If you are planning on purchasing several audio equipment for your radio broadcasting station or for whatever reason it may be, you should get to know what the available audio equipment is so that you will not make the wrong decisions. Besides that, you will also know what the audio equipment you actually need before purchasing them.
Here are some of the common types of audio equipment in the market:
Audio Cables
Contrary to popular belief, audio cables are one of the important types of audio equipment when it comes to sound design. The type of audio cables can make or break the sound quality too.
The available types of audio cables are:
- Balanced audio cables: These cables usually consist of three wires (cold wire, hot wire and shielding ground wire mesh) which use an XLR connection or TRS (tip ring sleeve). When it comes to large distances, this type of cable would work best.
- Unbalanced audio cables: This type of cable consists of two wires which is a hot wire and a shielding mesh wire. The hot wire is used to transmit signals through short distances whereas the shielding mesh wire is known as a zero point of a signal.
Headphones
Other than hearing any form of audio through the speakers, you can also use headphones! These days, there are so many types of headphones to be used such as for gaming, work or radio broadcasting stations.
Some of the available types of headphones include:
- Closed-back Headphones
- On-Ear Headphones
- Open-back Headphones
- In-Ear Headphones
- Over-Ear Headphones
Try to use a wired headphone because sometimes Bluetooth ones aren’t able to offer the same audio quality due to the signal connection strength.
Preamplifier
To boost the audio electrical signals, a preamplifier, which is an electronic audio equipment, will be used. When recording an audio, there will be some sort of noise interference going on. With the help of a preamplifier, you can improve the overall quality of the sound by eliminating any noise distortion caused by other equipment such as a microphone.
The latest technology of a preamplifier allows you to switch between the microphone signal and the current line within just a switch of a button. You will also have to take note of the audio levels when using a preamplifier as there’s a chance of the audio to be clipped.
Microphones
Microphones are also known as one of the oldest audio equipment around. If you want to record an audio, of course you would need a microphone! Even when you’re at a radio broadcasting or TV broadcast station, there are microphones.
There are three types of common microphones:
- Dynamic Microphones: This type of microphone is usually used when the environment is noisy. One of the best places where these microphones are used is during live concerts.
- Handheld Microphones: A microphone like this can pick up the sounds in the environment well, which makes it a popular option in talent shows or the newsroom.
- Shotgun Microphones: When recording audio or sounds during movies or videos, a shotgun microphone will be used as it is attached to a boom pole. This type of microphone also doesn’t pick up any unwanted sounds caused by the environment.
Audio Analyzers
Audio analyzers is a type of audio equipment that adjusts the gain, noise, level and frequency response of the audio quality. Certain products have particular standards, so with the help of audio analyzers, the quality of the audio can be adjusted accordingly to meet the required specifications.
You can also measure the audio signals to assess for any deficiency such as distortion or interference. A common type of audio analyzer would be the audio precision.
Mixers
Using a mixer helps to blend the various sounds in an audio such as midrange, bass and treble. This helps to mix a few tracks together and flow well to produce a single song. Essentially, mixers help you equalize, position and balance the various audio channels available.
Are you trying to find a company that provides broadcasting equipment or services for your business? Contact QES Malaysia today so you can get advice on which audio equipment you need!