Have you ever wanted to start a radio station but weren’t quite sure where to begin? When you think of a radio studio you may feel overwhelmed by the tons of cables and high-end equipment, but rest assured, you don’t need all of that to get started. In this article, we’re going to show exactly what you need to launch your very own online radio station!
Why start an online radio station?
Radio is one of the oldest mediums to exist and is still incredibly popular to this day. According to Nielson studies, radio reaches 92% of adults in the United States every week. That’s a lot of potential listeners that are waiting to tune in, so why not share what you have to say?
1. Share your passions
Having your own online radio station gives you a platform to share your passion or expertise on any given topic. Whether you opt for a music-based radio station or a specific topic such as sports, true crime, or automobiles, you can be sure that there are other people out there who share the same interests.
2. Reach an international audience
Years ago when only FM/AM radios were available, they were limited to geographical boundaries. Nowadays, thanks to internet radio, you can reach the whole world! By hosting your radio station online, you can be listened to by anyone who has an internet connection. This gives you the chance to reach a much larger audience and interact with people internationally.
Image from Pexels
Reaching a larger audience can also help your radio station in the long run. Not only will it motivate you to see that you are reaching more and more listeners, but it can also help you monetize your radio station. The more people you reach, the more likely you are to obtain interesting sponsor and partnership proposals. By having a larger audience, you can increase the pricing of advertising slots on your station for example.
3. Do it from home
Another huge advantage of online radio is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. This is a huge advantage that will allow so many more people to create a radio station as a hobby. Having the possibility to broadcast from your own home is a real time-saver, as you can manage your radio station after your day at work. You don’t need to worry about driving to and from a studio, or waking up at 5 AM to do your morning shows.
Furthermore, broadcasting from home means there’s no need to spend thousands on having a dedicated radio studio. You can easily create a simple home set-up that will allow you to broadcast from your living room or home office.
With just a few pieces of equipment, you can have everything you need to broadcast great audio quality on your radio station!
What equipment do you need?
It’s completely up to you to decide the type of equipment you want to invest in for your radio station. You can start broadcasting with as little as a computer and a USB microphone, however, for a more professional setup, you may want to invest a bit more. Let’s take a look at everything you’ll need.
1. Computer & Internet connection
The first requirement is a computer and a stable internet connection. Any computer or laptop will do, whether you’re on Windows, MacOS, or Linux. If you’re planning on broadcasting from different locations, you’ll want to opt for a laptop that’s easy to take on the go. On the other hand, if you’re sure that all of your broadcasting will be done from one location, a desktop computer is a great fit. Essentially, it all comes down to your personal preference! You can use a wi-fi connection, although using an ethernet cable can provide more stability.
Remember: If you use a cloud-based solution to host your radio station, your radio station will continue to broadcast even if your computer is switched off.
The choice of your operating system will also depend on which live broadcasting software you prefer to use in order to go live on air.
2. Live broadcasting software
As the name suggests, a live broadcasting software is what will allow you to broadcast live on air on your radio station. This means, speaking in real-time to your listeners. Nowadays there are many solutions available for MacOS, Windows, and Linux, the most popular include:
- BUTT: Free for Windows, MacOS & Linux
- VirtualDJ: Paid license for Windows & MacOS
- Mixxx: Free for Windows, MacOS & Linux
Broadcasting live on your radio station is a great way to create interactions with your listeners, and to provide original content.
3. Broadcasting equipment (Phenyx PTX-10B bundle)
The broadcasting equipment you choose will depend on the kind of setup you want. If you’re just starting your radio station, and are looking for a simple solo-studio setup, then the Phenyx Pro PTX-10B bundle is a fantastic option.
Priced at $109.99, it includes:
USB Interface Audio Mixer
This audio mixer is perfect for live broadcasting! It plugs straight into your PC/Mac via USB and has a built-in professional sound chip to provide a seamless, high-quality experience. The interface has many essential features such as phantom power (48V), 3-band EQ, individual volume knobs for all 3 channels, mute buttons, a volume fader, and much more.
Plus, its small size makes it conveniently portable if you want to broadcast outside of your usual studio setting.
Dynamic microphone
Dynamic microphones are the preferred choice for live audio, as they have a higher gain threshold. You’ll need an XLR cable to connect your microphone to the audio mixer. Luckily, it’s provided in the Phenyx Pro PTX-10B bundle!
Dynamic stereo headphones
Headphones are an essential piece of equipment for any radio host. The most important features to look for in headphones are comfort and sound quality. This pair had been made to be comfortable for long periods of time thanks to an over-ear design and cushioned pads. Plus, the sound quality itself is incredibly clear.
Overall, you’ll have a hard time finding a complete set of equipment for your radio station at this price point.
Hosting provider
The last thing you’ll need in order to create a radio station is a hosting provider. They take care of broadcasting your audio to the internet and make it available for people to listen to thanks to a unique listening link.
RadioKing provides you with an online platform where you can easily manage the content of your radio station thanks to an intelligent media library. Simply upload your content, create your own playlists & programs and schedule them to broadcast automatically. You’ll have access to customizable widgets, such as a radio player, to make your radio station easy to listen to. You can also broadcast live on your radio station at any time thanks to your preferred live broadcasting software.
Conclusion
Starting an online radio station is a great way to share your favorite music or topic discussions with people worldwide. You can create and manage your radio from the comfort of your own home, and obtain great-quality equipment from Phenyx at an incredibly reasonable price!
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