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NOVEMBER 2018
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Belgium’s Roxx Begins Broadcasting on DAB+ Makes entry as the Flemish region’s first rock format
• Here are the winners of the IBC2018 BOS Awards — Page 4
Courtesy of Yetu
MALAWI
BY MARC MAES EEKLO, Belgium — Sept. 1 saw the large-scale launch of Roxx, a new DAB+ player in the Flemish radioscape. The station is the Flemish region’s first broad “rock” format. Roxx is the brainchild of radio presenter and producer Jeroen Gorus. “Flanders is ready for a station like Roxx. All stations are, format-wise, fishing in the same pond, eating away each other’s audience shares. But where can you listen to Jackson Browne during daytime programs?”
BUYER’S GUIDE
• Stations keep operations under control with the latest signal monitoring, remote control and test gear — Page 18
Gorus admits that the new FM frequency plan played a crucial role in the creation of Roxx. “A true blessing in disguise,” he added, referring to the fact that Roxx’s parent company, Vlacora, failed to obtain FM network licenses for its other stations. “Vlacora’s Manager Christophe Moens gave me ‘carte blanche’ to set up Roxx, so for me, the frequency plan eventually turned out very positive.” Vlacora continues to play a coordinating role in terms of advertising, technical support, infrastructure and know-how for Roxx. Contrary to terrestrial FM broadcasts, DAB+ is not subject to government license allocation — Roxx (Vlacora) notified the Flemish Media Regulatory body, Vlaamse
Jeroen Gorus believes Flanders is ready for a station like Roxx.
(continued on page 8)
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Photo courtesy of Roxx
• Y etu Radio aims to build coexistence between the refugee and host communities — Page 12
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INTERNATIONAL EDITION Vol. 42 No. 11
November 2018
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www.twitter.com/radioworld_news www.facebook.com/RadioWorldMagazine CONTENT Managing Director, Content Paul J. McLane, paul.mclane@futurenet.com Content Director Marguerite Clark, marguerite.clark@futurenet.com Senior Content Producer — Technology Brett Moss, brett.moss@futurenet.com Content Manager Emily Reigart, emily.reigart@futurenet.com Technical Advisers Thomas R. McGinley, Doug Irwin Technical Editor, RWEE W.C. “Cris” Alexander Contributors: Africa: Gregory Lagat, Lameck Masina, John Masuku; Asia: Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Martyn Green, Frederick Noronha, Mark Timpany; Australia: James Cridland; Europe: Andy Bantock, Kevin Branigan, Giuseppe Camonita, Nuno de Sousa, Charles Flores, Blazo Guzina, Lawrie Hallett, Will Jackson, Hans K. Kristjansson, Drew Leifheit, Raúl Llarull, Urmas Loit, Marc Maes, Davide Moro, Emmanuelle Pautler, Panos Polyzoidis, Bernd Trutenau, Andreas Tzanakos, Thomas Völkner; Latin America: Jorge J. Basilago, Carlos Eduardo Behrensdorf, Juan G. Buenaventura; Eduardo Curuchet, Arturo Valentino; New Zealand: Nick Gerritsen; North America: John Bisset, James Careless, Scott Fybush, Randy J. Stine Production Manager Caroline Freeland Managing Design Director Nicole Cobban Senior Design Director Karen Lee ADVERTISING SALES VP/Media Technology Group Carmel King, carmel.king@futurenet.com, 703-852-4602 Publisher, Radio World International Raffaella Calabrese, raffaella.calabrese@futurenet.com, +39-320-891-1938 SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE To subscribe, change your address, or check on your current account status, go to www.radioworld.com and click on About Us, email futureplc@computerfulfillment.com, call +1-888-266-5828, or write P.O. Box 282, Lowell, MA 01853. ARCHIVES This magazine is available for research and retrieval of select archived articles from leading electronic database and search services, including ProQuest. Back issues are available. For more information, contact www.proquest.com. REPRINTS/PERMISSIONS This magazine may not be reproduced or quoted in whole or in part by printed or electronic means without written permission from Future. To obtain permissions, contact Wright’s Media, +1-877-652-5295. MANAGEMENT Managing Director/Senior Vice President Christine Shaw Chief Revenue Officer Luke Edson Chief Content Officer Joe Territo Chief Marketing Officer Wendy Lissau Head of Production US & UK Mark Constance FUTURE US, INC. 11 West 42nd Street,15th Floor, New York, NY 10036
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◗NEWSWATCH NEXT RADIO CONFERENCE FINDS MEDIUM IN GOOD HEALTH The annual Next Radio event bills itself as “the radio ideas conference,” and the ideas, statistics and announcements come thick and fast in quick-fire nine- or 18-minute sessions throughout the day. The conference, held in London’s historic Royal Institution, saw the launch of the first professional cloud-based radio automation system, by RCS President and CEO Philippe Generali. RCS says that the new system is the first of its kind to be able to import GSelector logs, the first to be able to integrate traffic, and the Vincent Lo first to feature voice-tracking in the cloud. Generali set out the top 10 reasons why radio groups were considering cloud services instead of on-premises installations. As well as savings on traditional equipment, it would mean that radio groups could quickly create new channels, and customers would always be on the same product version. Generali added: “RCS believes that early adopters are expected to consider cloud-based playout for disaster recovery backup.” Elsewhere at the conference, consultant Ande Macpherson demonstrated the use of chatbot surveys, such as Surveybot, on Facebook Messenger to test music for radio stations — he argued that only the best songs in the right order would nowadays compete against the likes of Spotify. He emphasized the importance of knowing your audience, your music and your data. Speakers also covered the emergence of “event radio” — significant engaging features that work across platforms including video and social media, as well as providing compelling audio. Ollie Wards highlighted the huge impact of the annual “Hottest 100” chart on ABC station triple j in Australia, with 30 percent of 18–34 year-olds listening on the day. He said a sense of history, audience participation, conversation and transparency all helped build the event. Meanwhile, Aled Haydn Jones from BBC Radio 1 said these events should be about “FOMO” — fear of missing out — and creating a shared experience across the audience. International consultant Valerie Geller echoed this, with her familiar advice of “Tell the truth, make it matter, and never be boring,” adding that there are no boring stories, just boring storytellers. The day confirmed the strength and endurance of radio. John Carroll, Global Director for Business Development and Media Measurement at GfK, argued that young people have not “fled” radio, with research showing radio still reaches 83 percent of 13–14 year-olds in the United Kingdom each week, while 62 percent claimed to listen to downloaded or streamed music. Carroll said when you looked behind the numbers, it was clear that great engaging radio remains in good health. — Will Jackson
◗MARKETPLACE AETA Upgrades: AETA Audios Systems has released upgrades for its range of audio and IP codecs. Among recent advances is the AETA Remote Access feature, which the company launched earlier this year, in addition to a new host of just-released options for Scoopy+S. New features include an additional AES output, a lockable power socket as well as the capacity to connect the Scoopy+S to a Wi-Fi network using a USB dongle. AETA says ScoopTeam has also received an overhaul and now offers many more configuration possibilities. What’s more, AETA is working on other ScoopTeam improvements, which include a Ravenna/AES67 interface. Finally, the French firm has also released a protoype of its new modular multichannel codec, MultiScoop, with IP, ISDN and AES67 interfaces. Info: www.aeta-audio.com
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IBC Highlights Rise of AI and Spatial Audio Over 50,000 attendees met in Amsterdam for the latest broadcast technology
Photos by Will Jackson
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The RAI Amsterdam Convention Center
BY WILL JACK SON AMSTERDAM — The statistics for the
annual IBC Show in Amsterdam are always impressive: organizers claim over
57,000 visitors to the RAI Convention Center’s 15 halls, which feature over 1,700 companies across 50,000 square meters of exhibition space, meaning sore feet are almost inevitable after a
visit. IBC is described as “The world’s most influential media, entertainment and technology show.” Across the busy halls, the growing presence of companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon was noticeable. However there remains a thriving section of radio exhibitors, centered on Hall 8, with established and newer companies demonstrating every aspect of radio station technology, from microphones and playout systems, to broadcast monitoring and transmission. NEW IDEAS Both in the IBC Exhibition’s Future Zone — which showcases new ideas and concept technologies from innova-
Attendees register for IBC2018.
