Station Manual

8/9/2019 Station Manual

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WRVU Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Process for Selecting DJs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Station Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Control Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The Playlist Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Autorotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

The Delay Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Microphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Broadcast Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Equipment Malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

On-Air Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Show Format and Rotation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Obscenities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Station ID and PSAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Professionalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Conflicts of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Answering the Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

In-Studio Guests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Holidays and Breaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Programming a CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Inside WRVU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Door Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Mailboxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Station Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Music Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Production Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Vandalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Food and Drink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Housekeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

WRVU Executive Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

The Training Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Operations from Studio C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Recording a Phone Interview from Studio C . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Recording Video from Studio C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26


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WRVU MISSION STATEMENTWRVU is a free-format college radio station committed to providing Vanderbilt University and the

surrounding community with the best in new, non-mainstream music.

All WRVU DJs are expected to know and abide by this mission statement. While DJs are given a great

degree of freedom as to the artists and genres broadcast during shows, the emphasis should be

placed on non-mainstream music. Non-mainstream refers to music not currently found on top-40

charts in any genre, as well as music that is underrepresented on other Nashville radio stations and

national television channels such as MTV. This is done to expose DJs, other Vanderbilt students, and

the Nashville community to music that would otherwise not be heard.

In order to fulfill this mission, WRVU has compiled a music library of thousands of vinyl albums and

CDs acceptable for airplay. Additionally, most DJs are expected to play a certain number of new

releases during their shows each week. After gaining sufficient experience and demonstrating

superior broadcasting ability, some DJs may be given more freedom over their playlists. All playlists

are monitored, and the Program Director will notify those who fail to meet the expectations set forth

by the mission statement.

The station mission is not meant to discourage anyone from applying to become a DJ. However,

those that listen primarily to popular or mainstream music should listen to WRVU on a regular basis to

become more familiar with artists acceptable for airplay and to broaden their own musical horizons.

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PROCESS FOR SELECTING DJsAll Vanderbilt University students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members are eligible to

apply for status as WRVU DJs. After successful completion of the training process (see page 19), DJs

may apply for a regular weekly show time. Applications are due to the Program Director during the

scheduling meeting held at the beginning of every spring, summer, and fall semester.

The priority list for assigning radio shows is as follows:

1. Undergraduate students

2. Graduate students

3. Alumni

4. Faculty/Staff

5. Community members

Other merit-based considerations for awarding shows include training exam scores, DJ attendance,

quality of broadcasts, adherence to station policies, and participation in WRVU special events. Because

there are often more DJs requesting shows than can be accommodated, not all DJs will be awarded a

show each semester.

The ability to broadcast on WRVU is a privilege. As such, it is important to read, understand, and

follow all the policies discussed in this manual. The General Manager reserves the right to temporarily

suspend or revoke the privileges of any DJ found in violation of WRVU policies, especially those

pertaining to FCC regulations. This is done to protect WRVU from losing its broadcasting license.

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STATION EQUIPMENTThe Control Board: Along with the transmitter, the control board is one of the most important pieces

of equipment at the station. The control board consists of a series of channels, each connected to a

piece of audio equipment. The four microphones, two CD players, two minidisk players, two computer

jacks, one cassette player, one CD burner, one vinyl mixer, one phone line, and autorotation have each

been assigned a channel and are labeled accordingly. Channels may be broadcast by pressing the red

ON switch and adjusting the volume fader.

It is possible to preview music through the control board speaker before broadcasting. To do this, the

DJ should press the yellow CUE button located towards the top of the desired channel, making sure

not to press the red ON button. Any activity on the selected piece of audio equipment will then be

heard through the control board speaker instead of being broadcast.

On the far right of the control board are four volume knobs. CR controls the volume of the control

room speakers. HDPN controls the volume of the headphones plugged in to the control board.

STUDIO controls the volume of any headphones plugged in to the black headphone box behind the

board. CUE controls the volume of the control board speaker.

The Playlist Tracker:The Playlist Tracker is used to record a list of all music broadcast on WRVU.

Before beginning a show, the DJ must login on the Playlist Tracker by including name and show name

as well as verifying that the transmitter log has been signed and that the PSA binder has been checked

(see page 9).

By law, WRVU is required to report artist, track title, album, and label on its playlists as each track is

being broadcast. These fields should never be left blank. Any unknown information should be found

online, preferably before the show begins. Singles may be marked as Single under album title.

Self-released albums may be marked as Self-Released under label, and albums with no label may

be marked with Label Unavailable. If a track is played from rotation, the field labeled NR should

be filled with either 1, 2, or L depending on whether the track came from primary, secondary, or

local rotation (see page 8 for more on rotation requirements). Reporting genre is optional. The boxes

labeled R and VA may be checked if the track is a request or if it is from a compilation album by

various artists.

