D&R WEBSTATION: Professional USB Mixer for Broadcasters
Does the D&R WEBSTATION have what it takes to manage your radio shows? Find out if this professional USB mixer is right for your broadcasting setup.
The D&R WEBSTATION has a very simple style to it which kinda resembles older vintage radio station equipment. The sturdy metal body framework and powdered coat chassis makes it look sleek and durable, so you know it’s built to last. Check out the full review below:
Old School Look, Modern Design
The nice thing about this mixer is its simple interface. The few adjustable faders, dials, and buttons means you’re not overwhelmed at first glance. Plus, it’s powered via a USB connector, so you can mix and manage audio directly through your computer.
In total, there are 6 channels with dual inputs, 2 of which are XLR microphone inputs for you and a guest. It also has a Voice Over IP line to take callers, so you can connect a phone and monitor calls before broadcasting them live.
Cart Controls for Easy Management
A cool thing about the WEBSTATION is it can easily be tailored to suit your own needs. For example, the A and B controls let you add sets with your custom play-out software (like Myriad 5 or WideOrbit), so you can just hit one of these buttons to play a song or jingle.
Configurable Software
The mixer comes with it’s own configurable software to monitor and manage your audio. You can use it to switch channels on or off, enable phantom power for your mics, set up silence detection, and a few more useful options which can be applied to any of your channels. For example, you can reduce unwanted noises with the built-in silence detection. It works by automatically silencing your mic if you’re not talking to help prevent picking up background noise.
The WEBSTATION itself accepts and controls up to 3 in/out stereo channels from your play-out software, giving you a bit more freedom to route audio where it needs to go.
There’s also the Control Room Monitor, which can monitor all channels that have cue enabled. When a microphone turns on, the CRM mutes to avoid feedback. So you can use it to check audio levels before broadcasting if you have a guest in your studio and a live caller.
One thing we noticed is that powerful mics struggle to get to line level. The mixer doesn’t provide enough phantom power to operate something like the Neumann TLM 103, so it will be really quiet if you don’t have a pre-amp to boost the signal.
Conclusion: Is it Worth Buying?
Overall, the D&R WEBSTATION is a reliable mixer for professional DJs with its compact design and customisable options. Although admittedly not for newcomers, it’s more ideal for advanced users to manage everything from producing music, recording voice tracks, or broadcasting shows live to your radio station.
What do you think of the WEBSTATION? Let us know in the comments. If you have any questions about this mixer then be sure to get in touch with us at studio@radio.co. For everything radio and audio related, stick with Radio.co.
