Operating TV studio equipment can be a fun and creative job. Camera and audio equipment operators and TV control room engineers participate directly in the production of live and taped programming. All television studio equipment is sophisticated, and the technology is continually advancing. Your team should find training for television control room and studio equipment that takes place on the latest equipment.

There are many training possibilities available to learn all about television studio equipment. There are textbooks and how-to guides, self-study courses, college classes and other options. In addition to equipment operation techniques, your staff can learn the basics of TV studio design and other related topics. As you plan your company's training for television control room and studio equipment, remember the following things:

1. You can find valuable books on operating TV studio equipment.

2. Many colleges and school districts offer television studio equipment classes.

3. Sources provide online and other types of video control room training.

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Check out books for training on TV control room equipment

Libraries, college and general book stores carry a variety of books on the operation of TV studio equipment. Your business also can find books from professional video and audio providers. For visual learners, print media can be an excellent introductory step.

I recommend: Start learning all about the lights, cameras and action by reading manuals and books on the operation of video equipment at Video Expert. The books at Real World Audio offer training on audio equipment for studio and field settings.

Take classes on TV studio control room devices

If a school setting with a fully equipped studio will enhance your team's training, there are many possibilities. Your business can find entry-level training at local community colleges and public-access stations. You can learn to manage a control room, television cameras and other sophisticated instruments. Check schedules for availability.

I recommend: Ohlone College is one of many colleges that offers an array of training on equipment for TV studio and control room. Learn skills from directing a television crew to operating switchers and mixers, to running other state-of-the-art video control room devices. Check out the beginner, intermediate, advanced and special classes on TV studio control room equipment offered by FCAC. Similar classes are held at Sound View for Connecticut public access TV.

Find Internet sources of training for television studio equipment

There are several different online opportunities for TV equipment training. TV production educators, equipment manufacturers, and technology providers offer instruction on any and all TV studio equipment. Consider assigning staff to training on different devices.

I recommend: Train your team on the operation of television studio equipment with Digital Classroom. It's hands-on; your staff will produce live or taped TV-quality programs. Learn sound mixing from the experts at PSP Converter. Many TV studios use their converter equipment. Get an introduction to TV studio equipment training from Hi-Tech Enterprises. It offers complete online courses, CDs on all key equipment for group or self study, as well as on-site and in-house classes.

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• •  Regardless of the source of the initial training for television control room and studio equipment, the learning isn't complete without hands-on practice with the equipment. Learners should be able to create satisfactory 'products' with the TV studio equipment.

TV studio equipment powers the delivery of news and entertainment world-wide. Seasoned broadcast engineers know technology progresses rapidly so they must focus on staying up-to-date with industry trends and developments that bring content to life. Since technology is changing so rapidly there are now cost-efficient products that make it possible for small studios to compete in TV studio design. Building a new TV studio control room takes cutting edge technology to stay competitive in the global marketplace, but you don't have to break the bank.

Typical television studio design includes several rooms with each serving a specific purpose. Each room houses TV studio equipment that works in tandem to originate television or video productions. A television studio is generally made up of:

1. Stage or studio floor

2. Gallery or TV studio control room

3. Master control room

4. Make-up or changing rooms

5. TV studio design "Green room" or reception area

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Stage TV studio design for maximum star power

The actual production being recorded takes place on the studio floor or stage. Necessary television studio equipment components would include television control room lighting, cameras, microphones and set decoration.

I recommend: Litepanels, Inc., has introduced their Litepanels Micro, the first professional compact production LED light that uses regular AA batteries. The Micro is ultra efficient, lightweight and cost effective producing 1.5 hours of continuous output from four AA batteries. Iconix Video, Inc., has developed the HD-RH1, the world's smallest professional HD video camera. The camera delivers superb picture quality and a versatility that make it ideal for television broadcasting.

Put it all together in the TV studio control room

The video control room or production control is where the composition of the final program takes place. This room houses the video monitors, mixing console, digital effects devices, special effects generator and camera control units to put everything together.

I recommend: Renegade Labs, Inc., developed a new digital audio mixer called Blue|328. It is designed to meet the demanding audio needs of video producers; this is your dream machine when you need powerful audio mixing technology in a compact package for your video control room. Boland Communications has a premium HDTV LCD monitor for your control room. All of their monitors (no matter what size) have the widest color spread and all-digital 10-bit processing.

Master your production in your TV studio control room

The TV studio control room or master control houses the equipment that makes the production control room work. It is the final stop on the road before the signal is transmitted for broadcast. The connection boxes and circuits for mixers, controls for playback and recording feeds, satellite receivers and camera control units are some of the devices placed in this room.

I recommend: CineForm, Inc., has a direct-to-disk video recorder, Wafian HR-1, that streamlines your workflow. You get Digital master quality in a budget-friendly product that eliminates the need for tape. AVECO Americas Incorporated specializes in exact-fit automation solutions for master control room equipment. Their technology platform allows you to build a system to fit your exact needs - even an out-of-the-box solution for small studios.

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• •  The National Association of Broadcasters annual NABShow is the place to preview cutting-edge strategies in TV studio design and next generation TV studio supplies.

TV stations use special television control room and studio equipment to produce the programs we love to watch. They film in the television studio, the space where programs are staged as the equipment records "the action." Adjacent to the studio is the TV studio control room, where the programs are produced using sophisticated technology. To understand television control room and studio equipment basics, your business needs to have an idea of the devices used in the studio and the control room and what each is used for.

The essential pieces of TV studio equipment are the cameras and microphones. These instruments record the program. In the TV studio control room you'll find monitors, video recorders, audio mixers, a control panel and more. This equipment allows the directors and technicians to "put the program together." As your business collects knowledge about television studio equipment, keep the following things in mind:

1. TV studio design usually allows for two or three cameras and several microphones.

2. The "composition" of the show happens in the TV control room.

3. TV studio control room equipment includes some very unique devices.

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Find out about TV control room equipment

The filming of a television program is managed from the control room. The director communicates with camera, audio and lighting equipment operators and on-air personnel. Signals from the cameras and microphones are fed into the master console in the TV control room. Signals can be mixed with input from other sources, such as videotapes or live feeds from outside the studio.

I recommend: Check out the array of instruments available at the Broadcast Store, including several models of television cameras. Study the information about the microphones and audio-recording devices at Sonic Studios, a leading provider of audio equipment for TV studios.

Identify how TV studio equipment is used

Television studio equipment includes cameras, microphones and lighting. The studio also might have furniture and set decorations. All of these components come in a variety of sizes, models and prices. Check the catalogs of suppliers to learn the essentials about studio equipment.

I recommend: As your team starts accumulating its television control room and studio equipment basics, read the brief descriptions of the studio and the studio control room at Nws9.com. It gives a quick glimpse of how equipment is used. Get advice about choosing, installing and troubleshooting teleprompters at Prompter People through its online guides and how-to videos. You can also purchase prompters and other TV studio equipment from the site.

Learn the inner workings of the video control room

Special equipment for TV studio control rooms also includes devices for special effects. Visual and audio switching instruments electronically or digitally create the effects. Then control room personnel mix all the signals together to craft the television broadcast.

I recommend: Companies such as Adorama provide special effects equipment for television and movie production. Scan the online catalog for a sense of the effects that are possible. Learn all about mixing equipment at MIX. It has loads of information about professional audio and video mixers and related equipment. Check the systems at Aveco for managing video output from one or multiple control rooms.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Television studio design isolates the control room from the studio with sound-proofing and special television control room lighting. The purpose is to make sure control room activities don't interfere with the cameras and microphones in the studio. This creates opportunities for companies in the lighting and sound-proofing businesses.