MULTIPLE CITIES -- As new technology enables video producers to squeeze more channels into their productions, it also creates significant problems, such as synchronization, which makes sure that the sound matches what is on the screen, as well as proper channel allocation, volume and balancing.
HARRIS BROADCAST
Harris’ VTM Series
Harris Broadcast makes a range of audio monitoring devices that can improve a final project, said Paul Keller, the company’s product manager of Videotek Test & Measurement. With all of the high-tech audio currently being used, it is almost impossible to produce anything without a good audio monitor.
“It would be like driving a car with no instruments on the dashboard,” Keller said. “You don’t know how fast you are going and you don’t have any gauges. You can get along that way for a while, but eventually you will get caught speeding or break down. With audio you really need something to guide production,” he said.
A lot of audio and video equipment has built-in monitors for audio signals, but many built-in systems do not provide a level of control sufficiently fine for a top-notch production, Keller said. Harris’ VTM Series of multiformat on-screen monitors are popular. Cost-effective, they can measure HD/SD SDI, ASI and PAL/NTSC analog composite or component video, or Dolby E and Dolby Digital audio. The VTM 4100 is used widely because it is customizable, including just the features that a producer needs for their work, he added.
Videotek CMN-91
Another device well fitted for government producers is the Videotek Compact Monitor Series. Small and portable, the CMN-91 tests signal quality across all DTV formats up to 3 GB. It possesses two SDI inputs and provides selectable waveform, vector, gamut, timing and picture full-screen display. The CMN-91 can meter all 16 channels of embedded audio or one AES input, Keller said. Their size and portability make them suitable for fieldwork where most government training video is shot.
LEADER INSTRUMENTS
Producers may also be interested in two versions of Leader Instruments’s new portable audio monitors, the LV5838 and the LV5837.
Leader Instruments Corp.’s LV5838 and LV5837 They share such common features as level meters, surround sound, loudness measurement, Dolby, status display and error log functions. The LV5837 can process up to 16 channels of discrete AES/EBU audio inputs.
The LV5838 includes all features of the LV5837, plus it supports of 3G/HD/SD-SDI embedded audio and 16 channels of AES/EBU inputs or outputs, the company said.
TEKTRONIX
Tektronix’s WVR7200 Tektronix offers a range of waveform monitor and waveform rasterizers for measuring and monitoring the real-time performance of video and audio. For example, the WVR7200 provides a monitoring tool set for optimum sound quality. Loudness monitoring ensures consistent audio loudness levels between programs and commercials. Sixteen channels of embedded audio levels can be monitored, as well as Dolby audio.
Tektronix’ WVR8200 and WVR8300 Waveform Rasterizers are better suited for multi-format environments, providing flexible options and field-installable upgrade kits to monitor diverse video and composite analog video. Both come with Dual Link SDI (which meets Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers standard 372M), compliant monitoring, automatic format detection (SMPTE 352M) and selectable display.
VOLICON
Volicon’s Observer Transport Stream screen shot Volicon produces the Observer Transport Stream loudness monitoring system that broadcasters can use for content monitoring, troubleshooting, resolution and regulatory proof of conformance, said Andrew Sachs, the company’s vice president of product management. Agencies also use the system as a sort of electronic clipping service, Sachs said.
WARD-BECK SYSTEMS
Ward-Beck Systems’ AMS8-1 Ward-Beck Systems offers a range of digital audio monitors, including the rack-mounted AMS8-1 and AMS16. The AMS8-1 handles and displays (using LCD bar meters) four AES digital audio inputs (eight channels), while the AMS16 handles/displays eight AES digital audio inputs (16 channels). Ward-Beck is set to launch a multichannel audio digital interface monitor called the 32 ME, said Eugene Johnson, managing director of Ward-Beck Systems.
Ward-Beck Systems’ AMS16 MADI originally was designed to allow multiple AES audio channels to be multiplexed onto a single cable and transported between an audio console and a digital audio workstation, Johnson said. MADI is becoming more popular with large television stations and mobile applications because it is a cost-efficient method to transport up to 64 channels of AES digital audio over a single cable. Normal video can only support 16 channels of embedded audio on a single cable and MADI increases that number fourfold, Johnson said.
“The problem faced in the field is that you need an expensive console or a DAW with MADI capabilities to de-multiplex the audio in order to monitor it, meter it and separate the channels,” Johnson said. “The 32ME is a cost-effective device that performs these three functions and can be deployed anywhere along the signal path to ensure that the correct signals arrive at the final destination.”
It also has a headset jack to listen to the audio and provides a two-channel monitor output that can be connected to a rack-mount speaker system, Johnson said. The 64 decoded AES channels will also be available on the rear panel on DB-25 connectors, he added.
WOHLER TECHNOLOGIES
Wohler Technologies’ AMP1-16M Wohler Technologies also has a range of audio-monitoring systems, covering from two to 16 channels with its top-end AMP2-16V Series supporting 16 channels of embedded audio, multi-rate 3G/HD/SD-SDI, AES, or analog audio inputs and outputs audio monitoring with Dolby D/E/DD+ decoding capability encased in a chassis that occupies two rack units. Synchronization is still an issue, but many of the new monitoring systems have dramatically reduced such concerns, said Martin Winsemius, a company engineer.
Wohler Technologies’ AMP2-16V Wohler’s latest product is the AMP1-16M, a device for monitoring only serial digital interface audio, Winsemius said. It provides instantaneous selection and summing of any grouping of SDI audio pairs, features adjustable volume and balance controls, clear display of levels with configurations that can be created, saved and recalled via Ethernet connection using an intuitive PC interface, he said.
“By keeping everything small sized and omitting extra inputs, it is a really handy and easy-to-use device,” Winsemius said. “This is something that agencies can use for training video. It brings the whole cost into a lower price range and it’s easy to work with.”
