OXFORD, England—Solid State Logic has launched its Tempest Control App (TCA) supporting the next generation of live-to-air broadcast production and will showcase the app as well as hardware additions for its System T modular AoIP-native platform at the 2024 NAB Show, April 13-17, in Las Vegas.

TCA, a virtualized fully featured software control interface, opens the door to new system design possibilities and offers broadcasters production and operational advantages as well as economic efficiencies, the company said.

It enables operators to control every aspect of System T mixing, routing, processing and monitoring from a touchscreen. TCA directly controls System T’s DSP and is compatible with all new and existing Tempest Engines, including virtualized cloud-based processing, it said.

Additional hardware control can be integrated with TCA when needed. For instance, operator positions requiring fader tiles can be incorporated into furniture for studio installations or deployed in flypacks for remote applications, it said.

The app also provides a robust, cost-effective alternative for backup systems and compact or second-operator positions, it said.

Any combination of System T hardware and software control interfaces can be used across the entire system, and all System T control interfaces offer a unified operator experience, it said.

TCA can run at home on a local PC, on a virtual machine on a shared server or in the cloud.

Solid State Logic will also show the latest developments for the immersive/NGA production tool kit for its System T broadcast audio production platform. Offering object and channel-based immersive production via specifically designed features and integrations, System T makes producing next-generation content simple and effective, it said.

Using System T’s flagship S500m large-format modular console paired with a 5.1.4 monitoring system, the company will demonstrate the latest features of its immersive audio production toolkit for live-to-air broadcast and music production applications, it said.

More information is available on the company’s website.

See Solid State Logic at NAB Show booth C6307.

WATERTOWN, Mass.—When NESN moved out of Boston’s Fenway Park and into a 40,000-plus-square-foot. Building in Watertown, Mass. 14 years ago we became the first regional sports network to broadcast every single Red Sox and Bruins NHL game in HD.

Along with the move to HD, we also began to lay the foundation to transition to 5.1 audio by purchasing two 32-fader Solid State Logic C100 digital broadcast mixing consoles, one for each of the two new studios.

Today, NESN uses audio to create a more captivating live sports experience.

MOVE TO DANTE

Two years ago, we decided to replace the C100s with the intention of adopting a Dante audio-over-IP infrastructure and eventually move to AES67. We felt moving NESN’s core audio infrastructure on a Dante network would be beneficial because hundreds of manufacturers and products support Dante, offering a high level of integration going into the future.

We were also looking for a console that could handle live pre- and post-game productions in our studios, as well as live game programming. Plus, the mixing platform needed to integrate tightly with our Ross OverDrive automation and Evertz EMR router. SSL’s System T broadcast platform met all of our requirements, so in February 2019, we commissioned twin System T S500 consoles with 48-fader control surfaces, each with redundant Tempest processing engines, together with a number of SSL’s Network I/O interfaces.

In our facility, the System T consoles manage more than 300 active inputs—a mix of native Dante, analog, AES, SMPTE ST 2110 and SDI-based sources. Operators can switch between different layers on the 48-fader surfaces—for instance, one layer could be the pregame setup, which flips with the press of a button to the game programming build. The Tempest T80 Engine has an 800-path capacity, and we are nowhere near maxing that out. We are now using close to 400 paths after adding an extra control room and integrating more Dante-enabled peripherals to handle added productions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dante integration is key to the flexibility that System T has brought to NESN’s operations. In a traditional audio infrastructure, physical cables are needed for each individual signal path. With Dante, the individual cables are not necessary as long as all the devices are connected to the same network; audio signals could be made available everywhere and anywhere inside NESN and at remote sites. This made the entire process for NESN engineering and the audio engineers to implement and support new audio consoles much easier.

EASY PATH TO SET UP

A1 and NESN engineering now support all the network audio controls to all edge devices without getting involved in physical point-to-point infrastructure for each edge device. If we need more I/O we just plug in a suitable Dante device and it’s instantly available everywhere on the network. We can add any device from any control room, studio or master control. Yet there is a layer of protection that prevents one console from taking a route from the other, so you can never inadvertently affect the setup in the control room next door.

