AES San Francisco 2010
Broadcast and Media Streaming Session Details
Thursday, November 4, 9:30 am — 11:00 am (Room 133)
B1 - Broadcast Facility Design: Attending to the Details
Chair:
John Storyk, Walters-Storyk Design Group
Panelists:
Keith Hanadel, HLW Broadcast Facility Design
Bill Jarett, Food Network
Jim Servies, LA ESPN Facilities
Bob Skye
Abstract:
Architect/ Acoustician John Storyk, co-principal, Walters-Storyk Design Group will chair a blue-ribbon panel focused on the innumerable details thath must be addressed when designing or upgrading a broadcast production/post-production facility. Panelists include: Food Network VP of Engineering Bill Jarett; leading SF-based acoustician Bob Skye; Keith Hanadel, architect/project manager, HLW Broadcast Facility Design; and Jim Servies, Principal Engineer, ESPN. Among the topics to be covered are: facilitating work flow via intelligent systems design; determining and achieving exact acoustic requirements; a variety of real world facility design specific issues; and, the end-users’ perspective—working the room.
Thursday, November 4, 11:30 am — 1:00 pm (Room 133)
B2 - Innovations in Digital TV
Chair:
Jerry Whitaker, ATSC
Panelists:
Tim Carroll, Linear Accoustic
Sterling Davis, Cox Media Group
David Layer, NAB
Geir Skaaden, DTS Inc.
David Wilson, CEA
Abstract:
With the transition to digital television in North America well behind us, the various elements of the broadcast-to-consumer chain continue to look for ways to improve the service. Recent developments include technologies such as mobile DTV, non-real-time delivery of program material, and Internet-enabled television sets. Cooperative efforts are underway to develop new services while at the same time preserving the legacy services enjoyed by millions of consumers. This session will examine work currently underway to advance digital television to the next level, including concepts, options, and possible timelines.
Thursday, November 4, 3:00 pm — 4:30 pm (Room 133)
B3 - Lip Sync Issue
Chair:
Jonathan S. Abrams, CBNT, Chief Technical Engineer, Nutmeg Post
Panelists:
Paul Briscoe, Manager, Strategic Engineering, Harris Broadcast Communications Division
Dan Desmet, Flanders Scientific, Inc.
Pat Waddell, Chair of ATSC TSG/S6
Dave Wilson, Sr. Director, Technology & Standards, Consumer electronics Association
Abstract:
Lip sync remains a complex problem, with several causes and few solutions. From production through transmission and reception, there are many points where lip sync can either be properly corrected or made even worse. This session's panel will discuss several key issues. Where do the latency issues exist? How can the latency be measured? What correction techniques exist for controlled environments? How does video display design affect lip sync? Who is responsible for implementing the mechanisms that ensure lip sync is maintained when the signal reaches your television?
Join us as our panel addresses these questions and more.
Thursday, November 4, 5:00 pm — 6:00 pm (Room 133)
B4 - Case Study of PungaNet: Uniting Radio Stations Across a Country
Panelists:
Kirk Harnack, Telos
Igor Zukina, AVC-Group
Abstract:
The traditional, one-to-many audio distribution model is ineffective. Indeed, it's only half a solution when affiliates each have contributions for all or parts of the organization. Consider that a network of related radio stations has resources that are likely geographically widespread. A Central Router Management System provides a management cloud from which individual affiliates may choose published resources, and may publish their own talent and programming assets.
PungaNet is an ingenious suite of mostly off-the-shelf, IP-connected technologies that enables many simultaneous network topologies, each on a scheduled or ad hoc basis, for distributing and sharing audio, control, metadata, and broadcast business processes over standard IP infrastructure.
Friday, November 5, 9:00 am — 10:15 am (Room 206)
B5 - Audio for the Olympic Broadcast
Panelists:
Michael Nunan, CTV
Joshua Tidsbury, CTV
Abstract:
Broadcasting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium was an exercise in large numbers.
17 days
2450 hours of programming
12 TV channels
20 Radio stations
22 languages
1400+ staff
7 Production Control Rooms, 6 studios, 15 crews
21 edit suites and more than 30 editors
“The Olympic Suite” music package produced in-house for the Games contained more than 240 cues. Over 400 animated production elements were designed, mixed, and deployed. More than 40 hours of "Feature" content was pre-produced for in-games use.
Tackling the audio for this massive undertaking would be daunting under any circumstances—but to do it in support of the first ever Olympic Winter Games to be produced entirely in 5.1 Surround was remarkable. Join us for a look behind the scenes of an amazing sonic adventure in Vancouver. The presentation will provide some insight into infrastructure, training, work flow, sound design, music production, and much more—from pre-production through to the Closing Ceremony.
