Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

NAB 2022 in Review: Audio Continues Its Trek Toward an IP Future

04/05/2022

NAB 2022 in Review: Audio Continues Its Trek Toward an IP Future Innovations and combinations, some spurred by COVID, abounded on the show floor By Dan Daley, Audio Editor

Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - 8:00 am

Print This Story

It was almost like old times: thousands of convention attendees strolling the aisles of the Las Vegas Convention Center, exhibitor booths enticing them with brightly lit product demos, and a steady thrum of conversation suggesting that broadcasting was nearly back to business as usual. Part of that conversation suggested that the broadcast-audio industry is ready to turn a corner.

In-Person Once Again In a demo of remote production, Calrec showcased a network with an ImPulse core unit running three consoles.

It's good to be back at a show, said Calrec VP, Sales, Dave Letson. At the company's booth, he oversaw a complete network in which three discrete consoles - a 48-dual-fader Apollo console, a 40-fader Artemis console, and a headless console running Calrec Assist on a PC - were controlled from a single ImPulse core unit. It was a demonstration of the kind of remote-production deployment that became common under COVID lockdowns.

The pandemic provided a lot of momentum towards remote production, which these systems support, he noted. But other forces were also at work, including cost savings and the shift to IP. These developments here also support that.

Sennheiser used its booth's infrastructure to make a point. It doubled as a demo platform for sister company Neuman's new K150/AES67 monitor. The booth's scaffolding supported a 5.2.4 array of new 6.5-in.-driver speakers, playing back a live Dolby Atmos VR mix, with a KH750 subwoofer used as the LFE channel.

Audio-Technica's new 8.0 Microphone Concept immersive system has already been deployed on sports broadcasts.

Audio-Technica was looking back, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, but it was also looking ahead, displaying its new 8.0 Microphone Concept, a discrete eight-channel immersive system that has already been deployed on several sports broadcasts.

We had a lot of good feedback from sports networks in the process [of developing it], said A-T Product Manager Gary Dixon, adding that it's a vanguard product for the coming 5.1.4 immersive era of broadcast sports.

Confronting Challenges New and Old Some of pro audio's nemeses were still evident. For instance, providing a rundown of CrewCom's new CB2 Professional wireless intercom system, a full-duplex solution available in both 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequency options, Pliant Technologies VP of Global Sales Gary Rosen pointed out, It's still a battle for spectrum out there. Proving the point, CrewCom's gear is being deployed for the NFL Draft, taking place in Las Vegas this weekend.

As broadcast audio moves deeper into an IP environment, the ST 2110 standard, which describes transport of digital media over a network, and its numerous dash supplements take on greater importance. ST 2110-7, which focuses on signal-path redundancy, was mentioned often by exhibitors, using its dash seven shorthand moniker. Riedel VP, Strategic Accounts, East, Phil Stein, for instance, noted that his company's Bolero system, which will be used for the 2023 XFL season, emphasizes the importance of the -7 component in intercom deployment. (The company also won the unofficial award for best press-kit: a QR code imprinted directly onto an apple.)

TSL's expanded SAM-Q audio monitor is compatible with ST 2110-7 and ST 2110-30.

Meanwhile, TSL showed an expanded version of its SAM-Q audio monitor encompassing -7 and -30, the latter developed specifically to make audio as compatible as possible with video.

The -7 component is germane to Audinate's new Dante Studio, a platform solution for advancing audio- and video-production capabilities. The first tool on the platform, Dante Video RX, enables Windows PCs to receive video from any Dante AV-enabled source. According to Audinate Chief Marketing Officer Joshua Rush, it's a critical phase of building out the Dante AV ecosystem: Dante Video RX completes the end-to-end video workflow.

However, the move to IP means more reliance on silicon chips, and that has been a major stumbling block for audio manufacturers. Audinate's response, according to Rush, has been to adapt its platforms to accommodate a wider range of chip types and to leverage Dante's considerable licensed-manufacturer base as an entity, enabling efforts to use that scale for better supply access. Noted DiGiCo Business Development Manager, Sports Facilities, Dan Palmer, some manufacturers serendipitously stockpiled the FPGA chips their digital consoles require ahead of the supply-chain disruptions.

The pandemic brought about useful collaborations, one of which was evident on the show floor. Both Q5X and Shure displayed the synergy of the pairing of Shure's Axient Digital wireless system with Q5X's PlayerMic transmitter. Shure Senior Market Development Specialist Ben Escobedo noted that uptake of Shure's Axient Digital line was enhanced by its pairing with Q5X's PlayerMic and CoachMic systems for broadcast-sports applications: That strategic partnering has helped further boost our footprint in sports. Responded Q5X CEO Paul Johnson, I love hearing that! It really is a great collaboration.

COVID's exigencies also prompted numerous audio innovations. Speaking of how Digigram's IQOYA series of IP codec solutions was expanded over the past two years, Digigram Director of Sales Derek Badala noted, The pandemic really supercharged their development.