tors such as Japan’s NHK and BBC R&D from the United Kingdom — and elsewhere, key themes included the growth of object-based broadcasting, and increased use of artificial intelligence. Claiming the first use of AI in FM radio broadcasting, WorldCast Systems launched SmartFM at this year’s show, which uses the technology to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions arising from transmission. Spatial audio was also popular for both video and pure audio use, with Zoom launching its new H3-VR virtual reality audio recorder, described as the only recorder that can capture and decode spatial audio in one device. The
Future announced the recipients of the Best of Show Awards at IBC2018 in Amsterdam. Here are the products that won for Radio World International. Congratulations to this year’s winners! RFE Broadcast’s Sara De Sensi, sales assistant; Elena Ditadi, sales director; and Michele Sacco, technical manager, are pictured with the Best of Show Award they received for the RFE Broadcast DS2000 2 kW FM transmitter.
November 2018
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vided an update on digital roll-out in India. It’s reported that the country’s public broadcaster, AIR, has announced its support for the deployment of DRM in VHF Band II. The government’s decision regarding the digitization of Band II is forthcoming. Meanwhile, at the IBC Conference, WorldDAB — the global industry forum for DAB digital radio — led a session on “Radio’s Digital Strategy,” exploring how radio can deliver new content to the listener, in today’s new landscape that includes Google, Amazon, Sonos and Apple Music.
Photo by Marguerite Clark
unit includes a four-capsule Ambisonics mic and onboard A/B decoder, allowing it to capture four channels of spatial audio, which can then be automatically converted to be compatible with 360-degree video. Leading industry organizations were also well represented. The European Broadcasting Union stand showcased innovative technologies developed by broadcasters for broadcasters, including 5G distribution systems, and UHD content with Next Generation Audio (NGA) produced at the European Championships. At the Nautel stand, Digital Radio Mondiale’s chair, Ruxandra Obreja, pro-
Turn the page for more winners
Graham Dixon, head of Radio for the EBU, discussed how smart speakers can offer broadcasters the opportunity to bring radio back into the heart of the home, and in the car’s digital dashboard. A global panel session featured Wim Moortgat, manager of Audio Technology for Belgian public broadcaster VRT along with Joan Warner, CEO, Commercial Radio Australia, who discussed how radio is incorporating new technology into its business model — online, via apps, and on digital via DAB+. Also at the WorldDAB session, Simon
Mason — head of Broadcast Radio Technology from transmission providers Arqiva — presented the findings of a recent survey measuring the quality of radio signal over 4G compared to DAB, within selected urban environments and motorways around the U.K., and across peak listening times in selected regions. Mason set out that while mobile is able to provide a complementary service to broadcast radio, to deliver a comparable service over a wide area would require massive investment, and he argued that there was no business case for mobile operators or broadcasters to fund this.
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Cam Eicher, executive director of November 2018 Worldwide Sales, and Martin Dyster, V.P. of Business Development, TV Solutions Group, The Telos Alliance, receive the Best of Show award for the Telos VX Enterprise VoIP phone system.
RadioWorldMagazine
Keyur Parikh, V.P. Business Unit, Intraplex products, GatesAir, receives the award for the Intraplex IP Link 200A IP link codec. Inovonics’ Sales and Marketing Manager Gary Luhrman is pictured with the Inovonics INOmini 660 DAB/DAB+ confidence monitor.
Jay Tyler, director of sales at Wheatstone, is pictured with the Best of Show award for the VoxPro 7.1.
Benjamin Lardinoit and Renaud Schoonbroodt, co-founders of On-Hertz, are pictured with the Best of Show award the company won for the LUMO virtualized radio studio. Photos by Marguerite Clark
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WaveArt President Roberto Valentin accepts the award for the IsoWave FM isofrequency digital solution.
Gregory Mercier, director of product marketing and pre/post sales and Christophe Poulain, co-president, WorldCast Systems accept the award for the Smart FM Artificial Intelligence FM broadcasting system.Â
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Roxx (continued from page 1)
Regulator voor de Media, and concluded a distribution contract with network provider Norkring. TECHNICAL SETUP In a first phase of the Roxx project, the station is using one of Vlacora’s analog Dateq BCS 50 broadcast consoles. “We’ve adapted one of the company’s former on-air studios for Roxx,” said Sebastien Vansever, technical coordinator with Vlacora. “The Radio Host playout system was replaced by ProppFrexx OnAir v4.0 software. The big advantage over Radio Host is that Proppfrexx has more options and delivers streamlined automatization and playout. The new, German-made system is much more stable and userfriendly and has more audio source inputs with full metadata support.” The studio also has two Technics SL MSK 1200 turntables. “Our music database contains quite a lot of digitized vinyl tracks, but sometimes we play songs directly from the turntables. This adds to the signature sound of the station,” explained Vansever. “Some tracks are very rare or unavailable on CD so we must play the vintage vinyl,” continued Gorus. “The vinyl sound is part of the music experience.” The Roxx on-air studio is completed with a vintage Electro-Voice RE20 broadcast microphone and JBL TLX2 Hi-Fi monitors. The station’s audio signal is processed from the Roxx studio where it is optimized through an Orban Optimod 2200 broadcast compressor, transmitted via a Barix Exstreamer 1000 network A print advertisement for the new station. audio IP encoder to Norkring’s DAB+ distribution hub in Sint3” for commercial radio stations with 10 Pieters-Leeuw. active DAB+-transmitters. “We also optimized the audio proOn Sept. 1, Norkring finalized the cessing,” added Vansever. “We wanted deployment of the 18 transmitters needed more adequate tone settings and improved for full coverage throughout Flanders. It adjustment controls resulting in better collects the stations’ audio signals in its sounding AAC audio files — DAB+ technical center in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw requires specific audio signal processing where they are aggregated and encoded to achieve a full sound, and it is quite difin AAC+ (or HE-AAC) to offer the best ferent to what is used for FM broadcasts.” digital audio quality. Norkring has opted to include 12 staAGGREGATION tions per multiplex with, for most of the Norkring Belgium welcomed the stations, a bandwidth of 96 kbps per stanew player and format. Together with tion. For the main audio signal 80 kbps the commercial “early adopters,” the are used, the remaining 16 kbps includes extra data like slideshows for traffic broadcast transmission provider has information, pictures, cover-art and been working on a progressive deploymusic information. Stations send their ment of DAB+ transmitters throughout slides in real-time, which are then added Flanders. In April 2018, the company to the respective signal. The aggregated announced the “ready for service-phase Photos courtesy of Roxx
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The Roxx on-air studio is a basic setup with an analog Dateq BCS 50 broadcast console.
