Having supplied radio broadcast equipment to the education sector, largely student and university radio, for many years it has become clear that there is a growing opportunity for radio to be used throughout the education spectrum. Primary, secondary, further education and higher education can all use the process of making a radio show to develop core and life long skills. There is however one big problem, the hardware and software designed for radio in commercial environments is not designed for use within primary and secondary school environments. Traditional broadcast equipment and software is not sympathetic to first time users and full of features that simply are not required within smaller radio stations.
With this in mind, Clyde Broadcast began to seek teaching expertise from schools, to research and understand more about education and how to make radio more successful, sustainable and accessible to first time broadcasters. The search led to hiring the expertise of Eric Simpson, an ex-assistant headteacher of a high school who helped to start hospital radio in Scotland. For over 40 years, Eric has had a joint love for radio and education. He has trained many well known BBC radio presenters including Ken Bruce and Desmond Carrington. His knowledge and advice regarding media, education and training has proved to be invaluable to Clyde, facilitating the development of an education department - SYNERGY School radio in 2000.
With the digital revolution taking off around the world, Clyde realised that many of the technological pitfalls associated with analogue mixing desks could be overcome with digital technologies, making broadcast equipment easier to learn, more accessible and supported to unmatched levels. Two years later, SYNERGY was born, an all-in-one digital studio that combined a state-of-the-art mixing desk with a full suite of integrated software tools. All one brand, all integrated digital technologies, simple enough that any first-time broadcaster could learn within 20 minutes and based on a digital framework that could be upgraded to meet the needs of many commercial broadcasters.
Since it’s introduction in 2002, SYNERGY can be found in well over 300 locations word-wide. From primary to secondary, further and higher eduction, through to community, local and state broadcasters.
In the UK, SYNERGY can also be found in Heart, Galaxy, Smooth, Sky Radio News, Colourful Radio and many more... Globally, Synergy is used in what is probably the worlds largest education network of radio stations, consisting of over 40 studios networked together in India. Clyde Broadcasts installations can be found in many stations throughout Europe, the Middle East, Far East, Africa, Australia, China, Russia, the Ukraine and the United States, many of these using SYNERGY.
