Radio Equipment and Supplies

Make marketing waves with the right radio equipment and supplies
By Lisa Maloney Mobile equipment for radio listeners first appeared in the form of the transistor radio, circa the 1950s. Untold businesses, whether by broadcasting, advertising or simply tuning in for the news, have benefited from radio as a cheap, efficient way of reaching the masses.

While traditional radio broadcasting is still here to stay, internet radio is a strong and viable alternative that offers its own advantages when it comes to publicity, branding and distributing information. If you think traditional radio or internet radio could benefit your business, these steps will help get you started:

1. Sit down with an assistant or a trusted friend and brainstorm which type of radio is right for you and your business. If there's nobody available to use as a sounding board, you may find it helpful to hire a consultant.

2. Once you've decided which type of radio to pursue, make a list of necessities--the radio supplies you can't do without.

3. Lastly, make a list of the radio accessories you want. These are be items that would be nice to have but aren't strictly necessary to get you up and running.

Set up your internet radio equipment

If you've decided that internet radio is right for you, you're just a few simple steps away from hitting the airwaves. At a bare minimum, you'll need a noise canceling microphone that lets you record sound on your computer or a digital voice recorder, plus software to let you broadcast over the internet. If you're interested in broadcasting continuously or reaching a wide audience, you'll probably want to invest in a dedicated server for your internet radio station.
Try:  Pirate Radio is an inexpensive, easy-to-install solution for Windows-based PCs that eliminates the need to have a dedicated radio server. It also lets you network with other broadcasters or listeners using Pirate Radio. This is perfect if you want to make sporadic broadcasts and have a way of letting internet listeners know when and where to tune in. If you're looking for something more powerful and consistent, try Surfer Network Internet Broadcasting.

Remember your traditional radio broadcasting supplies

Internet radio has the ability to reach a world-wide audience or to focus on micro-populations, but traditional radio stations can target specific local demographics. If there's a conspicuous demographic in your community that is being under-represented or under-served by the traditional radio stations in place, you have a niche to fill. Once you're up and running, you can go back and set up simultaneous internet streaming to broaden your reach.
Try:  Erickson Broadcast Sales sells professional radio station equipment including AM/FM transmitters and studio equipment. The Radio Guide Online Classifieds is another resource for both new and used professional radio station equipment.

Snap up the best deals on radio broadcasting accessories

Whether you're running an internet broadcast or traditional radio station, having the right accessories will optimize your performance. You should already have a noise canceling microphone; aside from further sound-proofing of your recording area, your next big buy should be concerned with mixing and editing your broadcasts.
Try:  PCMusicStuff.com offers a wide selection of editing and mixing software for audio files. If you're running a traditional radio broadcast you will need field or studio mixers, and Full Compass is your source.

• If you're a true minimalist, the only internet radio supplies you need are a noise canceling microphone and a voice recorder. With these you can produce a podcast (sound files to be downloaded on demand) and distribute them through your company or personal website, or even directly through e-mail.