This year’s NFL Super Bowl telecast, to be broadcast live on the Fox Sports Network, will once again provide a proving ground for the latest remote audio and video technology, with a few new twists thrown in for an added “wow” factor. Interestingly, much of the big game will be shot in 4K and HD simultaneously, although Fox Sports will be broadcasting the main action live in 1080i HD resolution.
Over the past decade, video cameras have shrunk. As cameras have gotten smaller, so have the camera support systems used in professional production. Now, there are many substitutes for using a traditional tripod and head on location.
When using different microphones, some models require less gain than others. In layman’s terms, that means some mics are “hot” or especially “loud” while others are not. In technical terms, this is “sensitivity.” But what does it mean and why does it matter to the sound recordist?
Reality cookery show My Kitchen Rules finally hits the US on 12 January, with five celebrity couples showing off their culinary skills to each other and two professional chef judges. Because the action takes place in the contestants’ homes, the production teams had to build facilities on site and use wireless microphone technology from WisyCom to capture both what was being said and the sound of cooking and food preparation.
On Febuary 12, when Alan Blumlein receives the Grammy’s Technical Award, few in the audience will grasp the profound implications of his life and work. But Blumlein, a visionary engineer whose greatest work happened in the 1930s, changed and still affects modern stereo recording to this day.
When purchasing a new studio condenser microphone, buyers are immediately faced with the choice of small and large diaphragm types. What are the sonic differences, and which type is best for a certain application?
Industry watchers will be analysing the latest product releases at CES to see where consumer technology is heading. For the broadcast sector, UHD and HDR featured heavily amongst the TV-related releases at CES 2017. Still wary after the failure of 3D to take TV viewing by storm, will UHD prove more successful? Early indications are that it will, especially when there are no worries about losing expensive eyewear down the back of the sofa. Through this series I take a look at acquisition through to delivery for UHD content.
Small on-camera LED lights are now a dime a dozen in the market-place. But “on-camera” is a term that defines a category of compact lights. These lights don’t have to be mounted on a camera and their quality varies significantly by design. Here are the differences in pro quality and cheaply designed small lights.
