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Engineering Extra
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Issue: Aug. 15, 2008
Top Stories
Executive Jobs Targeted for Sat Rad Cuts
Sirius XM Radio CEO Mel Karmazin has confirmed that the company will trim its executive roster in order to save money.
Karmazin told Bloomberg this morning “We’re not going to need two different people” making sales calls to retailers, for example.
The chief executive has said by merging, the two satellite radio companies could see up to some $400 million in savings.
According to the account, Karmazin plans to detail the cuts next month.
New Fraunhofer/University Lab Opens in Germany
Fraunhofer and the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg have opened a new audio lab to focus on digital processing.
Called the Erlangen International AudioLabs, the center, according to Fraunhofer, will employ an international team of scientists working on audio and multimedia technologies over the next 10 years.
University scientists will develop technologies for digital processing of multimedia content. One of the first areas to receive particular attention is music and speech processing, such as development of telephone or conferencing systems, officials said.
Some 100 researchers and 60 students work on audio and multimedia technologies in Fraunhofer’s Audio and Multimedia Real-time Systems departments. AudioLabs will be housed next door, providing access to the institute’s facilities, including an acoustics laboratory, a recording studio and a movie theater laboratory.
Fraunhofer will invest 60 million Euros, about $88.7 million, earned from licensing of MP3 patents, to fund this effort. The university, in turn, will create six new professorships in connection with AudioLabs.
KSHE2 Broadcasts Live Rock Concert
KSHE(HD2) in Washington, Mo., says it’s the first multicast channel to air a live rock concert.
The Emmis-owned station broadcast the Charlie Daniels Band concert live from a local fair last weekend.
The KSHE2 engineering staff spent many hours preparing for the event, which also included behind-the-scenes highlights and interviews, according to the station.
KSHE’s main HD-R channel plays free-form classic rock.
Suspected Copper Thief Dies From Electrocution
A 51-year-old man, James Buster McKay, died recently after being electrocuted; he was suspected of trying to steal about $50 worth of copper, according to the Dallas Morning News.
The Dallas County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death. County firefighters had rescued McKay from a utility pole last weekend. His skin “melded with the pole” after being hit with 7,000 volts, according to the account; McKay suffered third-degree burns on about 50 percent of his body.
Dallas police said when fire-rescue crews arrived, they found cut wires and about $50 worth of copper on the ground; McKay was stuck between transformers on the pole. The man may have grabbed a wire when power was being restored, Dallas police said.
Police said the incident caused more than $10,000 in damage.
Satellite Customers Get Their Letters
In accordance with their agreement with the FCC, Sirius and XM have sent letters letting subscribers know they may have satellite radio tuners that contain wireless FM transmitters that may overmodulate and interfere with terrestrial stations.
The XM letter states the notice does not apply if the subscriber’s new car came with an XM Satellite Radio; it’s generally referring to receivers purchased before August 2006.
The affected tuners include the Roady2, SKYFi2, MyFi, Airware, Tao, RoadyXT, Xpress, Sportscaster, XR9-XCX9, Jensen JXR9, Inno, Helix and Nexus.
XM is asking subscribers to visit a Web site or call an 800 number to discuss no-cost options to “alleviate this possible interference.” Those include XM sending the subscriber ferrite beads to attach to the FM antenna and power adaptor cables or a replacement cassette adaptor to use with the XM radio.
The company reminds subscribers their XM radio with an FM modulator will work best “if you use an unused frequency.”
Sirius has sent similar letters, and assured subscribers that there is no health or safety issue involved. The company is offering a free “Optimizer Kit” with several options that subscribers can take to prevent interfering with other devices.
It also apologized for the inconvenience.
Tight Times Continue at 1worldspace
1worldspace — the Maryland company formerly called Worldspace — posted a net loss for the second quarter of $36 million, compared with a net loss of $51.2 million a year ago.
“Our goals moving forward in 2008 continue to be the resolution of our financial situation and a focus on our plans to bring mobile satellite radio services to Europe, starting with Italy sometime next year,” stated Noah A. Samara, the chairman and CEO.
“We have also drastically reined in spending in India, pending the attainment of the license for repeaters and a local equity partner relationship there, as we continue to work very hard to solve our liquidity issues.”
It has worked out a series of agreements with its debt holders to defer payments. In late July, it also received a $20 million infusion from a separate company controlled by Samara, of which $18.5 million was used to meet its debts. His company has provided financing in the past as well.
But 1worldspace this week also told the Securities and Exchange Commission that while it continues to be a going concern, its cash balances “are critically low” and noted it had incurred net losses of $72.8 million for the six months ending June 30 and an accumulated deficit of $2.6 billion.