signal is then routed over the company’s fiber-optic network to Norkring’s transmitter park. “The nice thing about DAB+ is that, when transmitters signals overlap each other, the digital signal is enhanced, resulting in even better coverage,” said Dominique Lievyns, Norkring’s chief sales and marketing officer. The Roxx radio team, headed by Gorus, consists of two full-time staffers and three free-lance presenters. “We’re working under the ‘rock radio’ banner, but I prefer to take this to a broad interpretation of the genre, and we consider it more as a quality label. We don’t want to pin ourselves, but I would say we’re targeting 30- to 35-year-olds with a higher education,” said Gorus. “Even in the low-profile pre-start phase we got quite a lot of feedback from a younger audience who embrace the unique format in Flanders.” DIFFERENT APPROACH With hosted live programs between 6–9 a.m., 12–2 p.m. and 5–7 p.m., Roxx wants to differentiate itself from other stations. “We resolutely opted for a nontalk format during ‘office hours’ because we want to offer an alternative to what we hear on radio today — lots of talk — Roxx wants to explore other options.” Considering Roxx’s “national” coverage, the station offers national advertising. In this respect, Vlacora concluded an agreement with ad sales house IP Radio. “We’re very happy to add this original and daring format to our current offer,” said Steve Van Den Audenaerde, director with IP Radio. “Roxx will rapidly be discovered in the car, where DAB+ is
becoming very available. We are confident the station is poised to quickly build a loyal fan base, making Roxx an important player in the DAB+ landscape.” After six months of preliminary trial broadcasts and testing, Roxx saw its fullscale launch during the first weekend of September. “Commercially seen, setting up a new station before the holiday season is not the best plan,” admits Gorus, “We wanted to launch Roxx as quickly as possible, because the number of commercial stations on the Norkring DAB+ multiplex is limited. Big media groups are eyeing the DAB+ network with all kinds of substations and we thought it was important to board the DAB+ train immediately.” For the launch the station had two days of personality-driven radio with artists and media personalities who fit the Roxx DNA. Each personality hosted two hours of radio presenting their favorite tracks between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. With Roxx’s mobile studio, the launch of the new station was highlighted on public events such as the Ghent Jaarbeurs (Sept. 15–23) and pop-up presentations at Antwerp’s Hard Rock café. The mobile set-up consists of a Klotz Digital broadcast console, the Proppfrexx OnAir playout system and three Neumann TLM 102 microphones. Despite the most critical point for DAB+ stations being audience adoption, Gorus reveals a 15 percent market penetration in Flanders for DAB+. “This means the nonbelievers seem to be wrong. Three years after Norkring initiated the DAB+ project, the audience potential continues to grow — that’s fantastic,” he said, adding that Roxx is also broadcasting via Telenet Digibox and web streaming.
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◗NEWSWATCH RUSSIA MAKES WAY FOR DRM+ The Russian Federation is allocating two frequency bands (65.9–74 MHz and 87.5–108 MHz) for the use of Digital Radio Mondiale DRM+ digital radio. According to news agency RIA Novosti, during a State Commission on Radio Frequencies meeting held on Sept. 11, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation decided in favor of this move, which it believes will have a substantial influence on the development of country’s broadcasting market. “This is an uneasy but fundamental decision that will have a significant impact on the development of the broadcasting market in our country,” said Mikhail Seslavinsky, head of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications in a statement. “In Europe, the digital broadcasting standard has been actively implemented for a long time.” Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Latvia several years ago began a stage-by-stage refusal of analogue broadcasting in favor of digital. Before recommending the standard for use in Russia, trials were jointly carried out by FSUE RTRS and St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications.
LAWO NAMES PHIL MYERS SENIOR DIRECTOR IP SYSTEMS German broadcast equipment manufacturer Lawo has appointed Phil Myers as senior director of IP Systems. Lawo explains that in this newly created role Myers will coordinate the IP product portfolio and core technology development across the Lawo business as well as supporting the Advisory Board with strategic and technology direction during this fast-changing transitional period in the broadcast industry. Prior to joining Lawo, Myers was IP product manager for SAM [Snell Advanced Media] and Grass Valley. He also previously worked in technical product management and head of technology positions at Pinnacle Systems Inc., Sony and CVP. According to Lawo, his appointment comes at a cruPhil Myers cial time for the broadcast industry — manufacturers and customers alike — are adopting IP technologies with all the benefits they offer in quality, efficiency, cross-media content production and distribution.
◗MARKETPLACE AES67 Mix Monitor: As more and more audio travels as AES67 over IP networks monitoring that audio becomes problematic as traditional analog monitors are incapable of keeping up. Sonifex has seen an opportunity with its new AVN-PXH12. The AVN-PXH12 is a 12 x 2 mix monitor that decodes up to 24 AES67 audio sources natively. The 24 audio sources can be selected from any Ravenna, AES67 or AES67enabled Dante AoIP connected streams or four discrete stereo analog audio inputs (one front-panel 3.5 mm jack, two rear-panel 3.5mm jacks and a rearpanel stereo XLR input pair).
Each channel features three buttons and an encoder knob. The translucent rotary encoder shows the input level in the knob itself and output mix level in the LEDs around the encoder. The buttons can be used to select the main/secondary input, to mute the channel and to send the audio of that channel to left, right or stereo mix of the output. Pressing the encoder knob lets users solo the channel. Additionally, Ember+ is used for the control communication allowing remote control of the product using the open Ember+ standard. A built-in web server provides configuration control of the unit including source assignment to each channel and also allows for firmware updates and configuration backup. The unit can be controlled by suitable Ember+ commands. A rear-panel GPIO connector provides 10 local ports, which can be user configured as inputs or outputs and provide software controlled functionality. Info: www.sonifex.co.uk Live Stream Rewind Technology: StreamGuys has unveiled a new network DVRlike (nDVR) functionality for live radio streams. The company says SGrewind technology lets broadcasters automatically retain a rolling window of content from their live stream, giving their audience the ability to rewind, pause, or restart a stream from the beginning of a program. SGrewind will be a feature of StreamGuys’ cloud-based SGrecast live stream repurposing and workflow management system, which the company describes as “a platform for recording live streams and transforming them into revenueexpanding side channels and podcasts.”
