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22 NAB Review

36 Pick Hits of NAB 95

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I 0 Managing Technology

ON THE COVER : Once again,the NAB Convention broughtthe people, techniques andtechnology of the industry to-gether in Las Vegas. Photocourtesy Las Vegas Conven-tion and Visitors Center.

May/June 1995 Vo ume 2 Number 3

kis month...

NAB Review 22By the BE Radio staffOur comprehensive coverage of the product introductions and trends at NAB 95in Las Vegas.

Pick Hits of NAB 95 36By our Pick Hits judgesAn elite group of radio professionals selects the top 10 new products of NAB 95.

Counterpoint on EAS 40By William FawcettA critical analysis of the new Emergency Alert System, including a conversiontimetable and EBS decoder modification&

Departments...

Editorial 4By Skip PizziRadio was on a roll at NAB 95.

Contract Engineering 6By Kirk HamackBilling and collecting from clients is probably the least enjoyable (and most 11110,11,1tit)part of a contractor's business.

Managing Technology 10By Chip MorganHiring a contract engineer - what managers need to knost.

RF Engineering 14By John H. Baffison, P.E.Tower inspections are a critical element of station maintenance.

FCC Update 20By Harry C. MartinAvoiding technical violations and "reinventing" the FCC.

News 42Business/People 43New Products 44

Classifieds 46Ad Index 48

- vary

2 BE RADIO. May/June 1995

Production Directors. Engineers. Even newsroom people swear

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Bill Schultz...Production Director103.5 WYNY-FM, New York

" You install it, it runs, the productiondepartment is happy. Next problem."

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orbonH A Harman International Company

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Circle (5) on Reply Card

Editorial:

Buddy,can you

paradigm?

Skip Pizzi,radio editor

Radio was the buzz at NAB 95, especially in terms of the big picture, new -paradigmissues. Although the TV folks seemed hungry for a major defining concept, there wasno shortage of substantial, new service -related topics on the radio side. These included

Internet applications of promotional text, graphics and even audio service; a renaissance indatacasting; seriously new backhaul and distribution technologies; and DAB, looking morereal than ever, in both terrestrial and satellite flavors.

After a seeming eternity (actually just four years, but that's close enough nowadays) indevelopment, NAB 95 marked the first time that mobile IBOC DAB (both AM and FM)was openly demonstrated. For most people I spoke to, this demo, presented by DABproponent USA Digital Radio (USADR), was the top story of the show - at least from apure technology perspective. But there was more to it than that. Big-time chip makerNational Semiconductor showed a small, mocked -up chip (about 3/4" square) that itexpects to market as an AM/FM IBOC DAB add-on to standard AM/FM radios. Thecompany also claims the chip should add no morethan $10 to $15 to the manufacturing cost of theradios. Coupling this claim with USADR's success- Respond via the BEful mobile demonstrations seemed to eliminate thelast questions about IBOC DAB: How well would it Radio FAXback lineperform in multipath/mobile conditions, and how at 913-967-1905high would high receiver complexity/cost be?

Of course, the National Semiamductor announce- or via E-mail toment raised a few eyebrows in light of its pre-emptivetiming, Not only is the FCC still far from acting on beradio@intertec.com.DAB standards, but the ad -hoc advisory EIA andNRSO committees evaluating proponent DAB sys-tems haven't even completed the first stages of their work. It's obviously a bit early for themarketing of DAB receiver components. Nevertheless, USADR scored a slam-dunk in termsof strategy boosting its profile with such a 2 -pronged effort at NAB 95.

This is not to say that the mobile demos were flawless. In fact, their occasional glitchesmade the system seem all the more "real" and confirmed the work -in -progress nature ofcurrent development But as USADR's Tony Masiello commented, "We're ready to turn therest of the development over to the people who build equipment for a living." This servedas a subtle reminder that USADR is a consortium of broadcasters, and that finalrefinements to the system's hardware might be better accomplished by equipmentmanufacturers - based on a format designed by and for radio people.