At the discretion of the DJ, station IDs, PSA and promo reads, and concert calendar announcements

(see page 9) may be entered onto the Playlist Tracker. These entries may be selected from the box

labeled Housekeeping on the Playlist Tracker.

If an error has been made in reporting a track, the DJ may click on the paper icon next to a reported

track to edit information. A track may be removed from the playlist by clicking the X next to it.

Selecting Queue places track information into a queue rather than reporting it. Once the track has

been played, it may be reported by clicking the green check mark next to the track. Tracks cannot be

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removed from the queue, but it is still possible to logout even if some tracks remain in the queue.

At the end of a show, the DJ should logout of the Playlist Tracker. If another DJ is taking over, select

Just End The Show, which will cause the login screen to reappear. If there is no DJ following the show,

select End The Show and Put On The Autorotation. This will create a playlist for tracks played from

autorotation (see below).

Finally, if the Playlist Tracker is not working, the DJ should create a paper copy of the playlist, taking

care to include all the information usually entered on the computer. At the end of the show, the

playlist should be left in Program Directors mailbox.

Autorotation:Affectionately known as DJ HAL, autorotation allows WRVU to continue broadcastingmusic when there is no DJ present in the station. Autorotation consists of thousands of digital music

files, stored on a remote computer, that are randomly selected for radio play once autorotation is

activated on the control board. Prerecorded station IDs and public service announcements are also

included.

Autorotation should be turned on when there is no scheduled DJ or when equipment malfunctions

make it impossible to broadcast a live show. To turn on autorotation, the DJ must turn on the

autorotation channel on the control board and select End The Show and Put On The Autorotation on

the Playlist Tracker. These two actions should be done simultaneously, as autorotation will not work

until both have been done. Autorotation may be turned offby turning offthe channel and signing

into the Playlist Tracker.

The Delay Machine: Located at the top of the right-hand tower in the control room, the delay

machine creates a three-second delay between the activity in the studio and what is actually heard

by the audience. This acts as a safeguard should any obscenities inadvertently be played by the DJ. If

an obscenity is heard over the control room speakers, the DJ has three seconds to press the button

labeled DELETE. Once pressed, this button will prevent the past three seconds of studio activity from

being broadcast. Instead listeners will hear silence, but even this is preferable to obscene language

which could jeopardize the stations broadcasting license.

Also on the delay machine is a button labeled BYPASS. This button removes the three-second delay

and should therefore never be pressed.

Microphones: Four microphones are provided in the control room for use by the DJs and guests,

including musical performers. When microphones are turned on, the control room speakers are

automatically silenced to prevent feedback. The DJ should therefore listen to the broadcast through

headphones to make sure all music and voices are audible.

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The microphones are extremely sensitive, so it is important for the DJ to speak clearly during talkbreaks, keeping within one to three inches of the microphone. Also, extraneous noises (e.g. shuffling

papers, smacking lips, moving the microphone, etc.) should be kept to a minimum.

Broadcast Levels: Broadcast levels are shown by the volume needles labeled PROGRAM and

AUDITION at the top of the control board. These levels should stay near the middle of the range. If

the needles consistently spike into the red, the volume should be turned down on the board.

Equipment Malfunctions: Equipment malfunctions should be reported to the VSC Advisor and

General Manager via e-mail. The DJ should also notify the staffthrough the WRVU staffmailing list

([email protected]) and by leaving a note on the whiteboard in the control room.

The DJ should try to circumvent the problem by using other equipment or by broadcasting from the

production room. If this is not possible, autorotation should be turned on until the problem can be

fixed. If autorotation is also not working, the DJ should turn offthe transmitter and leave a note for

the next DJ.

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ON-AIR POLICIESAttendance:It is expected that all DJs be in attendance and on time for their shows every week.

Those DJs unable to attend a show should e-mail the WRVU stafflist at least 24 hours in advance to

find a replacement. In extreme circumstances, this may not be possible. In that case, the DJ should

e-mail the Program Director with a reason for the absence. DJs arriving late should call the station to

inform the on-air DJ. Habitual absence or tardiness may result in disciplinary action.

Show Format and Rotation Requirements: In an effort to fulfill WRVUs mission, most DJs are

required to play an assigned number of new releases each week. Known collectively as rotation,

these are new CDs reviewed by WRVU DJs and available on the shelf in the control room. Rotation is

separated into the following three categories:

1. Primary Rotation Denoted by a blue dot on the spine, primary rotation consists of

roughly 50 new releases in a variety of genres acceptable for radio play. These are

labeled with a 1 in the Playlist Tracker.

2. Secondary Rotation Denoted by a red dot on the spine, secondary rotation

consists of older WRVU favorites. These are labeled with a 2 in the Playlist Tracker.

