Telephone Calls and the broadcast

WSUM uses a device known as a hybrid codec in order to be able to connect telephone calls to the program. This hybrid, or NX12 does a great job of both making telephone connections sound good and easy to do. With the NX12 hybrid, there is no need to use a handset at all for setting up a caller or making a call. Everything needed to work with the telephone system can be done with the Element Console.

Here is a sample of what the screen will look like when a call is being received by the Element console.

Note that the scribble icon (the graphic above the scribble strip on the fader channel that normally shows the channel number) shows a ring graphic to help you find the fader that is ringing.

Receiving Calls

When a studio line rings, the Element console will automatically see that inbound call and try to get your attention. The first thing the console will do is flash a red box on the status monitor with the phone number of the line ringing as well as the caller ID of the caller coming in. The console will also show a ring icon on the scribble strip at the top of the fader which is connected to the inbound call.

Answer call with console, but NO BROADCAST

On the fader that is ringing, press and hold the TALKBACK button, and then press the PREVIEW button, both on the fader which is ringing. This will answer the call and AUTOMATICALLY turn on the host microphone so that you can speak to the caller. You do not have to turn on the host mic fader to speak to the caller. In fact, you will notice the graphic above the host mic scribble strip change to show that the mic is in talkback mode. Optionally you can just press the PREVIEW button to answer the call, but then you will need to press and hold the TALKBACK button to speak to the caller. Note that if the preview speakers are turned up, you may get a bit of an echo. Put headphones on and turn the speakers down to get around this. When you are done setting the caller up, you can either release them (hang up) by pressing PREVIEW, or you can put the caller on hold by pressing the HOLD button (it is then safe to turn off the preview by pressing the PREVIEW button again). Note the icon box above the scribble strip when the caller is on hold.

Answer call ON THE AIR

When you are ready to put a preview, hold, or ringing caller On The Air, just turn the channel ON like normal and the call will behave as a normal source. Note that there is no automatic talkback at this time. If the caller is on the air, you need your mic on to speak to them. Pressing the OFF button will then hang up the line.

Placing Calls

All functions for placing calls are the same as receiving calls. If the scribble icon shows one dot, the line is ready to make a call. To do this, press and hold TALKBACK, press PREVIEW and release, or turn the channel on and you should get a dial tone. Once you can hear the dial tone, use the keypad on the right hand side of the element console to dial the phone number as if you were using a normal telephone.