Even though the new T platform has been designed from scratch with a new OS, our A1s required minimal time to get up to speed on the new system. The control interface is very flexible—some of our operators prefer to use the touchscreens, others prefer the hardware panels. We also utilize the SOLSA (SSL On/Offline Setup Application) software, which can access console routing and resources we can’t control from, say, Ross OverDrive.

The rapid development of consumer television and audio devices over the last decade has expanded the range of listening experiences. NESN’s move to next-generation audio-capable devices fits our roadmap to stay ahead of the curve and enhance the home viewers’ viewing and listening experiences.

Fahad Haider serves as CTO and vice president of engineering at New England Sports Network. He has led efforts to implement new strategies to enhance operations, production, engineering and transmission workflows and efficiencies utilizing established and emerging products. He can be contacted at sports@nesn.com.

For more information, visit www.solidstatelogic.com.

OXFORD, England—Solid State Logic has announced the latest version of its System T broadcast platform, which is designed to expand AoIP integration for direct console routing control for ST 2110-30 and AES67 streams as well as an embedded operating system upgrade for remote production and increased IP expansion and connectivity.

This new version of System T, v3.0, provides new functionality across the whole console range, including the S500, S500m and TCR. It also builds on previous enhancements like NGA and immersive audio, and DAW and dynamic automation, SSL says.

The platform has migrated to Windows 10 Embedded for reduced development cycles and advanced feature deployment. It also has added support for TeamViewer, which enables consoles to be remotely accessed through a standard internet connection.

“System T provides the most advanced AoIP integration of any audio console, supporting Dante, AES67 and ST 2110 on the same hardware interfaces, with full discovery and dynamic routing of any Dante enabled devices directly from the console GUI,” said Tom Knowles, SSL Broadcast product manager. “With this new level of management and control, the System T console becomes your routing control system for AoIP of any variety.”

Additional updates have been made to System T’s onboard Effects Rack with a new reverb with degenerative noise controls, a 10-band parametric EQ with FFT overlay, plus an overhaul of channel and bus path presets.

For more information, visit www.solidstatelogic.com.  

BOSTON—WHDH, the Sunbeam Television Corp.-owned independent station in Boston, has deployed Solid State Logic’s System T broadcast audio production console to replace an SSL C100 console in continuous service for about 14 years, SSL announced.

“The C100 has been a fantastic workhorse, but it was time to replace it and get on SSL’s current platform, which is fully Dante-compatible,” says Jim Shultis, director of engineering at the station.

The new System T consists of a Tempest T25 256-path processing engine and a three-bay, 48-fader S500 control surface with a meter bridge.

At the end of 2016, the station announced it would begin airing more than 80 hours of news a week as it lost its NBC affiliation—up from the eight to nine hours per day it was producing. Solid State Logic’s System T, which makes it easy to create mix-minuses for IFBs to reporters in the field and talent on set, was a good choice for an SSL C100 replacement given the station’s news commitment, says Art Murphy, assistant engineering assistant at WHDH. 

“We have 24 mix-minuses going on,” he says. “We could wire more if we wanted to, but 24 is a good number for us.” Noting that setting up mix-minuses on the System T is different than on the C100, Murphy says that “once you get used to it, it’s a little bit more logical—a more direct process.”

At the same time WHDH installed its C100 console in 2006, it installed a new video switcher, which was swapped out two years ago for a new switcher. “But the C100 just kept going,” says Shultis, adding that it is more difficult to replace an audio console than a video switcher.

However, System T’s native support for Dante made its installation easier than installing the C100, says Murphy. “We put stage boxes in our newsroom, where all our main mics are,” he explains. “So all of our mic wiring became a lot easier, wiring right into those stage boxes. Then, we use Dante to bring those into the network switch. It really makes a much cleaner installation as well,” says Murphy, adding that a second studio is used for production.

System T is different operationally from the C100. It offers an assignable rotary encoder, which is quite different from the knob-per-function C100 strip. “It takes time to get used to, but once you do, it’s very flexible,” says Murphy. 

