TV Tech talked with Greg Siers, director of sales, Americas, ahead of NAB Show New York. Attendees can find the company on the show floor of the Javits Center in booth 1031.

TV TECH: What is TSL Products most looking forward to at NAB Show New York?

GREG SIERS: TSL always looks forward to the chance to catch up with our customers face-to-face at NAB Show New York. Our focus is on listening to our customers to then deliver innovative solutions that add value for them. There’s no substitute for doing that in person while visiting the greatest city on the planet!

TVT: What will be TSL Products’ most important product news?

SIERS: TSL is a leading specialist in audio monitoring, broadcast control solutions and power management systems. We are excited to highlight several new and award-winning solutions at NAB Show NY including X-Connect, SAM-Q-NET, TM-TALLY and Intelligent Power Management systems.

Visit TSL’s website to learn more about the company’s latest products.

SHANGHAI—TJ Sports, one of Asia’s first large-scale eSports remote production centers, has chosen TSL Products’ TallyMan Advanced Broadcast Control System to manage large video switchers, audio mixers and the AV matrix for its events. 

“TSL enables us to produce more events that are more intensive and complex,” says Zhang Xuming, head of broadcast technology planning at TJ Sports. “The TSL TallyMan controller greatly reduces execution risk during production while improving the overall operator experience, and its price-to-performance ratio is extremely attractive. With TSL’s TallyMan, we have successfully accomplished off-site control of remote network production for major international events.”

TJ Sports was in need of an advanced, centralized control system for production of telecasts given the growing number of venues and cities involved in eSports. Support for a multi-venue production workflow, flexible resource allocation and access to control were its top priorities when choosing a solution, it said.

Unique to eSports is the observer role, which is essentially the game director who works with the program director to help guide the event and production in identifying in-game highlights and ideal slow-motion moments. This results in a large number of production signals. With a complex broadcast control system, these signals can be more easily managed for a seamless event, the company said.

TJ Sports can host centralized scheduling and control over the signal path throughout its studio complex with TSL’s TallyMan. It is relying on the system’s controller and virtual panels (TMVP) for control throughout its nearly 40,000-square-foot facility, which includes five studios, five control rooms, the core server room and several rooms dedicated to specialized eSports functions, it said.

The system also carries out centralized tally management. By allowing for the advanced scheduling of signal pre-sets, TSL’s TallyMan streamlines operator workflow and optimizes on-site event management during production. The system also allows for control across third-party AV equipment at the facility, while matching the remote production of off-site network control, it said.

With the help of TSL, TJ Sports was able to produce the 2020 League of Heroes Mid-season Cup (MSC) remotely. The competition attracted eight professional teams from the Chinese LPL and South Korea's LCK and was one of the world’s first remote production event to be broadcast in venues in different countries.

More information is available on the company’s website.

MARLOW, U.K.—TSL Products has brought a new level of control to a number of its products, announcing a series of new control features. These control systems are designed to allow broadcasters to visualize their control workflows and bring all operations together into a single interface.

One of the products to receive an update to its control options is the AIB-4, which now has an updated advanced broadcast control panel. AIB-4 can provide a choice of communication paths (IP, audio channels, open intercom channel paths and POTS connection) back to the station. The platform can also be used for remote control, interfacing old and new kits or simplifying device monitoring.

TSL has also developed a virtual screen-based “Web-Key” for use with the Universal Control Switches (USP3). The USP3 panels act as “glue” devices that help subsystems communicate while maintaining a seamless workflow, per TSL. Both physical and virtual control buttons can advance a MOS-enabled newscast rundown, initiate a live-event commercial breakthrough station automation, reroute signals and more.

With PTZ cameras, TSL’s TallyMan Virtual Panel software can provide broadcasters with granular control, preset set/recall and tally control for cameras located anywhere. This allows for white balance and iris controls, maximizing quality and eliminating errors. TallyMan also now features new protocols that enable customers to continue to interface and integrate with systems.

For more information, visit www.tslproducts.com.  

LONDON—In today’s IT-dominated world, with its increasing reliance on virtualization, it would be easy to assume that the physical audio monitoring unit (AMU) is becoming as archaic as the cathode ray tube. But while there is greater reliance on software, hardware is not completely out of the picture.

“Although over the longer term we envisage a gradual change from hardware to software solutions, currently the two go hand-in-hand and remain totally complementary to each other,” comments Kim Templeman-Holmes, vice president of sales and marketing at Wohler Technologies. A general mix of the two, he says, is still preferable, something reflected in Wohler’s current range of IP monitors. These, he explains, are “significantly more software reliant than our older products,” with representational state transfer [REST] infrastructure technology and APIs facilitating remote access and control.

Wohler’s main AMU range is the iAM (intelligent Adaptable Monitoring) Series, which includes the iAM-Mix, with its “straightforward” front panel controls, and the iAM-Audio, offering interactive touchscreens. The company’s most recent product is the iVAM1-1 audio-video monitor, which was due to ship in July.

A GRADUAL SHIFT

A new AMU that is a major advance from its manufacturer’s previous models is the TSL Products SAM-Q-SDI. Audio product manager Stephen Brownsill describes it as “80% software and 20% hardware,” adding it is “very different” to TSL monitors of the past.

“The whole industry has been undergoing a gradual shift from purely hardware solutions towards hardware and software and most recently to software only,” Brownsill says. “Using software presents opportunities for us to measure audio levels and visualize them in a variety of new ways. Sound engineers can now freely select different audio scales and set the appropriate audio reference level with ease.”