According to StreamGuys, co-exhibiting with ENCO, the new feature gives listeners more control of their live streaming experiences by letting them pause and resume streams without missing any content; rewinding for a fixed time period; or starting the stream at a specific segment, similar to a television electronic program guide (EPG). Info: www.streamguys.com Wireless Smartphone Mic: Sennheiser’s new wireless mic is designed for use by mobile journalists with their smartphones. The Memory Mic is placed on clothing. It features a condenser capsule with an omnidirectional pattern. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. Tobias von Allwoerden, senior product manager, Professional Audio, Sennheiser, said, “The benefits for the mobile journalist include audio pick-up in broadcast quality via the free Sennheiser app, onetouch synchronization of audio and video via Bluetooth, no issues at all with range, up to four hours of operating time and convenient recharging via USB.” The free app is available for Android and Apple. It ships with a USB recharging cable. Info: www.sennheiser.com
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UNHCR Reaches Refugees Through Yetu Radio
The station aims to build coexistence between the refugee and host communities BY LAMECK MASINA BLANTYRE, Malawi — The United Nations High Commission for the Refugees (UNHCR) has launched a community radio station at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi — the first community radio in a refugee camp in Southern Africa. Yetu, which means “ours”, is a name derived from the Swahili language, spoken among about 40,000 refugees at the camp, mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Photos courtesy of Yetu
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COMMUNICATION The UNHCR representative in Malawi, Monique Ekoko, said during the launch in August that the radio broadcasts would help build understanding between the refugee and host communities. “The radio largely aims to build rapport with the refugee community through targeted news coverage, indepth analysis and radio documentaries, phone-in programs as well as to foster communication and collaboration within the refugee community,” she said. The broadcasts air in the six languages spoken at the camp — English, French, Swahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda and Malawi’s local language, Chichewa. “Yetu Radio, educates, informs and entertains about 40,000 refugees at Dzaleka and also people from surrounding villages in Dowa district. Besides, Yetu Radio is creating a common ground for social coexistence between refugees and Malawians through educative and Yetu Radio Chairman Raphael Maombi Ndabaga in the entertaining programs.” studio.
NHCR ambassadors from South Africa sample Yetu Radio. (Left to right) Leanne Manas, a journalist; Donavan Goliath, a comedian; and Ayanda Makayi, a movie actor.
Programs popular among the listeners include; “Our culture,” “Child Expressions” and “Youth Speaks.” The establishment of the radio operation is in a response to the initiative of two former journalists, Remy Gakwaya from Rwanda and Masumbuko Ramazani, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. CHALLENGES With the help of the Jesuit Refugee Service the two set up a makeshift radio station in 2013, by using the microphone and loudspeakers to inform people of any development at the camp. The speakers were placed on the roof of the community center for broadcasts and were powered by solar panels. But this did not last long
because of lack of necessary equipment and infrastructure for the broadcasts. However, Malawi government policy does not allow refugees to be employed in the country and are not encouraged to travel outside the camp. Chairperson for the Yetu Radio station, Raphael Maombi Ndabaga, said this is among the challenges facing workers at the station. “Yes we are running a radio station but we don’t have all the materials. Like recorders, as we have only one. Our studio does not have a carpet; we do not have laptops to save our data,” he said. “And a major point is that the journalists are working without earning anything and this makes them feel less motivated.” Despite some setbacks, Ekoko said UNHCR is also planning to launch another community radio station at the Luwani Refugee Camp in Neno, southern Malawi, a home to more than 3,000 refugees mainly from Mozambique.
◗MARKETPLACE IP Link 200A Connects Studios and Remotes: The GatesAir Intraplex IP Link 200A allows broadcasters to interconnect studios and remote locations, including transmitter sites, using the AES67 standard or any of today’s encoding algorithms across wide-area IP networks. Its signal originates signal transport from the broadcaster’s IT infrastructure for the management of contribution and distribution over IP networks. The IP Link 200A codec interconnects AES67 and analog/AES3 signals simultaneously, and enables conversion between the two formats. GatesAir says the unit’s design sim-
plifies the cabling and interconnection requirements from codecs to the wide area network, and provides users with a “true” AES67 AoIP device that is interoperable with AoIP solutions including WheatNet-IP, Ravenna and Livewire+. Among features integrated in the IP Link 200A is the GatesAir’s Dynamic Stream Splicing software, which the company explains, mitigates IP packet loss and eliminates off-air time through multiple redundant streams. Dynamic Stream Splicing borrows data from these redundant streams, which can live on the same network or separate paths. Info: www.gatesair.com
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◗MARKETPLACE Lav/Recorder Package: Tascam’s DR-10L is an ultracompact digital recorder/ lavalier microphone combo designed for mobile and remote applications. The DR-10L offers dual recording, which captures two files simultaneously at different levels. With dual recording, the lower-level recording serves as a safety track in case a sudden jump in audio level causes clipping distortion on the high-level track. This is just one of several levelmanagement features that ensure a clean recording, even in challenging field conditions; others include automatic level control, low-cut filter and a built-in limiter. It can capture up to 24-bit/48 kHz audio and records standard WAV files (compatible with BWF format) to microSD or SDHC card. Its built-in clock function is convenient for editing and searching, and a timed trackincrementing function can create new files at regular intervals (about every 15 minutes) during recording. A micro USB B port enables easy data exchange with computers. It operates for up to 10 hours on one AAA alkaline battery and weighs only 63 grams (2.2 ounces), including battery. The DR-10LW is a white version, ideal for weddings. It comes with a professional-quality lavalier microphone. A black lavalier mic is also available, TM-10LB. Both mics are equipped with Sennheiser-type connectors, making them compatible with a wide range of third-party equipment and accessories. Info: www.tascam.com
Transmitter Range: Nautel’s high-power NX transmitters have made the news several times during the past year, with high-profile installations taking place in locations around the world. Earlier this year, a 400 kW NX400 was placed on-air at TWR (Trans World Radio) on Bonaire, a Caribbean island. The transmitter was commissioned by TWR’s engineers following training at Nautel’s Nova Scotia factory in Canada.
This deployment follows last year’s installation of the largest MW radio transmitter in Europe, a 2 MW station at Antenna Hungaria’s site near Solt, Hungary. The Nautel NX2000 system incorporates five Nautel NX400 transmitters along with a large, versatile combiner. The new transmitter, which replaced an aging custom-built tube transmitter, represents significant power savings, as well as space savings, for the customer. “Large projects which involve multiple transmitter units and combiners can be of concern to customers,” said Wendell Lonergan, Nautel Head of Broadcast Sales. “Transmitters have typically been combined in a binary fashion requiring bypass functionality in each combiner. Nautel has developed more sophisticated two-way and five-way combiners. If any transmitter in the system goes down or is taken off line, the combiner automatically reconfigures itself in order to maintain maximum on-air power.” The past year also saw final acceptance of a four-year project to bring digital broadcasting to more than a billion residents of India, with the commissioning of 27 high-power medium wave transmitters throughout the country for All India Radio. Lonergan said that Nautel looks forward to meeting national broadcast organizations from all over the world at IBC to discuss transitions to digital broadcasting as well as ways to lower operating costs at large facilities. Info: www.nautel.com Smartphone Kit: RØDE Microphones has introduced its new SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit for Apple iOS devices. The SC6-L is a compact duo-3.5 mm TRRS-toLightning mobile interface that allows users to record with two RØDE smartLav+ microphones, intended for use in both for audio only and filmed scenarios. Using the 3.5 mm headphone jack, users can both monitor in real time and listen to playback. Making use of the RØDE Reporter App, they can further adjust a variety of settings, including input and monitor levels, but the gear also works with other iOS recording software. The SC6-L Mobile Interview Kit comes packaged with the new SC6-L interface, two mic clips, two windshields, a storage pouch, and two smartLav+ lavalier microphones. The mics are made with omnidirectional condenser capsules and Kevlar-reinforced cables, with the intention of use in film, TV, podcast and broadcast applications. The SC6-L Mobile Interface and smartLav+ microphones are also available for purchase separately. Info: www.rode.com
