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"We now have a way so that all programs are started digitally then played back in digital on the air," said Terry Green, KHSU station manager. The new equipment has improved the sound of the station. Green reported large responses of praise from jazz and classical listeners after the conversion took hold. "We do a lot of programming that inherently has a lot of dynamic range," said Green. The Department of Commerce provides funding for equipment for non-commercial public radio and television. With advice from the department, KHSU's plan has been to start investing in digital equipment one step at a time. This enables the station to use new digital equipment with older analog models while not requiring the purchase of more analog gear. Funding for
the $250,000 spent so far has been obtained through federal grants, Humboldt
State University, and listeners. With respect to the funding from federal
grants, Green said, "It wouldn't have come here without community
listener support." KHSU's mixing console was the first major investment for the project. When the console was added in 1996 it offered superior-sonic characteristics and eliminated all fidelity limitations. A new transmitter then went on the air in 1998. It was designed to operate in analog now and digital in the future. The transmitter was the most expensive piece of equipment needed for the conversion. In 2000 a Mackie Digital 8 Bus console was added to enhance the produced programs at the station. This console added more recording capabilities that team up with the mixing console. By converting analog audio to digital, the Mackie provides an improved sound quality for produced programming and also live in studio performances. The newest addition to KHSU is their digital storage system, added in August. This system offers many new features to the station. All produced programming and live broadcasts can now be recorded and stored on a digital medium. National broadcasts and news reports such as National Public Radio are on the digital storage system for more efficiency. KHSU's main station is on the HSU campus with its smaller counterpart in Crescent City. The main station's broadcast is micro waved to Kneeland where the main transmitter is located. The Kneeland transmitter broadcasts locally and sends the signal out to the station's four outlying transmitters in Crescent City, Ferndale, Garberville, and Willow Creek. The production of pre-recorded radio shows begins with the Mackie console converting the sound to digital. The audio is edited on computer before it is stored on the digital storage system. The broadcast is transmitted digitally to the FM Exciter in Kneeland. The FM Exciter converts the digital audio into analog for FM radio. Once the FCC has determined transmission standards, the FM Exciter will be able to transmit digital audio for FM radio. In operation since 1960, KHSU was the first FM radio station in the California State University system, and one of the first FM radio stations in California. The station currently has 130 volunteers--most are not students. Green said he was fairly new to public radio when he came to KHSU and by working on this project he has learned much more. He says the FCC is currently reviewing field tests to determine what standards will be implemented. The FCC is hoping to have a digital transmission standard in 2002. "It's nice to be further along, I hope the station will continue to grow," said Green. "I like the fact that we can do this here in Humboldt County," Green added most rural places don't have local voices for public radio. Of Green's big dreams for the future he said with smiles, "I would love to put solar panels all over the top of this building and float the station off them."
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