From the MCRFB NEWS archives: 1974
CKLW Board Engineer Divulges What Makes Good Comradery Running Radio Shows
EDITOR’S NOTE: Jose H. Llombart, an engineer at one of the nation’s leading radio stations — CKLW-AM in Detroit — offers this personal viewpoint on the job of an engineer at a top 40 music station and his relationship to not only the programming but the air personality he works with.
DETROIT — One of the most underrated performers in top 40 radio today is the board engineer, also known as a transcription operator. Generally, broadcast people are not aware of the professional excellence and devotion that these men bring to their jobs. An operator actually runs the show, is responsible for all mistakes, controls operations of the on-air board, rides voice and music levels, knows the format and must have a good sense of timing.
The operators at “The Rock” of the Motor City give all they have, which will be borne out by any air personality who ever practiced his craft here.
Announcers rely on their operators for smooth segues, suggestions for lines, and encouragement, as well as criticism. CKLW-AM operators are an integral part of the broadcasting and are responsible for making a new air personality a part of the Big Eight Sound. Every good operator feels that “it takes two” to make a good show . . . and a good rapport between the two major ingredients on the air is necessary to insure that the show “will cook.”
CKLW-AM’s strong ratings position in Detroit is undisputed and each operator is proud to be a member of the winning team. The Big Eight engineers are marked by their youth and gung-ho attitude; two factors which combine to make CKLW-AM one of the most popular contemporary stations in North America. Most of the air personalities working at the Big Eight never experienced sharing a show with an engineer prior to arriving here.
Now, all of the Big Eight jocks swear by the set up and enjoy the teamwork utilized in producing a highly-rated show. — Jose M. Llombart
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 9, 1974)
Your signal has been very splattery lately and I was blaming it on my porch radio alignment, but I have a very fine assortment of equipment here and they all present similar.