Abekas, a Menlo Park, California-based developer of TV production gear, has added a new audio masking feature to its
AirCleaner profanity suppression system.
Audio Jumble complements the product’s existing video “defocus” feature that instantly masks visually offensive content in a live program feed. By pressing a video masking button on the two-button user control panel, the video can be gradually (or instantly) re-focused, based on a user-programmable setting.
When Audio Jumble is activated by a similar audio masking button on the user control panel, a specially designed algorithm seamlessly jumbles the live audio stream inside AirCleaner. The result is reliable masking of all offensive spoken dialogue, but without losing aural continuity within the broadcast program. Unrelated audio “safe feeds” remain unchanged, and there are no “beep tones” frequently used to mask offending audio. The offensive dialogue comes across as an unintelligible foreign language.
The Audio Jumble is a standard feature in AirCleaner and is now shipping in the product. This feature is available to existing AirCleaner users free of charge, through a software update.
AirCleaner can be configured as a single- or dual user system. In dual-user mode, the system is configured as two delay systems connected in series and operated by two persons, each with their own user control panel. Two models are available, Model 1 offers maximum delay of 68 seconds in SD and 12 seconds in HD. Model 2 offers delays of 34 seconds in SD and 6 seconds in HD.
The Abekas name has a long rich history in the broadcast industry. Most recently known as Àccom before shuttering its doors in 2005, the company was re-incorporated under the Abekas name and is managed by original Abekas founders Junaid Sheikh and Phil Bennett.