PSI Audio speakers have already shipped to Sotchi in Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics, writes Terry Nelson
RELEC SA, the manufacturer of PSI active monitors and high-end hi-fi speakers, hosted a double celebration at its premises in early October. The Swiss company revealed
that 25 pairs of PSI monitors will be deployed to the broadcast booths at the Winter Olympic Games in Sotchi in 2014. The order comes as Relec clocks up 20 years of producing powered PSI monitors. National print and radio press joined Relec staff and Italian PSI distributor VDM Group in Yverdon, Switzerland to recognise the occasion. PSI monitors drawn from the A-14, A-17 and A-21 models will be used to equip the broadcast booths for all the commentary teams in the large ice rink for all of the skating events. There is also the possibility that more speakers will be required for the ice hockey at a later date. PSI’s Marc Chablaix said that
the order was “further recognition of the qualities of PSI active monitors, which are already in use by major
UNITED KINGDOM Twin new training offers from IABM By Erica Basnicki
THE IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) Training Academy has introduced two new training courses designed specifically for broadcast engineers.
Network Essentials for
Broadcast Engineers takes place in Reading, UK on 4-5 December. It’s a hands-on course that addresses the transition of the broadcast and media production world from a customised environment with dedicated interconnections
between specific-to-function hardware to general-purpose hardware, bespoke software, and IP-based network interconnects. The second course being
introduced is Compression Fundamentals and Applications. This explores the role of compression as a fundamental
Alain Roux (left) and Marc Chablaix with a selection of PSI monitors
broadcasters internationally as well as studios”. Five other brands of monitor are reported to have pitched for the order. The brainchild of the company founder, Alain Roux, the PSI Series was one of the first active monitor ranges to be released to the pro-audio market in 1992. The speakers featured such innovations as active two- way crossovers, matched power amplifiers and specially developed drivers. PSI Audio speakers have found a home in many prestigious establishments
including IRCAM in Paris, the studios of France Télévision and NHK in Hong Kong. For Roux, accuracy is crucial. He said: “Studio monitors should not have a ‘sound’ but just reproduce what is in the programme content with respect to phase and frequency response.” VDM Group CEO, Igor Fiorini, added: “PSI speakers are like a professional camera with sophisticated lenses – you get the image and the clarity without any artefacts.” The current range of PSI
includes six full-range models plus the Sub A225-M. The latter can be equipped with the optional R&B management system, which provides routing and bass management functions for up to eight speaker channels and three monitor channels, together with channel configurations within a multichannel set-up. Relec SA is typical of the small, self-contained Swiss high- precision manufacturer… and they intend to keep it that way.n www.psiaudio.com
building block of AV environments and how it enables functionality not possible with uncompressed media. Attendees will gain a fundamental understanding of video compression and how the science can be applied to preserve and optimise image quality – an essential for success – in operational environments. This course will be held on 11-12 December, also in Reading. n www.iabmacademy.org
For the latest broadcast news
SOUNDBITES
German hip-hop group Fanta 4 recently reprised their 2000 MTV Unpluggedperformance at the Balve Cave, with Rastatt-based Audio Broadcast Services (ABS) providing Lawo mixing desks for the broadcast. Two mc²56 consoles were used; a 48-fader version at FOH and a 64-fader version (48 plus a 16-fader extender) for monitors, especially configured for 96 aux channels.
The BBC has launched a new version of its iPlayer system specifically for radio. BBC iPlayer Radio went live on Monday 8 October allowing live programmes and archive material to be listened to in a variety of ways. This includes on PCs, smartphones (a new app is available for iOS with an Android version to follow) and other mobile devices, including tablet computers. www.bbc.co.uk/radio
Danish event and television production specialist dbLux has taken delivery of a new outside broadcast truck, fitted with a DiGiCo SD10B digital console. dbLux was recently awarded a contract to relay 300 Superliga (Denmark’s top football league) football matches over the next three years. Built to conform to EBU R128 loudness standards, the truck’s SD10B was supplied by DiGiCo’s Danish distributor Soundware A/S. www.dblux.dkwww.digico.org
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, the UK’s largest advertising agency, has purchased four licenses for Emotion Systems’ automatic loudness analysis and repair software, eFF Audio. AMV BBDO is the first advertising agency to purchase eFF Audio, which has been installed in the master control room at the company’s in-house post-production facility, the LAB.