone in common use. The differences can be divided into two areas: (1) The type of conversion technology they use This refers to the technical method the mic uses to convert sound into electricity. The most common technologies are dynamic, condenser, ribbon and crystal. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and each is generally more suited to certain types of application. The following pages will provide details. (2) The type of application they are designed for Some mics are designed for general use and can be used effectively in many different situations. Others are very specialised and are only really useful for their intended purpose. Characteristics to look for include directional properties, frequency response and impedance (more on these later). Mic Level & Line Level
The electrical current generated by a microphone is very small. Referred to as mic level, this signal is typically measured in millivolts. Before it can be used for anything serious the signal needs to be amplified, usually to line level (typically 0.5-2V). Being a stronger and more robust signal, line level is the standard signal strength used by audio processing equipment and common domestic equipment such as CD players, tape machines, VCRs, etc. This amplification is achieved in one or more of the following ways: Some microphones have tiny built-in amplifiers which boost the signal to a high mic level or line level. The mic can be fed through a small boosting amplifier, often called a line amp. Sound mixers have small amplifiers in each channel. Attenuators can accommodate mics of varying levels and adjust them all to an even line level. The audio signal is fed to a power amplifier - a specialised amp which boosts the signal enough to be fed to loudspeakers. Dynamic Microphones Dynamic microphones are versatile and ideal for general-purpose use. They use a simple design with few moving parts. They are relatively sturdy and resilient to rough handling. They are also better suited to handling high volume levels, such as from certain musical instruments or amplifiers. They have no internal amplifier and do not require batteries or external power. How Dynamic Microphones Work As you may recall from your school science, when a magnet is moved near a coil of wire an electrical current is generated in the wire. Using this electromagnet principle, the dynamic microphone uses a wire coil and magnet to create the audio signal. The diaphragm is attached to the coil. When the diaphragm vibrates in response to incoming sound waves, the coil moves backwards and forwards past the magnet. This creates a current in the coil which is channeled from the microphone along wires. A common configuration is shown below. Condenser Microphones Condenser means capacitor, an electronic component which stores energy in the form of an electrostatic field. The term condenser is actually obsolete but has stuck as the name for this type of microphone, which uses a capacitor to convert acoustical energy into electrical energy. Condenser microphones require power from a battery or external source. The resulting audio signal is stronger signal than that from a dynamic. Condensers also tend to be more sensitive and responsive than dynamics, making them well-suited to capturing subtle nuances in a sound. They are not ideal for high-volume work, as their sensitivity makes them prone to distort. How Condenser Microphones Work A capacitor has two plates with a voltage between them. In the condenser mic, one of these plates is made of very light material and acts as the diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates when struck by sound waves, changing the distance between the two plates and therefore changing the capacitance. Specifically, when the plates are closer together, capacitance increases and a charge current occurs. When the plates are further apart, capacitance decreases and a discharge current occurs.
