Radio World Buyer’s Guide articles are intended to help readers understand why their colleagues chose particular products to solve various technical situations. This month’s articles focus on telco products and talkshow systems.
KUT, Austin’s NPR station, recently launched a live call-in radio show, “Money Talk With Carl Stuart.”
Since it airs live and the host works remotely, the show’s production created a challenge for the technical team.
The audio path was established using a remote codec, but the main difficulty was enabling the remote host to visualize and manage calls without direct access to the studio’s physical phone network. The station required a robust system that could integrate with its existing Telos VX Enterprise VoIP Phone System and fill this gap in their workflow.
After a search, KUT chose ip-studio’s ip-screener software, recommended by Broadcast Depot’s Mary Schnelle.
The software was selected because it was a single application designed to integrate effectively with the Telos VX phone system, allowing the remote show to be executed without major technical interruptions.
KUT operates on a full AoIP workflow built around Telos Axia Livewire. The core infrastructure includes a Telos VX Enterprise engine, with a Telos V-Set talk show controller and a Quasar SR console in the studio.
In this setup, ip-screener’s main function is to visualize the Telos VX Enterprise studio profile for the remote host and producer, enabling management of incoming and outgoing calls.
During the show, calls appear on the producer’s ip-screener dashboard. The producer screens the call, inputs the caller’s details and question into an attached message box, puts the line on hold and assigns it to one of the console faders.
When the remote host needs to see the information, the producer drags it into the host’s dedicated “animator” section. The host can then put the call on-air or end it with a click.
Producer V. Marc Fort said the process is a quick, “two-click” action, adding that he values the ability to embed notes.
A key feature within screener is a “live messages” tool, which allows the host and producer to communicate in real time about last-minute changes without needing a separate channel.
Rene Chavez, audio production engineer at KUT, said he appreciates the software’s clear and simple interface. “It’s nimble and dependable and lets us focus on the most important element: the show.”
