audio commentary
The new Sporty
reporter codec from
Mayah
Communications
was used for 12
commentary
positions at the
Junior Eurovision in
Limassol, Cyprus
during November
2008.
is all set to go. Glensound produces four its first commentators' system until comprises a commentators' unit and a
codec commentary units; managing 1977. After producing a coaxial system, controller, which houses up to 10
director Gavin Davis says ISDN is the in conjunction with the BBC, for the control modules, one monitor and
biggest area of commentary but, like 1986 Commonwealth Games, intercom module and two independent
others in the market, sees a time when Glensound established itself as a power supplies. A new version of the
its predominance will wane. "It's our manufacturer of commentary DCS is due to be ready in time for the
principal market for commentary equipment and now has a full range of 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
equipment," he said, "but I am two-section systems. Product manager Gustavo Robles said it
convinced that linear audio over IP is Also in this market is CTP Systems, would be "a considerable move on"
the future and ISDN will not be used which manufactures talkback/intercom from the existing system.
any more." systems for OB trucks. It introduced a Glensound already has several two-
There are still doubts about the commentary box to work alongside section models on the market, variously
reliability and stability of IP for live those systems in 1994, good timing as featuring CAT5, coaxial and multi-wire
broadcasting but as the technology is by that point OB companies were connections, plus one with built-in
beginning to be used for distribution as seeing sport take over from ISDN, but now has made the shift to
well as contribution, the shift away entertainment as their main business. digital. The GDC-6432 was introduced in
from ISDN will continue. Glensound is CTP's first commentary system evolved November 2008 and Glensound is
producing an IP codec, while AEQ's from its four-wire talkback units and at confident there is enough of a market
recently launched Phoenix Mobile has
Despite all
the end of June the company will for it. "This is not just digits for the sake
built-in IP capability, although ISDN and
this
launch a new model, the DC2012. To of it," said Gavin Davis. "We've spent a
POTS modules can be fitted.
technological
satisfy demand from broadcasters for lot of time working on the audio
Codecs are beginning to challenge
develop-
more mic/headphone connections this quality, using AES47, to understand
the stand-alone unit, although this will have facilities for two how to make everything work properly
category still requires capability for a
ment, some
commentators and one guest. Although and in a flexible way." The designers
larger number of microphones and commen- the audio is analogue the unit can be say the front end was kept as familiar
headphone connections, supported by
tators would
digitally controlled from a remote as possible, so the commentator would
more sophisticated talkback and
doubtless
position, which, says CTP founder Chris think he or she was running an ordinary
monitoring. The systems look like
like to see
Thorpe, is all part of keeping what Glensound box, with all the digital and
conventional mixers but are still run on commentators do technically as simple control data in a unit that will be
site by the commentary team, although
money spent
as possible but still giving them options installed in an equipment rack or an OB
an engineer will usually be on hand to on warm for what feeds they hear in their truck.
set up everything and help out if
commentary
headphones. Swiss national broadcaster SSR SRG
necessary.
booths
A new player in the stand-alone has appraised the system and sales
The number of players in this field is
rather than
market is German manufacturer Zähl, have been made in Italy to national
smaller, with Glensound again, plus
having to
which also started out in broadcast broadcaster RAI and OB companies
Prospect Electronics and CTP Systems. intercom. The company produced a Frame in Padova, Naples and Milan,
The output from this type of unit
come up
commentators' unit, the CSX-11, to go Alpha News in Arezzo (Florence), and
typically goes to an OB truck, where it with words with its systems and this can also be Videogamma in Cagliari, Sardinia.
is mixed in with crowd effects and any
of wisdom
connected to Riedel's DCP-1016E Broadcasters and OB companies in
other presentation microphones. The
while
control panel. Riedel is taking a larger France and South Africa are beginning
Prospect CMU21 became a staple for
perched on
slice of the OB intercom market these to follow suit, indicating both that
the BBC when it started to phase out days so more truck operators are now digital is continuing its march onwards
the COOBE box (Commentator Operated
windy
either using the CSX-11 or are and commentary in general is being
Outside Broadcast Equipment, gantries considering it. given much more consideration and
pronounced ‘coobie’). It continues to
high up in a
Significant changes are also taking budget than before.
follow the traditional pattern of copper
stadium!
place in the third category of Despite this, some commentators
wiring on individual circuits and XLR commentary product, the big, two- would doubtless like to see money
connections to prevent noise. section system, and digital is behind spent on warm commentary booths
The founder of Glensound, Len Davis, them. AEQ took the lead with its DCS- rather than having to come up with
worked for the BBC before setting up 10, which is the preferred commentary words of wisdom while perched on
his company in 1966 but it didn't make system for the Olympic Games. This windy gantries high up in a stadium.
12 l ibe l may/june 2009 l www.ibeweb.com
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