Bay FM presenters and station volunteers recently gathered to celebrate the new fit-out of Studio 1!
Bay FM is based in Byron Bay & the Northern Rivers on Bundjalung nation, New South Wales. Broadcasting since 1992, the station has been running on its well-loved desks and mixing consoles that have been gradually falling apart in more recent years.
Following a series of transmission issues – from dead air, inaudible guests to glitches in sponsorship messages – the station eventually made the call to go digital. However, attempts to launch a fundraiser for urgent studio upgrades were eventually interrupted by floods and natural disasters in 2022. During this time, presenters continued to operate and provide essential updates to the community, despite inadequate resources.
With the recent assistance of CBF grant funding, the station’s new state-of-the-art broadcast setup in Studio 1 comes as an enormous step-up following the station’s long battle with unreliable analogue equipment.
Now, Bay FM’s new Studio 1 desk takes over from the analogue one installed nearly two decades ago. It can be pre-programmed for various inputs such as live vinyl DJs and phone interviews. ‘On Air’ lights up in red whenever any of the mics are now open. Amongst the suite of upgrades includes Rode microphones on agile manoeuvrable arms, featuring headsets for presenters and up to three guests or co-hosts. Broadcasters can now go on-air standing or sitting, unlike previously where the static mics required everyone to sit.
Bay FM President Ange Kent explained that the new equipment means presenters can present their content with confidence and also handle outside broadcasts. They can reliably broadcast critical updates and be a communication resource to Emergency Services within the region, whenever danger strikes. In addition, the station can now properly accommodate for non-technical trainee broadcasters from under-represented groups, as well as guests, musicians, artists and other community voices. Studio Two is next in focus for the station!
Bay FM were a recipient under CBF’s Round 1 Development & Operations Grant 2023/24. A total of $80,000 in funding was granted to replace and install new broadcast equipment in Studio 1.
You can listen to Bay FM on 99.9 FM, via www.bayfm.org or on the Community Radio Plus App.
[Photo: Cable installations at Bay FM on Bundjalung Country in Byron Bay, New South Wales]