Prosound News - April 2008 - (Page 45)

[45] Lawo Broadcasts Brooks Concert LOS ANGELES, CA—The soundbroadcast White Space Turning Gray by Steve Harvey NILES, IL—What is to become of the frequency spectrum abandoned by analog television when the industry makes the federally mandated switchover to digitalonly transmission in February 2009? For a coalition of consumer technology companies, socalled “white space” promises a huge market for a new generation of wireless consumer devices and an opportunity to push internet access into rural areas. But as wireless pro audio equipment manufacturers have pointed out, some of that space might more accurately be referred to as “gray” since it includes the bandwidth across which RF microphone and IEM systems operate. Despite the avowed hope of the Wireless Innovation Alliance—which includes Microsoft, Google, HP, Dell and many others—to bring new, unlicensed consumer devices to market by the end of next year, they must first submit prototypes for testing by the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering Technology. The FCC initially set up the lab tests to collect data from which to write the rules regulating the new devices in order to prevent them from interfering with television reception within range of the devices. However, it soon became clear that federal legislators and the FCC had not considered the impact on wireless mics and ear monitors, until, that is, lobbying by manufacturers, most vociferously Shure, Inc., as well as organizations such as the National Association of Broadcasters, whose members use RF systems in TV production and ENG on a daily basis, brought it CBS telecast of Garth Brooks’ concert from the Staples Center in Los Angeles benefiting F.I.R.E. (Fire Intervention Relief Effort) and victims of last fall’s regional wildfires used MTV Networks’ Remote Unit 8 audio truck, which is outfitted with two Lawo (www.lawo.ca) mc266 digital audio consoles. to their attention. According to Mark Brunner, senior director, brand management at Shure, the company is continuing its full-court press on the issue in Congress, at the FCC and in its development labs. “Significant fiscal and human resources are assigned to this program with the combined goals of ensuring that the FCC understands the technical complexity of the issue, that Congress allows (continued on page 46) Global TV’s Update TORONTO, CANADA—Global TV recently updated its studio complex in Toronto with a Riedel (www.riedel.net) Communications’ Artist Digital Matrix Intercom System. The system includes six Artist mainframes connected via fiber, over 80 control panels, Performer Digital Partyline and Connect Solo telephone interfaces. SSL Sales Surge OXFORD, U.K.—Recent SSL (www.solid-state-logic.com) broadcast sales include a C232 and a C140 for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; the largest C200 ever built for CBS’ The Late Show with David Letterman; and a C132/24 to ABC affiliate WMAR-TV in Baltimore, MD. KPIX Picks 615 for 5.1 Surround Theme NASHVILLE, TN—The Clear-Com Games China’s national broadcaster, has selected Clear-Com (www.clearcom.com) Communication Systems to provide an intercom network for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, for later expansion to CCTV’s entire operation. BEIJING, CHINA—CCTV, switchover from evening primetime HDTV network programming with immersive 5.1 audio to local news in stereo—even mono—at the end of the night can be quite a jolt. To smooth that transition and keep viewers engaged, KPIX in San Francisco has commissioned what may well be the first 5.1 surround music news theme in the country, from 615 Music in Nashville. The choice of vendor was unsurprising to 615 Music president Randy Wachtler; his company already had a relationship with KPIX, plus, he says, “We’re one of the largest suppliers of news themes in the country. We work with a lot of big-market TV stations.” Indeed, 615 Music has produced custom music themes and packages for nearly every major over-the-air and cable network since 1984, only recently creating a new theme for longtime client NBC’s The Today Show. Wachtler has been pointing out the dis- DESIGN-ING MAN: Justin Rice, senior sound editor for the Gemstar TV Guide network, has purchased a pair of A-Designs Pacifica microphone preamps to record voiceovers for the channel’s promotional spots. Rice serves as the resident VO talent, as well as in-house composer and sound designer, on promos for original programming, such as Reality Chat and Hollywood 411, and red-carpet awards show coverage and syndicated VH1 shows. The Pacifica has also become Rice’s choice DI for guitar and bass. crepancy between primetime network and local contributions for some time, he says, “I’ve been preaching to local TV stations that they don’t want the viewer experience to be diminished when all of a sudden the local news comes on and it shrinks down to a stereo or even a mono mix.” After talking to some major market stations, he says, “KPIX was the first one to say, ‘We would like to be the first one to do this if you haven’t done one (continued on page 46) April 2008 prosoundnews.com http://www.lawo.ca http://www.riedel.net http://www.solid-state-logic.com http://www.clearcom.com http://prosoundnews.com http://www.acousticsfirst.com http://www.acousticsfirst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Prosound News - April 2008

Prosound News - April 2008 Sound Business Contents Sound Retail Mojo’s Working at NY Noise Studio Showcase: Jungle Room Studios Software Tech Tracks Sessions Nomad Takes Root TCB at NYC’s JSM SoundScreen White Space Turning Gray Audio for Video and Broadcast Field Reports:Sony PCM-D50 Linear PCM Recorder; Holophone H4 SuperMINI Surround Microphone Sound Innovations: Earthworks Audio PianoMic System Frozen Liquid Live Sound Showcase: Jill Scott Centerstage Soundcheck Sound People View From the Top Product Spotlight Advertiser Index Company Index Classifieds Music, Etc.

Prosound News - April 2008

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