Electronic Media 

Published: 01-23-95 



AUDIO JUST AS IMPORTANT AS VIDEO FOR GOOD TV        



Byline: Joe Fedale 



 I remember my introduction to how television engineers test an

audio circuit. It was my first broadcasting job and I was

helping a radio station chief engineer test a line for a

football remote at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

 We sat there for over an hour running every kind of distortion

and linearity test we could before we accepted the line from the

telephone company installer.

 Then the network TV engineers came in and connected a mic and

mixer to their circuit. ``Hello, can you hear me? OK.'' End of

test.

 To my amazement that's how they checked the audio. It was a

reality of the times, but times change. 

 Today's TV viewer demands crystal-clear CD-quality,

surround-sound stereo. Audio is not just an incidental matter

that can be ignored until it doesn't work.

 Television facilities are increasingly concentrating on audio

production. The cost of high-quality audio is not merely limited

to the ability to produce surround sound and special effects

with superb stereo separation. Stations need to invest in good

test gear too.

 Audio test equipment has become just as sophisticated as some

video equipment with computer-automated, digitally synthesized

test procedures that do everything from audio sweeps to

intermodulation measurements.

 These pieces of test gear are a crucial tool of the maintenance

department and they are far and away less expensive than video

test equipment. 

 Equally important is the engineer who designs, installs and

maintains the audio systems at your facility.

 To me, one top-notch audio design engineer is worth five so-so

video technicians. That's because there are few top-notch audio

engineers out there that truly understand how audio is used in

the TV broadcast environment.

 Also keep in mind that audio in a TV facility is not just

limited to the sound that comes out of a television speaker. Our

business revolves around our ability to communicate with each

other in the studio and from the field.

 Interrupted feedback (IFB) systems and intercom systems are

just as important to the production of a newscast as cameras and

tape machines are. Without them, there's no give and take

between anchors and field reporters.

 Because people are visually oriented, we tend to dwell on the

picture, but bad audio will distract viewers just as much as bad

video.

 Any TV station that lacks the proper audio gear and engineers

to keep the audio coming through loud and clear is more than

likely producing bad television.