In Broadcast - June 2014 - 40

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 32 - JUNE 2014

N E W S

InSTUDIO

Clear Channels - Intercom And Talkback
InBroadcast rounds up the latest in intercom
technology for production communications...

By Adrian Pennington
Contributing Editor

L

40

ive broadcasting is about
delivering the highest quality
programming, instantly and on
cue. As viewers' expectations
of broadcasting change, your
production communication
becomes increasingly more critical
- there is no second take.
Managing a busy broadcast
schedule requires coordination
between the newsroom, production
control room, electronic news
gathering area, master control and
studio, and mobile units, making
reliable communications a must.
Dubbed the industry's ﬁrst digital
network partyline intercom system,
the HelixNet from Clear-Com has
recently been extended with two
new units; HRM-4X Remote Station
and HKB-2X Speaker Station.
The former provides access to
four simultaneous channels of
intercom, plus programme audio.
It receives audio data, control data,
and DC power via the same cable,
and has the additional capability to
be locally powered via an external
power supply or use Power-overEthernet connection.
HKB-2X also receives four
channels of intercom over a single
cable, is able to monitor all four
and communicate on two of those
channels at any given time. The
user can also receive and monitor
a separate level-controllable
programme feed. It can be mounted
in a four-gang wall box or be used
with the new S-Mount enclosure.
Clear-Com's ProGrid is new ﬁbrebased infrastructure based on the
open AES3 and AES10 (MADI)
standards enabling distribution of
audio, intercom, video and data
signals on the same network.
"The addition of ProGrid allows us
to offer not just communications
systems but also the glue that binds
the entire network together," said
Head of Product Management,
Simon Browne. "It extends ClearCom's reach into new markets
that require fibre-based signal
distribution."
New for 2014 from CTP Systems
is a desktop monitor controller
designed especially for the edit
suite. Available with either SDI or
AES inputs the DMD400/DMA400
unit controls levels for four input

channels. Each channel may be
selected to any or all of the four
outputs with blue illuminated halo
switch indication. The units have
up to four frames of audio delay for
synchronising with system picture
monitors switchable in single ﬁeld
increments.

Available with either SDI or AES
inputs the CTP Systems DMD400/
DMA400 unit controls levels for four
input channels

The ﬁrm's DC2012 is a progression
from its successful DC99-II
commentary box. In a sturdy two
piece steel chassis with custom
manufactured protective handles,
the device has a white LCD with
six control push buttons. It may be
easily locked to prevent operator
adjustment. It includes three
microphone ampliﬁers with builtin limiters, separate line level mic
outputs with a mixed output facility,
four lazy talkback outputs and ten
available monitoring inputs adding
to its flexibility.
CTP also markets a good
old-fashioned boombox for use
anywhere relatively simple talkback
is required. Its range of boomboxes
features headphone monitoring with
inputs switchable left/right/both ears
and a single keyed talkback output.
The new FW2010 is a simple but
high quality two in, two out, fourwire box switchable with open
talkback on output two.
Sonifex are a company that
specialises in developing niche
products for niche applications, as
evidenced by their growing Redbox

CTP Systems FW2010 offers a simple
two in, two out, four-wire box

Clear-Com has added the HRM-4X Remote Station and
HKB-2X Speaker Station to its HelixNet system

range, mainly developed as audio
and video 'glue' to piece together
the larger elements of an audio/
video installation.
Sonifex took a step into the
'communications' world three
years ago with the release of a
dedicated 1U rackmount four-wire/
IFB talkback intercom unit. For
use in OB trucks, TV production
galleries, audio booths and
backstage theatre communications,
the CM-TB8 offers eight channels
of four-wire communications with
two IFB circuits. It has the usual
features of: individual channel level
controls, speaker with mute and
dim functions, headphone output,
mic/headset input with phantom
power, etc, but it also has some
interesting additions.

Sonifex's CM-TBG add-in card for
the CM-TB8 provides two GSM lines

The unit has a built in line-up
tone generator for easy channel
identiﬁcation and cabling checks.
This allows a much simpler
installation since each output
can be individually recognised on
connection. It has an Ethernet port
so that it can be conﬁgured from a
web-browser and altered on-the-ﬂy
from a remote location, or just more
simply from a desk position, rather
than having to go to the front panel
of the rack. It also allows new user
features to be added simply.
The most recent unique addition
to the controller is the ability to
add a dual GSM or dual POTS
(telephony) card into the unit so that
you can have six channels of fourwire/IFB and 2 channels of either
GSM/POTS/IFB connectivity. This
allows a cameraman, interviewer,
commentator or anchorman to
be in a remote location and still
receive talkback, and talk to the

producer, over GSM (Note: without
the need for expensive wireless
equipment, which for one channel
can cost as much as the CM-TB8
itself). Whilst it doesn't offer a
totally wireless solution, it does
provide a cheap half-way house to
allow communications over a nonwired connection.
The GSM modules have separate
antenna connections on the rear
panel and are conﬁgured via the
embedded web server. This provides
access to features including network
selection, telephone number
storage and phone logs. Telephone
calls are made and received directly
on the CM-TB8 using the channel
controls to speed dial the required
telephone number. IFB modes are
fully supported on the telephone
channels allowing selected input
signals to be routed to a connected
telephone call.
Riedel Communications'
MediorNet real-time media network
has been updated with full videorouter functionality, interoperability
with Studer consoles, and extended
integration of the ProBel protocol.
"MediaNet 2.0 gives users a ﬂexible,
easy-to-operate alternative to
conventional video routers,"
explained Product Manager
Karsten Schragmann.
The firmware update includes
robust video router functionality
claiming switching delays of less
than 40 milliseconds, as well as
high-speed rerouting that allows
as many as 1000 connections to
be rerouted in less than a second.
There's Studer A-Link compatibility,

Bexel's Falcon Sportscaster Unit
features an AVB interface, developed
by Riedel
CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

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