SURROUNDED BY SOUND

SURROUNDED BY SOUND - 24/06/2014 The great images of the FIFA World Cup might be what is imprinted in the mind of the viewer, but would they have as much meaning without the sound of sheer elation, or groans of despair, which accompany such moments?

That is the job of the HBS audio team, led by Christian Gobbel, the Senior Engineering Manager, who believes 50 per cent of the enjoyment of a football match comes from the audio. Which is why the audio teams at the IBC and those working at the 12 venues of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil have a very simple task: to take viewers into the heart of the action by providing the crystal-clear soundtrack which brings an overall sense of being at the stadium.

Christian Gobbel, Senior Engineering Manager, believes strongly in the importance of sound

Of course, a workman is only as good as his tools - and the audio team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil are equipped with the finest kit. A centralised 5.1 Surround Sound Production, which provides the best possible consistency across all stadiums and production teams, is hosted at the IBC, but that only tells half of the story.

Twelve identical Equipment Room Containers (ERCs) were constructed over the six-month period prior to the tournament, one for each of the venues for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil . Effectively OB vans without wheels, the ERCs are plug and play' remotely controlled freestanding units which feature all of the electronics, main cores and base units, not to mention thousands of cables which simply need to be unrolled and plugged in.

The match set-up at each venue features 20 microphones to cover the on-field action, along with eight stereo microphones on cameras and 10 stereo and surround microphones to capture that all-important emotion from the stands. Add to that 10 interview microphones, a main audio desk with 140 input channels and a multi-feeds audio desk with 80 input channels, and the size of the task in front of Christian and his team becomes apparent.

The IBC audio team, hoping to bring fans at home as close to the action as possible...

Work in one of the two EBIF Show Sound Rooms...

The best sound production requires the best equipment located in both of the two Surround Sound Rooms...

After a goal is scored it is important that every cheer reaches the TV audience at home...

It is not just during the match that audio levels need to be monitored. The Quality Control Room (QCR) also monitors interviews and other pre and post-match activities.

LINK:	http://www.hbs.tv/news-archive/news/article/surrounded-by-sound.html...
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