Problem
An audio mixer routing mistake sends a private producer feed to the public broadcast.
Solution
Root Cause / Diagnostic:
Improper sub-mix routing or failure to isolate auxiliary talkback buses causes internal Intercom/IFB communications to leak onto the primary Program (PGM) broadcast mix. This typically happens when a shared auxiliary bus or matrix send has the "Master/PGM" toggle accidentally checked in digital mixer routing software.
Actionable Fix:
1. Reconfigure the digital mixer routing matrix so the Producer Talkback microphone is routed exclusively to dedicated Aux/IFB outputs (headphone buses) with hard disconnects from Bus 1-2 / Master PGM.
2. Implement a momentary push-to-talk (PTT) hardware foot switch or dedicated latching talkback button with automatic visual tally indicators on the producer's station.
3. Conduct a dead-mic broadcast audit: speak continuously into the producer intercom mic while inspecting the master encoder PGM audio meter to ensure absolute -infinity dBFS silence on the public stream.
Pro Tip:
Configure an automatic "ducking trigger" on the IFB bus so that whenever the producer depresses talkback, talent program audio drops by -15 dB in the host's earpiece while remaining completely untouched on the public broadcast feed.
Improper sub-mix routing or failure to isolate auxiliary talkback buses causes internal Intercom/IFB communications to leak onto the primary Program (PGM) broadcast mix. This typically happens when a shared auxiliary bus or matrix send has the "Master/PGM" toggle accidentally checked in digital mixer routing software.
Actionable Fix:
1. Reconfigure the digital mixer routing matrix so the Producer Talkback microphone is routed exclusively to dedicated Aux/IFB outputs (headphone buses) with hard disconnects from Bus 1-2 / Master PGM.
2. Implement a momentary push-to-talk (PTT) hardware foot switch or dedicated latching talkback button with automatic visual tally indicators on the producer's station.
3. Conduct a dead-mic broadcast audit: speak continuously into the producer intercom mic while inspecting the master encoder PGM audio meter to ensure absolute -infinity dBFS silence on the public stream.
Pro Tip:
Configure an automatic "ducking trigger" on the IFB bus so that whenever the producer depresses talkback, talent program audio drops by -15 dB in the host's earpiece while remaining completely untouched on the public broadcast feed.