3. Local Rotation Denoted by a black dot on the spine, local rotation consists of new

releases by local artists. These are labeled with an L in the Playlist Tracker.

Depending on DJ knowledge and experience, different types of shows are awarded, each with

associated rotation requirements, also known as K requirements. There are four different types of

shows:

1. Debut Given to all new DJs and DJs that failed to fulfill rotation requirements the

previous semester. Requirements: 7 Ks per hour, including at least 4 from primary

rotation and at least 1 from local rotation.

2. General Rotation Given to the majority of DJs. Requirements: 5 Ks per hour,

including at least 3 from primary rotation and 1 from local rotation.

3. Specialty Rotation Given to DJs interested in exploring a specific genre of music.

Requirements: 3 Ks per hour, including at least 2 from primary rotation.

4. Specialty Show Given to DJs with a superb demonstrated knowledge of a specific

and underexposed genre. Requirements: None.

Finally, the FCC states that no artist is to have multiple tracks played during the same hour (this rule

does not apply to in-studio performances). Besides these requirements, DJs are given the freedom

to play whatever they choose, keeping in mind the station mission. If there is doubt as to whether a

certain artist or track may be played, the DJ should consult with the Program Director.

Obscenities:The FCC loosely defines obscenity as anything sexual or excretory in nature. As such, the

following seven words are explicitly forbidden from broadcast: Shit, Fuck, Tit, Piss, Cunt, Motherfucker,

and Cocksucker. In addition, WRVU must adhere to community standards during broadcast. This

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means that all foul language, including racially-, sexually-, and religiously-off

ensive material, isbarred from broadcast. Any DJ that knowing plays or uses such language on the air faces immediate

expulsion. Again, if there is doubt as to whether a certain track is appropriate, the DJ should consult

with the Program Director.

Station ID and PSAs:By law, every radio station in the country must have a station ID at the top of

every hour. The station ID for WRVU is WRVU Nashville. These exact words should be said by the DJ

or played on disc within two minutes of the hour.

In keeping with the FCC charge to serve the public good, WRVU expects all DJs to read or play public

service announcements (PSAs) at 20 and 40 minutes past each hour. Written PSAs are found on index

cards in the control room, and recorded PSAs are found on marked CDs and minidisks. Promotional

announcements for other WRVU shows should also be read at these times. Show promos are keptwith the PSAs. PSAs and promos should be reported on the PSA log found in the control room.

To help generate revenue for the station, the PSA/Underwriting Director will occasionally assign shows

paid PSAs or underwriting announcements. These are updated weekly and kept in a binder in the

control room. Before beginning a show, the DJ should check the binder to see if any announcements

have been assigned. If so, they should be read at the listed time. After reading, the DJ should sign in

the appropriate place in the binder. Also, DJs should read any missed announcements from earlier

in the week, making sure to include the date, time, and show during which the announcement was

actually made. If assigned, paid PSAs and underwriting may be used in place of ordinary PSAs. They

should also be reported on the PSA log.

The Promotions Director maintains a calendar of upcoming events on the WRVU website, also known

as the concert calendar. The concert calendar for the coming week should be read from the computer

at 30 minutes past every hour. DJs may submit concert information to the Promotions Director for

inclusion on the concert calendar.

In order to memorize when announcements must be made, many DJs find it helpful to refer to the

Peace Clock given below:

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Advocacy/Promotional Speech & Professionalism Policy: Persons involved with WRVU maynot utilize station resources, including but not limited to air-time, to advocate for or promote any

particular cause or organization. For example, if you are a member of the NRA, you may not use

air-time to advocate for that organization, rally others to join the organization, or incite calls to

action for any matter related to a specific cause. You also may not use other station resources, such

as the production room, printers, or staffemail lists, to advocate for or promote a particular cause

or organization. Advocacy/Promotional Speech differs from perspective broadcasting, in that a talk

show may have a particular perspective (such as former WRVU programs Vandy Right Radio and

Liberadio, both of which were political talk shows) and they may engage in discussions that illuminate

that perspective, but they may not encourage listeners to join or advocate in favor of the Tea Party,

Republican Party, Democratic Party, Libertarian Party, etc.

As previously outlined in the WRVU Handbook under Professionalism: Talk breaks should be kept

professional. Besides the required station IDs and PSAs, DJs are encouraged to provide pertinentinformation about their show or about the artists and tracks being played. However, music should

always be the focus, and talk breaks should never last more than a few minutes.

DJs are expected to comply with FCC laws regarding obscenity. The DJ should never make disparaging

remarks about listeners, other DJs, other radio stations, or required PSAs. Editorializing and other

frivolous language are also to be avoided. If equipment malfunction is affecting broadcast, the DJ may

acknowledge technical difficulties on the air but should never complain about equipment during talk

breaks. Broadcasts are monitored by members of the executive staff. DJs whose talk breaks become

unprofessional will be notified by the Program Director.