“Because of our current liquidity situation we have not been able to make and have had to delay payments to many of our critical vendors and our employees,” it stated in the filing.
“In view of lack of financial resources ... the company has severely curtailed its operational and capital expenditures and is expected to do so until there is a material change in its financial resources,” it said; it continues to be in discussions to raise funds.
The satellite company hopes to develop its business in Europe, beginning with Italy; it has also been working to secure terrestrial repeater licenses in additional markets in Europe.
In May it tried to obtain terrestrial spectrum in the United Kingdom in the L-Band, but was not successful at the auction and now hopes to lease some of that from the winner. It has limited the operations and marketing of its services in India to a non-mobile subscriber base.
The company also continues to deal with a group of securities class action suits claiming that customers were incorrectly counted as subscribers after they had ceased to be paying subscribers. Last month the court denied a motion to dismiss the complaint; 1worldspace said it is planning to defend against the claims vigorously.
1worldspace brought in revenues of $3.3 million in the latest quarter, up slightly from earlier this year but down from the period a year ago. Subscription revenue was $1.8 million for the quarter. As of mid-year it had 171,000 subscribers worldwide; of those, 164,000 are in India.
The company reported an EBITDA loss of $15.2 million for the quarter, compared with an EBITDA loss of $27 million a year ago.
Technology
BBC Profiles Stereo Pioneer Alan Blumlein
Alan Blumlein’s name may not be at the top of the list when one thinks of radio and television pioneers, though as many RW readers know, his work in the 1930s helped chart key features of modern broadcasting, including the world’s first stereo recording system.
Blumlein’s life and work, including his untimely death on a World War II radar testing mission, were recently highlighted on the BBC Radio 4 documentary program “Archive Hour” in the installment “The Man Who Invented Stereo.”
As part of the program, the BBC digitally restored audio video recordings of Blumlein’s early stereo recordings, including a 1934 performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and demonstrations of the “biaural sound” space.
As a recording engineer for EMI, Blumlein worked on moving-coil microphones, disc-cutting technologies and stereo recording. He earned 128 patents during his life, and his name remains attached to the Blumlein Pair stereo recording technique.
Workbench Tech Tip of the Week
Radio World’s Workbench by John Bisset is an industry classic, one of radio’s most-admired, and most-copied, columns. Find out why in each issue.
This tip is from October 2004.
Joe Stack writes, “I’ve discovered that sometimes a small burst of dry air is needed and there’s no can of ‘commercial’ dry air available. Using an empty plastic dishwashing soap bottle like Dawn or Joy, with the nozzle still on, will give a nice, forceful burst of air every time the bottle is squeezed, and all without batteries.”
Using this air bottle along with a small clean paintbrush can help push dirt from hard-to-reach places inside a transmitter or computer.
Have you wondered what to do with those little silica gel packs packed with products to absorb moisture? If you are worried about the air inside the bottle collecting moisture, Joe says, unscrew the cap of the plastic bottle and insert a little gel pack to “soak” up any moisture that might get in.
Sometimes, simple tips are the best.
Find thousands of helpful tech tips for radio engineers and managers in the Workbench archives at our Web site. E-mail your own tips to jbisset@bdcast.com. Submissions qualify for SBE recertification credit.
NXP: New Multi-Platform Chip Supports HD-R
A new multi-digital radio technology chipset reduces development costs and logistics complexity for car manufacturers, its maker says.
NXP Semiconductors, now an independent company that was founded by Philips, worked with Ibiquity Digital to include HD Radio reception on a vehicle chipset that also supports DAB, DAB+, DRM and T-DMB Radio. The solution, says NXP, can serve United States, Europe and Asia markets.
The SAF3560 supports the latest HD Radio features, including iTunes tagging, and provides software upgradeability.
NXP says the SAF3560 provides auto makers a simple upgrade path from its DSP-based AM/FM analog radio chip.
“We’re helping our customers stay innovative by offering a highly integrated, flexible and scalable solution to dramatically improve music, audio, text and data features of digital HD Radio technology,” said NXP Product Marketing Manager Joern Conze.
The announcement follows one by Samsung, which is making chipsets available that are enabling lower-power HD Radio receiver designs as well as smaller form-factors for automotive and non-auto applications.
C. Crane Launches Recorder/Radio
Now that high-quality handheld digital flash memory-based recorders are becoming common it looks like it is time to start differentiating them by expanding their nonrecorder features.
