New HD facilities at Channel 5 Public Broadcasting (KNPB) in the US demanded correspondingly high audio standards and operation. ‘We knew that we wanted a fully digital audio board that would suit all of our current needs and be versatile enough to handle whatever productions we might be doing in the future,’ says Fred Ihlow, KNPB VP of Technology. ‘After researching virtually every console on the market, we chose SSL’s C10 because it gives us everything we need from an operational point of view, at a very good price point. The C10 is the final piece of our HD puzzle and is the ideal solution for our needs.’
In addition to its local and PBS programming, the station is the only fixed uplink facility in the northern Nevada area producing spot uplinks for the national news and business facilities (CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg and FOX News). The C10 HD provides the features that fit KNPB’s production needs, and the flexibility to handle new productions in the future.
The KNPB production studio, located on the Reno campus of the University of Nevada, is a single-studio operation consisting of a Master Control, Video Control and Audio Control servicing a 4,500-sq-ft studio space and announcer’s booth. While the station runs independently from the University, students have access to the facilities to produce internal educational shows. KNPB produces. These productions are, in large part, accomplished through volunteer staff, and it is here that the C10 comes into its own.
‘A majority of our programmes are produced by a volunteer-based staff,’ Ihlow explains, ‘so they are not necessarily audio and video professionals. The C10 proves itself a good investment because, once it is set up for a show, anyone can operate the console. Our professional staff are building presets for the different programmes we produce, and a lightly-trained volunteer can easily call up the settings and proceed with the show. Thanks to the excellent audio quality and ease-of-use of the C10, the bar has definitely been raised on our audio productions. In fact, we recently received an Emmy nomination for one of our shows.’
In addition to the desk itself, KNPB purchased the C-Play and Dialogue Automix options. C-Play is a spot and music playout system within the console, while Dialogue Automix automates the process of riding the faders in a talk or news show.
‘Many of our programmes involve panel discussions, probably the most labour intensive and nerve wracking job for live audio production,’ Ihlow says. ‘The Dialogue Automix option for the C10 literally takes all the pressure off this type of situation and, once again, fits perfectly into our workflow.’
More: www.solidstatelogic.com