Conflicts of Interest:By law, DJs are prohibited from receiving compensation from record labels,

promotions companies, or other businesses whose artists or products are mentioned on the air.

This includes cash, gifts, or anything else that could be construed as a bribe. Furthermore, DJs are

prohibited from promoting artists or businesses in which the station or its staffmembers have a

financial interest. In particular, DJs may not issue calls to action which request action on the part

of the listener (e.g. saying go to this show Friday night), nor may the prices of any products be

mentioned, including concert tickets.

These guidelines are admittedly ambiguous. DJs are encouraged to give away promotional items

on the air, but these must always be cleared with the Promotions Director beforehand. If there is

some doubt as to whether something is acceptable under these guidelines, the DJ should consult the

Promotions Director, Station Manager, or StaffAdviser.

Answering the Phone:The phone is to be answered WRVU. Often the caller will want to requesta song for airplay. In case of a request, the DJ should take down the name of the artist and song,

promise the caller to try and play it, and then look for the song in the music library or on the digital

music archive. If it is found and is free of obscene language, it should be played.

Occasionally a caller will want to comment on the program or request more information about the

station. The DJ should try to answer any questions. It is a good idea to refer the caller to the WRVU

website for questions about recent playlists or show information. More specific questions may need

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to be directed to a member of the executive staff

, in which case the DJ should give the caller the staff

members name and e-mail address.

On rare occasions a caller may want to file a complaint. The DJ should politely listen to the complaint

and then refer the caller to the General Manager. The DJ may give out the General Managers name,

office hours, office phone number, and e-mail address. The DJ should also notify the General Manager

of the complaint.

It is important to remain professional and courteous to all callers. The DJ should never mock or

criticize callers on the phone or on the air. However, as the broadcast should be the DJs primary focus,

it is acceptable to be more abrupt with callers should they become belligerent or disruptive.

During talk breaks, the DJ should silence the phone.

In-Studio Guests: DJs are allowed to invite guests into the studio during shows, including artists for

interviews or in-studio performances. In an effort to track, publicize, and to raise an awareness of

visitors to the WRVU studios, DJs are required to send an email with guest information to the WRVU

Station Manager ([email protected]) and WRVU staffadviser ([email protected]) at least

24 hours in advance of the guests appearance in the station. Guest information should include the

names of every guest, not just some members of Band XYZ are dropping by around 4 p.m., but rather

Joe Smith and John Taylor of Band XYZ will be in the studio at 4 p.m. during Your Show Name for an

interview and in-studio performance.

DJs are limited to 4 guests in the studio at a time unless prior approval is received from the WRVU

GM and WRVU staffadviser. DJs are ultimately responsible for their guests behavior and may be

disciplined, up to and including suspension or expulsion from the station, if any of their guests violate

station policy. If guests become disruptive, they should be asked to leave the station immediately.

Violation of the in-studio guest policy and failure to provide 24 hours advance notice of guests may

result in disciplinary action.

Holidays and Breaks:During scheduled university breaks, the Program Director will create an interim

schedule. DJs who currently host shows are allowed to reserve their times in advance by contacting

the Program Director. Available times during breaks will be posted on the office door, and all DJs are

encouraged to sign up for extra shifts while most students are away from campus.

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PROGRAMMING A CDWRVU receives dozens of new CD releases every week. To help the Music Director decide which CDs

should go into rotation, every WRVU DJ is required to program 5 CDs a semester (10 for trainees).

Programming a CD involves screening the CD for content, including obscene language, and creating

a programming sheet with information about the album. This sheet should fit inside the CD case and

should include artist name, album title, label, track names, times, beginnings and endings, a brief

review of the album, and the reviewers name. Tracks with obscenity (in particular, those containing

the words: Shit, Fuck, Tit, Piss, Cunt, Motherfucker, and Cocksucker) should be marked DO NOT PLAY.

An example has been given below:

Spank Rock YOYOYOYOYO Big Dada

***k1. Backyard Betty f/cold 3:28

k2. What It Look Like m/fade 3:06

k3. DO NOT PLAY

*k4. Rick Rubin f/cold 3:33

**k5. Touch Me f/cool 3:24

**k6. Bump f/false/cold 5:19

*k7. Sweet Talk f/cold 4:12

k8. DO NOT PLAY

*k9. Top Billin From Far Left f/segue 3:53

k10. Coke & Wet s/cold 2:10 k11. DO NOT PLAY

k12. Outro (Screwville USA) s/cool 2:03

Thank gawd for Spank Rock. k1 makes yr ass clap when you snap talk to me now like you wouldnt

believe. Producer XXXChanges beats are so f-f-fresh you can still smell the vinyl melting! 808s,

bobcat screams, hott, hott drums (as well as the requisite cow-belling throughout), all the sonic fx

of Colecovision, and some of that old-school attitude turn this album into the ultimate summer jam

- all sweat, sex, and more sex. Rapper Naeem Juwan is adept at flow and the amazing guest spot by

Amanda Black (who?) on k6 blows yr mind like a tweenager with a BlackBerry. I tell you if Spank Rock

doesnt make you want to just slap your mom in the face and get on the dance floor I will personally

do it for you.

