Outside Broadcast Goes HD in Brazil with Soundfield
March 3, 2010
Source: Soundfield
Globo TV, the longest-established
TV network in Brazil, has become the first broadcaster in
South America to invest in SoundField’s digital surround
microphone systems for high-definition broadcasting. The SoundField
DSF-2/DSF-3 system has been installed in Globo's new high-definition
outside broadcast unit (the largest HD OB vehicle in the Southern
Hemisphere, according to Globo),
which entered service in mid-January 2010.
Globo began their plans for switching to 1080P HD broadcast
in 2007, and sent managers to the IBC exhibition in Amsterdam
that year to gather information about the equipment they would
need for mobile HD broadcast with accompanying audio in 5.1
surround. According to Anderson da Silva Viana, TV Systems
Project Engineer at Globo TV, SoundField was one of the first
companies Globo had discussions with, even at this early stage.
"Before we had even listened to the SoundField system,
we were impressed by some of the comments other broadcasters
had made," he explains. "The principal point for
us was that we have to have a good downmixed product from
5.1. In Brazil, most TV sets are still mono and stereo. We
wanted to produce a 5.1 signal with a good image and quality,
but without affecting the quality of the mono and stereo audio,
and we felt that SoundField's products gave us that."
The multi-capsule SoundField DSF-2 microphone and its associated
decoder allows audio to be captured in three dimensions for
output in mono or phase-coherent stereo, M&S or surround
in a variety of formats, simultaneously if required. The DSF-3
processor, which may be connected
to the DSF-2 by AES3 cables of up to a kilometre in length,
specifically decodes the output from the DSF-2 to 5.1 surround
sound suitable for HD transmission. What’s more, because
the 3D audio information captured by
the DSF-2 is perfectly phase-coherent, the 5.1 audio may be
folded down to stereo without producing any unpleasant phase
artefacts.
For all these reasons, the DSF-2/DSF-3 combination has proved
the perfect package for forward-thinking broadcasters that
wish to transmit audio in 5.1 for their HD viewers and stereo
for their legacy SD customers.
"Another thing I judged very important for our model
of transmission is that the SoundField DSF-2 only uses two
cables to connect to the DSF-3 hardware in the mobile unit,”
adds Anderson. “This really helps our cable guys a lot,
because that has decreased the number of cables we need to
run into the stadium or venue. Also, the cables can be a very
good length."
The DSF-2/DSF-3 combination has now seen its first outings
in Globo's new HD OB unit, covering national soccer matches.
"I've had excellent reports back from our sound engineers
about the SoundField," reports Anderson da Silva Viana,
"They were able to easily control the stereo
and mono images when downmixing the 5.1 signals. Just as we
hoped, it seems we can achieve great results using just SoundField's
microphone."
Now that the high-definition outside broadcast unit is in
service, the SoundField system will be used to originate 5.1
audio for a wide range of cultural programming, including
live music shows and HD coverage of the famous annual Carnaval
in Rio de Janiero. The HD sports coverage is also being widened,
taking in coverage of Brazilian stock car racing, Formula
1 and national volleyball league matches in addition to the
existing soccer coverage.
"It’s gratifying that one of South America's largest
broadcasters has invested in the advantages of SoundField’s
broadcast technology," comments Ken Giles, SoundField's
Managing Director. "The DSF-2 and DSF-3
have become industry-standard means of originating 5.1 surround
for broadcast in Europe with HD broadcasters like Sky, and
we're confident that 2010 will see the use of our systems
continue to widen internationally."
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