For the past two and a half years Belgian broadcaster VRT—in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and iMinds (a digital research and incubation center)— has hosted an in-house R&D testing lab called VRT Sandbox. The project allows broadcast engineers and product vendors to test new IP-centric ideas and workflows.
Arena TV, a UK-based broadcast production company, has upgraded its entire fleet of OB vans with Lawo’s VSM control system. The VSM system creates a familiar workflow for users, and is the only control system on the market that is able to work in a fully IP-based environment as well as with other third-party equipment.
The broadcast and production industry is at the beginning of a historic shift to IP environments. The real benefits of an IP environment come from virtualizing live production technology—video production servers, switchers and camera processing. That is where we reap IP’s true benefits.
The microphone preamplifier in a recording chain has a very basic function — to boost a low-level audio signal to the point where it can comfortably be processed by other equipment in the audio chain. But how the preamp accomplishes this and the range of choices available to the user can be mind boggling. How do you choose which preamp is best for your application?
Though they often take tremendous abuse in daily use, microphones are the most delicate and important part of the pro audio chain. To keep microphones working properly, there are a few things the audio engineer can do.
One of the most misunderstood tools audio engineers use for live and recorded audio is compression. Over the years, manufacturers have tried to simplify it, but amateur engineers still try to overuse it — often with disastrous results. Here’s a primer on audio compression and how to use it effectively.
While Arena opted to invest in an IP core for its new fleet, Sky Sport’s other regular OB supplier, NEP UK has gone a different route out of necessity. This article, a follow up to the article ‘Making The Leap To 4K Live Over IP - Under The Hood At Arena’, explains its decision.
There are speakers and there are professional audio monitors. How do you know the difference and which should you buy for a specific pro audio application? The decision can be difficult if you don’t know the basics. Here is a primer on monitor speakers.
