TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNICATION
Radio presents schools with a formidable mosaic of learning opportunities. It presents teachers and learners with complimentary resources and learning experiences. Not only can it support change, it can also extend and improve the range of courses available.The benefits to be gained by having your own radio broadcasting facilities are limitless.
If you are a school, college, university or a community organisation, we have radio equipment packages which are broadly the same as that used by professional broadcasters, just discounted for use in education to get you on air, on budget.
So, what can you do with a school radio station?
A school radio station can be used for numerous things, some of which are highlighted below and as has been mentioned above can be of great benefit to students and teaching staff alike. It's an ideal way to promote learning in an exciting and appealing way.
A pupil playing pre-recorded programmes can keep staff and students informed via lunchtime broadcasts: This can be done via a school intranet on connected PC speakers or through the use of public address speakers placed in key areas throughout the school.
Give students extra teaching via pre-recorded programmes Record your programmes and save them to the hard drive of your PC. Then play them back over the school p.a. or intranet system. Or, play them back over the internet. Students can then access the tutorials after school.
With a portable Radio Studio Package you can hold live debating and chat shows: This can be done with the interviewer and interviewee together in the studio, or you can have classes or schools interacting with the studio via the internet or telephone.
Generate podcasts for the school website. Make your presence, ethos and ideals known. Have regular podcasts to keep staff and students informed.
Promote all areas of learning to pupils and parents. Keep parents informed about new government initiatives and how it will affect the school. Promote special school events on-air live or over the internet.
Build pride in your school. Keep students informed about the progress and status of their school. Encourage them to be a part of the school rather than just an attendee. Give them the oportunity to promote their school to each other in an exciting and interesting way.
Create an enjoyable, inclusive atmosphere. Radio broadcasting requires dedicated team work and can be fun. It can generate an atmosphere where the timid and unassuming find their inner strengths, self worth and self confidence.
Broadcast to the school, the nation, or the world: With an AM or RSL licence the school can broadcast over the air-waves (just like commercial radio stations).
What are the benefits? All of the skills below are transferable and can be used in all walks of life.
Create a new curriculum:
The Myriad Software Suite included in some of our school packages is used in more radio stations in the UK than any other radio software.From small community radios to national broadcasters, stations around the world rely on Myriad for all their broadcastcasting software needs. All of our exclusive School Radio Packages includes more than £7000 worth of Myriad software and offers all the tools and facilities you need to run a full time radio station.What is more because the software we supply isn't restricted or simplified,your students will be using the exact same tools that we supply to the broadcast industry!
Communication skills:
Enhance the students' ability to communicate in writing (i.e. scripts and programmes for broadcasting); confidence in speaking over the air-ways and their ability to communicate with the broadcasting team.
Confidence building:
Give students the opportunity to be in the public eye (or ear). Let them give vent to self expression and on-air debate. By improving speaking and listening skills, motivation, confidence and self-esteem, the use of radio broadcasting in education links in directly to the Every Child Matters agenda
Creative thinking:
Script writing, dramatisation, programme development and effective communication all require a creative mind.
Developing awareness of current affairs:
Broadcasting can enable the students to be aware of current socio-economic and political issues as they research their programme material.
Language development:
Programme writing, story telling develops language skills and the ability to commit thoughts to paper.
Interviewing skills:
Students can develop their interviewing skills as they prepare and deliver questions and answers for their programme.
Journalism skills:
Creative thinking, research, writing and broadcasting can enhance the skills of a budding young journalist.
Research skills:
Broadcasting can encourage students to think deeper about their programming material and to strengthen their research skills for their selected projects.
Teamwork:
What a thrill to be a member of a broadcasting team. Students can learn the benefits of working together in a busy and exciting environment and can plan operation of the studios.
Our school radio partners have been manufacturing radio broadcasting equipment for more than 40 years and are firmly established as one of the leading radio broadcast suppliers in the UK with equipment in almost every radio broadcast studio ie Talksport,Guardian Media Group,UTV,Baucer Radio Group,BBC & BBC World Service,Global Radio Group,Ministry of Sound,ASDA FM plus hundreds more.Too long to list.
