NAB 2023: Gear Up For The Shows Centennial Anniversary What to see - and hear - when it comes to audio at the convention By Dan Daley, Audio Editor Thursday, April 6, 2023 - 12:05 pm
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The 2023 NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 15-19, Las Vegas Convention Center) marks the 100th anniversary of broadcasting's biggest event. Of course, that's still two years and four days short of the first-ever sports broadcast. That took place on April 11, 1921 when Westinghouse station KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA broadcast a 10-round, no-decision boxing match between sluggers Johnny Dundee and Johnny Ray at Pittsburgh's Motor Square Garden. But anyone who was around during President Warren G. Harding's one term in office would still recognize the sound of a broadcast game or match today: the ambient roar of the crowds, the National Anthem leaking into the broadcast-booth microphones from a tinny PA system, the sport-specific sound effects, and the evolving play-by-play and color announcers talking incessantly, even then terrified of recently invented dead air.
A century later, broadcast-sports audio has traveled light years, with most of that in just the last decade, as the digital-audio revolution moves into IP territory. But microphones still work on the same principle as the double-button Western Electric 600A carbon microphone in use then. Signal routing was still a requirement, as was microphone and speaker placement. And even if acoustics was far more esoteric a science than it is now, energy bouncing back off a far wall was just as annoying.
With all that history in mind, here's some of the history that SVG sponsors and others will be making at the NAB Show this year. Happy 100.
Audio-Technica (C4931) is officially launching the BP3600 Immersive Audio Microphone, a premium broadcast audio tool capable of capturing stable, three-dimensional sound beds. The microphone has eight compact capsule assemblies with excellent high-frequency characteristics integrated into the body while remaining compact and lightweight enough for single-operator usability and easy setup. Direct routing is also possible, with no need for additional decoding or latency processing with 5.1.4-channel speaker layouts. The BP3600's eight microphone modules extend from the body to form a cube with 15 cm (5.9 inches) between each microphone assembly. Each microphone assembly in the eight-channel near-coincident array is equipped with a 12-mm (0.47-inch) hypercardioid capsule to produce ideally separated, discrete signals and deliver immersive audio experiences with ample spaciousness.
Calrec (C6107) The recently announced ImPulse1 IP audio processing and routing engine is making its NAB debut. ImPulse1 is a compact version of the ST2110 native ImPulse with an optional second core for redundancy and a new 128-input-channel DSP pack offering entry-level pricing. With the introduction of ImPulse1, Calrec is making the move to IP more attainable, offering a range of options to suit all budget requirements.
Calrec's award-winning Argo Q and Argo S audio mixing control platforms are designed to adapt to changing production needs, Calrec's Argo is a new approach to audio mixing, with a flexible control philosophy that breaks the traditional geographic ties between processing and control. Also on show: ImPulse, RP1 Remote Production, Assist Remote Working, Brio 36, Type R / Talent Panel and Artemis.
Clear-Com (Booth C5507) will celebrate its 55th anniversary at the centennial NAB Show, where the company will showcase its award-winning IP-based Arcadia Central Station, as well as innovative new product features of their flagship Eclipse HX Digital Matrix Intercom System, including Dynam-EC real-time production software, IP-based V-Series IrisX user panels, and role-based workflows. Arcadia Central Station brings together HelixNet, FreeSpeak, Clear-Com Encore, other 2W/4W endpoints, as well as third-party Dante devices, in a single, integrated system. Arcadia offers licensed-based scalability that allows it to meet numerous production needs, with support for over 100 beltpacks and up to 128 IP ports, with additional upgrades available in the future. The Eclipse HX Digital Matrix offers a range of tools, notably the innovative Dynam-EC software that allows for situational control over all Clear-Com audio input and outputs, audio mapping, IFBs and partylines. New features for EHX 13 support many of the needs of broadcast applications for large-scale events.
Dante network parent company Audinate (Booth C5735) will show several new products from the growing ecosystem of Dante AV partners. These products include cameras, encoders and decoders from brands such as Bolin, AVer, PTZ Optics and more. Audinate will also feature its latest software offerings, including a new cloud solution for broadcasters.
Dolby (Booth W3443) will display its new Atmos Renderer application, which integrates the Dolby Atmos Production Suite and the Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite into an all-in-one solution for Dolby Atmos creators. The new application brings together existing functionality, including tools available to only Dolby Atmos Mastering Suite customers, and adds new capabilities such as native Apple Silicon compatibility and improved performance. At the show, Dolby is working with NBC/Universal, Comcast, Pearl TV, and Sinclair Broadcast Group to demonstrate how the latest advanced audio features of ATSC 3.0 can deliver more personalized audio experiences to all audiences and provide enhanced accessibility for visually impaired consumers. Dolby's developer platform will be lso demonstrating its real-time streaming APIs that can enable broadcast-grade production workflows with the flexibility of the cloud, to deliver live broadcasts and events in a collaborative, browser-based workspace.
Lawo (Booth C4111)