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EN FRANÇAIS
Actualités et informations des pays francophones
RFI crée un programme spécial USA élections de mi-mandat
RADIOWORLD
November 2018 publicité
Neuf rendez-vous hebdomadaires sur les enjeux des élections américaines Le service international de RFI a conçu un nouveau programme hebdomadaire spécial « États-Unis 2018 : Élections de mi-mandat », diffusé dans l’émission quotidienne de RFI Journal d’Haïti et des Amériques. Deux ans après l’accession au pouvoir de Donald Trump, alors que les Américains devaient retourner aux urnes le mardi 6 novembre pour les élections de mi-mandat, RFI a proposé une nouvelle chronique pour permettre aux auditeurs de découvrir pendant deux mois, semaine après semaine, le fonc- Début de la chronique d’Achim Lippold sur RFI : « Ces élections de mi-mandat… » tionnement, les enjeux, les élec9h15, 15h10 et 20h10 (heure de tions des gouverneurs, leurs pouvoirs, cheffe du service international de RFI. Paris), cette chronique d’une durée les candidats phares et les duels clés de Diffusée chaque jeudi du 6 septembre de 4 minutes a aussi été déclinée dans ces scrutins. au 1er novembre, sur l’antenne Monde à 7h33, à 14h10 au sein du Journal un format vidéo sur les sites, réseaux La spécificité de cette chronique est d’Haïti et des Amériques, et à 20h10, sociaux Facebook et Twitter et applicaaussi d’être le premier produit radio et ainsi que sur l’antenne Afrique à 7H15, tions mobiles de RFI et France 24. vidéo, comme le précise Sylvie Noël,
Lawo offre un tutoriel en français La société Lawo propose un tutoriel gratuit en ligne sur la série mc² pour les personnes désireuses de se familiariser avec ces consoles. Le tutoriel, qui a pour objectif de bien finaliser les acquis, comprend une série de questions avec un test à la fin. Après des versions en anglais et en espagnol, Lawo propose désormais ce cours aussi en français, à découvrir sur le site web de l’entreprise : https://www.lawo.com/en/ support/know-how/lawo-online-academy.html. Bien que le tutoriel explique comment manier une console mc²56 Lawo, l’approche et la philosophie ressemblent fort à celles des autres consoles de la famille mc². Aussi, les notions acquises au cours de ce tutoriel permettront de travailler aisément avec une console mc²36, mc²66 ou mc²96. Ces consoles sont d’ailleurs mutuellement compatibles et permettent d’échanger leurs données de production. Pour faciliter l’apprentissage, chaque vidéo se termine par une séquence de questions et de réponses. De plus, les participants ont la possibilité de passer un test à la fin de la série et d’obtenir un diplôme attestant de leurs connaissances ès consoles mc². Cette formation permet d’être opérationnel pour mixer sur une console Lawo mc². Avec ce tutoriel, il est possible de se familiariser avec les principes de base où et quand cela est nécessaire.
Image de la chronique RFI : « USA 2018 : Élections de mi-mandat »
Image de lancement de la chronique RFI : « USA 2018 Mi-Mandat »
Réalisée par les journalistes du service international de RFI, l’envoyée spéciale permanente à Washington, Anne Corpet, et le correspondant à San Francisco, Eric de Salve, le rendez-vous « États-Unis 2018 : Élections de mi-mandat » a présenté des reportages et entretiens dans plusieurs États américains. Proposant un mode d’emploi de ce scrutin et des institutions concernées (Sénat, Chambre des représentants, Gouverneurs, parlements régionaux…), avec des portraits de candidats et un panorama des principaux thèmes de campagne (politique migratoire, port d’armes, assurance maladie…), le programme « États-Unis 2018 : Élections de mi-mandat » a pris le pouls de la scène politique et de la société américaine à la veille d’un scrutin crucial pour le président Donald Trump. Des chercheurs intervenaient aussi dans ces chroniques, comme Jean-Eric Branaa, chercheur à l’IRIS et spécialiste des États-Unis, qui a apporté son éclairage au premier numéro du 6 septembre, consacré aux candidats progressistes à l’assaut des primaires démocrates et au « mode d’emploi » de l’élection au Sénat américain. Selon le service international de RFI, dès les premiers numéros cette chronique déclinée en radio et vidéo a été très suivie, avec quelque 300 000 visites sur le site internet du radiodiffuseur. Pour (ré) écouter ces chroniques : www.rfi.fr
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November 2018
Deux nouvelles intégrations de la société SAVE Diffusion Radio FG à Paris et NRJ Bruxelles adoptent la technologie Wheatstone Rapide chantier estival pour SAVE Diffusion, avec l’ensemble de la station parisienne Radio FG migrée en Audio sur IP dans la semaine. Le binôme est arrivé sur place le lundi à 14h pour repartir le vendredi après le passage on air le jeudi. La technologie WheatNet IP simplifie le travail d’intégration et offre des capacités d’évolutions fonctionnelles par simples reconfigurations.
Le studio principal a troqué sa fidèle console Harris pour accueillir une surface LXE Wheatstone 16 faders. Le studio 2 est également équipé d’une console LXE Wheatstone 12 faders. Du côté du CDM, 3 blades Wheatstone sont dédiés à la gestion des départs, et SAVE Diffusion a développé un panel tactile sur mesure permettant de gérer, sur une même interface, les affectations de zone, la gestion des traitements de son, et même le watermarking. Un bandeau de boutons OLED, autonome, permet au technicien de reprendre la main sur la chaîne audio à tout moment sans perturber la diffusion. Cette spécificité technologique rend le système très fiable, car ce panneau de boutons n’est dépendant d’aucun logiciel pour faire son travail. L’économie d’énergie et le gain d’espace sont spectaculaires, les baies techniques se voient vidées de près de la moitié de leurs équipements, et les goulottes murales de toute la station ont été vidées de leurs grappes de câbles AES. La souplesse du système WheatNet IP a permis de mettre en place très rapidement des fonctionnalités de confort, telles que la bascule automatique de l’automation d’un studio à l’autre lorsque l’animateur change de studio. L’installation des drivers WheatNet IP sur l’ensemble de la plate-forme Zetta de l’éditeur RCS a simplifié l’architecture audio et les télécommandes, tout étant regroupé dans une simple liaison IP. L’audio IP chez Radio FG est maintenant une réalité. En outre, SAVE Diffusion vient aussi de réaliser l’intégration de NRJ Bruxelles, client depuis plusieurs années du savoir-faire Audio IP de SAVE Diffusion. L’équipe de NRJ Bruxelles a choisi la technologie Wheatstone pour
poursuivre son développement. La nouvelle console LXE Wheatstone dans sa version 24 faders cohabite avec d’autres équipements existants grâce au standard AES67. Deux modules de 8 boutons OLED intégrés dans la console sont dédiés au pilotage des cartouchiers Zenon Média. Un module de pilotage de l’insert téléphonique est également présent dans la console. Les faders motorisés pour les canaux Zenon
Média permettent une exploitation multicouche pour la réalisation de Voice Tracks à tous moments. Dans la version sélectionnée par le client la console LXE est dépourvue de bandeau de vumètre. Celle-ci dispose d’un port HDMI et USB sur lequel un écran tactile est connecté. Celui-ci regroupe les fonctions d’affichage classique : horloge, vumètres, profils utilisateurs ainsi que plusieurs pages
dédiées respectivement aux traitements audio, accès à la matrice et une page dédiée pour le logiciel embarqué Screen Builder. SAVE Diffusion a réalisé une gestion automatique des bus pour les effets voix afin de simplifier l’exploitation, et un mode « mute » permettant d’extraire certaines sources des départs N-1 pour les inserts téléphoniques. Dans le CDM seulement quatre Blades regroupent les entrées et sorties nécessaires actuellement.