Nugen Audio produces a range of software-only systems for a variety of applications, including the VisLIM loudness meter. Product specialist Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe says there are “plenty of people who still use hardware loudness meters” but that, increasingly, sound engineers are recognizing the “convenience” of software-based units.

“The main draw is that there isn’t really a practical way to measure loudness faster than real time using hardware,” he explains. “Loudness is measured over time and small changes to a mix result in a full re-measure, which can take an hour. Software-based solutions have time-saving features like real-time loudness measurement and the history function.”

Vinehill-Cliffe says work to improve loudness measurement is “constantly ongoing.” This is shown by loudness featuring heavily in the ATSC Recommended Practice document Conversion of ATSC 3.0 Services for Redistribution and the (at the time of writing) forthcoming release of a revised version of the EBU R128 standard. Loudness standards are being updated so they can be more effective for high definition and streaming services.

TSL’s Brownsill says that new software-oriented AMUs can be easily upgraded to accommodate new algorithms. TSL has targeted this critical area by incorporating eight loudness probes into the SAM-Q-SDI, enabling it to measure eight separate programs simultaneously.

At Wohler, Templeman-Holmes says the company “tries to be ahead of the game on any technical revision or innovation” by reviewing either new standards being developed or any changes to existing guidelines. “To a large extent our customer base drives our development,” he says. “If there is sufficient demand we will develop a solution.”

AUDIO OVER IP

It would be fair to say that another example of this approach is how AMU companies have handled the increasing use of audio over IP (AoIP) in broadcasting for networking and connectivity. RTW already offers both the leading AoIP systems, Dante and RAVENNA, on its TouchMonitor TM7 and TM9 models and earlier this year added compatibility with SMPTE ST 2110. “It is the latest standard within audio and video over IP and we expect it to replace SDI solutions over time,” said RTW’s Senior Director of Product Management Mike Kahsnitz, when the announcement was made in April.

Brownsill says that, compared to ST 2022-6 and ST 2110, AoIP technologies are well established, giving the opportunity of “being able to create an audio network rather than relying on ‘point-to-point’ system architectures.” He adds that there are still issues with Dante and RAVENNA being proprietary formats, although the AES67 interoperability standard has made interconnection between them possible. “But until AoIP becomes dominant for transporting audio, AES3 and MADI will continue to have a future,” he adds.

Templeman-Holmes agrees that AoIP now accounts for a significant proportion of AMU sales but points out that “only a very small percentage” of orders do not feature other signal formats. “Analog is in heavy decline but most of our products continue to be ordered with a mix of AES3, MADI or SDI,” he says. “RAVENNA/AES67 and Dante demand continues to grow because of the ability to effectively and cheaply transport large number of audio channels.”

NEW REALITY FOR PRODUCTION

Another aspect of AoIP that is adding a new dimension to audio monitoring is the ability to network and interconnect over distances. This allows for remote working, which has become a necessity during the coronavirus crisis.

“With COVID-19, a great many customers have been forced to adopt different workflows, especially those involved in the live production of sporting events,” says Brownsill. “While remote production is nothing new for many of our customers, we are seeing that many of them have now accelerated their plans to adopt remote production as their new normal going forward.” To enable this, another of TSL’s main monitoring systems, the PAM-IP range, features three different control protocols: NMOS, Ember+ and an in-house designed API.

Nugen has taken a different approach by making all its post-production software compatible with iLok, allowing users to work with the systems on mobile devices or from home studios.

As for the future of audio monitoring in a broadcast world of ever more channels and platforms, the main manufacturers are keeping an eye on new or emerging standards and technologies. Wohler is not seeing any demand yet for ATSC 3.0 as a transmission standard but Templeman-Holmes says it already has products to monitor MPEG-2/4 and Dolby Atmos.

At TSL, Brownsill sees ATSC 3.0 “enabling more consumers to experience object-based audio formats such as Dolby Atmos over the air.” As a result SAM-Q features both Dolby Atmos and AC-4 monitoring capability.

From its humble roots as a moving coil meter, audio monitoring looks certain to carry on evolving and play a major role in ensuring that new broadcast formats work properly.

MARLOW, U.K.—Consumers can now get detailed instructions on the use of TSL Products’ TallyMan Advanced Broadcast Control System, as the company has announced it will be offering a virtual training program available throughout the world.

The TallyMan platform is designed to bring complex systems under a single point of control while minimizing operational complexity, per TSL. Through the virtual, interactive training program, users will be taught the full capabilities of the system, as well as have the option for more targeted sessions aimed toward key sectors, including systems integrators. There is also a remote team-viewer session on how to configure the TallyMan system independently.

TSL Customer Support Engineer Ben Bate leads the sessions. The first lesson is an introduction of TallyMan and device interfaces, including routing control. Lesson two takes a deep dive into the TallyMan Virtual Panel and device control. In lesson three, customers will implement tally management and configuration of multiviewers and UMDs. The fourth and final lesson focuses on higher level functions like signal grouping and automated routing.

For more information, visit TSL Products’ website. 

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—TSL Products is tapping Tom Dickinson as the new president of its U.S.-based operations. Dickinson will now be responsible for managing and developing TSL’s U.S.-based development, sales and support, as well as serving as a senior member of the company’s management team across both the U.S. and U.K.

TSL says that since its acquisition of DNF Controls in April 2019, the combined sales now require a local and “always present” leader in its Northridge, Calif., office, the North American headquarters for the company. Dickinson will take on that role.