Satellite DAB was also a hot topic at the show. Observanrattendees came away from NAB95 with several important points in this area:

1) Satellite DAB will happen, probably before the end of the decade.

2) Terrestrial broadcasters will use this invasion from space as further ammunition for theirquest to remove all existing radio station ownership limits. (Argument: If a DBS licensee canput 20 or 30 radio channels into every U.S. market, why can't we?)

3) The FCC is considering re -opening the satellite DAB proceeding to allow more than thecurrent four proponents into the game.

4) Broadcasters want the FCC to place numerous restrictions on DBS radio services, suchas requiring them to be subscription -based (not advertiser -supported), satellite -deliveredonly (no terrestrial repeaters) and substantially niche-fomiatted.

5) Broadcasters will ask the FCC to rethink its spectrum allocation plans and auction the S-band DAB spectrum to licensees, but only after IBOC DAB capability has been granted toexisting AM and FM radio stations.

6) The current FCC is likely to rule in favor of the "liberalizing" requests for both satellite andterrestrial radio (fewer ownership restrictions, early IBOC DAB, more DBS players) and lessfavorably on the restrictive or "protectionist" requests. There also was a hint that they mayallow separate services on the analog and digital portions of an IBOC DAB channel.

NAB 95 showed us (if we didn't already know) that radio has new paradigms to spare onits horizon, each carrying potential benefit or detriment depending on your vantage point.It's only as these developments get closer that we'll learn, what their true impact on ourindustry will be, if any. Meanwhile, fasten your seat belts and hold on to your wallets.

4 BE RADIO, May/June 1995

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Contract Engineering:

Billing andcollection

By Kirk Hamack

Kirk Harnack is president ofHamack Engineering, a broad-cast contract engineering firmin Memphis, TN. Respond viathe BE Radio FAXback line at913-967-1905 or via E-mail toberadio@intertec.com.

As a 12 -year -old paperboy, I eagerly de-livered the Winfield Courier six days aweek, 52 weeks a year. I got to ride my

bike up and down Sixth Street and throwpapers at 108 porches every afternoon. Deliv-ering newspapers was a lot of fun, I thought.

The monthly collection process, however,was something else. I dreaded it. The newspa-per required the paperboys to go door-to-doorcollecting from their customers in person.Even though I was paid on collections, once Ihad collected enough to pay my bill to thenewspaper, I really didn't feel like collectingany more. I suppose I wasn't throwing papersfor the money, I did it to feel important and tohave some responsibility.

Fast forward 20 -some years: I'm a contractengineer and still like what I do very much. rdprobably do it for free if I could get away withit. However, I can't and so there's still thismatter of collections - and I still don't like that

very much.Because billing and collections

are vital to any operating business,it's worthwhile to examine how theycan best be handled in contractengineering.

Starting off right\ lust of us like to be appreciated.

I want my clients to appreciate meand my work, even as they're writinga check to pay for it. I want them tofeel as if they're getting professionalservice and advice at a good price.Part of that professionalism involvesappropriate handling of financialmatters with clients. From a printedrate card to invoices and statements,the appearance, accuracy and time-liness of your financial documentsare of key importance.

Establishing set rates for consult-ing, labor, travel and incidental ex-penses is the place to start the pro-cess of collecting for your work.Your rate card should set forth theprices you will charge for variousaspects of your services. See Figure

for an example.The rate card can be incorporated into an

actual contract or agreement form signed byboth parties to formalize the client's under-standing and recognition of the rates and othercharges. (See "Contract Engineering," March/

April 1995.) Some contract engineers useformal signed, binding contracts for every joband client. Some reserve such contracts onlyfor larger jobs with substantial money in-volved. Many contract engineers never or rarelyuse a formal contract. No matter which legalform your relationship takes with a particularclient, a clear understanding of rates and othercharges is vital to the subsequent billing andcollection processes.

