February 1989 Volume 15 Number 4 CONTENTS 4 INDUSTRY NEWS . 85S wins £50m 888 contrat 18 acaustion rake forrest very dealin satlite wansmision Swseanss Pt epee buys Prechfon Cole Tecology SMPTE Toop uy gauy los ether news contacts ene spent PRODUCT NEWS Calaway PAL management oftware, voltage controlled amp from Precision Menolities, additions 19 Siliconix NEWS FEATURE: Ads trom Outer Space SMS isa new company using satelite technolagy to distribute commercials foriLR. Kevin Hilton looked round the stup. CABLE & SATELLITE: Scramble! Scrambie Alan Burkitt examines the currant encryption situation andin particular looks atthe cha ‘Astra satellite and the scrambling systems chosen by each, CABLE & SATELLITE: Satellites forbusiness ‘The European Satelite Communications Conference was held in London atthe and of last year. Among the subjects discussed were the use af this technology for business and polities and the se of computers, David Falkus reports, 26 LOCATION RECORDING: Chrysalis ©83—from film crew to mother truck PS Broadcast Facilities state fein 1970 as. three man fim crew, progressing to operating ‘wo OB vehicles and working an a numberof important independent TV productions. Now known ‘88 Chrysalis Televsion (Mobiles), the company isrunning three units, with plans for more ‘expansion, as Tim Leigh Smith found out. 30 STUDIO CONSTRUCTION: From jazz to Seoul Founded by the famed jazz clarinetist, Sandy Brown Associates has established itslf as one of the leading acoustic design and architectural cormpanias. Pil Parker profiles the firm and examines recnasnle” three recent projec. cea 35 INTERVIEW: Shure: Past, prosont & future Tom Burksie general manager, international sales for Shure others and has responsibility forthe world market, excluding the US, He talks to Kevin Hilton inan exclusive interview about the company’s products and policy. 58 VIDEOFILE: M6—the Beta TV station “Metropole Televsions the newest ofthe French TV stations and transmits all its output in the Beta format. Wendy Atkineon visited MB's complex naar the Eiffel Tower, 43 TRANSMISSION: Kiystron Transmitters Part 1 Inthe firs of three articles Raymond C Hills examines the development af his device, looks at its main features for vision and sound amplification and discusses what people ook forin the ideal TWhiystion 46 EXHIBITION PREVIEW: AES Hamburg ‘The Bth Audio Enginesring Society Convention willbe held at the Hamburg Congress Cente from 7-10 March, SE ists the exhibitors technica papers and takes a biat look at some ofthe new products STOP PRESS ...STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS... BSE wins ABC award ‘As part of Link House Magazines’ Professional Publications Group, the Broadcast Systems 5 ‘15th Series Media Data Form was presented with the ABC award for the “Best Group Submission from one company’ As Link House is committed to providing its clients withthe most comprehensive readershipip information available itis iting that BSE should receive this award, and our pledg ‘maintain, and indeed improve upon this service inthe future. | February 1989.NEWS FEATURE Ads from Outer Space Kevin Hilton reports on a project using modern technology to deliver those all important ince the creation of independent local radio in 1973, stations have used a variety of methods to collect centrally produced advertisements and Imorviows, ‘Among these are the use of British Telecom lines, the Independent Radio News (IRN) circuit or courier services— the good old despatch rider who is a ‘common sight, trudging, be-helmetted, through radio stations across the country. However, many see this as almost Unacceptable in the present high-tech climate. A company that is attempting to alter the modus operandi of ILR stations is Satellite Media Services (SMS), Established in May last year, the idea for SMS came about through discussions ‘between @ group of engineers three and a half years ago. In considering the immediate image of radio, they decided that the chain of events leading to the arrival of an advert on station was not totally satisfactory. "The sexy, immediate image is rather let down by the use of motorbikes or people having to go to the railway station to collect packages,” says SMS managing director John Ross: Barnard ‘At the time, many radio station bosses tejected the idea of transmitting commercials by satellite but Radio Clyde in Glasgow, Capital Radio in London and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio persevered. ‘Among the leading figures in the project ‘ware Peter Jackson and Grae Allan, chiet engineers of Capital and Ciyde respectively ‘iter approaching British Telecom and ‘a consultancy firm, Alexander Korda & ‘Associates, they found they could not become a ‘common cartier’ or a telecommunicator as, atthe time, there were only two such organisations: British Telecom and Mercury Communications. Eventually SMS signed @ unique contract, with British Telecom International (8TH, Which operates the uplink to the Intelsat 5A