AEQ's DCS-10 DIGITAL COMMENTARY SYSTEM AND PHOENIX STUDIO IP AND ISDN AUDIO-CODECS PROVIDES THE WORLD BROADCASTERS COMMENTARY SERVICES
During March 9-11, the XIV Indoor World Championships in Athletics were held in the city of Istanbul, Turkey, with over 650 athletes representing 170 countries, in 26 different sports.
The host broadcaster TRT (Turkish public broadcaster) for the 2012 IAAF World Championships was 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 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 Atakoy Athletics Stadium, AEQ supplied a total of 20 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.
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.
Additionally for international contribution AEQ supplied 20 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.
AEQ in coordination with local partner IDEAPRO also provided system maintenance from set-up through games time, and ten AEQ TLE02-D portable audio-codecs for backup or last-minute extra stand-alone commentary positions.
