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Broadcast from any place, any time…

How is it possible to guarantee a broadcast from any location without doing a proper site visit first? Obviously, it isn’t, right? Wrong…

We are excited to announce a significant enhancement to our service offerings at our London-based rental company. Our commitment to providing exceptional live broadcast, webcast, and technical services across the UK has always been our priority. Today, we are proud to introduce new capabilities that allow us to operate in even the most remote locations without the need for a site visit or existing power and internet infrastructure.

We have recently added Instagrid portable batteries to our rental stock. These enable us to run our systems and broadcast technology using battery power.

With our new battery-powered solutions, we can now deliver uninterrupted, high-quality broadcasts and webcasts from virtually any location. Our Instagrid units provide reliable, portable power, while Peplink devices ensure robust connectivity.

This advancement means that whether you are hosting an event in a remote countryside or a corporate function in an off-grid location, we can support your needs seamlessly.

We are enthusiastic about these new capabilities and look forward to bringing our services to even more unique and challenging environments. For more information or to inquire about our services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Present Communications achieves certification to ISO 20121:2012 Sustainable Event Management

Present have achieved certification to ISO 20121:2012 Sustainable Event Management in relation to its work as a supplier to the events industry, supplying technology and support to the live events, experiential and broadcast sectors.

ISO20121:2012 provides a recognised framework for sustainable event management. Present has prioritized sustainability since its inception almost 20 years ago as an early adopter and supplier of (what is now called) virtual and hybrid event technology.

Present MD Kieron Garlic says “Achieving this certification is testament to the hard work of the team and our continuing focus on sustainability. It also underscores the direction we are taking the business. Remote production and broader connectivity services facilitate the wider reach and impact of the events we work on and the content we produce. I am immensely proud of the team’s efforts and what they’ve accomplished which will ensure moving forward we are not only delivering impactful and valuable services but also delivering them in the most sustainable way”.

Managing Director UK & Ireland at BSI, Matt Page comments “Congratulations to Present for achieving certification to the sustainable events management standard. This certification demonstrates Present’s dedication to both sustainability and purpose from the supplier side of sustainable event delivery. Following a rigorous audit, Present proved vital action had been taken to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Events Management System Standard and consider key environmental, social, and economic impacts. BSI is proud to provide support in this area and will continue to work alongside industry and society to accelerate the adoption of sustainable measures.”

Present have provided audio visual and event technology support for almost 20 years, originally supporting hotels and conference centres with audio visual equipment and event technicians.

From 2008, we have provided video conferencing services for corporate events and on-site webcasting support to streaming platforms (streaming from a laptop wasn’t possible in those days!)

As a video specialist to other audio visual and production companies, online video became core to what we do.

Covid took the business fully virtual for a short while. Our MCR / studio was used for hundreds of live broadcasts over the lockdown period.

Present now provides a comprehensive range of video, streaming, filming, podcast, post production and connectivity services to the events, experiential and broadcast industries.

How do I make my event more accessible?

It’s not only right and fair to make your event inclusive and accessible, but it also increases the value! Quite simply, more people can take part.

Accessibility tools
💚 Induction loops (in-room)
💚Bluetooth for hearing aids
💚BSL / ASL
💚Captions

It seems obvious to say, but the best option is all of the above. That way, people in the audience can chose and even change throughout the day (reducing fatigue). Captions for example are now so popular that 80% of Netflix shows include them. So should we have them on all our events?

And did you know our captioners are often working from home, so there is less travel and environmental impact, as well as a smaller space requirement.

ISO20121 – we’re getting there

We are thrilled to share an important milestone in our commitment to sustainability and excellence. Present is actively pursuing ISO 20121 certification, a testament to our dedication to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and innovative event management.

Our journey:

Preparation: We’ve conducted a comprehensive audit to align our operations with the certification standards, identifying areas for improvement and innovation.

Action Plan: Implementing targeted strategies to elevate our sustainability practices, from reducing waste to optimizing resource use.

Engagement: Your support and collaboration are vital. We welcome any insights or suggestions that can enhance our path to certification.

Future Steps: Achieving certification is just the beginning. We are committed to continuous improvement, setting new benchmarks in sustainable event management.

StayTuned: We’ll keep you updated on our progress, sharing milestones and opportunities for us to collaborate on this exciting journey. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Together, we are making a difference.