- T. Archer 04/06

The artist, album, and label are listed along the top as shown. Tracks are designated by k numbers.

Albums with more than one disc should have disc numbers also (e.g. d2k4 is disc 2, track 4). The best

tracks on the album may be given one to three stars. Again, tracks with inappropriate words or subject

matter should be marked DO NOT PLAY.

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Track beginnings are described as slow, medium, or fast, abbreviated s, m, or f on the programmingsheet. Similarly, track endings are described as cold, meaning an abrupt ending; cool, meaning an

ending with a longer, lingering note; a fade with a repeated line; or a segue into the following track.

Occasionally tracks will also have a false ending, in which the track sounds like it will end, but then

continues on. These descriptions should be listed next to the track title, as should the length of the

track.

The album review should give other DJs a brief overview of what to expect, perhaps describing the

sound of the album, naming the performers involved, or mentioning similar artists. The reviewer

should also provide a critique of the album. However, the review should never simply repeat the

promotional information included with the album, which is often untrustworthy. The reviewers name

should be included at the bottom so that proper credit is given for programming.

CDs can be picked up during any executive staffmembers office hours. If this is not possible, the DJ

should e-mail the Music Director, who will leave marked CDs in the station hallway for pickup. The DJ

has two weeks to complete programming a CD to receive credit. DJs that return a programmed CD

after two weeks will lose credit and will be required to program an additional CD. The Music Director

will not accept a CD as programmed unless is has been printed and placed neatly inside the CD

case. DJs that fail to properly mark obscene material on their programming sheet may be subject to

disciplinary action.

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INSIDE WRVUDoor Access:Door access to the station is granted only after successful completion of the training

process. After passing the training exam, the Training Director will give the VSC Advisor a list of new

DJs. The DJ must schedule a brief meeting with the VSC Advisor to have an access card activated.

Those without a Vanderbilt-issued access card must purchase one from the Card Office in Sarratt

Student Center for a one-time, nominal fee. Once activated, the card may be used to enter the station

door as well as the side entrance to Sarratt found by the loading dock.

Because WRVU owns many pieces of expensive equipment, it is important that the station door never

be propped open. DJs in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action. Late-arriving

guests should knock or call the request line to be let in, and the DJ should never allow unknown

persons to enter.

Mailboxes: All members of the executive staffas well as select DJs have mailboxes in the hallway.

DJs may pick up deliveries here. Those that regularly receive a high volume of mail may petition the

General Manager to be given a mailbox.

Bulletin Board:The bulletin board is located in the hallway above the mailboxes. DJs should regularly

check the bulletin board for announcements. DJs may also post announcements to the bulletin board,

but the General Manager reserves the right to remove inappropriate items.

Station Office:The office is located immediately to the left upon entering the station. Only members

of the executive staffare issued keys to the door. Office hours are posted on the door at the beginningof every semester. DJs may come during those times to pick up CDs for programming or to speak to

an executive staffmember.

Music Library:The library holds thousands of CDs and vinyl albums available for play on the air. These

have been collected over several decades and are arranged alphabetically by genre. After use, they

should be returned to the shelf. Trainees are responsible for filing new CDs as the station receives

them.

All CDs and records in the music library are the property of WRVU and should never be removed

from the station. Taking CDs or records constitutes theft. If discovered, the DJ will face immediate

expulsion from the station as well as possible criminal charges.

The Production Room:The production room includes much of the same equipment as the control

room from which WRVU broadcasts. The production room is especially useful for previewing songs

before broadcast, copying CDs, and recording shows, live or phone interviews, and promos. The

recording software Garage Band is available on the production room computer.

If equipment in the control room is malfunctioning, it is possible to broadcast from the production

room. To do this, the DJ must first turn on the autorotation channel in the control room and switch

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the input button (located at the top of the channel) from A to B. Once the input button is lit, all studioactivity in the production room will be broadcast. The DJ may then continue the show as usual from

the production room. However, all songs must still be reported on the Playlist Tracker in the control

room.

