about
During the winter of 2008-09, WSUM 91.7FM, a University of Wisconsin Registered Student Organization vacated it's studio at 602 State St. (above Urban Outfitters) to take up permanent residence on campus on the fourth floor the new University Square building. This move, with the generous support of the Chancellor,has provided WSUM with the opportunity to expand our lab space and re-equip with modern broadcast equipment.
The new facility contains a main studio with a wonderful view to the north and south over the new East Campus Mall. This studio is flanked by a news studio, a producer's studio, a live performance room which doubles as a conference room. Additionally, there is a production studio and three listening rooms. Additional space contains;
- Lobby
- News Room
- Music Library
- Student Management Office
- Staff Offices
- Technical Shop
The chancellor's grant has allowed WSUM to upgrade from the current analog broadcast consoles to modern digital audio mixing consoles. While researching the various brands of digital studio equipment, it became apparent that there was one particular broadcast technology which takes advantage of the very technologies which are the core of DoIT's 21st century network initiative. Axia Audio's Livewire protocol allows WSUM to build a decentralized network of streaming digital audio for all audio sources and destinations. Additionally, Livewire contains an XML based protocol for metadata and General Purpose Input Output [GPIO]. The GPIO is important for such features as activating "OnAir" lights and player control.
In addition to being IP based, the Livewire protocol will eliminate the need for any hardware distribution amplifiers as the network handles the replication of the streams for multiple sources. The process of getting audio on to the network is via a system of "nodes" which are 19" rack mount units containing either digital, analog, or microphone inputs and an ethernet jack. Each node has a set of 8 stereo inputs and outputs and does the job of putting the actual audio into Livewire's RTP/IP protocol. Patching and routing are handled by server software packages (Windows based).
The actual mixer consoles are remote interfaces controlling a "mix engine." The mix engines are rack mount CPU's which run a custom version of Linux and are installed one per console. These mix engines can be located anywhere on the network, and in the case of WSUM, shall be located in the "blinkenlights" rack room at the rear of the station.
Accessing audio shall also be possible beyond the installed nodes. Workstations in the studio can interract with any of the audio on the network by means of software or hardware interfaces. WSUM shall use a Windows software driver on all desktop computers which add virtual audio devices to the Windows environment which can be patched into the master Livewire system. Audio workstations shall use a hardware interface that has the same functionality of 8in 8out stereo pairs on a PCI card. The ASI PCI interface has both Windows and Linux ALSA drivers available.
WSUM will also have access to space on the roof of the tower to mount antennas, which currently includes a Studio to Transmitter Link wireless (950mhz) for transmitting our signal southwest to our transmitter tower in Montrose. Also, this roof space will house antennas for receiving Emergency Broadcasts and off-air monitoring of our own broadcast. WSUM is also planning a T1 dedicated link to the transmitter for program delivery redundancy.
This new facility will be an innovative learning lab for the UW students. The digital nature of the facility will put WSUM in a position to embrace emerging technologies for many years to come. Being IP based, adaptation and expansion of the facility will be much easier than a traditional analog facility. No more running huge trunks of wires through the wall. The new WSUM studio shall be a facility which all at the University of Wisconsin can be proud.