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BUYER’S GUIDE
Signal Monitoring, Remote Control, Test & EAS
RADIOWORLD
November 2018
WRBS Pushes Pathfinder to the Limit Baltimore broadcaster finds extreme flexibility and reliability with Axia Pathfinder Core PRO
◗USERREPORT BY KISHORE PERSAUD
Contract Engineer/Manager KP Radio Broadcast Engineering BALTIMORE, Maryland — As a
engineer on site. To interact with the Pathfinder system, the Axia Element consoles in WRBS’ facility have Axia SmartSwitch modules in them and they have Axia 10 and 17 button routing control panels. The 10-switch panel is used for AM stations for switching between EAS (emergency alert system) events, different studios and audio sources. The 17-panel switch is used in the transmitter room and offers extreme flexibility by allowing WRBS to switch out any station, studio, computer, different VMixes from the Powerstations, and more. I (Left to right) Telos Alliance’s Cornelius Gould with Kishore Persaud and Peter Allen, chief engineer for WRBS.
contract engineer, I work with many stations to help them to get their studios set up and workflows funcThis also goes for any studio, AudioVault, tioning the way that they desire. One or backup AudioVault that we want to put particular project that turned out well on the air with just the push of a single recently was the work that I did with button. The Pathfinder virtual button panel WRBS(FM) in Maryland. is also an extremely flexible solution for Before I came to their plant, they when we need to control things remotely. were using a standard AudioVault I’ve been working with Pathfinder since automation system and in an emerthe very first version and it has evolved in gency situation they had to run cables so many ways that it’s almost impossible to across the floor from a second studio wrap my mind around. As we say, “There up through the ceiling in order to is more than one way to skin a cat with patch through. When I came onboard, Pathfinder Core PRO.” Axia just released I was able to use a couple of Telos a new 1RU appliance and VM version and Alliance xNodes as well as the Axia Axia xNodes in the right rack and the Pathfinder Core Pro in the rack to the left. I’m sure I’ll be working with those in the Pathfinder system to easily accomnot too distant future. plish the same thing. This facility is now almost entirely also use Pathfinder for silence-sensing, programming Any time we’ve run up against an issue or a capabilan Axia plant and we’ve used Pathfinder Core PRO there timing, and in an emergency, it’s just one button to press ity we’d like to see in the product, we take it back to to make the most of their remote and backup system to get a signal back on the air. When you’re in the transTelos Support where the conversation carries back to the capabilities. mitter room, you just reach up and press one button and, developer who has always been there to provide support Their vision was to be able to switch sources in and Bam! Back on the air. It’s a very fast and elegant solution and solutions. It’s been incredible to be part of the evoluout seamlessly, in any situation. Most stations these days and provides the time necessary to look into solving the tion of the product. For information, contact Cam Eicher at the Telos are manned by a single engineer, or contract engineer, source of the problem. Alliance in the United States at +1- 216-241-7225 or and it’s important to have flexibility built into the system We are also using the system with our PPM encoders visit www.telosalliance.com. in case of an emergency situation when there isn’t an so we can easily switch between them in the air chain.
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November 2018
BUYER’S GUIDE
Signal Monitoring, Remote Control, Test & EAS
Sentech Relies on Audemat FM MC5 All-in-one measurement solution meets requirements in rugged terrain
◗SPECIAL REPORT BY CHANTAL FOURGEAUD
Director of Marketing Communications WorldCast Systems GEORGE, South Africa — Sentech, a South Africa-based company in George, offers signal distribution services to most of the country’s licensed broadcasters, which include the public broadcaster, commercial and community broadcasters. As an owner of 25 Audemat FM MC5 systems with 16 purchased in 2016 and nine more purchased in 2017, Sentech says it is a satisfied customer of WorldCast Systems with its Audemat FM MC5. According to Danie Liebenberg, team leader in operations at Sentech, its team makes use of all the Audemat FM MC5 functions when doing commissioning, development and testing of new FM equipment, fault-finding, alignment and
Pictured from left to right are Guillaume Boutin and Olivier Soulié of WorldCast Systems, Danie Liebenberg of Sentech and David Houzé of WorldCast Systems.
best features are its all-in-one versatility and drive-by test capability which has massively simplified things for us,” said Liebenberg. “In the past we had to carry multiple instruments of which some were heavy and bulky to transport. We also needed to conduct static measurements using a five-element FM antenna and telescopic pole that we would transport with us when doing our field tests. The size of the antenna in particular complicated our task during windy conditions. The amount of measure points was extremely limited due to this tedious process. Today, all we need to do is attach a small GPS and FM omnidirectional magnetic base antenna onto the roof of the vehicle, quickly configure the FM MC5 for the drive-by measurement, and we’re ready to go!” He adds, “Multiple measurements at a magnitude of measuring points get done while driving at normal driving speed. By the click of a button, a professional report gets generated that can immediately be represented to customers.” The Audemat FM MC5 is a lightweight, all-in-one system, and it comes with a durable transport case. With most of Sentech’s work taking place in rugged, mountainous landscapes, sometimes taking one hour to travel 10 kilometers to reach a site, Sentech says the transport case was a key factor when deciding to purchase the Audemat FM MC5. During its two years as a WorldCast Systems’ customer, Sentech has also benefited from expert customer support. “We received their team’s support from time of purchase and system deployment, continuing up until now. I would definitely recommend the Audemat FM MC5 as a measurement solution for the FM broadcasting environment,” Liebenberg concluded. For information, contact Christophe Poulain at WorldCast Systems in France at +33-557-928-928 or visit www. worldcastsystems.com.
measurements when repairing existing equipment and when doing automated test sequences through script functionalities. The FM MC5 also helps Sentech carry out its support maintenance which include full mast, cable and antenna inspections as well as drive-by measurements to confirm correct FM antenna radiation patterns and reporting on lack of coverage in new developing areas. The drive-by tests’ full reports go straight to the planners, which help Sentech in their decision-making process when considering possible new sites. SIMPLIFIED PROCESS “One of Sentech’s key operational imperatives and actually one of our strategic pillars is to operate more efficiently. The FM MC5 provides this in more ways than one and in our opinion, its
◗TECHUPDATE INOVONICS ADDS NEW FEATURES TO THE 662 DAB+ SITESTREAMER FELTON, C alifornia — Inovonics has tweaked its INOmini 662 DAB+ SiteStreamer. Of key interest will be the just installed ability to view remotely the MOT visual slide shows. The 662 DAB+ SiteStreamer lets users remotely monitor up to 30 sources of DAB+ programming over the internet. Tune-in, switch modes, listen remotely via streamed audio, and receive email or text alarms for various reception problems. The 1/3 RU 662 also has Inovonics’ StationRotation for “round robin” monitoring of preset channels/groups. For information, contact Inovonics in the United States at +1-831-458-0552 or visit www.inovonicsbroadcast.com.