Vandalism:It is important that all DJs be respectful of station property, especially broadcast

equipment. As such, anyone found guilty of equipment misuse or vandalism will be faced with

suspension or expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. Vandalism includes, but is not

limited to, intentionally damaging equipment, destroying CDs or records, drawing on posters or walls,

and inappropriate or harmful use of the computer. DJs are also responsible for ensuring that guests

follow station policy regarding vandalism.

Food and Drink:For the safety of broadcast equipment, food and drink are not permitted inside thecontrol room or production room. It is acceptable to eat and drink in the hallway, music library, and

office, provided the space is left clean. Smoking is not permitted inside the station. Drugs and alcohol

may NEVER be brought into the station.

Housekeeping:WRVU does not employ housekeeping staff. As a courtesy to others, DJs are asked

to help keep the station clean during their shifts. This includes shelving CDs after use, disposing of

trash, and removing all personal items after a show. Station cleaning days are held periodically by the

executive stafffor more thorough cleaning. DJs participating in cleaning days are often given some

incentive towards CD programming requirements.

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WRVU EXECUTIVE STAFFThe student executive staff(e-staff) of WRVU consists of the following positions:

The General Manageris responsible for the daily operation of WRVU, managing its budget, selecting

the e-staffand coordinating its actions, and setting station policy. The general manager is hired

and supervised by the VSC Board of Directors, and also serves on the VSC Executive Committee,

supervising VSC content editors and coordinating efforts with other VSC media divisions.

The Program Directorcreates the show schedule at the beginning of each semester and assigns

rotation requirements for each show. The PD also enforces station policy regarding programming,

song reporting, and attendance.

The Music Directoris responsible for distributing new CDs to DJs for programming, selecting which

programmed CDs will be added to rotation, and reporting our top 30 albums to trade magazines such

as CMJ each week.

The Archive Director: works closely with the Music Director to decide on the content of WRVUs

online archive and is responsible for adding new CDs to the archive as well as working with the PSA &

Underwriting Director to keep pre-recorded PSAs and promos up to date.

The Training Directoris responsible for recruiting interested students, faculty/staff, and community

members to train at WRVU. The TD ensures that all DJs are properly trained in the use of station

equipment. The TD also coordinates the training process each semester, including creating andadministering the final exam.

The Public Relations Directormaintains a database of the stations media and industry contacts

and works with those contacts to maintain WRVUs presence in the media through press releases,

interviews, and event promotions.

The PSA/Underwriting Directorcollects public service announcements and show promos and

ensures that they are broadcast by DJs. The PSA/Underwriting Director also solicits local businesses to

advertise on WRVU.

The Events Coordinatorhelps to maintain the concert calendar on WRVUs website, works with the

PR Director to organize and advertise local concerts and other events, and orders and distributes the

merchandise that will be available at these events.

The The Online Directorkeeps the website up to date by reading and approving DJ posts, updating

the e-stafflist each year, updating the concert calendar schedule current, working with the PR Director

to keep the WRVU Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets up to date, and answering any

questions DJs have about the website.

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The Historianactively seeks out and maintains an archive of historical materials including articles,press releases, meeting minutes, photos, and other media related to the history of the station. The

Historian is also responsible for collecting meeting minutes and taking pictures at WRVU events when

necessary.

The Office Managermay be appointed at discretion of the GM to fulfill a variety of duties. These

may include establishing E-staffoffice hours and ensuring their attendance, ordering office supplies,

organizing the music library, collecting and distributing the mail, and/or checking voice mail.

The Marketing Directorworks closely with the Events Coordinator and the Public Relations

Director to promote upcoming events. This involves creating, designing and distributing flyers and

promotional material that will further promote the station.

Professional Staff:

VSC Advisor: The VSC Advisor acts as a liaison between the e-staffand the VSC board and oversees

the legal, financial, and technical aspects of WRVU.

Engineer: An engineer is employed on a contract basis by VSC to handle all equipment repairs and

installations.

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CONTACT INFORMATIONPhone Numbers:

Request Lines: 615-421-7625 and 615-322-7625

DJ Line: 615-343-7625

E-StaffOffice: 615-322-3691

Fax: 615-343-2582 (for station business only)

Mailing Address:

WRVU Nashville

2301 Vanderbilt Place

VU Station B 359100

Nashville, TN 37235-9100

Website:

www.wrvu.org

E-Mail Addresses:

General Manager: [email protected]

Music Director: [email protected] Director: [email protected]

Promotions Director: [email protected]

PSA/Underwriting Director: [email protected]

Training Director: [email protected]

Office Manager: [email protected]

Events Coordinator: [email protected]

Public Relations Director: [email protected]

Marketing Director: [email protected]

Historian: [email protected]

Online Director: [email protected]

VSC Advisor: [email protected]

WRVU Staff: [email protected]

WRVU Trainees: [email protected]

WRVU Talk: [email protected]

Please note that only subscribers to an e-mail list may send e-mails to that list. The WRVU Stafflist

is to be used ONLY for official station business (e.g. sub requests, lost and found items, equipment

malfunctions, production room reservations). The WRVU Talk list may be used for general DJ

discussions.