Dickinson comes to TSL after 39 years of leadership positions in sales, operations and engineering at Bexel, a TSL partner company.

“The Northridge facility now supports TSL Products’ growing portfolio, and I am excited to be a part of its expansion,” said Dickinson. “I look forward to further opening doors for all of TSL’s product offerings to customers based in North America and Canada.”

Dickinson will assume leadership from DNF founder Dan Fogel, who TSL says is stepping back into a part-time consulting role for U.S. customers.

For more information, visit www.tslproducts.com.  

NEW YORK—All Mobile Video (AMV) has selected TSL Products’ MPA 1 Mix Dante V and PAM-IP audio monitors for its Eclipse end-to-end IP mobile production unit.

AMV is outfitting Eclipse with 34 MPA 1 Mix Dante V audio monitors, which are designed specifically for production and support of the AES67 AoIP standard, the company said.

“The updated front panel is simple to navigate, especially in dark production environments, providing users with an intuitive control interface,” says Ian Vysick, audio design specialist at All Mobile Video. “With the MPA units, operators are not required to navigate a menu to access the sources they need.”

Eclipse also is equipped with TSL’s PAM-IP audio monitors, providing monitoring of SMPTE ST 2110 and 2022-6 audio and video sources and full edge device control.

“Choosing to integrate TSL Products’ PAM-IP into the new Eclipse truck was a no-brainer,” says Vysick. “Over the years, we have built a strong relationship with the TSL team and there’s a great deal of trust between us.”

Firmware updates for TSL’s monitoring products help to future-proof AMV’s investment in the monitors, Vysick adds.

More information is available on the TSL Products website. 

Broadcast engineers require solutions that address network growth, aging systems and the proliferation of secondary content channels creating workflow gaps. This is even more important when circumstances require interruptions to local programming or for breaking news, which we are seeing a huge spike in amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. With the need to do more with less, major broadcasters are seeking solutions that are quick and easy to implement, simplify and expedite remote command and control over production capabilities, and create seamless workflows that minimize training time, reduce human error and offer significant cost savings. 

Today’s broadcast engineers require solutions that allow them to make adjustments and reconfigurations while working from home. To meet broadcasters’ current needs, it is important that they have access to solutions that can track tally statuses across multiple locations, regardless of the associations, and provide the ability for operators to easily select live cuts from incoming camera feeds. In addition, solutions that feature “one touch” production recall allow operators to easily recall presets required for a particular show or segment at the press of a button. With advanced broadcast control solutions, delegating who has control over what camera tallies and resources at a remote site can be configured ahead of the broadcast or while live on air, saving precious time in high-speed, high-stress production environments.

FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY

New and powerful tools for remote production open up applications for channel delegation, which can all be delivered by using a system built on independent device protocol translation and intuitive interfaces that add flexibility and efficiency to operations. Screen-based display systems that can interface with a range of third-party equipment provide results and simplify operator workflows. For successful hub and spoke productions, engineers benefit from solutions that feature “programmer-free” configuration interfaces and remote accessibility, as this makes adjustments simple and easily implemented without disrupting on-air streams. This is particularly beneficial for remote broadcast engineering applications. 

Comprehensive monitoring and control are the keys to success when it comes to hub and spoke broadcasts. Technicians at the broadcaster’s network hub must have accurate, up-to-the-minute knowledge of each downstream affiliate station, audio and video feed quality, which source is on air and more. Additionally, in case of failure, broadcast engineers must have the ability to select and remotely route primary or back-up automation to air, as well as break into the affiliate’s programming in case of breaking-news interruptions. For hub and spoke broadcast productions, each content channel at the affiliate stations must be equipped with a control processor connected to that channel’s primary and back-up automation systems, video server(s) and the facility router. A control processor can also provide connectivity back to the main network hub for override control. 

For hub and spoke broadcast applications, a control processor can monitor and keep track of which source (automation A, B or local programming) is routed to air. Additionally, with effective control solutions in place, when there are multiple channels, each may be individually routed without impacting the others, and if a break-in source is on-air, commands to the server from both automation systems may be ignored. Conversely, regardless of which automation system is routed to air, a controller can send continuous updates of the server’s clip list and transport status to both the A and B automation systems. Meanwhile, video feeds from each affiliate station are accessible to a monitoring pod at the central hub facility, where operators oversee and control content source selection. With control interfaces, the hub station operator may also be able to choose which subchannel of the selected local affiliates to monitor, as well as to remotely route the A, B or breaking news feed to air. 

As well as easing complex operations, a unified control system delivers both capital and operational cost savings. By implementing a control system with extensive protocol APIs and device translation, users can easily adapt and expand their system as requirements change over time. Hub and spoke production minimizes hardware costs by interfacing equipment and control with universal panels and operator tasks are streamlined, reducing costly on-air errors and training expenditures. 

Additional playout and master control functions for hub and spoke production include automation playout and ingest, SCTE standards, ability to configure signal flows, disaster recovery, studio association and failover as well as cloud playout. Automation playout and ingest offers fast, simple and reliable control with scheduled actions and primary, back-up or tertiary automation. With SCTE standards, broadcast engineers can break into the affiliate’s programming, should national or regional coverage take precedence. To manage all content and process flows, as well as process automation to define automatic responses to system changes and critical data sharing, hub and spoke production allows broadcast engineers to configure signal flows remotely. Disaster recovery capabilities allow operators to select and remotely route primary or back-up automation to air. With master control functions, cloud-based resources can be made to look and act like traditional devices so that operators can continue to control their cloud playout in a way that feels familiar. Additionally, these functions allow operators to change the associated hub studio for scenarios where there is a planned maintenance or equipment failure.