BillingI have found that by -the -job billing is an

effective and useful method for accuratelycharging clients and for receiving paymentmore quickly. With by -the -job billing, yousend the client an invoice within a day or twoof any work activity. Some contract engineerschoose to invoice clients on a monthly orquarterly basis. Although this is a good optionfor some contractors, the by -the -job methodtends to result in more accurate bills becausethe invoice is prepared and mailed right afterthe work is completed. Answering clients'questions about certain charges is easy be-cause the work was recently done. Moreover,cash flow is generally faster than the monthlybilling method by an average of 15 days.

One terrific tool in tendering accurate andtimely invoices is a computerized bookkeep-ing system. Using such a system streamlinesthe process of entering billing information.Codes can be set up for each type of service orbilling item that may appear on an invoice.Prices and descriptions as well as the client'sbilling address can also be set up in advanceto make it easy and quick to prepare a detailedand accurate invoice. Some bookkeeping pro-grams allow the printed invoice to show yourfirm's logo and customized messages.

One of the most popular bookkeeping pro-grams is QuickBooks from Intuit This andother programs allow customization of yourinvoices and statements, which makes themlook sharp. When output on a laser printer,these forms appear just as professional asthose from a Fortune 500 company.

The invoice is a good place to record adescription of the work that was performed. Infact, a detailed description of problems foundand corrected is both comforting and infor-mative to the client as he or she is reviewing theinvoice. A computerized bookkeeping pro-gram will store these descriptions for laterreference and re -use.

Acme Contract Engineering, Inc. -- Schedule of Rates

Engineering Services, Consulting and Labor $100.00/hrTravel Time (charged for travel in excess of 1 hour) $ 50.00/hrMileage in company vehicle $ 0.35/miNecessary use of Digital Spectrum Analyzer $200.00/job

Travel, meals and lodging are billed on a reimbursement basis.

Terms are Net 30 for established accounts; all others are Due On Receipt of services.Any materials or improvements remain the property of Acme Contract Engineering,Inc. until valid payment is received.

Figure 1. A sample rate card for a contract engineering firm.

6 BE RADIO, May/June 1995

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Contract Engineering:Billing and collection

StatementsSending out monthly account statements to clients serves

two purposes. Fust, it's a convenient and businesslike way toremind a client that money is owed. Second, an accuratemonthly statement - one that properly reflects invoice num-bers, dates, amounts, payments, check numbers, etc. - will addto your firm's financial credibility. It shows that you're carefuland thorough in your financial dealings and that your recordsof work and billing for your clients are accurate and timely.

This is another area where computerized bookkeepingprograms work well. These programs can print monthlystatements showing any invoices issued and any paymentsreceived since the last statement was printed. With mostprograms, any range of dates can be printed to show financialactivity over a longer time. This is often helpful when trackingdown missed payments or settling disputes over paymenthistory.

CollectionsAttorneys and CPAs often say that as an account ages more

than 90 days past due, the chances of collecting moneydiminish rapidly. Experience has proven to me that this is quitetrue.

So what is the best way to keep accounts from reaching 90 -day status? On one hand, using written contracts and otherdocuments can increase a contractor's clout when makingcollection efforts. Yet contracts and personal guarantees canbe nearly worthless against a deadbeat client who absolutelyrefuses to pay. Some clients still won't pay even after receiving

Often, the best you can do is refuse any further work for past -due clients. But there are some other methods for collecting onpast -due accounts. For example, confront the client and appealto his or her nobler motives. In other words, politely persuadethe client that paying the overdue amount is in his best interestand is truly the right thing to do. Writing a firm letter to theclient with the notation that your attorney is being sent a copyof the letter is often a persuasive tactic There also are collectionagencies and services that can be highly effective. Often they areless expensive than attorneys and, short of going to court, areabout as successful at collecting.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to retain an attorney forcollection. Before doing so, consider whether the dollar amountinvolved justifies this move. Remember that you will spend acertain amount of time and money dealing with the attorney(and, perhaps, in court) which could be spent working for good,paying clients. If the dollar amount involved is less than two orthree dais billing, a contract engineer may be better off to writethe account off to "bad debt" and take a tax deduction on theamount.

