CBS Studio Control-Console and Control-Room Design

Heretofore, it has been the general practice, both in the United States and abroad, to assemble the audio equipment components used for broadcasting and motion-picture sound studio operation in so-called relay racks or cabinets. These assemblies were generally supplemented with a control console, separate from the equipment racks, but connected thereto with a suitable multipair shielded cable. While convenient from the viewpoint of servicing and of utilizing "standard" interchangeable panels of equipment, an assembly of this nature is wasteful of studio control-room floor space, does not result in the optimum location of the numerous controls generally considered essential for modern network-originating program operations, and architecturally is seldom attractive. The studio control console described in this paper incorporates in one unit all the equipment normally contained in two or three relay racks and an associated control panel. In addition, it includes the many accessories that present-day, elaborate program production demands. Furthermore, these facilities are assembled in a compact, readily accessible, relatively small unit which does not sacrifice any of the flexibility of the old-style assembly; in fact, the console provides many new conveniences. The equipment differs from any consolettes and desk-type equipment heretofore developed in the type of construction employed and the extent of the facilities involved. If maximum advantage is to be taken of a carefully designed control console, it is essential that certain architectural features be incorporated in the control-room layout. Some of the features that enter into these considerations are discussed and their correlation with console design indicated.