Presenting this session will be 2 members of the CTV Operations and Engineering group: Michael Nunan and Joshua Tidsbury. Between them, Michael and Josh lived every moment of the Games and are pleased to have the opportunity to share their experiences.
Friday, November 5, 11:00 am — 1:00 pm (Room 133)
B6 - Loudness, Metadata, and other Audio Concerns for DTV
Chair:
Tomlinson Holman, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and Viterbi School of Engineering
Panelists:
Tim Carroll, Linear Acoustic
David Casey, DTS Inc.
Sterling Davis, Cox Media Group
Thomas Lund, TC Electronics
Steve Lyman, Dolby Laboratories
Jim Starzynski, NBC Universal, Chair ATSC S6-3 Audio Loudness Group
Pat Waddell, Harmonic Inc., Chair ATSC S6 Audio and Video Coding
Abstract:
The introduction of digital television to the U.S. market proceeded in a number of steps: standardization in the early 1990’s, first introduction of transmission and sets in the late 1990’s, and accelerated adoption over time, culminating as NTSC television was shut off in 2009. The audio standards (that were thought to be easy to do so came first on the testing schedule but turned out to be far more complex than expected) added a number of features to conventional workflows that are only now becoming to be understood in some areas of the vast television production chain. This workshop will discuss what the situation is today from several points of view, and how the standards are likely to be promulgated over the next few years.
Friday, November 5, 2:30 pm — 3:45 pm (Room 133)
B7 - Innovations in Digital Radio
Chair:
David Bialik, Consultant
Panelists:
Steve Fluker, Cox Radio
Frank Foti, Telos-Omnia-Axia
David Layer, NAB
Skip Pizzi, Consultant/Radio Ink
Tom Ray, WOR - Buckley Broadcasting
Geir Skaaden, DTS
David Wilson, CEA
Abstract:
This session will discuss the various innovations of the past year plus what is on the horizon. Transmission, playback, production and reception are some of the topics. This will be a discussion of technology and technique.
Friday, November 5, 4:00 pm — 5:30 pm (Room 133)
B8 - Listener Fatigue and Retention
Chair:
David Wilson
Panelists:
Sam Berkow, SIA
Marvin Caesar
Frank Foti, Omnia
JJ Johnston, DTS Inc.
Sean Olive, Harman
Bill Sacks, Optimod.FM
Thomas Sporer, Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT - Ilmenau, Germany
Abstract:
This panel will discuss listener fatigue and its impact on listener retention. While listener fatigue is an issue of interest to broadcasters, it is also an issue of interest to telecommunications service providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, music producers and others. Fatigued listeners to a broadcast program may tune out, while fatigued listeners to a cell phone conversation may switch to another carrier, and fatigued listeners to a portable media player may purchase another company's product. The experts on this panel will discuss their research and experiences with listener fatigue and its impact on listener retention.
Friday, November 5, 5:45 pm — 7:00 pm (Room 133)
B9 - Audio Processing for Streaming
Chair:
Bill Sacks, Optimod.FM
Panelists:
Ray Archie, CBS
Frank Foti, Telos
Greg Ogonowski, Orban
Skip Pizzi, Consultant/Radio Ink
Abstract:
Finding the silver lining in the internet cloud
Traditional media people from broadcast and recording have a far different perspective from IT people. Compression now means two far different things to a seasoned audio engineer depending if the conversation is about dynamic range reduction or a data stream's efficiency. We must learn to communicate with one another. We must learn the TCP/IP language and protocols well enough to relate the needs to our IT counterparts and we need to be able to teach them, in their language, what we need them to do with us in order to accomplish our mission.
This panel will discuss the evolving relationship of audio and IT and how to improve not just the technical interfaces to learn, but the mutual understanding of our needs.
Saturday, November 6, 9:00 am — 10:30 am (Room 133)
B10 - Audio Over IP: A Tutorial
Panelists:
Steve Church, Telos Systems
Skip Pizzi, Media Technology Consultant & Technology Editor, Radio Ink magazine
Abstract:
IP-based networking continues to grow in popularity among broadcast, sound reinforcement, and other audio facilities. Learn the latest from the men who “wrote the book” on AoIP in this session, which will cover topics ranging from general advantages to specific applications of this groundbreaking new technology.
Saturday, November 6, 11:00 am — 12:30 pm (Room 133)
B11 - Audio Processing for Radio
Chair:
Tom Ray, Buckley Broadcasting
Panelists:
Steve Fluker, Cox Media - Orlando, FL, USA
Frank Foti, Omnia
Jeff Keith, Wheatstone Corporation
Robert Orban, Orban
Abstract:
There is much discussion as to why radio stations are “over-processed”—a term that is true or not depending on your point of view. This panel will be discussing audio processing in the radio environment. There will be a brief discussion of audio processing history, up to and including the advantages of using digital processors. And radio today is not just an analog medium—we will discuss do’s and don’t’s for processing radio in the digital realm—and try taking a look into the future.
