Echo TV

Wireless microphone and ear monitor system in ECHO TV (also!)

Excerpt from MédiaTechnika magazine…

As we already reported in our previous issue, ECHO TV has moved to a new location

Along with this, every studio was equipped with a wireless SHURE PSM1000 in-ear monitor system and also a wireless SHURE ULX-D microphone system.

In the renovated and significantly rebuilt building, in addition to the video system, the complete wireless microphone and ear monitor systems were also replaced. We asked Lajos Varga, ECHO TV’s technical director, and Péter Almay, the technical manager responsible for sound, about the experiences and events that have taken place since the commissioning.

In the past, you used wireless systems with other technologies, what changes did the switch bring about in terms of operation?

Lajos Varga: Expressed in one sentence: the many changes have changed our lives to a great extent. In more detail: practically every wireless device and the technological change itself meant a lot of new things for us. Of course, we have encountered wireless devices before, but it is completely different to work with a new system or manage it with the routine acquired in daily use. It was a big challenge that we had to learn the new knowledge in the shortest possible time, in the middle of the move.

As with any such major change, the race against time was obviously a big problem. How did you overcome these difficulties? –

Péter Almay: Indeed, shortness of time was our greatest enemy. During the planning and commissioning of the system, Broadcast Solution Hungary and Eurhythmics kft. expert colleagues were there to help us. Conciliation negotiations, quick and efficient organization and system installation prevented many problems that may have arisen only later. Eurhythmics Kft. – as the exclusive distributor of Shure products in Hungary – provided us with direct, manufacturer product support. Within the framework of this, even before the order, a preliminary planning of a complex radio frequency and antenna network covering both the existing and the equipment to be purchased was carried out, which of course was repeated during the final installation and commissioning, supported by on-site radio frequency measurements. Based on this, the radio frequency allocation of the entire wireless system was configured.

Did getting to know and learn to operate the SHURE PSM1000 wireless ear monitor system cause any serious difficulties?

Péter Almay: Experience also shows that this is indeed a mature product. According to our knowledge and based on conversations with other TV colleagues, these systems have been working without problems in many countries around the world and in Hungary for years. We work with metal housing receivers with real diversity receiver technology. At first glance, the system seems very complex, despite the fact that it provides a lot of services, but it is very easy to use. The user-friendly structure was a surprise for us, almost all functions are located exactly where we think, i.e. a logically structured menu system and user interface help our work. All of our receivers are supplied with an intelligent factory battery and charger, which also makes our daily work easier.

And what are your experiences with the SHURE ULX-D wireless microphone system? What did the switch from analog to digital mean to you?

Péter Almay: Here too, as in other areas of life, technological change and the abandonment of old habits were an inevitable step. In a modern television studio, in addition to picture quality, sound quality is also essential. Here in the new location, a fully digital image and sound system is already in operation!

Lajos Varga: When looking for equipment for the new headquarters, it was important to have a tested, reliably working system, and since Shure’s ULX-D system has been working very reliably for many, many years in 0-24 hour operation in a broadcast environment, that is why it was chosen. to the product. The audio signal travels through a digital signal stream starting from the microphone capsule and the transmitter, which also enables encryption of the RF signal. Then we proceed with redundant Dante protocol from the receiver.

And the experiences? The increased dynamic range, the sound quality, the handheld and pocket transmitters both have a robust, durable metal housing, which is important for heavy use and, like the ear monitor receivers, they were also purchased with a factory battery and charger. Our daily work is made easier by the fact that ear monitor receivers, hand-held transmitters or even pocket transmitters can be charged with the same charging-docking station, so in the event of a failure, not only the intelligent Li-Ion batteries, but also the charging units can be exchanged. The implementation of redundancy in as many places as possible was a fundamental aspect for the sake of operational safety.

You mentioned the Dante network. Are there any other new applications that have just been introduced that came with the wireless systems?

Péter Almay: Yes, we have a complete Dante network from the starting point to the ear monitor transmitter unit, here the D/A conversion at the endpoints is also provided by Shure devices – ANI4OUT I/O boxes. But, we have another network also built with cat6 cable, for Shure equipment. We use Shure Wireless Work Bench 6, WWB6 for short. It is a complex software. It is not only suitable for displaying the current device status, such as: indicating the remaining battery operating time, checking the RF or audio signal level or even setting the gain on the receiver side resulting from the technology, but it also combines measurement, design and control functions.

So, from the perspective of more than half a year since the start, how do you feel? Were you able to use the possibilities provided by the software?

Péter Almay: We only use the RF measuring part very carefully, and the planning part not at all. On the one hand, because e.g. the redesign and even an accidental movement in the entire system can result in a significant and unwanted change, on the other hand, because experience has also shown that we work with a very stable RF allocation. Simply put, no system configuration intervention was required since launch. Of course, we use the monitor function on a daily basis, it makes work much easier. But, since the program records events with wireless equipment 24 hours a day, we have already seen its advantages.

You have piqued my interest. Can you give a specific example?

Lajos Varga: Up to now, detailed post-analysis has only been carried out twice. It is a fact, however, that if we had not had a documented event log of the wireless systems, we would not have been able to deduce the root causes afterwards, or only based on what was said. We also involved the Eurhythmics team in the analysis of the cases, and in the end, we were able to reconstruct the events in a reassuring and accurate manner based on the events described by our colleagues and the momentary, but comprehensive and detailed information provided by the wireless Shure systems.