KET - Microphone Dysfunction at Monday Debate




One microphone out of phase caused the dismal sound on the Monday evening live broadcast of the 1st Congressional KET Forum.  The sound dropped so low when the show started that turning one’s volume up to the very  highest setting was the only way to hear the question and answer session. Even then, moderator Bill Goodman sounded like he was huffing laughing gas.
 
Oddly, when the pretaped message from Rep. Ed Whitfield was aired, the sound immediately blasted out. The volume settings could go were back to the normal levels. 

That’s because the repair of that one piece of dysfunctional piece of equipment was simultaneous with the incumbent’s recorded address.  
 
At least, that’s what KET Deputy Director Shea Hopkins said by phone Wednesday.  We had called and complained on Tuesday morning and sent an email to the station in Lexington expressing extreme paranoia at the interference. Hopkins assured us that we weren’t the only ones that noticed the sound quality. Viewers had called in from all over the state.
 
The problem, according to Hopkins, is that every studio at KET is down for audio renovation. All sound is being run through the KET mobile production truck, sitting outside the building. A cable running to the truck seemed to the problem.
 
When we asked why the truck couldn’t come to the candidates, we were told that ALL sound was running through it and it could not be moved.