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◗TECHUPDATES ALDENA OFFERS SEP FOR EMF CONTROL MILAN — Attention toward electromagnetic pollution has grown in the last decade. According to studies and guidelines released by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the European Union implemented the directive 2013/35/ EU in July 2016. This directive sets safety and health requirements regarding the exposition of workers and general public to electromagnetic radiations. Aldena Telecomunicazioni’s new compact Selective
BUYER’S GUIDE
November 2018
Signal Monitoring, Remote Control, Test & EAS Electric Isotropic Triaxial Antenna Probe (SEP) is specifically designed to measure the electrical component of the electromagnetic field in the 100 kHz to 3.8 GHz frequency range. According to the firm, the system also allows users to save time and money on EMF measurement. The spectrum analyzer and three-axis antenna (with an integrated RF switch) are fitted inside one unit. This facilitates the operator’s work in the field, who therefore only need to calibrate one instrument instead of three (analyzer, cable and antenna). Aldena explains that SEP’s three-dipole antennas are directly connected to the receiver, which minimizes isotropy error (typical <0.5 dB). Measurement range is
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from 0.1 to 200 V/m and correction factors are stored in an internal EEPROM. The lithium battery is replaceable with operation time eight hours. Users can connect SEP to a PC via a fiber-optic cable to control several functions via dedicated software including fast setup, track record channel power, multichannel power, settable markers, conformity reduction and RMS. For information, contact Aldena Telecomunicazioni in Italy at +39-9039-0461 or visit www.aldena.it.
ORBAN FACILITATES AUDIO ANALYSIS LUDWIGSBURG, Germany — Orban’s loudness meter upgrade V2.7 adds support for up to 7.1-channel surround and the ability to analyze audio and the audio parts of video files offline for their BS.1770-4 Integrated Loudness, EBU R 128 LRA, highest reconstructed peak level, and number of reconstructed peaks above 0 dBFS.
The meter will graph the BS.1770-4 Integrated Loudness and peak swings of the CBS Loudness Meter as a function of time, and can display a histogram of the BS.1770-4 Integrated Loudness. In addition, the upgrade features several bug fixes. Windows V2.9.6 works with Windows Vista/7/8/10; it is not compatible with Windows XP and earlier. We will continue to make v2.0.8 available for Windows XP users. Mac V2.9.6 works with macOS 10.12 Sierra and earlier versions. Orban makes this software available free of charge, subject to the provisions of the license agreement displayed by the software installer. This software is sponsored by Orban’s loudness controllers for FM radio, television, and streaming. For information, contact Orban in Germany at +49-7141-2266-0 or visit www.orban.com.
November 2018
◗TECHUPDATE DEVA INTRODUCES NEW FM AND DAB MONITORS BURGAS, Bulgaria — DEVA Broadcast says its DB45 monitor guarantees round-the-clock operation and accurate measurement of signal parameters, such as RF level, MPX deviation, MPX power, left and right audio levels, RDS, and pilot injection levels. Upon demodulation of the FM signal, the SDR tuner digitizes the RF signal and all signal processing is achieved through calculations. According to the company, the precision of the tool’s digital filters permits the FM multiplex signal components to be accurately and repeatedly reproduced from one device to another. All measurements can be refreshed simultaneously and synchronously, allowing users to obtain detailed readings of the multiplex FM signal components. The DB45 has a DSP-based core and supports TCP/IP and GSM connectivity. It also features a web interface and adjustable alarms for RF, deviation, pilot and RDS signal. In addition, the firm’s DB46 DAB/ DAB+ monitor, which is fully compliant with the ETSI EN 300 401 DAB standard, supports the latest DAB and DAB+ standards. DB46 features a selective DSPbased tuner and offers support for Program Associated Data (PAD), as well as all standard bitrates and VBR, and automatically displays live metadata. While the signal is being monitored and logged, the DB46 measures the following DAB signals: RSSI, SNR, CNR, FIC quality, FIB errors, FFT offset and the left and right audio level values, and consequently stores them for future analysis. A standard FTP client is all that is required for the collected
ABOUT BUYER’S GUIDE Radio World publishes User Reports on products in various equipment classes throughout the year to help potential buyers understand why colleagues chose the equipment they did. A User Report is an unpaid testimonial by a user who has already purchased the gear. A Radio World Product Evaluation, by contrast, is a freelance article by a paid reviewer who typically receives a demo loaner. Do you have a story to tell? Write to brett.moss@ futurenet.com.
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Signal Monitoring, Remote Control, Test & EAS data to be easily downloaded. DEVA says that DB46 is easy to set up and control, either through the front-panel menu or remotely through one’s PC, tablet or smart phone via a standard web browser. iOS and Android devices can also be used. All of this makes the DB46 an indispensable product for DAB/DAB+ Monitoring, guaranteeing precision and a high quality of performance, the company says. For information, contact DEVA Broadcast in Bulgaria at +359-56-820027 or visit www.devabroadcast.com.
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◗TECHUPDATES
BUYER’S GUIDE
November 2018
Signal Monitoring, Remote Control, Test & EAS
2WCOM MANAGES A30 NETWORKS FLENSBURG, Germany — According to 2wcom, its A30 remote management solution enables operators to manage and evaluate all A30 monitoring receivers in one stop via an easy to use integrated location/device management. For example, says the firm, FM and RDS parameters of all A30 receivers can be collected or RDS group parameters and RDS group statistics can be displayed. Also, it is possible to select an individual A30 to listen to an MP3 compressed audio stream of a monitored station, record and store it. The company calls the A30 a “hybrid, economical and multipurpose monitoring receiver,” which includes interfaces such as analog/digital audio input, MPX input, analog/digital audio MPX outputs, GPIs, SNMP and two parallel MP3 streams. It is possible to configure two built-in FM tuners to monitor two separate stations or the second FM tuner can operate in scan-mode, monitoring up to 30 frequencies (round robin). Operators can use an optional DAB+ tuner to monitor a DAB+ multiplex. In addition, technicians can benefit from accurate measurements of FM/RDS and DAB+ parameters like RF level, no pilot detection, pilot deviation, MPX deviation, MPX power and RDS parameters (RDS deviation, PI, PS, PTY, RT, TA, TMC, etc.). The system offers a detailed and graphical presentation of MPX peak signal deviation and MPX power to help avoid penalties with regulatory authorities. If a measurement exceeds a user-definable threshold, an alarm can be forwarded via SNMP, email and/or relay and is stored in a separate alarm log (time stamp, type of alert and the corresponding frequency). The monitoring receiver also features intelligent silence detection, passive loop-through, RDS databridging and can be setup as a rebroadcast receiver. For information, contact 2wcom in Germany at +49-461-662830-0 or visit www.2wcom.com.
AEQ DESIGNS REMOTE NETWORK CONTROLLERS MADRID — AEQ is known as a manufacturer of broadcast equipment but it is less well known as a developer of control and management applications. These are designed to allow among other things, the creation of radio broadcast networks. For instance the Tele Server 3.1program was recently updated and adapted for Radio Popular de Madrid in Spain. It creates four satellite broadcast feeds, to which hundreds of remote stations are subscribing. It allows the stations to broadcast the contents of any of these four programs and switch between them using a scheduler. Further, it allows for the creation of customized contents for each station or group of stations. The application enables the insertion of advertisement, news and other regional and local contents within the national or general programs. It also provides the necessary tools to switch the active signal to each station depending on desired schedule or to prepare programs with specific contents depending on for example, season and fixtures. Xal Control, implemented in la Xarxa in Barcelona was created to replace an obsolete, unidirectional satellite radio network with a full duplex network using AEQ Phoenix audio codecs. The system server does not provide network commands but directly controls all the codecs at the network headquarters and remote stations. It also controls the audio routing matrix at the main station, creating the required cross-points for the routing of the required audio between the codecs and the studio consoles. For information, contact AEQ in Spain at +34-91-6861300 or visit www.aeq.eu.
