Wycombe Radio broadcasts to Wycombe & Amersham General Hospitals, with a studio at both hospitals. Following the rebuilding of Amersham hospital, we are currently fitting out a new studio at Amersham. Prior to the Amersham rebuild, the studios were linked via the hospitals' internal phone system, which did not provide "hi-fi" quality sound between the hospitals, but is adequate for our listeners who hear our service via bed side units with plastic stethoscope type earphones.
The Wycombe Studio is located at the front of Wycombe hospital with access at street level. The accommodation is limited and comprises of a record library and studio. The studio has been in existence since 1967 when Wycombe Radio first went on air.
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| The MBI mixer in the Wycombe Studio |
The Wycombe Studio | The Wycombe Record Library |
The Wycombe studio is equipped with a MBI series 16
mixing desk, 2 CD machines, 2 Sony mini disc players, 2 cassette machines,
2 Technics record decks, 1 triple cart machine with recorder (although not
all carts in use owing to introduction of mini disc), 3 microphones (1
presenter - 2 guests), 1 tuner, 1 reel to reel tape machine, 2 telephone
balancing units, a jackfield, 1 TV and link to Amersham studio.
Amersham hospital is in the final stage of a major
rebuild. The work started in 1998 when the temporary buildings erected in
World War II housing the wards were demolished . As the work progressed
the service of Wycombe
Radio was
reduced at Amersham until the studio at Amersham closed in the summer of
2000. However, with the completion of the new hospital, a new era for
Wycombe
Radio at
Amersham is starting. The exact nature of the service to be provided is
still in the planning stage.
The old Amersham studio was located on the third floor of the
administration / accommodation block at Amersham hospital (with no lift!)
and had been in use since the early 1980s, when the Wycombe
Radio service
was extended to Amersham. The studio complex benefited from spacious
accommodation but was rather cut off from the rest of the hospital and
access could be difficult. A record library, outer studio (which could be
equipped with microphones and talkback) and broadcast studio were
provided. The studio was equipped with a Soundcraft MBI Series 10 mixing
desk, 2 CD machines, 2 Sony mini disc players, 2 cassette machines, 2
Technics record decks, 1 triple cart machine with recorder, 3 microphones
(1 presenter - 2 guests), 1 tuner, 1 telephone balancing unit and link to
the Wycombe studio.
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| It was a long climb to the old Amersham studio - not much fun having to carry OB equipment! | Looking at the old studio from the outer studio | The old record library |
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| The old Amersham studio |
In November 2000, we removed all our equipment from the old studio and moved into the new studio at Amersham. Furniture for the equipment has been installed and new equipment is being acquired. The new studio is on the ground floor and comprises a lobby, studio and anti - room. The record library is housed in the studio.
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| The new Amersham studio is on the ground floor, along a long corridor |
Then along a short corridor |
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| The new Amersham studio, looking through into the anti room | The new Amersham studio, awaiting the installation of equipment |
Wycombe Radio's policy on equipment has been to use where ever possible professional standard equipment for mixing desks, but domestic quality for such items as CD, MD and cassette machines. This is based on the notion that we cannot afford professional CDs etc. and so use domestic quality equipment which lasts surprisingly well and can be replaced at fairly moderate costs. All units have been modified to provide remote start. Our only experience with professional quality CD machines has been disappointing with both machines failing with in six months! (perhaps you would like to guess the make?). We are currently looking at new play out systems using computers.
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| The new Amersham studio, starting to take shape - all we need now are some broadcasters! |