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THE TRAINING PROCESSAll those interested in becoming DJs for WRVU must first undergo a ten-week training process in

which they learn the fundamentals of broadcasting as well as policies specific to WRVU. The Training

Director is responsible for hosting an interest meeting at the beginning of each spring, summer, and

fall semester. Those interested should contact the Training Director via e-mail.

Trainees are assigned to train with current WRVU shows based on availability and musical taste.

The trainee should attend the assigned show for at least one hour each week for ten weeks. The

trainer should make every effort to explain thoroughly how to use all the equipment in the control

room. Additionally, the trainer should make sure the trainee understands expectations regarding

rotation requirements, on-air behavior, and other station policies. As the semester progresses, the

trainer should encourage the trainee to take over some tasks of broadcast (e.g. filling out the PlaylistTracker, reading announcements, working the control board). If the trainer is unable to answer some

questions, or if the trainer seems unfit to train, the trainee should contact the Training Director.

All trainees must fulfill the following requirements to become WRVU DJs:

Both the mid-term exam and the written portion of the final exam are based on the WRVU station

manual, which is distributed by the Training Director. While the mid-term exam is mandatory for

all trainees, it is not graded. It is instead used to gauge the trainees progress and to encourage the

trainee to begin studying early. The Training Director will review the mid-term and return it to be used

as a study guide. Those that appear to be falling behind in their studies will be notified by the Training

Director. Although similar to the mid-term, the written portion of the final exam is longer, more

thorough, and graded.

The hands-on portion of the final exam is given in the production room and includes questions on

most of the equipment used during broadcast. The DJ should be able to demonstrate or explain the

following techniques:


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Those that successfully fulfill all training requirements become official WRVU DJs and are eligibleto apply for a show the following semester. Those that fail to fulfill all requirements must undergo

another semester of training if they still wish to become DJs.

Re-Training Policy for Returning DJs: After an absence from WRVU of 24 months or more, any

person, regardless of status as student, faculty, staff, alumni, or community guest, must re-train to be

eligible for a show on WRVU. Changes in station equipment, policies, and procedures occur frequently,

so this period of re-training is to ensure that the returning DJ is current on and knowledgeable of

all operations and could pass an inspectors queries with regard to FCC requirements and station

operating procedures. The re-training period shall be no shorter than 4(four) -1 hour sessions and

no longer than the semester long training course required for all new WRVU DJs. Upon completion

of the re-training period, the returning DJ must also pass the WRVU training exam in order to receive

reinstatement and be eligible to apply for a show on the WRVU schedule.

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Important Notes About Operations From Studio C

them), one mp3 input, and no turntables in Studio C. There are also 2 mics on stands that can be used

for extra studio guests or in-studio performances. Those mics are routed through a small mixer and

then connected to the air board. Those are the only air capabilities from that studio, so if you want/

need more than that for your show, I would suggest utilizing the WRVU air studio.

the board. Again, Studio C is designed as a multi-use facility, not just for WRVU. While it is a fully

functional and great sounding studio for radio, if you want more functionality than it provides with its

set-up, please just use the WRVU studio.

show from Studio C, you must be 100% certain that any music you play is safe for air.

in that studio (instructions in this document), but cant put callers live on the air, for the delay/dump

reasons stated above.

producers, podcasters, interviewers, and guests.

Instructions for doing a WRVU show inside Studio C

1. Go to WRVUs studio to see if there is a live DJ or automation on before your show. If there is a live

DJ, let them know you will be doing your show from Studio C so they will know to punch you up when

their show is over. While you are in WRVU, pull any music you will be playing from the music library/

rotation shelf. You will also need to sign the operators log in the WRVU studio.

2. Go to Studio C and get some music playing, either through CD or mp3. This will allow any live DJ in

WRVU to know you are ready by putting Studio Cs module on the air board into the CUE position. If

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you are the live DJ in the WRVU studio and dont hear anything coming out of Studio C, dont put it onthe air. You can always call the Studio C number, 875-7968, to get a status update from the Studio C

DJ.

3. FOR WHEN A LIVE DJ IS ON BEFORE YOU: They will verify you have music playing out of Studio

C in cue, and when their show is over, they will put the studio hot on the air by turning the Studio

C board module on. Best way to do this is to just fade it up like you are transitioning to any other

source of music. When the module is toggled on on the WRVU studio board, the ON-AIR light will

tally in Studio C. For the Studio C DJ, this is your cue that your studio is on the air, and you can begin

your show. Make sure you bring up the playlist tracker on the Studio C computer and track all of your

songs, station IDs, promos and PSAs as you would when doing your show from the WRVU studio.