C. Crane’s CC Witness has an onboard radio — with both AM and FM. It retails for $229.95.
What is the AM reception like? “The AM reception is good when tuned to a strong signal,” the company states in its FAQ. “The AM tuner in the CC Witness will not receive distant AM stations like the CCRadio plus. With the display screen off, reception is better.”
Besides the radio, the CC Witness has 2 GB of onboard memory, an SD slot for adding more memory, a USB 2.0 interface for offloading recordings and included calendar and alarm clock functions. Recording file format is MP3 (32 kbps to 256 kbps). Included accessories are an FM antenna, USB-based charger and stereo earbuds.
A built-in mic can record events, memos and by utilizing internal recording functions radio programs can be recorded. The calendar can be programmed to record upcoming radio programs and spots.
FCC/Regulatory
‘No Way to Put the Genie Back in the Bottle’
“It’s fourth and goal and the home team’s football quarterback can’t get through to his coach on the sideline; the cast of a Broadway musical goes silent mid-show; a television news crew has to scramble to dig up cables that let reporters broadcast live on location — all because you tried to use your fancy new wireless device to download streaming video from the Internet, and it knocked out nearby wireless microphones.”
Scientific American takes a peek into the issue of white space and wireless mics.
The FCC has been testing the ability of white space devices to detect wireless mics at a Broadway musical and NFL preseason football game.
Business
NPR, Intelsat Re-Up Satellite Distribution Deal
Intelsat and National Public Radio renewed their contract for satellite capacity to support public radio program distribution.
NPR operates the Public Radio Satellite System on behalf of public radio stations and program distributors.
Intelsat described the contract as a “multi-transponder, multi-year” deal, without disclosing financial specifics.
Under the terms of the contract, NPR will use C- and Ku-band capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 16 and Galaxy 17 satellites, located at 99 degrees West and 91 degrees West, respectively. By the end of this agreement, Intelsat’s relationship with NPR will have spanned three decades.
NPR Vice President of Distribution Pete Loewenstein said Intelsat’s Galaxy neighborhood footprint offers NPR reliable distribution, enabling the network to reach even remote communities.
Tieline Adds Dealer in Ireland
Codec maker Tieline Technology named Total Broadcast Consultants as its new dealer for the Republic of Ireland.
International Marketing Manager Darren Levy said the agreement will help in its continuing expansion into Europe.
Total Broadcast Consultants is based in Waterford, Ireland. Preco Broadcast Systems will continue to service Tieline customers in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and France.
Tieline Business Development Manager in Europe PJ Fall said Total Broadcast Consultants has designed and built digital radio facilities “from the ground up” and is well placed to advise customers about integrating codec technologies.
“This will be especially useful as broadcasters in Ireland continue to migrate to 3G and IP networks,” Fall said. “IP proliferation is still gathering momentum but European broadcasters appreciate the cost advantages of IP over ISDN and the flexibility that the technology provides.”
Clear-Com Turns the Big Four-Oh
Intercom company Clear-Com is noting its 40th anniversary.
The company is part of The Vitec Group. It was founded in 1968 with the first party-line beltpack for live venue.
Current markets include broadcasting, government, medical and church sectors as well.
It merged with Drake Electronics Ltd. in the United Kingdom in 2003.
Company milestones include beltpack and analog party-line systems in 1968, the first four-wire intercom in 1976 and the industry’s first intelligent user display panel in 1986. Drake was the first intercom company to introduce the Digital Matrix Intercom in 1992, the company stated.
Mayah Names Strassberg a Distributor
Mayah Communications, lately taking a higher U.S. profile, named a partner and distributor for its products in New York City and the tri-state region.
The company is Strassberg Associates; Steve Strassberg is the president.
The company was established for the purpose of direct-to-user user marketing of professional audio and video products, according to its site; it also offers consulting services in studio design, equipment specification, acoustical design, renovation, wiring and studio maintenance.
It offers demonstrations and training in its studio demo room and on-site for clients.
People News
Indiana Engineer Jerry Arnold Is Among State Hall of Famers
We didn’t receive the announcement at the time, so we’ll pass it along now: Radio engineer Jerry Arnold is among the honorees who will be inducted into the Richard M. Fairbanks Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame.
Induction ceremonies will be held Oct. 2 at a conference center in Carmel, Ind. A video presentation for each of the inductees will be added to a permanent display at the Indiana State Museum. The announcement was made in May.
Arnold is director of engineering at Midwest Radio in Terre Haute, where he manages technical aspects of three FMs and an AM. He was instrumental in installing one of the first radio automation systems in Terre Haute while chief engineer of WTHI(AM/FM), according to the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
“When the use of satellite-delivered programming began to grow, he invented and manufactured a device that allowed users of two different radio networks to be able to interface the new delivery mode to existing equipment,” it stated.
