Studio Manager

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A Studio Manager, or SM, fulfils an operational role in radio broadcasting to enable and ensure programmes are produced to a high technical standard^[1].

Principally, SMs are involved in the operation of studio equipment. This generally encompasses a mixing desk, alongside ancillary equipment such as ISDN codecs, playback and recording devices, and telephone and VoIP adapters.

The precise nature of a studio manager's work will depend upon the nature of their deployment, but the core function is usually to ensure the programme is correctly 'balanced'. For speech programmes, this generally means each contributor should heard with the same perceived loudness. A desirable music balance reflects the sound of a performance; for an orchestral rendition, each instrument ought to be heard at the correct relative volume and, for stereo programmes, at the 'correct' position in the orchestra.

Within the BBC, studio managers are used extensively across news, drama, and live music output.

A studio manager might also be known as a desk driver, technical operator, TechOp, or facilitator, particularly outside of the BBC.