FOR WHEN THE AUTOMATION IS ON BEFORE YOU: Since you will have music playing out of StudioC, the process is the same as above, you just have to walk from Studio C into WRVU and fade the

automation audio out and bring the Studio C audio live on the WRVU studio board. Then when you

walk back in to Studio C you will notice that the ON AIR light is on, and Studio C is on the air. Then

proceed to do your show.

4. When your show is over sign out of the playlist tracker as you would normally do. There may be

a live DJ coming in after you who will be using Studio C. For this, the procedure is simple, they just

follow you and the Studio C module remains on in WRVU. If a live DJ is following you who will be

doing their show from the WRVU studio, they will note that Studio C is on the air by seeing the module

live on the air board, they should then call you at 875-7968 to see what song you will be playing as

your last song so they can be prepared to take the air control back to WRVU when your show from

Studio C is over. Once Studio C is no longer live, the ON-AIR light will tally offand Studio C is now

cold and offthe air. If no live DJ follows you and you are doing your show from Studio C, you must

reverse the process of putting Studio C on the air. Put your last song on from Studio C and walk to

WRVU. When the song is over, engage the automation and turn its module up on the air board and

turn the Studio C module OFF. When you go back to Studio C to clean up, youll notice that the ON-

AIR light is OFF. If the light is still on, you need to go back to WRVU and turn the Studio C module OFF.

Just turning it down will take the audio offthe air, but will leave Studio C hot, and it needs to be cold

and OFF.

5. When you finish your show from Studio C and the WRVU studio is back on the air, or another Studio

C DJ has followed you, please collect all of the CDs that you may have taken from the WRVU studio

and re-shelve those in the appropriate locations. If you pulled from the rotation shelf in the air studio,please return those CDs to that shelf. If you pulled from the music library, please return and re-shelve.

Also, do not leave any personal items in Studio C. This studio is obviously very visible, and as such, we

want to keep it free from disorganization and clutter. Thanks!

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECORDING A PHONE CALL IN STUDIO C TO BE UTILIZED ASAN MP3 FILE FOR PODCASTING OR PLAYBACK LATER OR WRVU/VTV

1. Open Garage Band Application by clicking the Guitar iconon the dock,

Select Open a New Music Project, Name the project (for example: Seth Rogan Interview) and

make sure it is saved to the desktop. When the new project opens, it will default with a piano music

track.

Click on the X on the pianoto remove it, then go to Track Menu, delete the piano track, then track

menu again and create new track, select real instrument track and create.

Then you must go to the Control Menuand de-select the Metronome(make sure it is not

checked). Garage Band is now ready.

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2. To test the audio, you can just pick up the head set of the phone and you will see the green metersmove in conjunction with the dial tone.

3. Now you are ready to place your phone call, or have your interview subject call you at 875-7968,

and record your interview. You can click the red record buttonin Garage Band now and it will

begin recording, then pick up the hand-set and place your call normally. Garage Band will record

both your voice and that of your interview subject through the phone line. When the interview is

complete you can stop the recording in Garage Band.

4. You can now make any edits you would like to your Garage Band file before exporting it as an MP3.

If you want to trim offparts of the interview at the beginning, simply go to the position in the

timeline where you want to begin, click Editand select Split.

This will split the file wherever the timeline cursor is located. Then deselect the file by clicking

below it until it is no longer highlighted in color. Now, click on the portion you wish to delete and

it will highlight in color and you can just hit the delete button.

Now select and drag what is remaining to the beginning of the project.

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5. When you are ready to export your file, go to the Share Menu, selectExport Song to Disk. Make

sure it saves to the Desktop with the name you choose and in the MP3 format.

Click Exportand the compression process will begin. This may take a while for a longer interview

(it can take up to 10 minutes for an hour to compress.

6. When compression is complete, your finished MP3 file will be on the desktop and ready to upload

to insidevandy.comor save it to a flash drive, or wherever you will be using it.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR RECORDING VIDEO FROM STUDIO CNOTE: In order to record video from Studio C, whether for a VTV show, video of an interview for

InsideVandy, or a video simulcast of your WRVU radio show, you will need to schedule a special

training session with Jim Hayes and gain producers clearance to Vanderbilt Television with station

manager Andrew Kirkman. To have your show simulcast on VTV, you will have to clear the scheduling

with VTV station manager Andrew Kirkman ([email protected]), and it will require a video producer

for your radio show to be trained.

If you have any questions, encounter any engineering issues with Studio C, or to schedule a video

training session, please feel free to contact me:

[email protected]

Enjoy the new Studio C!

Documents

Station Manual