It is crucial that manufacturers design control systems with the broadcaster's current needs in mind, as this will prove to be beneficial in the months and years to come. When controllers allow operators to pre-configure presets prior to production, which requires minimal labor and training to operate effectively, this results in a substantial decrease in the potential for mistakes and increase in operational cost savings. With benefits like these, broadcast engineers will continue to turn to hub and spoke production equipment no matter if we are in the middle of a pandemic or back to life as usual. 

Mark Davies is director of products and technology at TSL Products

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—TSL Products is shifting the focus of its R&D efforts temporarily to support broadcasters responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by changing workflows to accommodate stay-at-home directives.

“We have many customers across the United States who use our Flex Control Network for critical production and playout in news-based hub-and-spoke systems that connect network stations,” said Fred Scott, U.S. regional sales manager at TSL Products and former sales director for DNF Controls before its April 2019 acquisition by TSL.  

“Due to heightened demands in remote broadcasts, we recently altered our R&D to service our Flex customers and assist them in response to the pandemic,” he said.

The company has added a feature called “Web Keys,” which is available for any DNF-powered Universal Switch Panel within the Flex Network and allows users to control devices in hub-and-spoke installations around the country from home, he said.

The company also noted that it has adopted a work-from-home strategy. “All employees, other than those manufacturing products, are working from home,” said Mark Davies, director of product and technology at TSL Products. “Our sales, product and support teams are still working with customers in full capacity.”

“On the manufacturing side, we have only essential staff in place, allowing those who cannot work efficiently from home to practice safe social distancing,” he added. 

More information is available on the TSL Products website.

PITTSBURGH—NEP Group, which serves as a technical production partner for many live sporting events around the world, recently added the new MPA1-MIX MADI-V audio monitor from TSL Products into its fleet of OB trucks to improve operator workflow.

The MPA1-MIX-V range of audio monitors, based on the MPA1-MIX series, was designed specifically for live production. It features a redesigned user interface that is available in SDI, Dante/AES67, MADI, AES and analog input formats. The addition of the V variant gives customers the ability to choose the interface that suits their needs.

NEP Group currently has MPA1-MIX-V installed in two of its trucks and is expected to utilize the technology for trucks that will be built in the coming year.

PLUS: NEP Adjusts to Coronavirus Lull in Sports Production

According to Michael Naugle, design engineer for NEP’s U.S. Broadcast Services team, the reaction to the new technology has been positive, with operators specifically praising the updated control layout and sound quality.

For more information, visit www.tslproducts.com.  

MARLOW, U.K. —TSL Products has introduced a series of updates to its line of audio monitoring platforms, which include SAM-Q, PAM-IP and MPA1.

The SAM-Q platform is designed to offer multiple operational modes and behaviors for working based on application, skillset or personal preference. It now has two new operating modes, an audio phase metering mode and loudness monitoring modes. There are three new loudness modes, as well as short-term, monetary and integrated loudness values over an Ethernet network. There are up to eight loudness probes and SAM-Q can calculate loudness values from program configurations ranging from mono to 9.1+4.

TSL also has two administrative tools for SAM-Q that it is releasing. SAM-Q-EDIT enables the creation, modification and editing of SAM-Q-SDI configurations on a PC. MADI monitoring license options are also available for purchase, allowing one or both SDI inputs to be switched to and from MADI sources.

New to the MPA1-MIX range from TSL is the MPA1-MIX-V, featuring a redesigned user interface that helps address challenges of live production and is available in SDI, DANTE, MADI, AES and analog input formats.

Updates to the PAM-IP line add functionalities beyond audio and video monitoring. PAM-IP now has integration with third-party control systems, allowing ST-2110 multicast flow subscriptions to be managed using “In-Band” or “Out-Band” control protocols. Subscription status can be monitored remotely over a network with the PAM-IP webpage, as well as information like IP packet counters, signal format and PTP status. PAM-IP supports ST-2110, ST-2022-6, Dante Networks, SDI, AES and analog sources.

For more information, visit www.tslproducts.com.  

AMSTERDAM—TSL Products will have a focus on its audio offerings at this year’s IBC show, announcing that it will prominently feature a range of new modes for its SAM-Q audio monitors.

The SAM-Q monitors are designed to allow customers to control and visualize their audio content based on application, environment or personal preference. Having premiered at the 2019 NAB Show—and with the SAM-Q-SDI model now available for shipping—TSL Products will debut new modes of operation at IBC, including audio phase, loudness monitoring and peak latch modes.

In addition, TSL will demonstrate the new capability of adding MADI monitoring to the SAM-Q-SDI through a license, enabling SDI, AES, analog and MADI sources to be monitored and mixed simultaneously.

Another product that TSL plans to feature is the PAM-IP. The unit provides in-band, out of band and manual control methods for managing flow subscriptions with audio monitors. Status monitoring is provided on both the front panel and remotely using the PAM-IP webpage.

Updates to the MPA1 audio monitors will be showcased, including improved audio metering for the MPA1-SOLO-MADI and MPA1-SOLO-DANTE, and improved control capabilities for all MPA1 audio monitors.

TSL Products will be on displa\y at stand 10.B41 during IBC 2019.