A voltage is required across the capacitor for this to work. This voltage is supplied either by a battery in the mic or by external phantom power. Cross-Section of a Typical Condenser Microphone The Electret Condenser Microphone The electret condenser mic uses a special type of capacitor which has a permanent voltage built in during manufacture. This is somewhat like a permanent magnet, in that it doesn't require any external power for operation. However good electret condenser mics usually include a pre-amplifier which does still require power. Other than this difference, you can think of an electret condenser microphone as being the same as a normal condenser. Directional Properties Every microphone has a property known as directionality. This describes the microphone's sensitivity to sound from various directions. Some microphones pick up sound equally from all directions, others pick up sound only from one direction or a particular combination of directions. The types of directionality are divided into three main categories: 1. Omnidirectional Picks up sound evenly from all directions (omni means "all" or "every"). 2. Unidirectional Picks up sound predominantly from one direction. This includes cardioid and hypercardioid microphones (see below). 3. Bidirectional Picks up sound from two opposite directions. To help understand a the directional properties of a particular microphone, user manuals and promotional material often include a graphical representation of the microphone's directionality. This graph is called a polar pattern. Some typical examples are shown below. Omnidirectional Captures sound equally from all directions. Uses: Capturing ambient noise; Situations where sound is coming from many directions; Situations where the mic position must remain fixed while the sound source is moving. Notes: Although omnidirectional mics are very useful in the right situation, picking up sound from every direction is not usually what you need. Omni sound is very general and unfocused - if you are trying to capture sound from a particular subject or area it is likely to be overwhelmed by other noise. Cardioid
Cardioid means "heart-shaped", which is the type of pick-up pattern these mics use. Sound is picked up mostly from the front, but to a lesser extent the sides as well. Uses: Emphasising sound from the direction the mic is pointed whilst leaving some latitude for mic movement and ambient noise. Notes: The cardioid is a very versatile microphone, ideal for general use. Handheld mics are usually cardioid. There are many variations of the cardioid pattern (such as the hypercardioid below). Hypercardioid This is exaggerated version of the cardioid pattern. It is very directional and eliminates most sound from the sides and rear. Due to the long thin design of hypercardioids, they are often referred to as shotgun microphones. Uses: Isolating the sound from a subject or direction when there is a lot of ambient noise; Picking up sound from a subject at a distance. Notes: By removing all the ambient noise, unidirectional sound can sometimes be a little unnatural. It may help to add a discreet audio bed from another mic (i.e. constant background noise at a low level). Bidirectional You need to be careful to keep the sound consistent. If the mic doesn't stay pointed at the subject you will lose the audio. Shotguns can have an area of increased sensitivity directly to the rear. Uses a figure-of-eight pattern and picks up sound equally from two opposite directions. Uses: As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of situations which require this polar pattern. One possibility would be an interview with two people facing each other (with the mic between them
4-What is the role of news anchor? Ans- A news anchor or news presenter is a professional who specializes in presenting news in the broadcast medium. Television, radio, and webcasting news services all use anchors to provide news and commentary. This position is considered extremely high profile, since the person is the face of his or her station. Newscasters often compete for top slots as anchors, and prominent ones may command hefty salaries and other benefits. In the very basic sense, a news anchor simply reads the day's news. Many anchors may also add commentary to their readings, and some act as reporters or journalists, actively seeking out news and writing their own stories. In some cases, this person may conduct interviews or report live from the field for important breaking news. These broadcasts may be recorded or live, depending on the station; if live, an anchor has to be extremely confident and self assured, as there are no re-dos in live broadcasting. 5-Write a short note on Sound mixer. Ans- A sound mixer is a device which takes two or more audio signals mixes them together and provides one or more output signals. The diagram on the right shows a simple mixer with six inputs and two outputs. As well as combining signals, mixers allow you to adjust levels, enhance sound with equalization and effects, create monitor feeds, record various mixes, etc. Mixers come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, from small portable units to massive studio consoles. The term mixer can refer to any type of sound mixer; the terms sound desk and sound console refer to mixers which sit on a desk surface as in a studio setting. Sound mixers can look very intimidating to the newbie because they have so many buttons and other controls. However, once you understand how they work you realise that many of these controls are duplicated and it's not as difficult as it first seems. Applications Some of the most common uses for sound mixers include: Channels Music studios and live performances: Combining different instruments into a stereo master mix and additional monitoring mixes. Television studios: Combining sound from microphones, tape machines and other sources. Field shoots: Combining multiple microphones into 2 or 4 channels for easier recording. Mixers are frequently described by the number of channels they have. For example, a "12-channel mixer" has 12 input channels, i.e. you can plug in 12 separate input
sources. You might also see a specification such as "24x4x2" which means 24 input channels, 4 subgroup channels and two output channels. More channels means more flexibility, so more channels is generally better. Advanced Mixing The diagram below shows how a mixer can provide additional outputs for monitoring, recording, etc. Even this is just scratching the surface of what advanced mixers are capable of.