His first radio job was in 1967 at KIEV(AM). Arnold also has written in the pages of Radio World.
Here’s a profile of Arnold from the Tribune-Star newspaper, including a discussion of his technical innovations. The paper also quotes a member of the selection committee noting how unusual it is to have an engineer chosen.
Also honored this year are Bill and Gloria Gaither, Phil Jones, Arthur Angotti Jr., Sam Simmermaker, Hal Fryar and Chuck Marlowe.
Premiere Radio Has New Digital Media Exec
Brian Lakamp joins Premiere Radio Networks as EVP of digital media.
He was CEO of Fluxe, a digital media startup focused on online music, and will be based in Los Angeles. He reports to Charlie Rahilly. He replaces Brian Glicklich, who was SVP and is no longer with the company.
Before Fluxe, he was senior vice president of digital policy at Sony Pictures Entertainment and practice director of the U.S. Media and Entertainment operations at Viant Inc., an Internet consulting firm, where he developed the system responsible for the deployment of MovieLink, the video industry’s first digital distribution platform, according to Premiere.
“Lakamp will oversee the company’s interactive business while also creating alternate forms of program delivery, developing new online business opportunities and building innovative digital capabilities for engaging Premiere’s listeners,” it stated.
Reflecting on the Life of Ragan Henry
The late Ragan Henry is recalled in an audio remembrance at NPR’s Web site, by his colleague Claude Lewis.
Henry was a broadcaster active in both radio and TV circles and considered a pioneer in African-American media.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week on his life and accomplishments.
Black Enterprise Magazine said that by 1990, Henry owned more than 60 stations. In 2003, the Library of American Broadcasting named him one of its “First 50 Giants of Broadcasting.”
Shively Adds Manuel Sone as RF Engineering Manager
Shively Labs appointed Manuel Sone as RF engineering manager with overall responsibility for Shively’s design and development team.
At Dielectric Communications he was senior electrical engineer, overseeing design, manufacturing and testing of VHF and UHF high-power digital broadcast antennas and components. He was also responsible for the planning, evaluation, documentation and development of radio frequency hybrids and power dividers. Earlier in his career he worked for Electronic Research Inc.
The manufacturer also promoted Adam Jones, P.E., a mechanical engineering manager, to director of manufacturing for both Shively and parent Howell Laboratories.
And joining the company in a production management capacity is Ginna Jones, formerly of Myat Inc.’s Filter Division, where she was responsible for production planning and purchasing.
Programming
Are You Funny Enough?
Web site Comic Wonder, the National Association of Broadcasters and media consultancy McVay Media have started Radio’s Comic Wonder.
This is a joke-telling contest for radio personalities. In the spirit of the Olympics here is a chance to strut your comedic muscles in humor competition against the best in jocularity. All put on the Web — available to all (including talent scouts).
The organizers say jokes need to be original and are limited to three minutes in length. And it looks as if jokes shouldn’t be too racy or off-color (“winning joke must be radio-friendly”). Topics, however, appear to be unlimited.
According to McVay’s Daniel Anstandig, “We believe that this contest can help some great talent get the attention they deserve.”
The prize is $1,000, a trophy and a trip to the NAB Radio Show in Austin. Entries must be made by August 31.
To enter visit the site and follow directions to perform your jokes.
Who's Buying What
APT Unit Delivers Snapper Sound
The audio for a unique radio ad traveled from California to Italy across an ISDN link with the help of a WorldNet Milano codec from Northern Ireland-based APT.
Professional finger snapper Bobby Badfingers, working with advertising agency DDB Italy and a director in Milan, Italy, was recorded at Outlaw Sound Studios in Hollywood.
“A stereo split was recorded into Pro Tools at Outlaw Sound and a mono ISDN feed was recorded in Milan,” said Outlaw Sound Owner Allen Roth.
Following the session, Outlaw Sound uploaded the stereo files to its FTP site for later download in Milan.
WERS Expands Wheatstone Bridge System
WERS(FM) at Emerson College in Boston is expanding its Bridge Routing System to equip two studios with Wheatstone control surfaces.
The station already has 11 Bridge Router frames; it chose G and E Series Control surfaces for the expansion.
“The DSP required for the G4 Surface will be added to an existing frame, while the E6 Surface and associated I/O frame will be connected to the central Bridge Router frame,” Wheatstone stated.
“Emerson expects to eventually replace all of their existing analog consoles in similar formation.”
Levine Uses Oxford Supresser for BBC Project
Producer Steve Levine is using Sonnox Oxford Plug-Ins, including the new SuprEsser, to clean up sibilance and other tasks while working on a project for BBC Radio 2 and 6.