MARLOW, U.K. AND NORTHRIDGE, CALIF. – TSL Products, a U.K.-based provider of broadcast workflow solutions, has acquired DNF Controls, a U.S.-based company developer of broadcast control systems. TSL says the merger will allow the company to expand its presence in the broadcast control systems market for customers worldwide, and to offer audio and power solutions locally to the Americas. The TSL and DNF teams will be exhibiting together at the 2019 NAB Show in TSL’s new position in the South Lower Hall, Stand SL4621.

The merged company will give DNF customers in the U.S. with increased access to TSL’s complete product range, offering audio and power solutions in addition to control systems, with the ability to place orders and utilize its support department in Northridge, Calif.. Meanwhile, TSL will be able to add further functionality to their systems with DNF’s dedicated hardware control panel and integration capabilities.

“We are excited to work together as one with DNF Controls,” says Chris Exelby, Managing Director, TSL Products. “Our values and mission are aligned in the strong belief of empowering the end-user to have complete control of their system. We can now accomplish this by providing the most modern, compatible, expandable system available, and by offering a wide range of user-friendly controllers, panels and virtual interfaces. Both TSL and DNF are built from strong engineering roots and have a combined 60+ years in delivering systems for customers worldwide.”

LAS VEGAS—The main attraction at the TSL Products booth, located in the South Lower Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, is going to be the latest updates to the company’s audio monitoring units, headlined by the new features of the PAM-IP range.

The PAM1-IP and PAM2-IP audio monitors now come with full support for ST-2110. Both units can be deployed to monitor audio and video content carried as ST-2022-6 and/or ST-2110 flows. The monitors also have two 10Gig/E SFP+ ports that allow users to monitor audio carried within ST-2110 and ST-2022-6 multicast streams; video content is displayed on the front panel. Audio only content, such as Dante or AES67, can be monitored when connected to a low-cost IP network infrastructure. Ember+ protocol is also supported for control with IP networks.

Another TSL product expected to be displayed at the booth is the SAM-Q audio monitoring platform.

TSL will showcase these products at booth SL4621.

To register for the NAB Show, visit www.nabshow.com.

MARLOW, England — TSL Products, a broadcast workflow solutions manufacturer — has entered into a strategic OEM partnership with DNF Controls — a Northridge, Calif.,-based provider of machine control solutions — which will integrate elements of both companies’ products.

By virtue of this partnership, both companies hope to expand their respective products’ control functionality, improve the user experience and fuel operational growth.

TSL will use DNF’s customizable, standalone hardware control panels to enhance the functionality of its TallyMan advanced broadcast control system, which allows operators to simplify complex, third-party broadcast equipment workflows by creating highly configurable presets. With this control system integration, TallyMan customers will now be able to use any button on a control surface to send triggers that activate controls on other devices.

“DNF’s extensive control capabilities and wealth of knowledge and experience will allow us to add expanded functionality to our control systems, especially for simple, stand-alone applications,” says Dan Bailey, product manager — control systems, TSL Products. “This partnership allows us to make these solutions available to our customers and expand into areas that we less commonly operate, such as transmission of playout.”

DNF will also use TSL’s technology to expand and streamline the user interface to its virtual panels. DNF hardware solutions include: AnyWhere Interface Boxes (AIB), equipped with fast Ethernet and 8 to 16 GPI/O inputs/outputs for managing control; Universal Switch Panels (USP) that simplify operations and reduce errors; and the Rundown Playout System Driver that provides four server channels and a router or production switcher for newscast automation.

According to Dan Fogel, CTO of DNF, “We’ve worked together in the past and our products complement each other, so it just makes sense for DNF and TSL to strategically work together in this mutually beneficial partnership.”

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LAS VEGAS—Here’s an extended preview of some of the products that will be on display from eight exhibitors:

Broadcast Pix

Take control anywhere with the BPswitch family of integrated production switchers. Broadcast Pix leads the industry with its control-over-IP capabilities. Produce your live programming from a traditional control room, or use a customizable browser-based interface on your mobile device.

With the BPNet IP ecosystem, powered through the ioGates cloud-based media management platform, BPswitch delivers secure, full-motion video and complete access to all your sources and workflow tools. And because it only requires a typical internet connection, BPswitch is a cost-effective solution for remote unmanned studios. Get up to 22 SDI inputs and 12 outputs, with eight channels for clips and graphics and four customizable BPview multi-view outputs.

Every BPswitch system includes NewBlueNTX 3D motion graphics with hundreds of title styles and templates, plus clip stores, device control, file-based macros, integrated streaming to Facebook Live and other CDNs, and more.

www.broadcastpix.com
Booth: SL8320

Comark

For over 45 years Comark has been a trusted partner of TV broadcasters. For NAB 2018, Comark is announcing the availability of the Parallax solid state liquid cooled DTV transmitter for VHF Band 1 (54-88MHz).

This new model is available to support RF power levels from 4.0 up to 41kW. The new Band 1 version of Parallax shares the common architecture (cabinet, distributed control system, user interface) with the UHF and VHF Band 3 models. It provides the highest reliability and efficiency, while keeping the cost of ownership low. Parallax is manufactured, serviced, and supported out of the company’s MA facility.

www.comarktv.com
Booth: C4309

Florical Systems

Florical introduces a new integrated playout solution called FéniX. The server features SDI and IP I/O options on the same box. Includes integrated MC switching, branding, and DVE effects. The FéniX is powered by Harmonic technology and Florical's enterprise automation suite creating the most comprehensive system on the market.

www.florical.com
Booth: N2524

Fluotec

Fluotec is an award-winning manufacturer of professional LED lighting for Television, Video, Photography and Digital & Film Cinema

For more than two decades the Fluotec vision has been to create precision luminaires that deliver pure white lighting. Fluotec’s sustainable and efficient LED technology has already saved millions of dollars in energy costs for hundreds of television studios around the world.

