Normally when the headphones were off, he was broadcasting live, with the volume turned up from the speakers behind him. Beware though any moment he could leap into action playing invisible guitar to the sounds of  Robert Palmer or Van Morrison for example, then he would sing along to the music watching the clock to time each link jingle and CD, this would take him up to the next advert break or news on the hour, that was timed perfect to the split second, every time.