Supplying systems to over 400 schools and colleges across the UK .The simple to use, reliable radio studio packages are ideal for use in primary schools, secondary schools, college and university environments and give a true feel for what it’s like to be in a radio station because the equipment is broadly the same as that used by professional broadcasters, just discounted for use in education.
BROADCASTING METHODS
Web Streaming
Web Streaming Streaming is the generic term for transferring audio from one place to another via a data network which is all very dull!
What is not so dull is the possibilities that streaming technology provides school radio projects. Streaming can provide a convenient way of distributing audio around your school network and could be the mechanism used to make your content available to the entire world via the web.
You do not need a broadcast license to stream your radio station (although you will need music licenses) and the technology is easily implemented and is readily available.
In terms of streaming your school radio project, there are two main approaches:
The Pro Audio Streamers are a range of three IP to audio and audio to IP streamers which have professional analogue and digital inputs and outputs. They allow audio to be streamed around a building, wan or lan using IP audio and CAT5 cabling infrastructure. Typical applications include:
The PS-PLAY reads an IP stream and outputs to balanced and unbalanced audio line levels.
The PS-AMP reads an IP stream and outputs audio to stereo speakers.
What is not so dull is the possibilities that streaming technology provides school radio projects. Streaming can provide a convenient way of distributing audio around your school network and could be the mechanism used to make your content available to the entire world via the web.
You do not need a broadcast license to stream your radio station (although you will need music licenses) and the technology is easily implemented and is readily available.
In terms of streaming your school radio project, there are two main approaches:
- Streaming Around Your School Network - This enables PC's and other devices within your network to listen to your broadcasts.
- Streaming On The Web - This allows anyone outside of your school to listen via a PC or other device.
The Pro Audio Streamers are a range of three IP to audio and audio to IP streamers which have professional analogue and digital inputs and outputs. They allow audio to be streamed around a building, wan or lan using IP audio and CAT5 cabling infrastructure. Typical applications include:
- For distribution of audio (teaching aids) and music around a building, such as for passing audio to speakers in a conference/lecture or class room.
- As an internet-based IP music distribution system.
- As a tannoy, paging or IP based public address system in a school or college.
- For in-house audio applications and distribution.
- For streaming internet radio in schools and colleges.
- For radio, music and teaching channels in class rooms distributed via an IP network.
- For playing audio from a PC, a jukebox application, or from a USB stick.
The PS-PLAY reads an IP stream and outputs to balanced and unbalanced audio line levels.
The PS-AMP reads an IP stream and outputs audio to stereo speakers.
Installing Speakers Around Your School
Installing Speakers Around Your School Installing speakers in key areas of your school is the most traditional way of creating a School Radio system.
Speakers can be installed in classrooms, corridors, dining areas, common rooms and even outside in the playground but the problem has always been that installing a speaker system can be very expensive and disruptive to the school.
Luckily, times have moved on and technology now allows you to use your existing IT network to distribute audio around your school meaning that speakers can be fitted anywhere where there is power and a network point.
Here is how it works.
The output of your School Radio studio is encoded into a digital format (such as Windows Media) by some special software that we can run on your Studios Myriad PC.
The encoded audio stream is then pushed to one of your existing Windows servers that we can then configure to re-distribute the audio around your network. If you do not have a Windows Server at the school that we can use then there is an alternative but it is a little more 'techy'.
This encoded audio stream is then available to any device in your school that can play an encoded stream via a media player (so that is all PC's and MACs as well as interactive whiteboards etc).
In areas where you want speakers fitting, we use a hardware decoder box (called a Barix) to decode the audio and amplify it to the correct level. Then all we have to do is fit the speakers to the wall and connect them up to the decoder box.
We can fit both internal and external speakers so if you wanted to have your School Radio station available in a portion of the playground then as long as there is a room near by with a network point then we can sort that out for you.Once the internal network streaming is setup, any PC or device connected to your network can listen to it and unlike Web Streaming, because it is all done on your own equipment, there is no additional costs (other than music licensing but you will need that regardless of technology). So the only costs would be the physical costs of buying and installing the decoder boxes and speakers.