Saturday, November 6, 2:30 pm — 4:00 pm (Room 133)
B12 - Audio for Newsgathering
Chair:
Skip Pizzi, Media Technology Consultant & Technology Editor, Radio Ink magazine
Panelists:
Daniel Mansergh, Director of Engineering, KQED-FM, San Francisco
Jeff Towne, Co-producer/Engineer, “Echoes”, and Tools Editor, Transom.org
Abstract:
The world of broadcast news presents numerous challenges to the recording, production, and presentation of the rich information carried by sound. Most challenging is the proper recording of raw sound for news events as they happen in the field. From faraway battlefields to neighborhood playgrounds, the tools and processes required to capture this sound appropriately and reliably for broadcast are a highly specialized tributary of audio technology. Practicing experts in the field will share tips and techniques honed over years of experience on the beat.
Saturday, November 6, 4:00 pm — 5:30 pm (Room 133)
B13 - Stream Formats for Content Delivery Networks
Chair:
Ray Archie, CBS
Panelists:
Benny Fischer, Limelight
Andy Jones, Stream Guys
Andrew Snook, StreamOn
Sam Sousa, Stream the World
Abstract:
The streaming formats for CDN’s panel is about the relationship between distribution and encoding methodologies. Licensing, error-correction, quality vs compression, and consumer-adoption are just a few variables to be discussed by this all-star panel. We hope to shed light about the future of scalable and reliable digital distribution.
Saturday, November 6, 5:30 pm — 6:30 pm (Room 120)
B14 - Careers in Broadcasting
Chair:
Chriss Scherer, CPBE CBNT; Editor, Radio magazine; Past President, Society of Broadcast Engineers
Panelists:
William Blum, Station Engineer, KBLX-FM
Russell Brown, Chief Engineer, KMTP-TV
Steve Lampen, Multimedia Technology Manager and Product Line Manager, Belden
Kimberly Sacks, Contract Engineer
Abstract:
As technology has evolved, pro audio and broadcasting seem to have diverged. But the skills you use in a pro audio career are likely applicable to a career in broadcasting, too. The moderator and panelists each have experience in pro audio and broadcasting, and they will share their career insights to show that the two industries have a great deal in common. A Q&A will also be held to clarify the bridge between the two industries. Students and professionals are encouraged to attend.
Sunday, November 7, 9:30 am — 10:45 am (Room 133)
B15 - Gating Methods and the New Loudness Recommendation EBU R 128
Co-chairs:
Florian Camerer, ORF - Austrian TV; chairman of EBU group PLOUD
Steve Lyman, Dolby Labs
Abstract:
One of the most fundamental changes in the history of audio in broadcasting is underway: the change of the leveling paradigm from peak normalization to loudness normalization. This session presents two aspects of loudness normalization. The first deals with the evaluation of different gating methods that shall help to further improve the matching of the objective measurement with the subjective impression of loudness.
Dolby Labs recently began building a database of wide and narrow dynamic range program samples and evaluating their subjective loudness. The loudness was assessed using the same method that was used by the ITU to develop Recommendation ITU-R BS.1770. The object of the work is to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of any proposed gated or un-gated loudness measurement method on wide and narrow dynamic range program material. Results of the current studies will be presented by Steve Lyman from Dolby Labs.
In the second presentation the core document of the EBU working group PLOUD will be introduced in detail: EBU R 128 "Loudness normalization and permitted maximum level of audio signals." Florian Camerer, the chairman of PLOUD, will explain this groundbreaking recommendation as well as the Technical Documents about Loudness Metering and the descriptor Loudness Range. The documents will also be examined with a special focus on their practical implications and consequences. Audio examples will illustrate the concept of loudness normalization.
Sunday, November 7, 11:00 am — 12:30 pm (Room 133)
B16 - Audio Performance in Streaming
Chair:
David Prentice, Dale Pro Audio
Panelists:
J. Todd Baker, SRS Labs
Alex Kosiorek, Cleveland Institute of Music
Jan Nordmann, Fraunhofer
Abstract:
“This program is available over the air, on your computer, or on your mobile device.”
It’s a simple sentence, repeated by broadcasters all over the country. Like many simple sentences, it raises more questions than it answers. Battling bandwidth restrictions and with playback monitors ranging from full-range systems to ear buds, streaming presents a challenging environment for delivering high-quality audio. With the obligation to deliver programs via streaming media, how does a broadcaster maintain the highest audio quality throughout the delivery chain, and how does a broadcast engineer evaluate the audio quality to maximize their program’s audio impact? Are there accepted best practices and is anyone creating regulations or standards for program evaluation? Our panel will address practices, standards, and discuss new delivery formats in a lively presentation.