DAVICOM PRESENTS THE CORTEX360 REMOTE SITE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS QUEBEC CITY, Quebec — The Davicom Cortex 360 remote site management system is built upon the latest dual ARM hardware processor running an embedded Linux kernel. Its front-panel OLED system display shows detailed system status and alarm conditions. A digital video output is also available to directly drive a monitor. Low current draw (300 mA at 12VDC) allows operation for longer periods on battery backup power or from solar-powered installations. Input DC supply voltage can be anything between 10V and 30V. The built-in SNMP manager (with up to 1024 GET, SET and TRAP commands) is used to manage external SNMP-compatible devices while the unit’s V1, V2c and V3-compatible SNMP Agent interfaces with external SNMP NMS software. Backhaul operation can be over very low bandwidth communications channels down to 2400 baud. Regular high-speed Ethernet, dial-up modem and DTMF/voiceresponse connectivity are included for free. Dual firmware memory spaces ensure fail-over and roll-back operation during firmware updates. Metering inputs are differential with ranges between ±0.5V and ±80V with a common mode of up to ±80V. All metering inputs also have built-in RMS signal detectors as well as 4-20mA capability. Status inputs have fully independent opto-isolated ground returns for easy interfacing to various pieces of site equipment. A built-in four-port Ethernet switch and four-port USB hub reduce the need for other site accessories. Operates in freezing cold or burning hot environments with an industrial temperature range. For information, contact Davicom in Canada at +1-418-682-3380 or visit www.davicom.com or http://cortex360.davicom.com.
BW BROADCAST MODMON ENCORE CONTROLS THE SIGNAL CROYDEN, England — BW Broadcast’s ModMon Encore Dual FM and MPX modulation monitor combines the technology from its award-winning receivers with lab reference-grade audio processing technology to create a single box capable of analyzing both FM and baseband signals.
According to the company, the ModMon’s time-aligned twin DSP tuners allow crossfading between two different radio stations for instant and accurate signal comparison. In addition, it says the “high-performing” DSP tuners have adaptive IF filtering and stereo improvement, with antenna diversity option, and that even under difficult conditions it will pick up weak signals with the best possible sound. The dual MPX inputs allow crossfading between two different MPX inputs for instant comparison of two processors. BW explains that zero time pop-less switching between two audio processors makes it easy to get a true evaluation between the processors. In addition, it points out that the system’s reference-grade stereo demodulation gives performance stereo demodulation and separation, making it easy to listen to the left-right audio from a composite MPX input signal — or even two. The firm says that anyone working with FM or MPX signals will find this product useful and easy to use. Receiving both RF modulation as well as FM signal in one unit makes it easier to make adjustments and prevent overmodulation. The front panel is machined from a single block of aluminum with a high contrast OLED displaying the menu system and tricolored LED blocks providing clear, real-time metering. Three silicone soft keys control the most significant functions and two illuminated buttons switch inaudibly and instantaneously between each DSP tuner. For information, contact BW Broadcast in England at +44-208-253-0290 or visit www.bwbroadcast.com.
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RADIOWORLD |
@radioworld_news
RadioWorldMagazine
November 2018
◗TECHUPDATE
vertical or eyebrow bargraph meter. Users can set up two or 60 or more cells in one “wall.” Users determine where and what to meter: console inputs, mic outputs, the satellite receiver, studios, web streams, etc. In addition, a separate analysis window shows one audio stream in a variety of informative ways, including FFT, 3D plot, oscilloscope, energy vs. frequency,
WHEATSTONE METERS THE AOIP NETWORK NEW BERN, North C arolina — The Wheatstone IP Meters software for its WheatNet-IP audio network displays a “wall of meters” on a PC screen for ongoing monitoring of audio peak levels, average levels, and various other parameters at selected points throughout the network. The IP Meters GUI for the WheatNet-IP network lets broadcasters set up ongoing metering of audio levels, signal density, FFT graphs, and more. Each meter can be set up with silence detection, so broadcasters can see at a glance if an audio stream has gone down, and where. Each meter — or cell — in this IP “wall of meters” can be set up as a horizontal,
spectral dynamic range and more. For information, contact Wheatstone in the United States at +1-252-638-7000 or visit www.wheatstone.com.
BROADCAST EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE
RADIOWORLD
November 2018
Rebuilt Power Tubes 1/2 the cost of New! ñol Espa a l b a Se H
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SPACE AVAILABLE TRANSMITTERS/EXCITERS/TRANSLATORS
TRANSCOM CORPORATION
Serving the Broadcast Industry Since 1978 Transmitters and Broadcast Equipment for Radio & Television Used FM Transmitters 55W 3.5 KW 3.5 KW 5 KW 5.25 KW 10 KW 10 KW 10 KW 10 KW 21.5 KW 25 KW 35 KW
2000 2000 2006 1998 2006 1988 1993 2008 1998 1990 2004 1991
Harris DIGIT CD Harris Z3.5CD, solid-state Harris Z3.5CD, solid-state Nautel FM5, solid state Harris Z8HD+ Digital/Analog BE FM10A, Dual 5 KW Harris HT10, SS IPA 1-phase Harris Z10CD, solid state Nautel FM10, Solid State 1-phase Continental 816R2A, SS IPA Harris HT25CD BE FM35B Used AM Transmitters
10 KW 12 kW
1991 2001
Nautel AMPFET10, solid-state Nautel XL12, solid-state
Please visit our website, www.fmamtv.com, for additional listings.
HARRIS
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ADVERTISER INDEX
This listing is provided for the convenience of our readers. Radio World assumes no liability for inaccuracy.
page
advertiser
website /url
5
2wcom Systems
www.2wcom.com
11
Axia - The Telos Alliance
www.telosalliance.com/axia
21 Calrec
www.calrec.com
1
DB Elettronica Telecom.
www.dbbroadcast.com
18
Deva Broadcast Ltd
www.devabroadcast.com
14
Digigram, S.A.
www.digigram.com
27
Inovonics Broadcast
www.inovonicsbroadcast.com
19
Lawo AG
www.lawo.com
9 Nautel
www.nautel.com
4 NeoGroupe
www.neogroupe.com
28 Orban
www.orban.com
1, 16
RFE Broadcast
www.rfebroadcast.com
17
Save Diffusion
www.savediffusion.fr
7
Tieline Technology
www.tieline.com
2, 13, 15
Wheatstone
www.wheatstone.com
23 Winmedia
www.winmedia.org
25
www.xperi.com
Xperi
ADVERTISING CONTACTS EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA: RAFFAELLA CALABRESE +39-320-891-1938 Fax: +39-02-700-436-999 raffaella.calabrese@futurenet.com
NORTH AMERICA: CARMEL KING 703-852-4602 Fax: 703-852-4583 carmel.king@futurenet.com
SEND MATERIALS TO: NICOLE SCHILLING nicole.schilling@futurenet.com
PETE SEMBLER 212-378-0400 x324 Fax: 650-238-0263 peter.sembler@futurenet.com VYTAS URBONAS 212-378-0400 x533 Fax: 630-786-3385 vytas.urbonas@futurenet.com
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