It would not normally be possible for people outside of the School to access these streams because of security issues which is why we also offer WEB STREAMING packages.Contact us for more information.
Speakers can be installed in classrooms, corridors, dining areas, common rooms and even outside in the playground but the problem has always been that installing a speaker system can be very expensive and disruptive to the school.
Luckily, times have moved on and technology now allows you to use your existing IT network to distribute audio around your school meaning that speakers can be fitted anywhere where there is power and a network point.
Here is how it works.
The output of your School Radio studio is encoded into a digital format (such as Windows Media) by some special software that we can run on your Studios Myriad PC.
The encoded audio stream is then pushed to one of your existing Windows servers that we can then configure to re-distribute the audio around your network. If you do not have a Windows Server at the school that we can use then there is an alternative but it is a little more 'techy'.
This encoded audio stream is then available to any device in your school that can play an encoded stream via a media player (so that is all PC's and MACs as well as interactive whiteboards etc).
In areas where you want speakers fitting, we use a hardware decoder box (called a Barix) to decode the audio and amplify it to the correct level. Then all we have to do is fit the speakers to the wall and connect them up to the decoder box.
We can fit both internal and external speakers so if you wanted to have your School Radio station available in a portion of the playground then as long as there is a room near by with a network point then we can sort that out for you.Once the internal network streaming is setup, any PC or device connected to your network can listen to it and unlike Web Streaming, because it is all done on your own equipment, there is no additional costs (other than music licensing but you will need that regardless of technology). So the only costs would be the physical costs of buying and installing the decoder boxes and speakers.
It would not normally be possible for people outside of the School to access these streams because of security issues which is why we also offer WEB STREAMING packages.Contact us for more information.
We spent ages looking for a mixer that offered a range of key features, was easy to understand, was easy to use and represented great value for money.
We couldn't find one so we designed our own!P Squared are proud to introduce The SRM. A low cost, simple broadcast mixer specifically designed to provide the features that schools, colleges and community radio need without all the complicated jargon or pointless functionality.
Our aim was to design a mixer that novice users would not be intimidated by. We minimised the amount of knobs & buttons and replaced any industry jargon with simple labels that everyone could use.
We then looked at additional features that help to address problems that small stations
often have. The built in telephone interface and headphone volume limiting are just two examples of this approach.
Finally we looked at how we could make the overall user experience complete by integrating The SRM with our professional Myriad Playout software, blurring the line between broadcast software and the physical mixing desk.
The net result is a simple, user friendly and feature rich broadcast mixing solution designed especially for schools, colleges and community broadcasters using the Myriad Playout system.
Music & Jingles
We offer a music download service exclusively for our educational customers. This service allows you to download a set amount of high quality music with additional downloads charged at a low rate per track.
We also offer a professional jingle package service.
We couldn't find one so we designed our own!P Squared are proud to introduce The SRM. A low cost, simple broadcast mixer specifically designed to provide the features that schools, colleges and community radio need without all the complicated jargon or pointless functionality.
Our aim was to design a mixer that novice users would not be intimidated by. We minimised the amount of knobs & buttons and replaced any industry jargon with simple labels that everyone could use.
We then looked at additional features that help to address problems that small stations
often have. The built in telephone interface and headphone volume limiting are just two examples of this approach.
Finally we looked at how we could make the overall user experience complete by integrating The SRM with our professional Myriad Playout software, blurring the line between broadcast software and the physical mixing desk.
The net result is a simple, user friendly and feature rich broadcast mixing solution designed especially for schools, colleges and community broadcasters using the Myriad Playout system.
