Commercial Integrator February 2021 - 11

screen was made from 36
lenticular screens supported
by a rear structure of extruded
aluminum channel.
" This resulted in 36 discreet
images that would form one
large screen image with no
physical separation from the individual
screens, " Schwab says.
Set #6 (2009-2013)
This set was designed and built
for a remote production of the
show at the 20098 CES in Las
Vegas, and it would later be
installed as the new permanent
set at Sony Pictures Studios in
July 2009.
This included a new video
wall and trapezoidal set piece,
using 36 Sony 42-inch flat
screen LCD monitors.
" The entire game control and
display system was designed
from ground up for this new set
and technical package effort, "
Schwab says.
The company used six
Spyder video processers from
Vista Systems to drive the video
wall, and the Chyron Lyric
with intelligent interface was
integrated as the new character
generator.
A new hi-definition still store
for recall of video clues was
designed.
For scoring, a single 42-inch
Sony monitor was mounted
in portrait aspect in front of
contestants.
The company took a new
approach in designing the telewriter
processors in which scoring
and telewriter outputs were
generated by one machine.
" The scoring/telewriter Page
5 of 6 processors would respond
to commands from both
the game operator and scoring
operator over our control network, "
Schwab says. " There are
a total of 18 processors, control
and slave, on that network. "
commercialintegrator.com
Set #7 (2013-Present)
This set was much different
than previous designs with
new lighting features and
architectural elements, but the
video wall began this period
unchanged from the previous
version. However, in 2015, the
monitors were replaced.
" The challenge was to find a
replacement monitor that was
close in size to the Sony so as
not to have to build a new video
wall structure, " Schwab says.
To do this, Vista Electronics
created their own hybrid monitor
using the enclosure and LG
display glass from a monitor manufacturer
and then integrated
a Digital View processor board
and power supply module.
" These are the most stable
monitors that have been
installed on the show to date, "
Schwab says.
Going forward
Trebek, who lost a long battle
with cancer on Nov. 8, will
eventually be replaced after
his last episodes are aired this
week.
One of Schwab's company's
primary goals over the years has
been to keep him as informed
and comfortable as possible.
That includes providing him
with audio and video monitors
with combined signals,
cue lights for right and wrong
answers, sound effects triggers
and a " stop tape " button.
The company even provided
custom stools for his podium
that allowed him to rest while
recovering from an injury.
" In observance of Alex's
legacy, we will give the same
consideration to other possible
guest hosts for Jeopardy!, "
Schwab says.
›› @Jeopardy, #Digital
Signage, #VideoWalls,
#MICROPHONES
Christmas at DePaul
Spectacular Goes
Virtual with Help from
DPA Microphones
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, the
largest Catholic university in
the U.S., recently presented
its 14th annual " Christmas at
DePaul " holiday celebration as
a virtual event.
Dan Steinman, one of the
professors in the DePaul
sound recording technology
department, was instrumental
in making the show a
success.
" Since the performers were
recorded in their own separate
dorm rooms, I needed microphones
that didn't add any
coloration and delivered an
exceptionally natural sound, "
he said.
For the production, Steinman
employed one DPA 4006
omnidirectional microphone
on each double bass and the
tympani; one 4011 cardioid
microphone on each cello
and the flute, as well as two
on the harp; a 2011 twin diaphragm
cardioid Microphone
on the acoustic guitar; 4060
miniature omnidirectional microphones
on two violins and
one viola; and two of the 4015
wide cardioid microphones
for percussion.
" The dorm being a large concrete
building and not exactly
built to be a studio at least gave
us one advantage in that every
room sounded the same, " said
Steinman. " For the instrumental
recordings we used click-tracks
along with the live audio mix,
which everyone heard through
their headphones, in addition
to the live conductor providing
cues for the musicians via a
virtual platform. "
Steinman was in one room
and conductor Jeff Schweitzer
and arranger Tom Matta were
each in their own rooms.
" We utilized audio talkbacks
to ensure smooth communication
between takes, " said
Steinman. " Aside from each
musician having their own
unique headphone mix, there
was also a sound mix fed to the
on-site production manager,
Jamie Davis, and the director,
Tony Peluso, who was based
in Orlando via a high-quality
audio stream. "
A narration of the Christmas
story by two of the University's
theater students, which
is weaved throughout the
production, was captured by
DePaul alum Joe Hampton using
the 4060s and a DPA 4017
Shotgun Microphone with a
wireless pack, to ensure social
distancing.
›› @DePaulU, @DPAMicrophones.
#Christmas,
#Audio
DePaul needed to get creative to deal with COVID-19 restrictions
and still put on a Christmas production.
FEBRUARY 2021 Commercial Integrator
11
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Commercial Integrator February 2021

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