satelite, taking feeds from SMS. The contract between SMS and BT is, commercials to ILR stations “unique” because the service is not a ssub-catrier to vision; the company shares its transponder with SIS. “This means we are not susceptibie to the fortunes of the ther person we are sharing with,” says Foss-Barnard, “There is a German word, Zeitgeist which literally means something that is Fight for its time,” he comments. “Now it is right for this project Based in the Euston Centre behind Capital Radio (although Ross Barnard stresses they are not a part of the station) in what used to be the BT Confravision Studios, SMS ie set to commence its service in April, dependent on testing taking place over Easter The shareholders of the company include Capital, Piccadilly, Clyde, Radio City, Metro Radio, Midlands Radio Holdings and Rebesca (Alexander Korda’s holding company), In researching how to best distribute audio signals via satelite, Jackson and Allan visited the US and [08 Communications in particular. Chris Hibbert, formerly principal engineer with the IBA’s quality control department, was appointed chiof operations officer of 'SMS. He observes: "Peter and Grae found that the bulk of this kind of work in the US hinged on FM carriers but we wanted something a litte more flexible.” The system decided upon was OAT2000 manufactured by Sciontfic Atlanta. This digital SMPTE compatible 2.048MByto system can be easily multiplexed and offers two T5kH stereo channels and two 1.5kHz mono channels, Its 64kByte data channel capacity also allows other functions, including transmission of data to printers and remote control operation. {As itis digital, the systern uses no audio processing, which, says Hibbert, ‘means there is no analogue compression {as is necessary with FM systems. Housed in the SMS control room is bank of DAT machines; each participating station wil have a DAT machine in the area where the audio is to ba delivered, PROGRAMME and DEVIATION CHART RECORDERS ‘Single and two channel versions chart suo te EGiBS PPA stancarde and tue. poak Broadens: Monitor Receiver 1502-302, "Stereo iar Amplifier Z3nd5, Mowing Col Prosmpliir, 210. Outlet Oietriion Amplifier 4. "Stabilizer “Fixed Shit Catt Boardes “liumineted 5PM Boxcs and TWIN, TWIN Hace. “PPM? and. Digital Stereo PPM®, “SEEMS. 20. Pin "DIL Pybrid and Movements, Stereo Microphone Ampifir, “Xivanced Active Aerial « Kea-t0) Mila “Stereo Coders “Stereo Variable Emphasis Unite ‘Surrey Electronics Ltd, The Forge, Lucks ‘Groen, Crantigh, Surrey GUG7BG. Tel-0683 arse This is then triggered by the remote channels of the system. “We thought that we needed a system to distribute things without technical operators having to stand by tape machines,” says Hibbert ‘An important feature of the DAT2000 is its addressabilty, which enables the downlinking of different material to different parts of the same station. The ‘operation of any one of 16 tape machines 10 in excess of 65,000 downlinks is possible . 'AS weil as the audio, SMS will be transmitting the scripts, cue sheots and transmission rotas, which are carried on the data channels and received by conventional printors. The addressability feature allows several printers and tape ‘machines to be located in various places in the station, while it also means that Stations will now only receive audio intended for them; distribution by BT lines means that stations record all the adverts and then edit out the one for them Hibbert comments on this use of the system, "We have identified the hassle {areas and weaknesses and attacked them with the technology rather than just finding a use for the technology.” Hibbert continues that SMS is technology-led project, with Ross-Barnard adding that afterwards it will be “customer motivated”. Although they see 1DAT2000 as a "hands off” system which needs litle attention and can be remote Controlled, the SMS control room itselt will be manned 24 hours a day, providing 2 full back-up service to the IR stations. “ie will be a fring offence for anyone to say ‘I's alright leaving me’,” says Ross Barnard The participating stations are not charged for this service; its the syndicator, advertising agency, record company lif the circuit Is used to distribute background musie or pre release records) or facilities house which pays the bill. {At the moment 95% of the ILR network is due to take its ads in this fashion. In the future, SMS will be looking to link into cable and TV, business and conference centres, mobile distribution ‘Vehicles, as well asthe rest of Europe and the worl ‘Another option is feeding broadcast ‘quality interviews with ‘name’ Personalities or networked programmes although this last aspect is still In the discussion stage, ‘Asked how he sees the future for his ‘company, John Ross-Barnard replies enigmaticaly, "The White Paper is very interesting in'as much that it has assumed video will be the only use for MMOS.” Very much a speculative comment but perhaps it could be Something to watch for in the future.