When the NAB Show returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center April 16-19, 2023, it will be, notably, the event's centennial. The very first NAB Show was held in 1923 in New York City.
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/05/04/nab-2022-in-review-audio-contin...
See more stories from svg

More from Sports Video Group

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Aurora's Matt Beal on Taking Up the Broadcast Reins Alongside the FIA

Progressive realism: Aurora on taking up the broadcast reins for World RX alongs...

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Getting the Production Together With NEP Finland, Cloudbass Graphics

Great speed: New host broadcaster Aurora on getting the World RX 2025 season pro...

02/07/2025

World RX of Sweden: Host Broadcaster Aurora Looks Ahead to This Weekend's Second Race of the Season in Hljes

Seat of its pants: Aurora boxes clever and looks ahead for the FIA as new host b...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: EBU, BBC Sport, Sunset+Vine Talk Coverage Plans, Distribution and Maintaining Momentum

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: EBU, BBC Sport and Sunset Vine talk coverage plans, ...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Women's Super League Launches New Content Series to Support Teams, Players Over Summer of Football

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Women's Super League launches new content series...

02/07/2025

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Ignite Puts Fans, Players Front and Center With Title Sequence for ITV

UEFA Women's Euro 2025: Ignite puts fans and players front and centre with t...

02/07/2025

Storytelling in the Live Game Broadcast: ESPN Director Jimmy Platt Breaks Down the Craft

Storytelling in the Live Game Broadcast: ESPN Director Jimmy Platt Breaks Down t...

02/07/2025

CONCACAF's Miguel Angel Garcia on the Gold Cup's Enhanced 2025 Production Plan

CONCACAF's Miguel Angel Garcia on the Gold Cup's Enhanced 2025 Productio...

01/07/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Spyrosoft's Jonathan Witty on Futher Business Expansion in the U.S.

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Spyrosoft's Jonathan Witty on Futher Business Exp...

01/07/2025

The NIL Effect: How the Shifting Business of College Athletics Impacts On-Campus Video Production

The NIL Effect: How the Shifting Business of College Athletics Impacts On-Campus...

01/07/2025

Cherry On the Cake: Inside the Technical Production of the Tour de France 2025 with EMG / Gravity Media

Cherry on the cake: Inside the technical production of the Tour de France 2025 w...

01/07/2025

NESN's Josh Jun on Keeping Alternative Broadcasts Fresh for Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins Fans

NESN's Josh Jun on Keeping Alternative Broadcasts Fresh for Boston Red Sox, ...

01/07/2025

TNT Sports Races Back Into NASCAR With Fresh Look, Familiar Edge

TNT Sports Races Back Into NASCAR With Fresh Look, Familiar Edge Production approach emphasizes creative freedom, bold storytelling, casual-fan-friendly tone B...

27/06/2025

How Smarter Video Compression is Creating a Sustainable Future

How smarter compression is creating a sustainable future By Michael Burns Monday, June 23, 2025 - 14:13 Print This Story Live sport is especially vulnerab...

27/06/2025

RTL Group To Acquire Sky Deutschland

RTL Group To Acquire Sky Deutschland By George Bevir, Editorial Director, SVG Europe Friday, June 27, 2025 - 8:00 am Print This Story | Subscribe Story ...

27/06/2025

Frictionless, At Scale: The Current State of Live Video Streaming Techology

Frictionless, At Scale: The Current State of Live Video Streaming Techology Leaders from Bitmovin, Comcast Technology Solutions, Harmonic, IMAX, and Phenix brea...

27/06/2025

Marquee Sports Network's Nick Steger on Meeting the Moment of the Contending Chicago Cubs

Marquee Sports Network's Nick Steger on Meeting the Moment of the Contending...

27/06/2025

NHL Draft 2025: The League Is Primed for First Decentralized Draft in Non-Pandemic Era

NHL Draft 2025: The League Is Primed for First Decentralized Draft in Non-Pandem...

26/06/2025

10th-Annual SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Presents Useful Roadmap for the Future of the RSN, Local Media Business

10th-Annual SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Presents Useful Roadmap for th...

26/06/2025

The Big Cloud Debate: Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid

The Big Cloud Debate: Public vs. Private vs. Hybrid Tech leaders from CineSys, Diversified, and Net Insight breaks down all flavors of cloud By Jason Dachman, ...

26/06/2025

Program Productions' Jess Kowatch on Training the Next and Current Generation of Sports TV Technicians

Program Productions' Jess Kowatch on Training the Next and Current Gener...

25/06/2025

SVG College Summit 2025: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG College Summit 2025: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY Tackling the latest in college sports video: NIL, live production, virtual productio...

25/06/2025

ESPN Is Set To Bring AR Graphics to Wimbledon, Revamps Bunker and Studio 18 VO Booths

ESPN Is Set To Bring AR Graphics to Wimbledon, Revamps Bunker and Studio 18 VO B...

24/06/2025

2025 NBA Draft: ABC/ESPN Prepares for Two-Day Draft at Barclays Center

2025 NBA Draft: ABC/ESPN Prepares for Two-Day Draft at Barclays Center Partners Game Creek Video, CP Communications, NEP Specialty Capture will be on hand By M...