PLUS: Solid State Logic Focusing on AoIP

System T’s flexibility makes it easy to accommodate multiple operators at the station, each of whom can configure the console to meet individual needs.

“One thing we do like is that we have one show file and a bunch of scenes,” says Shultis. “The operator can load the main show file, but then everyone has their own scene. So it’s really easy for an operator to come in and load their scene up and have the board exactly the way he or she wants it. And they load really quick. That’s a nice feature.”

More information is available on the Solid State Logic website.

OXFORD, U.K.—Solid State Logic has announced the release of V2.3 System T broadcast production platform with new features for the range of System T consoles, including S500, S500m, S300 and TCR.

Used for live broadcast applications, event space audio, recoding and post-production, the latest release includes DAW control, immersive audio, dynamic automation, patch manager CSV files, access control, event manager, scene automation and an on-board FX rack, the company said.

Solid State Logic also announced the Network I/O V4.0 update with support for SMPTE ST2110, ST 2059-2 and ST 2022-7 for all devices, providing AoIP and Dante technology simultaneously on the same chipset, allowing organizations to use IP networks for both infrastructure and console-based routing workflows without proprietary hardware TDM routers. It also adds TSL UMDv5 support, which provides operators with information about the source currently on each fader.

Signal path checking is simplified with an additional tone injected on the channel input, and a new per-path-talkback inject for channel and bus direct outputs enhances communications switching and conferencing, the company said.

System T’s Event Manager offers graphical and user-programmable macro functionality for GPIOs, console functions, MIDI, AFV Ember+, user keys, fader starts and scene triggers. The release of V2.3 adds path event control. Three controls per path offer up to 2,400 additional assignable switches, which can be controlled via touchscreen or hardware quick controls above the faders, the company said.

The V2.3 release also adds Dante Domain Manager (DDM) login directly to the console software. Support for Network I/O Dante HC SRC, SB 32.24 and SB 16.12 SRC has been added. The release also includes additions and updates for the onboard FX rack.

T-SOLSA provides System T control software for standalone computers or virtualize servers.

More information is available on the Solid State Logic website.

FORT MYERS, FLA.—Waterman Broadcasting has installed two identical Solid State Logic System T audio production consoles –one for its WBBH-TV NBC affiliate, the other for WZVN-TV, the Montclair Communications ABC affiliate it operates under a local marketing agreement, in twin control rooms with a Tempest Control Rack for backup and disaster recover.

“The primary role of the station is news and we do, depending on how you want to count them, 19 to 21 newscasts per day over the two stations,” said Waterman Broadcasting director of production Bob Hannon.

“The two stations are in one building, the news staffs are in one building, but the shows are produced completely separately. It’s like working in the Ark: we have two of everything.”

Each console system consists of a 32-fader S300 control surface with a T25 256 path engine and 512 channels of I/O. The Tempest Control Rack serves as a backup that can be controlled via a desktop touchscreen.

The setup ensures the broadcaster does not have a single point of failure, an important design consideration for Waterman given Fort Myers’ hurricane-prone location. During a hurricane, the stations begin simulcasting the same programming on both channels.

The system Waterman installed enables the broadcaster to “do everything from one spot,” said Hannon. The flexibility of the S300 allows operators in one control room to access every audio source in the facility.

“It also lets us use one control room for x amount of time, have the other control room fired up and ready, let them take over, and that gives us time to do any preventive maintenance or just let things breathe in the first control room for a little while,” he said.

Hannon also identified ease of use as an important factor contributing to the broadcaster’s decision to select the S300. Most of Hannon’s 42-member staff are in their first jobs and have been trained in-house, making ease of use especially important.

While the S300 is “a powerful board,” he said, “it’s simple in its design, and that’s what drew me to it,” said Hannon.

"I’m a firm believer that the simpler you keep it the more you can do, the better your productions are, and the better your product is. And that’s what System T allows us to do.”

OXFORD—Solid State Logic will spotlight the latest enhancements to its System T software architecture at the 2018 IBC Show, Sept. 13-17 at the RAI in Amsterdam.