Fluotec presents “The CINELIGHT Studio Long Throw,” three Models of Constant Output Tunable LED Panels for use in high altitude studios.

These professional fixtures sport very High CRI & TLCI Indexes for accurate rendering of skin tones and stage colors and step-less Halodim 0-100 percent dimming for precise control in a studio lighting environment

Pure White Light = Energy & Cost Savings.

www.flutec.net
Booth: C161

IHSE USA

The Draco tera compact XV matrix for ultra-image 4K is offered in eight to 80 user-configurable I/O ports to support a full range of video formats up to 4096x2160@60Hz and 30bit 4:4:4 color depth. The matrix supports the full line of innovative draco ultra series KVM extenders using Fraunhofer’s Lici codec with low latency and perfect pixel-for-pixel performance. Using the 490 series DisplayPort extender units, users can either create a stretched desktop of 8192x2160 across two 4K displays or run in “clone” mode to show full 4K applications on two screens.

www.ihseusa.com - http://www.ihseusa.com/products/kvm-matrix-switch-compact-xv-fiber.html
Booth: SL10216

Myers

ProTrack empowers broadcast networks, affiliates and independent media companies to acquire, schedule, monetize and distribute content with greater efficiency than ever before. It consolidates all of the roles and responsibilities that go into linear and non-linear distribution, so media facilities can optimize their content and associated opportunities.

ProTrack is a proven solution that provides a single source for critical business data across multiple distributors, departments, technical systems and distribution channels. No matter how much disruption is occurring in the industry, our flexible, adaptable technology platform stays one step ahead—giving you the right data, at just the right time, from a single, centralized source.

ProTrack is built to keep pace with change, making it easier to scale up operations to cater to a growing customer base, cut costs, and monetize content.

For updates on all the Myers products coming to the NAB Show in April, please follow @MyersInVegas on Twitter.

www.myersinfosys.com
Booth: N3711

Primestream

At NAB 2018, Primestream will demonstrate new solutions to capture, edit and transcode live IP streams, a cloud-based review and approval system, robust 4K workflow, public APIs to easily integrate into the Xchange platform and a new centralized configuration management portal for quick and easy installations.

Primestream will also highlight VR/360 asset management, an updated Adobe Premiere Pro extension panel that features a new versioning system, as well as improvements to archival workflow with leading cloud and tape storage providers. The next generation Dynamic Media Management platform is built for ease-of-use with powerful features needed to manage the most complex sports, enterprise and broadcast workflow.

www.primestream.com/nab
Booth: SL12111

TSL Products

With over 1,000 global installations, TSL Product’s TallyMan Advanced Broadcast Control System provides broadcasters with reliable, user-oriented control and dynamic data display. TSL continues to enhance TallyMan’s capabilities with new features and protocols allowing operators to integrate a broad range of broadcast equipment into automated workflows. TallyMan now offers Ember+ protocol support, enabling engineers to intuitively integrate all Ember+ capable third-party devices.

TSL’s updated TallyMan Virtual Panel more effectively enhances operational workflow and flexibility for outside broadcast and transmission facilities with several new control features integrated into the panel’s customizable, drag-and-drop interface. New source selection architecture allows users to access presets at the touch of a button. Operators can also take advantage of improved sliders, rotary encoders and X-Y control to better steer robotic cameras, adjust gain on audio devices and tweak levels on color correctors.

www.tslproducts.com
Booth: N5615

MARLOW, ENGLAND—TSL Products is preparing to arrive in Amsterdam for IBC 2017 to show the latest versions of both its TallyMan control system and FlashBoard information distribution and display system.

TallyMan

TallyMan’s new core software version 1.9 and virtual control panel design tool are the key features that will be displayed during the show. The newly installed software adds the Ember+ standard, expanding the controls that are directly accessible to the operator or allowing those controls to be automated. A recent partnership with Jünger Audio implements the Ember+ protocol across its range of products, enabling TallyMan to access the parameters of all Jünger Audio devices.

The updated virtual panel design software, meanwhile, allows users to create tailored control surfaces on physical panels or on touchscreen computers. The design software gives users the choice for the appropriate control for all functions, like rotary or linear sliders, or X-Y control. The virtual control panel can be defined by color and the screens can include branding.

The FlashBoard display will show attendees how the system can linked to TallyMan through the TallyMan API and with other control systems via common interfaces. A drag-and-drop design software enables users to create multiple display formats, each with a unique combination of data, clocks and timers, on-air and cue lights, and product information.

Both TallyMan and FlashBoard can draw on system-wide monitoring information via common standards and manufacturer specific APIs. Engineering monitoring of system usage and status data can be done through the InSite platform, with alarms capable of being sent through email or SMS.

TSL Products will offer these new systems, as well as additional products from its range, at its booth 10.B41 during IBC 2017.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—TSL Products is putting the focus on its new audio products to highlight its support for the IP transition at its IBC 2017 booth.

MPA1 Dante

One of the products set to be on display is the MPA1 Solo SDI. This 1U high and 100mm deep console allows users to view all 16 embedded audio channels in an SDI stream and monitor any individual channel or channel pair using a ‘scroll to listen’ feature. Set up and operation can be done through a standard web-browser for control through a central location. The MPA1 Solo SDI works in SDI, AES and analog environments.

