July 2011 Meeting – Calrec Audio

Even if surround sound origination isn’t on your short-term horizon, you would be wise to learn more about it. Our July 20 meeting presenter, Calrec, has been installing 5.1 channel audio consoles for a while and can teach us a thing or two.

“The goal is to take a look at some of the common misconceptions about 5.1 starting with some fundamentals about the difference between the Sub-Woofer and LFE channel. We progress to understanding the basic principles of downmixing and upmixing. Particular attention is paid the understanding the difference in Lt/Rt and Lo/Ro downmixes. We also look at how very basic upmixing can be achieved on a surround capable console.

“This then leads us to the thorny topic of Dialnorm, its uses and understanding its relationship to loudness and the A/85 ATSC Recommended Practice. We also take a look at what broadcasters need to do to keep a watchful eye on the loudness of the program.”

The presentation will be made by Dave Letson who is the regional director of sales for the western U.S. and Canada. Dave was integral in developing Calrec’s close relationship with Sky as well as its market in the Middle East and Eastern Europe when he worked as a sales manager for the company in the United Kingdom from 2001 to 2008. Letson has a thorough background in live and pre-recorded audio production.

Join us July 20 at noon at TV Magic, 8112 Engineer Road, San Diego. Calrec buys lunch. As always, members and guest are welcome. Meeting should adjourn by 1:30.

June 2011 Meeting – Digital Alert Systems

On May 26th the FCC released its third Notice of Proposed Rule Making regarding Part 11- Emergency Alert System. This document, when adopted, will redefine EAS requirement for broadcasters. Broadcasters are facing a September 30th deadline to have their stations updated with CAP-compliant EAS equipment.

Isn’t it fortuitous the presenter at our June 8th meeting is Bruce Robertson of Digital Alert Systems?  Digital Alert Systems is a leading manufacturer of EAS hardware and software platforms. Bruce will discuss the newly released NPRM as well as other topics such as:

  • EAS accessories for multiple station facilities
  • Future enhancements such as “Text To Speech”
  • The practicality of maintaining FCC required logs electronically
  • Compliance monitoring software

Be sure to attend this very important noon time meeting June 8 from noon till 1:30 PM at TV Magic, 8112 Engineer Road in Kearny Mesa. As always, members and guests are welcome.

 

May 2011 Meeting – Mayah Communications

Daniel Loeffer of Mayah presents “The technology and implementation of Audio over IP using  N/ACIP/SIP for real time audio broadcast radio/ENG for multi-codex vendors. ( Telos, Comrex, Tieline, etc.).”

”Unlike ISDN, which was very simple and reliable, IP however, raises new issues for reliable and quality audio over IP transmission for radio and ENG. (ISDN is fading from the market gradually due to costs and availability).  Factors that influence effective Audio over IP that will be discussed as follows:”

  1. CODEC and compression algorithms: latency, quality and bit rates
  2. N/ACIP and SIP protocol for connectively to all codecs including Telos, Comrex, Tieline and others)
  3. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), RTP  and Voice-over-IP
  4. ADSL vs. SDSL QOS (Quality of Service) for internet transmission
  5. Remote audio over IP: 3G/4G, WLAN, BGAN.

Join us Wednesday, May 11, from noon to 1:30PM at TV Magic, 8112 Engineer Road, in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. Mayah Communications will graciously provide a lunch. As always, members and guests are welcome.

McGraw-Hill Transfers in New Engineer

KGTV chose Andrew Moore, formerly of KERO Bakersfield to fill the staff engineer spot vacated when Frank Cruz recently retired. Andrew says, "I began in 2004 as a video editor for news while going to school. I attended CSU Bakersfield and received a BA in computer science with a minor in art. In 2007, I started apprenticing in the engineering department and was hired in 2008 as an IT/Maintenance engineer. I started here [at KGTV] on April 5th and I’m enjoying San Diego very much."

Scottie Rice Returns to San Diego

Engineer Scottie Rice returned to San Diego and KFMB AM/FM March 28th as staff engineer.

Why?

“The climate in Houston was EL STINKO!! [and] the city of Houston was terrible. I started off in Tyler working as a staff engineer at a TV station, moved to Beaumont to become DOE for Clear Channel. Then on to Houston to KHOU-TV as an ENG and morning engineer.”

How’s KFMB?

A: “It’s great here lots of things to work on here, and Bill and Rich have been very good to me. Glad to be back at the Mighty KuFMuB.”

How long did you work for Clear Channel in San Diego?

A: “Two years working for John Rigg. I missed working there so much, that while in Beaumont I named my American Eskimo puppy, KOGO!”

Family here?

“My parents, brother and his wife and kids are here. Not too mention that Shotgun Tom, Linda, Jack Vincent, John Fewell, Gilbert Smith, and all my engineering buddies are all here.”

 

By the way, Scottie is a collector of old RCA broadcast equipment. If you know of where some might be available, please contact him at KFMB.

Society of Broadcast Engineers