Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1152266
14 S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 C A S Q U A R T E R L Y should expect IFB systems to operate. Now to do some more fair walk tests where the IFB transmitters for all three systems won't be boxed-up in sheetrock and cement with low antennae positions. REAL-WORLD TESTS Stage 3 at CBS Radford is pretty isolated these days. Only because it's the slow TV time and this stage is on the far west side of the lot. I was mixing a second unit day on a show here and had some time do more walk tests. Chloe Patenaude was working with me as utility and agreed to help. Tests were done with the same sound cart as before but this time set up at about the center of the soundstage. We did walk tests initially with 50 mW and 75 mW of power output on the ZMT. In both settings, it threw the whole stage without a problem. Stages that use metal mesh grating to secure the Insul-Quilt on the walls often emulate a leaky Faraday cage. Really to the detriment of our cellphone signals, it is to our advantage for talent wireless reception. When the utility sound technician wearing an IFB spends time going to and from the camera/sound truck and talent trailers, IFB reception can be detrimental with transmissions that don't penetrate walls very well like lower power digital systems. Once Chloe left the stage, her reception was gone. But as soon as she walked back in, the signal immediately returned and was clear as day. Since we're comparing to a system that runs in a lesser quality IFB mode, Chloe couldn't help but notice the sound quality of the URX. She said it sounded so clear that it was like listening off headphones straight from the recorder. This quality alone makes the case for using this system for your boom operators and utility sound technicians. Many of these professionals came up listening to program audio hardwired via duplex cables. This would be a welcomed throwback to that time in regard to ear candy. Those younger who have only ever listened to program audio from a Comtek or IFB belt pack will experience some ear candy that has not been a part of their routine—and will also welcome it. Another quality that would be welcomed in a world where radio miking has become their whole life is a feature that allows for individual transmitter monitoring. GIVING YOUR CREW PFL The ability to listen to individual talent transmitters on the URX is like giving the gift of mobile PFL. A luxury usually only afforded to the person in charge of the mixing console, this tool can now be used in the fast- paced, radio mics-everywhere world of modern production. This ability is only an option if you are utilizing Zaxcom transmitters on talent. You name the individual transmitters and they are now on the ZaxNet network. On the URX, you can scroll through the list of names that you gave the transmitters to and spot listen to their mic placement without asking the sound mixer to "bring up their mic." The faces of all utility sound technicians whom I told about this feature instantly lit up! They ALL find this to be something very useful. WALKIE-TALKIE INTEGRATION A handy walkie lanyard was supplied with this kit, along with a couple of Motorola walkie-talkies. This is such an innovative idea! It also allows you to use your favorite IEMs or handphones, since you're plugging directly into the URX100 and the walkie-talkie is patched into the system via a TA5 side connector. Production sound crews on most