Audio production and AI…

The old truth has always and will always be true (probably) and that is, if you want great audio, get the microphone as close to the source as possible. Not only that, but always record in a space that has as little noise as possible. In this particularly post, I’m talking about recording the voice in particular.

Noise is a distraction, it’s annoying. And it actually makes speech less intelligible.

Over the last few years, especially since lockdown we’ve seen the rise in automated audio processing in platforms like Teams, Zoom and Webex and they all work a little differently.

First, lets talk about compression. This is the process whereby the loudest audio is made quieter. That means that all ‘speech’ is similar in level, there is less dynamic range. If that audio is then normalised, that is that it’s increased to the ‘standard’ level, then all speech is similar in volume and as loud as all over speech.

But what happens if there isn’t only speech in the audio, what happens if there is noise? If the level of the speech is increased, then so is the noise, and we end up with noisey audio.

Introducing, the noise gate. This kind of does what it says on the tin. The noise gate is set to the threshold so that noise that is quieter than the threshold is muted, and voice that is louder is unmuted.

Problem solved….

But how do we know what the threshold should be. Automated systems will look for a constant level, the ‘noise floor’ and will set the threshold around there. Now… we play in music which is so heavily compressed that the platform thinks it’s noise (it often is). And now the processor mutes EVERYTHING.

Where are we going with this? AI.

New AI technology actually listens to the audio, detects the voices. More than that, it listens to the words so it knows what is speech and what isn’t. That way, it can actually eliminate real noise but keep speech, even where they’re at a similar level. In fact, it can then isolate the speech and manipulate it to make it even more intelligible.

We could take it one step further and change the voice, from male to female or vice versa for example. But lets leave that one for another post…

Remote MCR – what is it and why?

Every time something is broadcast live or a live environment or situation is being filmed, there is an MCR or a gallery. The director will stand in the gallery, call the shots, give instructions to the camera operators etc. But what if the director didn’t have to be on site? What if they could call the shots from another location, another country? What if they could call the shots in London in the morning and Washington DC in the afternoon?

But there’s more. Imagine being able to do social edits for an event in real time, without going to the event. Instead, having all the camera feeds broadcast back to the ‘MCR’ and edited there. Or being able to broadcast one session to YouTube, another to Zoom, another to ON24 with it all being managed off site.

And MCR might be used to direct, mix and broadcast a series of roadshow events, without ever having to move the equipment.

And it’s not just about broadcast, it could be remote control. Over Covid, we managed the trackside LED screens for Nascar…. from Ipswich!!

By having all the camera feeds in one place, regardless of the event or filming location, flexibility and opportunity to be creative actually increases and the possibilities are endless.

And as if that isn’t enough, it’s cheaper and has a far lesser impact on the environment due to reduced travel, transport and logistics.

Win win!

Remote MCR gallery studio
Remote MCR gallery studio

Exploring the World of Microphones

In the realm of audio technology, microphones play a pivotal role in capturing, transmitting, and amplifying sound. It’s a huge and diverse field, with nuanced differences and very specific applications. So let’s go over what we use, and why we use it.

Lapel microphones, also known as lavalier microphones, are designed to be clipped onto clothing, making them inconspicuous and perfect for situations where visibility and mobility matters. Typically an Omnidirectional Condenser, they are sensitive, detailed and consistent. Perfect for presentations and interviews, our Sennheiser Wireless Lapel mics are a permanent feature in our productions.

Handheld microphones are perhaps the most recognizable type of microphone. Their ergonomic and familiar design allows speakers, presenters, and performers to have control over their audio as they move around the stage or set. Typically a Hyper-Cardioid Dynamic microphone, they provide a very focused and powerful sound, minimising bleed from the environment and providing a clear signal on the busiest of stages. Our Sennheiser Handheld microphones are also wireless, providing maximum mobility and comfort; meaning they’re also an extremely popular and useful tool.

Lectern microphones are designed for use on podiums or lecterns, offering a convenient solution for speakers addressing an audience. These microphones are engineered to minimize feedback and capture the speaker’s voice clearly, even when they’re positioned a bit further away from the microphone. They provide a stable and consistent solution for talks and conferences with multiple speakers addressing the audience in turn, and keeping the speaker physically free from any microphones can benefit their presentation.

