AEQ's DCS-10 DIGITAL COMMENTARY SYSTEM AND PHOENIX STUDIO IP AND ISDN AUDIO-CODECS PROVIDES THE WORLD BROADCASTERS COMMENTARY SERVICES AT THE IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DAEGU, KOREA.
Between August 27 and September 4, 2011 the World Championships in Athletics were held in the city of Daegu in South Korea. With over 1900 athletes representing 202 countries, the event has been the largest broadcasting event covering athletics in 2011.
The host broadcaster consortium for the 2011 IAAF World Championships, were decided to provide world class services in general. Their choice of AEQ was made after carefully evaluating renowned companies and with proven track record.
AEQ was requested to propose a solution and after carefully studying the options and the available telecoms structure, recommended the use of its DCS-10 commentary system in combination with the AEQ Phoenix Studio IP and ISDN Audio-codecs for venues interconnectivity and international contribution. The DCS-10 has been the used for the commentary in most of the worlds largest sporting events since 1998. Contrasting to this, the Phoenix Studio saw its first appearance for a big event. The need to be able to offer a complete service to the world broadcasting community from a sole supplier with experience and the operational know-how for this type of events, were also among the reasons why the definitive choice of gear fell on AEQ.
For the fully equipped – full service commentary positions at the Athletics Stadium and outside races starting venue, AEQ supplied a total of 35 Commentary units for up to three commentators and one guest. The DCS-10 Commentary unit provides very easy to use intercom and talk-back facilities, enabling the commentator to be in communication with his home studio through both Programme and Coordination circuits and with the local commentary technician. For monitoring, the commentator can choose any mix of his own Programme and Programme return, PA, International Sound, Guide and/or Auxiliary channel. Further, the unit allows the commentator to choose for which ear what signal is to be present in his headset.
The CCU rack is the control unit of the Commentary Unit and for events of this type, normally located in the commentary control room. The CCU rack controls up to 10 commentary units and has for each commentary position 4 independent recordable ID message tracks for the purpose of identification and line- system up. The main function of this unit is to provide a technical interface to control and monitor the different commentary positions connected to the system at the same time as it is providing remote powering for each position. The unit provides a wide array of operational possibilities such as talk-back to commentators and remote studios or OB-vans, connection of additional audio services for commentators, etc. Summarising, the DCS-10 is a system that adapts perfectly to any technical and operational requirements for an international broadcast sport event.
For venues interconnectivity and international contribution AEQ also supplied 35 PHOENIX STUDIO, a multi-format, multi-algorithm dual channel audio-codec designed for stationary rack-mounted applications, like links between studios or STL.
PHOENIX STUDIO offers the options of working over ISDN and IP networks, among many others. The IP communications interface is fully compatible with the EBU-TECH 3326 technical specification issued by the EBU N/ACIP working group. In addition to the two Ethernet ports, the device has two extra slots for inserting additional ISDN communication modules. The PHOENIX STUDIO provides two simultaneous channels with high quality Audio, in independent dual mono formats or stereo, or in a combination of both.
