Amplifiers are one of the most essential components in a variety of audio processing situations, which makes them of special significance when we discuss their use in radio broadcasting.
1. Power amplifiers
Power amplifiers are used whenever we need to raise the strength of the signal high enough to drive a speaker: The larger the speaker, the larger the output required of the power amplifier…and consequently the greater the gain required of the power amplifier. Power amplifiers are often used in live sound situations - concerts, for instance - because the speakers required for the sound to reach a large gathering are very large.
Power amplifiers may or may not have controls of their own, though they commonly have a knob that allows you to control the gain (output). They also usually have connectors for a pair of speakers, and may accept a variety of connector types depending on the specific use they are meant for.
In the radio studio, the power amplifier is usually used to feed the studio monitor speakers. Most often, it is controlled from the mixing desk itself, with the faders of the mixer used to adjust the input (and thereby the output) of the amplifier.
Boss KIT-2 Complete 8 Gauge Amplifier Installation Kit
2. Distribution amplifiers
The distribution amplifier (DA) is a type of amplifier used to keep the strength of the signal constant across a large number of outputs when a single source must feed multiple devices. Just as the pressure of water in a water pipe decreases if it is connected to too many taps, the strength of a signal in the system will fall if the same signal must be given to multiple outputs.
In the radio studio, there are usually a number of different pieces of equipment - and they may all need to be fed the output from a single mixer. (The same mixer may also give an output for the production studio, if the mixer in question is in the broadcast studio - and indeed, even to the voice booth or recording floor.) This means the signal will be greatly diminished if we just split it up electronically and try to feed it to all these devices. This is where the distribution amplifier comes in: The mixer output is fed to the DA, which boosts the strength of the input signal, and feeds it to a number of outputs and thereby solving our problem of lowered signal strength.
In the radio studio, DAs typically have stereo inputs and a number of stereo outputs - often 8 outputs or more - which can then be connected to stereo recording devices and the transmission system. A low cost option would be to keep the entire system mono, and have a DA that has mono inputs and outputs; but these are comparatively rare as an option, since there is very little difference in price for such a setup.
3. Headphone amplifiers
A headphone amplifier is a specialized type of distribution amplifier that is used to connect more than one headphone to the same output. When a programme is being made, or a transmission is taking place, more than one person will often need to listen to the audio output at the same time. Connecting multiple headphones to the same headphone socket would lead to the same situation we saw above: A weak signal that cannot be heard properly over any of the headphones. A headphone amplifier solves this by keeping the output to each pair of headphones constant.
AudioSource AMP-100 2-Channel Bridgeable Stereo Power Amplifier
Headphone amplifiers are often used in on air studios and on recording floors where each of the guests/speakers may be required to have a pair of headphones.
4. Pre-amplifiers
Pre-amplifiers are used to boost the tiny output signals that emerge from many audio devices: Microphones, for instance, have outputs that are hardly a few microvolts strong. Pre-amplifiers boost these outputs to a level where they can be fed to other audio devices.
Pyramid PB717X 1,000-Watt 2-Channel Bridgeable Amplifier
It must be noted that among pre-amplifiers, the ones used for LP players (phonographs or turntables) are a specific subtype that cannot be connected to any other variety of equipment.
1. Power amplifiers
Power amplifiers are used whenever we need to raise the strength of the signal high enough to drive a speaker: The larger the speaker, the larger the output required of the power amplifier…and consequently the greater the gain required of the power amplifier. Power amplifiers are often used in live sound situations - concerts, for instance - because the speakers required for the sound to reach a large gathering are very large.
Power amplifiers may or may not have controls of their own, though they commonly have a knob that allows you to control the gain (output). They also usually have connectors for a pair of speakers, and may accept a variety of connector types depending on the specific use they are meant for.
In the radio studio, the power amplifier is usually used to feed the studio monitor speakers. Most often, it is controlled from the mixing desk itself, with the faders of the mixer used to adjust the input (and thereby the output) of the amplifier.
Boss KIT-2 Complete 8 Gauge Amplifier Installation Kit
2. Distribution amplifiers
The distribution amplifier (DA) is a type of amplifier used to keep the strength of the signal constant across a large number of outputs when a single source must feed multiple devices. Just as the pressure of water in a water pipe decreases if it is connected to too many taps, the strength of a signal in the system will fall if the same signal must be given to multiple outputs.
In the radio studio, there are usually a number of different pieces of equipment - and they may all need to be fed the output from a single mixer. (The same mixer may also give an output for the production studio, if the mixer in question is in the broadcast studio - and indeed, even to the voice booth or recording floor.) This means the signal will be greatly diminished if we just split it up electronically and try to feed it to all these devices. This is where the distribution amplifier comes in: The mixer output is fed to the DA, which boosts the strength of the input signal, and feeds it to a number of outputs and thereby solving our problem of lowered signal strength.
In the radio studio, DAs typically have stereo inputs and a number of stereo outputs - often 8 outputs or more - which can then be connected to stereo recording devices and the transmission system. A low cost option would be to keep the entire system mono, and have a DA that has mono inputs and outputs; but these are comparatively rare as an option, since there is very little difference in price for such a setup.
3. Headphone amplifiers
A headphone amplifier is a specialized type of distribution amplifier that is used to connect more than one headphone to the same output. When a programme is being made, or a transmission is taking place, more than one person will often need to listen to the audio output at the same time. Connecting multiple headphones to the same headphone socket would lead to the same situation we saw above: A weak signal that cannot be heard properly over any of the headphones. A headphone amplifier solves this by keeping the output to each pair of headphones constant.
AudioSource AMP-100 2-Channel Bridgeable Stereo Power Amplifier
Headphone amplifiers are often used in on air studios and on recording floors where each of the guests/speakers may be required to have a pair of headphones.
For more on headphones, see Section B: Loudspeakers & Studio Monitors on Page 190
4. Pre-amplifiers
Pre-amplifiers are used to boost the tiny output signals that emerge from many audio devices: Microphones, for instance, have outputs that are hardly a few microvolts strong. Pre-amplifiers boost these outputs to a level where they can be fed to other audio devices.
Pyramid PB717X 1,000-Watt 2-Channel Bridgeable Amplifier
For more on microphones, see Section B: Microphones on Page 198In many field recorders and mixers, the pre-amplifier is built into the input into which the microphone's output will be connected. It is important for the pre-amplifier to be of good quality, since it boosts the microphone's signal by a large amount (meaning it will also magnify any distortions by a large factor); and because it is the first electronic signal processing unit in the chain (and is therefore responsible for the quality of the signal that will be fed to all parts of the chain of electronics that follows it). A good microphone connected to a bad pre-amplifier can ruin any advantage and quality gained by the quality of the microphone.
It must be noted that among pre-amplifiers, the ones used for LP players (phonographs or turntables) are a specific subtype that cannot be connected to any other variety of equipment.
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