Finally, Boundary microphones, or “boundary mics,” use the principle of phase cancellation to capture sound waves reflected off surfaces, resulting in a natural and ambient audio capture. These microphones are often placed on large surfaces like conference tables or theatre stages, making them ideal for recording meetings, conferences and theatrical performances. They’re a useful tool due to the ease of use and minimal technical footprint, making them a great choice for more simple setups where a wide area needs to be covered effectively.

The world of microphones is diverse and adaptable, catering to a wide range of commercial applications. Whether you’re capturing the ambiance of a conference, recording a podcast, addressing a large audience, or amplifying a musical performance, there’s a microphone type that’s perfectly suited for the task.

Lets talk about connectivity…

What do you do if you internet isn’t great and you need to stream. Perhaps the wifi is slow, or you’re in a rural area. We can connect multiple internet connection together using a process called ‘bonding’.

We use a device that connects multiple internet connections together from a company call Peplink. It allows us to provide stronger, more resilient internet on site for streaming, in the homes of remote contributors and even in remote location. We can connect 3G, 4G, KASAT and starlink, fibre and wifi. Talk to us if you want to know more.

If you want to know more about how we use this technology, or how to get better internet in hard to reach places, drop us a line – kieron@presentcommunications.com

Building out a content pipeline…

With larger events now fully back in the calendar but smaller meetings and training replaced by virtual ones, consistent engagement throughout the year is more important than ever. Much of this is done online and content creation is now a key engagement activity, where networking and workshops used to be.

Many organisations’ major events calendar has been reduced to a single ‘big day’. Make sure you take full advantage of all your potential content and increase the longevity of your event by capturing as much as possible.

You have your ideal audience, speakers and experts in one place. This is the perfect opportunity to capture as much content as possible, an opportunity not to be missed. We build simple, cost-effective studios in events, exhibitions, seminars, congresses, just like yours.

Create a space for presenters to POP in, delegates to POP by.

We made a mistake…

Since the lockdowns began around March 2020, our businesses have changed. Live events has been mostly non-existent. In order for businesses in our industry to survive, we’ve had to adapt, try new things and learn new skills. Not only that, but budgets are different (smaller).

I’m very pleased with the way that we’ve adapted in the last year. We’ve been able to offer our clients excellent quality live streaming and virtual events at the right price. I’m also happy to say we’re dong it the right way, with highly skilled staff, on some of the best and most reliable equipment currently in the industry.

But it’s been a journey to get here. A few months ago, we were asked to do something new. We were asked to record 20 people in HD from a Zoom meeting. We thought we could do it. In the ‘old world’ it would have been easy. We would have been on site, brought in 20 video feeds from anywhere around the world and rented in a rack of video recorders. The quality would have been excellent and the budget doubled. This time around, we wanted to do it from our studio and we wanted to keep it cheap and keep the client. We did some testing, all appeared to work. We looked over our test recordings, they seemed ok. We confirmed with the client and won the job to work on one of their most high profile projects that year.

We started the job, pressed all the buttons, everything looked good and the ‘event’ took place. After the event, we confirmed we had files, nothing had crashed and we would send everything to the client. Everyone left (virtually) feeling happy. 

It was only went we went back over the recordings that we found the quality was poor, to say the least. Very poor. They were certainly not something I was happy delivering to the client. We worked through the night to fix the issues in post (video joke) and by the morning, we were able to deliver something. I say ‘something’ because it still wasn’t good enough, but it was something.

Now there were only a few things left for us to do.

  1. Apologise to the client profusely. Obviously we didn’t send a bill despite the fact we know the end client did pay for the eventual product. From my point of view though, as a business owner, I was not happy AT ALL with the work we had done and was not prepared to let the client pay for that quality of work.
  2. Research, read and learn everything we can about how we had made a mistake.

Now we’re in a unique position that we’ve made the mistake and we’ve learnt from it. And so what’s the outcome / silver lining? We know how technically challenging it is to deliver something like this. We made the mistake and we’ve learnt a lot. As a result, we rebuilt our entire network (more money than we’ve ever spent before one a single item) and changed our workflow for this kind of project. Now we know exactly how to deliver this project, should we ever get asked again! And next time, we’ll get it perfect. Even better than that, as a result of the new things we’ve learned and the improved infrastructure, our workflows for all kinds of projects have changed and improved. Everything we do is now to a far higher standard.