- User friendly broadcast mixer
- Clear, simple layout with no jargon
- Designed for school & community radio
- Nine multi-function channel mixer
- Built in telephone interface
- Built in headphone volume limiter
- Large, simple LED volume display
- Remote output for fader starts
- Speaker muting when 'Mics' are on
- External mic-light switching output
- 'Program' and 'record' outputs
- 'Aux' input for iPod or MP3 players
- Four microphone/line channels
- Four Myriad channels
- Switchable telephone/AUX channel
- Connects to Myriad via USB cable
- Start buttons for Myriad Cart Players
- Channel lights show Myriad Cart status
- Rack or flush mountable
- Guest headphone 'talkback'
- Reliable, low cost mixing solution
Music & Jingles
We offer a music download service exclusively for our educational customers. This service allows you to download a set amount of high quality music with additional downloads charged at a low rate per track.
We also offer a professional jingle package service.
The SR3 was designed specifically to cater for schools that wanted the convenience of a fixed School Radio studio combined with the flexibility of a portable solution.
The SR3 is a complete, self contained School Radio studio. Wheel it in, switch it on and you are ready to make great radio.
It comes equipped with an SRM mixer, 3 x Myriad software licenses, rackmount PC, 22" touch screen, Myriad control keyboard, MP3 recorder, dual MP3 player, 2 x microphones (with articulated arms), integrated 'mic live' light and all the other studio equipment that you need.
It is also fully secure with all equipment being housed in lockable draws or cupboards.
The SR3 is a complete, self contained School Radio studio. Wheel it in, switch it on and you are ready to make great radio.
It comes equipped with an SRM mixer, 3 x Myriad software licenses, rackmount PC, 22" touch screen, Myriad control keyboard, MP3 recorder, dual MP3 player, 2 x microphones (with articulated arms), integrated 'mic live' light and all the other studio equipment that you need.
It is also fully secure with all equipment being housed in lockable draws or cupboards.
Key Package Features:
- SRM 9 Channel Audio Mixer
- 3 x Professional Myriad Software Licences (can be installed on up to 3 PC's)
- Unique Portable Plus Studio Solution
- Rackmount PC & Multi Channel Soundcard
- 22" Wide Screen Touch Screen
- K500 Myriad Control Keyboard
- Built In Telephone Interface For Receiving & Recording Telephone Calls*
- 2 x Microphones
- 2 x Articulated Mic Arms
- 2 x Headphones
- Stereo Powered Speakers
- Integrated 'Mic Live' Light
- Solid State MP3 Player / Recorder
- Dual MP3 (SD) Player
- Choice Of Colours
- Includes On Site Delivery**, Installation & Training
- Two Years Office Hours Support
- 12 Months Free Web Streaming (PPL and PRS Licenses may be required)
The SR2 is our fully portable School Radio studio. It offers all the benefits of a traditional broadcast radio studio but with the flexibility to pack the whole lot away in to some flightcases and boxes for transport or storage.
The SR2 includes the SRM mixer, 3 x Myriad software licenses, a 22" touch screen, Myriad control keyboard and a solid state MP3 player/recorder. It also has three microphones and includes onsite installation and training.
Key Package Features:
The SR2 includes the SRM mixer, 3 x Myriad software licenses, a 22" touch screen, Myriad control keyboard and a solid state MP3 player/recorder. It also has three microphones and includes onsite installation and training.
Key Package Features:
- SRM 9 Channel Audio Mixer
- 3 x Professional Myriad Software Licences (can be installed on up to 3 PC's)
- Light Weight Mixer & Rack Equipment Flightcases
- Rackmount PC & Multi Channel Soundcard
- 22" Wide Screen Touch Screen
- K500 Myriad Control Keyboard
- Built In Telephone Interface For Receiving & Recording Telephone Calls*
- 3 x Microphones & Stands (1 x articulated and 2 x desktop)
- 3 x Headphones
- Stereo Powered Speakers
- Table Top 'Mic Live' Light
- Solid State MP3 Player / Recorder
- Includes On Site Delivery**, Installation & Training
- Two Years Office Hours Support
- 12 Months Free Web Streaming (PPL and PRS Licenses may be required
The SR4 is a comprehensive, fixed School Radio studio package featuring a modern, contemporary studio furniture design and a full compliment of broadcast studio features.