There is also the MPA1 Dante system, which now supports AES-67 audio for use in Dante and AES-67 networks. This new support allows the MPA1-Solo and Mix Dante confidence audio monitors work for customers who are making the move to IP.

In addition, the PAM-IP range of audio monitoring devices now feature dedicated ports for connection to existing Dante networks, while also providing compatibility with AES-67. Users looking to operate SMPTE 2022-6 or SMPTE 2110 networks can make use of two dedicated 10Gig/E network ports on the PAM-IP. TSL will also offer a demonstration of PAM-IP’s new web server.

TSL Products will be located at booth 10.B41 during IBC 2017.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—With the IP transition a factor for many broadcasters, TSL Products will be using its time at IBC 201 to showcase updates to its control, audio monitoring and power management products that are designed to simplify SDI/IP workflow and streamline operations.

TSL Products will feature updates to its MPA1 Dante confidence audio monitoring series, which will now include support of AES67, which defines the IP audio transport layer in SMPTE 2110. Other audio monitoring products that will be at the show include the PAM-IP devices, which feature twin Ethernet ports and can be used in either Dante or AES67 modes. Both systems feature SNMP monitoring and control allowing them to be managed remotely by TSL Products’ TallyMan or other SNMP management systems.

There will also be an updated version of the TallyMan on display. The advanced broadcast control system enables engineers to create multi-take buttons, which achieve multi-device, time-aligned salvos of commands. This includes a new range of sliders, rotary encoders and X-Y control.

New among TSL Products is the FlashBoard, a screen-based information distribution and display system. Able to integrate with TallyMan, other third-party control systems or independent operation, FlashBoard drives multiple displays, each with a combination of data, clocks and timers, on-air and cue lights and production details. Screens can be designed using the drag and drop functionality in the TallyMan virtual panel software.

In addition, the InSite platform, which monitors and manages status, control and alarm parameters over SNMP or Modbus, will be shown. Concentrated status reports can be presented as web dashboards, with alarms sent as email or SMS. All information is logged to maintain an audit trail and for trending analysis.

Power distribution and monitoring systems, including a vertical distribution unit, will also be on hand.

TSL Products will be located at booth 10.B41 during IBC 2017. 

MARLOW, ENGLAND—Eric Olsson is heading out west for TSL Products, as the broadcast equipment manufacturer has named him their new director of sales for Western North America. Olsson will be responsible for supporting TSL’s customer accounts across the west coast region of North America.

Olsson joins TSL Products after previously working in sales management and engineering based roles at Telecast Fiber Systems, Grass Valley and, most recently, Telemetrics.

Olsson will report to Karlie Miles, worldwide sales director for TSL.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—NEP UK is one of the early adopters of TSL Products’ MPA1 Solo SDI monitoring product, announcing it will install 14 units into its new OB truck that will be tasked with covering sporting events.

The MPA1 units will provide operators with an audio monitoring tool that will enable them to view all of the 16 embedded channels simultaneously while allowing any channel to be selected for monitoring. The platform also features a built-in web server to manage the channel names and system parameters remotely over and Ethernet network. The operators will be able to view audio levels, signal status and format via a user-friendly web GUI.

The NEP HD truck is currently under production and in addition to the MPA1 Solo SDI units will include 24 cameras, eight EVS playback servers and 14 positions for VT operators, radio camera control operators and a technical manager.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—Global systems integrator Diversified is working with a Fortune 500 customer and has chosen TSL Products’ TallyMan system to coordinate broadcast infrastructure components. The client’s operators now have a common platform to control equipment from different vendors.

The TallyMan control system has been tasked with coordinating infrastructure components with multiple AV/broadcast spaces for the client’s VOD platform for live production events and internal meetings. The TallyMan ensures that creative teams, talent and camera operators are aware of relevant systems when needed.

Diversified installed the TallyMan system at more than a dozen locations in 2016 and has plans to install it in at least a dozen more in 2017, according to the company’s press release. The client is also looking into integrating TallyMan Virtual panels for remote monitoring.

Stephen Brownsill

MARLOW, ENGLAND—Broadcast equipment manufacturer TSL Products is bringing in Stephen Brownsill to take on the role of audio product manager. Brownsill will be tasked with defining and directing TSL’s flagship audio product range.

The most recent stop for Brownsill prior to joining TSL was as a solutions architect – products at Grass Valley. He also previously worked for Fox Kids Europe as the broadcast operations manager as well as a stint at Williams Grand Prix Engineering as IT and AV manager.

In his new role, Brownsill will report Mark Davies, director of products and technology.

LAS VEGAS—TSL Products’ latest audio monitoring products, broadcast control systems, and power management tools will make their way to the 2017 NAB Show, including the new MPA (Monitor Audio Plus) for flexible audio monitoring.

The MPA product line is ideal for hybrid workflows with established I/O, such as MADI, SDI, AES-3 and analog, while supporting Dante and Ravenna for audio over IP workflows. The MPA range, which includes Solo for listening to any channel and Mix for creating a simple monitoring mix, has a built-in web server that enables units to be configured, monitored and controlled remotely via an intuitive web interface.

Visitors to TSL’s booth will also see the latest updates to the PAM-IP precision audio monitoring range, which eases the transition to an all-IP workflow. It allows the monitoring of audio directly from an IP stream without extra format conversion hardware. PAM-IP products can also monitor video, audio and metadata from either a 3G-SDI connection or S2022-6 IP stream, among other connectivity options for greater format flexibility.

TSL’s Tally Man advanced broadcast control system now includes support for IP and 4K production environments. It also provides a platform to help coordinate and control third-party routers, under-monitor displays, multiviewers, vision mixers, among other critical broadcast components.

