Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/757053
PART 2 IN SUMMARY It seems clear, this area of large RF system users is not for the unprepared or inexperienced. This is also true of the mixers and support personnel asked to execute these concepts. It is the sheer volume (no pun intended) of production that stresses these resources. I asked Dave Bellamy where he thought we were headed. He said a probable extension of channels above 1 GHz as a start. He expressed the hope that stages and personnel deal- ing with RF systems have a better understanding of their setup, operation, and limits. It's also probable that RF system manufacturers will continue to develop new products of high quality using less operational spec- trum. Special thanks to all the CAS mixers and people I spoke with, along with my appreciation for their dedica- tion to their craft. Also to Dave Bellamy for his personal tutorial on RF systems and their future. • ©2016 Edward J. Greene tems. To the best of my knowledge, in eight-plus years, the only problem we had between stages was when a stage manager from DWTS came to visit during a lunch wearing his PL transmitter. What's the secret? The secret is preparation, proper execution. Soundtronics Wireless, recently having successfully provided the RF systems for the musical Grease, is presently preparing for another live musical, Hairspray, for broadcast on NBC December 7 on the Universal backlot. By now, they have com- pleted a full RF spectrum analysis at the site from 80 MHz to 960 MHz to determine present RF traffic and to provide a spectral noise-floor analysis. It is the spectral noise-floor analysis that determines the RF frequencies chosen for com- munications, ear monitors, talent, and principal talent. As this article is being written, Dave has gone over staging and performance requirements to formulate a plan for various zones of antenna placements and coverage. But there's another secret to Soundtronics' success. Some time ago, Dave commis- sioned, and had built, several versions of custom, proprietary antennas. He said he considers Soundtronics Wireless primar- ily an antenna systems company that happens to rent RF's, although he neither sells nor rents his antenna systems. From personal experience on many, many shows with Soundtronics Wireless, there is such a high comfort level with their professionalism and attention to detail that it allows my concentration to shift to the mix and performance and away from anxiety about the RF systems. That being said, it is always prudent to have a spare RF plan for princi- pals, just in case of a mechanical failure or accident. A P R O D U C T I O N T O O L F O R F E A T U R E S T E L E V I S I O N C O M M E R C I A L S A N D M O R E @ U N I V E R S A L S T U D I O S L O T U N I V E R S A L S T U D I O S L O T. C O M D I S C O V E R T H E N E W