He is producing the music documentary “The Record Producers,” which features producers who have worked with major recording talent.
Sonnox released the Oxford SuprEsser Plug-In in January.
A professional de-esser and a dynamic EQ, the SuprEsser offers a basic mode for quick fixes and an advanced mode for increased functionality and fine-tuning.
SABC Takes Delivery on Axia Package
The South African Broadcasting Corp. is using an Axia system for 15 mobile studios for remote broadcasts.
The 15 Axia Element broadcast consoles and associated IP audio routing equipment have been delivered; the sale was through Richard Fulton of Tru-Fi Electronics, a distributor.
“The Elements will be packaged into flight boxes and will be used for major outside broadcasting events where (outside broadcast) points will be established for all of the SABC’s radio services,” Fulton stated in the announcement. “This setup will be used to cover events like sports ... elections, breaking news stories, etc.”
The system includes 15 Element Consoles, 15 Axia Analog Line Nodes, four Axia AES/EBU Nodes, 15 Zephyr Xstreams, eight Telos Nx-12 Talkshow Systems, and four Telos Zephyr iPort MPEG Gateways to interface to SABC’s main broadcast facility.
Dalet workstations using 15 Axia IP-Audio Drivers for Windows will provide audio content and recording services. The system is tied together using Axia’s PathfinderPC routing control software.
Wegener Pitches in at PXes
Wegener Corp., a radio, TV and data distribution equipment manufacturer, has announced that the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) upgraded its Wegener COMPEL network control system.
The COMPEL network controls distribution of HD and SD video along with feeds to over 100 AAFES retail facilities, often called PXes, around the world.
AAFES’ Exchange Television, Business Television and AAFES Radio Network use Wegener iPUMP 6400, SMD-515 decoders and Unity 201 satellite audio receivers to distribute store programming, training materials and point-of-sales advertising.
Products
Telos Offers Special on New IP Codec
Telos Systems is offering an introductory price on its Zephyr/IP.
The company noted that the busiest season for remotes is coming up. Units will be priced at $3,995 through mid-October, compared to retail list of $5,980.
The IP codec is optimized for operation over Internet and mobile phone data services.
Features include AAC-ELD, which the company says assures quality audio over less-than-ideal connections, and Telos Agile Connection Technology. The product won a Radio World “Cool Stuff” Award last year and begin shipping this spring.
Introductory pricing is for orders placed by Oct. 15 with shipment accepted by Oct. 27.
Watch Your Site With the Help of Harris
Harris Corp. will use the IBC2008 show in Amsterdam to demonstrate a new capability for its NetXpress IP platform: video monitoring.
Using the NX-AVC-1 video module broadcasters can monitor remote sites such as transmitters within the NetXpress system. Audio and video is sent over the already established NetXpress IP connections, alleviating additional construction or recurring maintenance costs.
Besides simple surveillance, alarms can be programmed into the system. Features include motion detection. The system also can be programmed to only provide video when an alarm is activated. The video module is a low-bit-rate MPEG 4/H.264 stream.
According to Chuck Alexander, director, Intraplex products, “The integration of sophisticated video analytics capabilities at these remote sites has made it possible to reliably detect unauthorized entry while only transmitting video on an alarm or on demand.”
HHB Says Print Catalog Isn’t Going Away Soon
It is never too early to Christmas shop for that special audio person in your life. (Hint, hint.)
HHB has released its 2008/09 products catalog. It has 1,700 products, including non-HHB-branded items.
The company also has announced improvements to its Web site and online version of the catalog. Goodies include enhancements such as rear-panel views and additional tech specs.
The site itself has added a free-to-all “Quote Building Function” for putting together job or wish lists and seeing what kind of deal can be had.
Steve Angel of HHB said, “We’ve long anticipated the printed version of the catalog being made redundant by the Web version, but it seems more popular than ever.”
Holophone Donates Equipment to Recording Workshop
Chillicothe, Ohio-based Recording Workshop is the recipient of a new Holophone H3-D surround sound microphone system.
The microphone array was donated by Recording Workshop alum Michael Godfrey. He is the founder and president of Holophone.
“It was my experiences at the Recording Workshop which inspired me to develop a newer and more effective means of recording surround,” said Godfrey. He added, “The H3-D was designed with students in mind — so what better way to give back to the school that led me to a profession in which I’m passionate about, than to help inspire the next great generation of audio engineers.”
According to Jim Rosebrook, director of the Recording Workshop, “We try to teach our students to appreciate smooth workflow and the H3-D makes the process of surround recording quick and easy.”
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