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.
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!
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