The SRM is at the heart of the pack and comes complete with 3 x Myriad software licenses, 22" touch screen enabled PC and Myriad control keyboard. There is also an MP3 recorder and dual MP3 player.
The SR4 also includes four microphones making it ideal for talk based programmes and drama. Like all the studios in the SR range, the SR4 includes onsite installation and training, streaming and two years technical support.
Key Package Features:
The SRM is at the heart of the pack and comes complete with 3 x Myriad software licenses, 22" touch screen enabled PC and Myriad control keyboard. There is also an MP3 recorder and dual MP3 player.
The SR4 also includes four microphones making it ideal for talk based programmes and drama. Like all the studios in the SR range, the SR4 includes onsite installation and training, streaming and two years technical support.
Key Package Features:
- SRM 9 Channel Audio Mixer
- 3 x Professional Myriad Software Licences (can be installed on up to 3 PC's)
- Unique SR4 Studio Furniture
- Rackmount PC & Multi Channel Soundcard
- 22" Wide Screen Touch Screen
- K500 Myriad Control Keyboard
- Built In Telephone Interface For Receiving & Recording Telephone Calls*
- 4 x Microphones
- 4 x Mic Stands (inc 1 x articulated arm)
- 4 x Headphones
- Stereo Powered Speakers
- Integrated 'Mic Live' Light
- Solid State MP3 Player / Recorder
- Dual MP3 (SD) Player
- Choice Of Colours
- Includes On Site Delivery**, Installation & Training
- Two Years Office Hours Support
- 12 Months Free Web Streaming (PPL and PRS Licenses may be required)
Key Features:
- Traditional 'Ash' Finish Studio Furniture
- TR1 - Sonifex S2 Modular Analogue Mixing Desk or
- DR1 - Axia Radius Digital Mixing Desk
- 3 x Myriad Software Licenses
- 22" Touchscreen Enabled Rackmount PC
- Myriad Control Keyboard
- Dual MP3 Players
- MP3 Recorder
- Audio Processor
- 2 x Microphones & Articulated Arms
- Clock & On Air Light
- Speakers & Headphones
- Onsite Installation & Training**
- 12 Months Streaming (may require PPL and PRS music licenses)
- Two Years Office Hours Support
The SR1 is our entry level School Radio studio package. It contains all the audio equipment and software that you will need to launch your School Radio station and because it is a Table Top studio, you can install it in minutes just about anywhere.
Key Package Features:
Key Package Features:
- SRM 9 Channel Audio Mixer
- 3 x Professional Myriad Software Licences (can be installed on up to 3 PC's)
- Table Top Plus Furniture Including Locking Lid (choice of colours)
- Rackmount PC & Multi Channel Soundcard
- 22" Wide Screen Monitor
- K500 Myriad Control Keyboard
- Built In Telephone Interface For Receiving & Recording Telephone Calls*
- 2 x Microphones With Desktop Mic Stands
- 2 x Headphones
- Stereo Powered Speakers
- Table Top 'Mic Live' Light
- Includes On Site Delivery**, Installation & Training
- Two Years Office Hours Support
- 12 Months Free Web Streaming (PPL and PRS Licenses may be required
TR2 & DR2 Key Features:
- Large 'L' Shaped Traditional 'Ash' Finish Studio Furniture
- TR2 - Large Sonifex S2 Modular Analogue Mixing Desk
- DR2 - Axia Radius Digital Mixing Desk
- 3 x Myriad Software Licenses
- 22" Touchscreen Enabled Rackmount PC
- Myriad Control Keyboard
- Telephone Interface For Receiving & Recording Telephone Calls*
- Dual MP3 Players
- MP3 Recorder
- Audio Processor
- 3 x Upgraded Microphones & Articulated Arms
- Clock & On Air Light
- Distribution Amplifier
- Upgraded Speakers
- 3 x Headphones
- Headphone Distribution Amp
- Onsite Installation & Training**
- 12 Months Streaming (may require PPL and PRS music licenses)
- Two Years Office Hours Support