Audio Cart (analog, not digital...yet!)

First, a few notes about audio carts:

• Cartridges are endless loops of tape which are self-cuing. Please remember to allow them recue before removing them from the playback machine.
• Carts can be recorded with multiple cue points. However, to avoid confusion it is recommended that you use one cart per audio cut until you master the format.
• Cartridges must be erased (degaussed) before recording new material on them.
• Label your carts carefully and note them by name in your script. An unlabeled cart is asking to be degaussed!

The production control room at KTSC-TV utilizes audio cart and audio compact disc for audio playback. Unlike CDs, audio carts can be recorded in-house and therefore are very heavily used for audio other than music alone.

Carts recorded in other locations (e.g., KTSC-FM) should play back without problems on KTSC-TV cart machines. However, always test your recorded carts while you still have time to make changes if compatibility problems arise.

At KTSC-TV, Edit 2 is the primary location for audio cartridge recording. In addition to the recording cart machine, Edit 2 contains a CD player, a reel-to-reel 1/4-inch ATR, turntable, cassette deck, and high quality microphone for VO recording.

KTSC-TV's Production Control Room (PCR) has a three-cart stack for playback only. The ITC three cart playback stack in PCR allows the audio engineer to have as many as three carts ready to playback on cue. Make sure that the proper input selector switch is selected for each channel. Currently we use inputs 10 B, 11 B and 12 B for carts 1, 2 and 3. Always double-check your carts for level and to ensure that they are at the cue point before airtime.

Return to CSU-Pueblo Television Production Handbook home page.