The 2017 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 24-27. TSL will be in boothN5615. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

Karlie Miles, worldwide sales director.
MARLOW, ENGLAND—TSL Products announced the appointments of Karlie Miles to the role of worldwide sales director, and Mark Davies to the role of director of products and technology, effective immediately.

Miles will be responsible for global sales operations as well as managing key customer accounts and partners across the world and will report to Chris Exelby, managing director.

Miles brings significant sales management experience and industry knowledge to the company, having worked for several years in international sales roles across the broadcast industry. She joins the company from Vitec Videocom where she held the position of sales director for EMEA and APAC. Prior to this she spent 15 years at Clear-Com in various senior sales roles.

Mark Davies also joins TSL Products to manage the product management and the development team and deliver essential technology and products to market.

Davies brings over 30 years of broadcast industry experience to TSL Products, with extensive knowledge of broadcast workflows, most critically in the new areas of audio/video over IP. Starting his career in electronic engineering at Pro-Bel, he rose through the engineering ranks to broaden into product management. He has held a number of senior positions at organizations, including Snell & Wilcox (now SAM), Omnitek, Miranda and most recently Grass Valley. Davies speaks regularly on panels and at conferences, and has had papers published by the European Broadcasting Union and leading trade journals.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—Greg Siers is taking over the role of director for sales for East Region North America, per TSL Products’ press release. Siers will be responsible for handling sales channels and expanding TSL Products’ market reach in the U.S.

Greg Siers

Siers spent the last eight years with Discovery Communications as a director/producer of live production and custom content; some of his credits included “New Years Eve Live from Time Square,” the “NY Marathon for NBC,” and “Live 9/11 Memorials from New York.” He had previous experience as a national sales manager for Bexel Corporation for five years.

“Greg has a wealth of first-hand production experience and understands the technology required to get a production on-air, and that will be invaluable in his dealings with customers,” said Chris Exelby, managing director for TSL Products.

TSL Products designs and manufactures hardware and software systems for broadcast, IPTV and IT industries.

MUNICH—Broadcast equipment manufacturer TSL Products has announced that it is now a part of the Ravenna Partnership Community. The company showed its first products to be compatible with Ravenna technology at the 2016 NAB Show—the Monitor Plus Audio range of monitoring products.

Ravenna is a technology for real-time distribution of audio and other media content in IP-based network environments. The technology is designed to meet the requirements of the pro audio market featuring low latency, full signal transparency and high reliability. Ravenna is fully compatible with the AES67-2013 standard.

TSL’s MPA products are now available in a version with integrated Ravenna connectivity.

“The move to integrating Ravenna was a logical step in order to remain in sync with the industry’s rapid move to AoIP workflows,” said Matt Colman, product manager, TSL Products.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—TSL Products looks to turn up the noise on its new audio monitoring systems at CCW 2015, specifically its redesigned Monitor Plus Audio series. The company also plans to demonstrate its recently announced Virtual Panel add-on to the TallyMan control system.

The new MPA systems are available in two models: Solo, which offers the ability to listen to any channel, and Mix, which allows the creation of a simple monitoring mix. Both models feature a shallow unit depth of 100mm and come with a built-in web server that enables all units to be configured, monitored and controlled remotely through an intuitive web interface. The new systems are also offers support for Dante and Ravenna for the move to Audio over IP.

The Virtual Panel for TallyMan now allows users to access the functionality of TallyMan through an intuitive, customizable interface. The panel features a configurable touch screen interface, providing the ability to control many different routers.

CCW 2015 is set to run from Nov. 11-12 in New York. TSL Products will be located at booth 654.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—Broadcasting equipment manufacturer TSL Products has announced that it will debut a new virtual panel add on to its Tallyman control system. The virtual panel allows users to access Tallyman functionalities through a customizable interface.

Tallyman virtual panel

With its configurable, touch-screen interface, the Tallyman virtual panel can control many different routers and allows users to design their own control interface. In addition, the Tallyman virtual panel gives its users access to signal flow management, grouped signal flow management, procedure automation, virtual patching, and custom IP and serial interfaces. The Tallyman virtual panel is compatible with all Tallyman installations.

IBC 2015 is scheduled to take place in Amsterdam from Sept. 11-15. TSL will be located at booth 10.B41.

MARLOW, ENGLAND—As the world was watching the 2015 Women’s World Cup on Fox Sports, the broadcaster utilized TSL Products for its audio production during the entire tournament. Now, Fox Sports has announced it will incorporate TSL’s SoundField X-1 Upmix/Downmix processor and SoundField UPM-1 Stereo to 5.1 Upmixer for future audio productions.

Audio mixer Fred Aldous working on TSL products for Fox Sports

The X-1 is a 1U rackmount device that combines upmix and downmix processing in a single box. The SoundField X-1 can separate dispersed crowd sound, reflections, reverb and atmosphere, offering user adjustable parameters to position the diffused sound into a 5.1 image. It is also able to create presets on the GUI.

Unlike other upmixing tools, the UPM-1 uses an algorithm to perform real-time analysis of stereo source material, identifying and separating the ambiance from the direct sound. Mono sources are extracted from the stereo signal and fed to the center channel, maintaining a good frontal stereo image by keeping the direct sound sources at the front. The extracted natural ambiance is then fed to the rear surround channels.

Fox Sports has installed both SoundField X-1 and UPM-1 onto the GCV Encore and intend to use it for future NFL and golf broadcasts.