The new S300-32 is a 32-fader compact broadcast console for SSL’s System T broadcast audio production platform, featuring a fixed layout control surface. The S300 integrates with SSL’s System T control, Network I/O and processing engines, or in standalone arrangements.

The System T S300 fully incorporates arbitrated radio and control resource sharing to SSL’s Network I/O range, for all Tempest platform-based consoles. This means the S300’s System T can bounce from one control room to another within the same facility, or be added on as a backup surface to the larger S500.

To add to that flexibility, SSL has also added more System T and I/O transport, routing and control devices to its suite. The TCM1 and Network I/O has GPIO 32 units that allow direct LTC, MIDI, and GPIO connectivity to System T’s Event Manager software. TCMI will thrive in music production and post production workflows due to its standard LTC (XLR) and MIDI (DIN) connections, along with two USB ports and 25-way GPIO ports. Each of these connects to System T through USB.

Also new is SSL’s immersive audio implementation for System T, with support for ATSC 3.0, Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H. To accommodate the emergence of 3-D audio immersive audio in film and broadcast, SSL offers new 3-axis coordinate panning for System T, which uses 2 and 4-channel overhead speakers for available channel and bus formats.

To compliment the channel and bus, SSL has a 12-channel monitoring system — with 49 inputs formed as one primary input and a 12-channel AFL monitor bus, together with a pair of 12-channel insert points for internal processing and “rendering engine returns.” These features work especially well within multilanguage productions, according to SSL.

SSL will be in Stand 8.D83.

LAS VEGAS—The 2018 NAB Show will serve as the official launch of Solid State Logic’s (SSL) System T v2.0 software, which puts immersive audio for ATSC 3.0, Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H at the heart of this IP-based broadcast audio production platform’s architecture.

With the emergence of 3D immersive audio in broadcast and film, System T’s new three-axis co-ordinate panning incorporates two- or four-channel overhead speakers into the available channel and bus formats; and positions mono and stereo sources in a 3D sound field. System T can also fine-tune spatial components as multichannel 3D sources are added to the mix.

Completing System T’s immersive feature set is a collection of processing tools and intelligent down-mixing. It also supports formats, such as 5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1.2 and 7.1.4 (with side channels and rear channels), as well as 4.0.4, which is designed for beds and stems to ensure that the center channel remains available for dialogue and commentary.

System T v2.0 also introduces “appified” software, whereby software interface components launch as separate applications that are available across multi-screen control surfaces and PC control stations.

SSL is also introducing the most comprehensive DAW control available in a broadcast console. It makes full use of System T touchscreen and hardware controls and includes a dedicated screen interface for control over the DAW mixer environment and transport controls. SSL will also demonstrate v2.0 with its S500, S300, Tempest Control Rack (TCR) systems,and complete network I/O range, with demos of its SSL Live console.

The 2018 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 9-12. Solid State Logic will be in booth C3026. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

Read up on all of TVT's NAB Show Sneak Peeks and other 2018 NAB Show news here.

CROATIA—Solid State Logic’s System T broadcast audio production environment is experiencing Croatia first hand, as the system was recently installed into a mobile production vehicle for the country’s national television network, Nova TV. The HD OB Van 3 has already been used for a number of Nova TV productions, including music and sporting events.

The System T unit in the truck consists of a 48-fader main surface with full meter bridge, plus the Tempest engine and a redundant Dante network. SSL Network I/O Stageboxes provide inputs and outputs for deployment outside the truck, while more Network I/O provides SDI, AES, and analog I/O inside the truck. An SSL Network IO SDI embedder/de-embedder with Dante and MADI connectivity is also available for embedding audio tracks from the network to multiple video channels.

System T uses both physical identities and logical identities for the Dante network I/O, with a layered tagging and filtering system. Combined with Dante’s distributed routing and plug-and-play discoverability features, any input or output on the network can be found without proprietary crosspoint routing systems.

The HD OB Van 3 truck measures in at 14 meters long, has double width extensions and features 16 cameras and a large video production gallery.