24/06/2025

Cloud Broadcast Tech Update: Google Cloud's Jane Day on the Impact of AI on Sports

Cloud Broadcast Tech Update: Google Cloud's Jane Day on the Impact of AI on ...

24/06/2025

Cloud Broadcast Tech Update: AWS's Dana LaGattuta on Data-Driven Innovation in Sports

Cloud Broadcast Tech Update: AWS's Dana LaGattuta on Data-Driven Innovation ...

24/06/2025

British & Irish Lions Men's Tour: Dublin Opener Sees Sky Sports Take Remote Route

Lions live: Dublin opener sees Sky Sports take remote route By Fergal Ringrose ...

24/06/2025

British & Irish Lions Men's Tour: Pumas Maul Lions as S4C and TG4 Deliver First-Ever Joint Host in Dublin

Pumas maul Lions as S4C and TG4 deliver first-ever joint host in Dublin By Ferg...

24/06/2025

ABC/ESPN Prepares for 2025 NBA Draft, the First at Barclays Center

ABC/ESPN Prepares for 2025 NBA Draft, the First at Barclays Center Partners Game Creek Video, CP Communications, NEP Specialty Capture will be on hand By Mark ...

23/06/2025

Adventures in Live Cloud Production: Stories From the Trenches with MLB, NHL, NBC Sports, Warner Bros. Discovery, and AWS

Adventures in Live Cloud Production: Stories From the Trenches with MLB, NHL, NB...

23/06/2025

Finding the Edge: How Badger & Combes Produces Live-Streamed Coverage of County Cricket for LancsTV

Finding the edge: How Badger & Combes produces live-streamed coverage of county ...

23/06/2025

Masters of Madness: New Football Format Shakes Up the Rules of Sportainment

Masters of Madness: New football format shakes up the rules of sportainment By Adrian Pennington Monday, June 16, 2025 - 11:38 Print This Story The ball i...

23/06/2025

New State-of-the-Art Mountain Media Center Launches in Former Starz Encore Building Near Denver

New State-of-the-Art Mountain Media Center Launches in Former Starz Encore Build...

23/06/2025

ESPN Says Goodbye to Seaport Studios, Hello to New State-of-the-Art Production Facility at Disney's 7 Hudson Square

ESPN Says Goodbye to Seaport Studios, Hello to New State-of-the-Art Production F...

20/06/2025

A True Test? Cricket's Growth on the Global Stage and the Role Broadcast Can Play

A True Test? Cricket's Growth on the Global Stage and the Role Broadcast Can...

20/06/2025

Sky Sports Goes Large for the British & Irish Lions Tour with AR Graphics, UHD and a Pop Up Channel

Sky Sports goes large for the British & Irish Lions Tour with AR graphics, UHD a...

20/06/2025

ESPN's Men's College World Series Finals Coverage Combines Innovation, Legacy

ESPN's Men's College World Series Finals Coverage Combines Innovation, L...

19/06/2025

SVG Rewind: PGA Tour Introduces Drone AR Smart Tracing, Reflects on Winning George Wensel Technical Achievement Award

SVG Rewind: PGA Tour Introduces Drone AR Smart Tracing, Reflects on Winning Geor...

18/06/2025

Technology Focus: Fan Expectations Drive Advances in the In-Stadium Experience

Technology focus: Fan expectations drive advances in the in-stadium experience By Jo Ruddock Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 08:36 Print This Story For years, att...

18/06/2025

Making Connections: How Stadiums Are Meeting the Ever-Growing Demand for Data and Connectivity

Making connections: How stadiums are meeting the ever-growing demand for data an...

18/06/2025

SVG Venues & Teams Summit Keynote: RWS Global Powers the Stadium Environment at 2024 Paris Olympics

SVG Venues & Teams Summit Keynote: RWS Global Powers the Stadium Environment at ...

18/06/2025

SVG Rewind: Behind the Scenes of Producing Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League Victory Parade

SVG Rewind: Behind the Scenes of Producing Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League...

17/06/2025

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Mercury Intermedia's Tom Richardson, Mike Ligon on Powering DTC Streams for Teams Reclaiming Media Rights

SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: Mercury Intermedia's Tom Richardson, Mike Ligon o...

17/06/2025

Total Sports Performance from Relo Metrics, VideoAmp, Offers Next-Level Media, Brand Measurement

Total Sports Performance from Relo Metrics, VideoAmp, Offers Next-Level Media, B...

17/06/2025

From Stage to Stream: Producing Live Esports Events in 2025

From Stage to Stream: Producing Live Esports Events in 2025 Leaders from ESL FACEIT Group, Riot Games, and more break down the latest trends By Jason Dachman, ...

17/06/2025

Inside FIFA 2025 Club World Cup Operations With FIFA's Oscar Sanchez, HBS's Stefan Wistuba

Inside FIFA 2025 Club World Cup Operations With FIFA's Oscar Sanchez, HBS...

17/06/2025

Production Ambitions: Over Exposed on Making the National League Promotion Final for DAZN as Spectacular as Possible

Production ambitions: Over Exposed on making the National League Promotion Final...