Airchain

Inbroadcast engineeringfor radio or television, theairchainortransmission chain(UK) (sometimesair chain(US) or justchain(UK)) is the path or route anaudioorvideosignaltakes on its way through aradio stationortelevision station.

The airchain begins withcameras,microphones,CD players,turntables,telephone hybrids,video tape recorders,satelliteand otherremotefeeds, and other input devices in thestudioandcontrol room.These feed into amixing console,possibly via a router. The output then goes to anaudio processor,and finally to thetransmitter,feedline,andantenna.Often, there is astudio-transmitter linkviaradioorbroadbanddedicated circuit(usuallyT1orE1line).

The airchain may be all-analogue,all-digital,or most likely some hybrid of the two.

All-analog airchains typically use cables terminated inXLRconnectors between each device. All-digital airchains also often use XLR connectors, except carryingAES/EBUdigital audio instead. Alternatively, some digital airchains have significant portions of audio carried overTCP/IP,in which caseEthernetis used.