SummaryThe most effective tool for collecting from clients is looking

and acting as if you expect to be paid in a timely manner. A bigpart of this appearance is to tender good-looking, accurateinvoices and other financial documents. Today's computerand printer technology places this capability within easy reachof any self-employed person or small business.

Additionally, computerized bookkeeping systems will pro-\ ire the contract engineer with accurate financial informationuseful in running the business. Today's programs can figure andwrite payroll checks, perform all general ledger functions, handleaccounts receivable and accounts payable, and even projectyour cash flow and your bank account balance. Best of all, youcan know in a few seconds who owes you and how much. 61

Circle (19) on Reply Card

8 BE RADIO, May/June 1995

431 (11 -TIP

Everyone loves Eventide digital audio -

loggers. They've thoroughly obsoleted

LOGFORLESS

old-fashioned reel-to-reel logging recorders. But

for some stations, our 24 -channel model VR240 is

more than the budget can handle. And many sta-

tions will never reed to record up to 24 channels.

500 hours, half the priceThe Eventide VF204 4 -channel digital logger is

the perfect answer. It costs less than half the price

of a fully optioned Eventide VR240! The high

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record more then 500 hours, divided among up

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Built-in hard diskThe VR204 is a single drive machine, yet it can

play and record simultaneously. That's because it

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playing back an earlier segment (or if the tape

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of the taped log.

Two-way compatibilityThere's also a play -only model, the VP204, which

is ideal for the GM's or PD's desk or for thegroup's main office. And both the VR204 andVP204 can playback any of the 24 channelsrecorded on an Eventide VR240.

Keep an accurate audio record of everything allthat goes out on your air.Keep track of the competi-

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Managing Technology:

Hiring acontractor

By Chip Morgan

Chip Morgan owns Chip Mor-gan Broadcast Enterprises(CMBE), a broadcast design,systems management and en-gineering firm based in Sacra-mento, CA. Respond via theBE Radio FAXback line at 913-967-1905 or via E-mail toberadio@intertec.com.

Recent trends in downsizing have re-sulted in fewer staff engineers at radiostations. This is a result of advances in

technology that make equipment more reli-able, deregulation of FCC rules requiring en-gineers on staff, and an expectation that radioair talent can handle basic engineering func-tions such as mixing and recording.

Even though radio is based on technology,efficiencies in technical operations have al-lowed the average technical department bud-get to be reduced to about 5% of a station'stotal cost of operation. (This does not includecapital projects or disastrous failures of majorequipment.)

Another trend affecting the industry isoutsourcing of non -core competencies atthe radio station. By outsourcing, stationsbuy expertise in a specialty that is costly todevelop internally. They also get the advan-tage of bulk equipment purchases and ac-cess to specialists who are up to date on the

latest technology and practices.Meanwhile, fundamental changes

in the radio business are increasingthe need for cost-effective technicalsolutions even as engineering's roleis being diminished. With fewer staffmembers running more stations,outsourcing frees managers to con-centrate on the station's main busi-ness - sales and programming.

In order to see where radio engi-neering is headed today, considerits basic definition: Broadcast engi-neering is not simply the repair ofequipment. It is the technique ofdesigning, constructing and support-ing a highly developed communica-tion system by applying technol-ogy. As an example, manufacturersor specialists on specific equipmentcan provide more cost-effective re-pairs, allowing the reduced engi-neering staff to concentrate on is-sues critical to the support concept.

But how should a radio stationowner or general manager decide

who to hire for outsourced engineering, with-out specialized knowledge of the subject?There are several elements that contribute tothis decision.

Costs of contractingFirst, understand that it is generally more

economical to hire expensive, top -of -the -lineengineers. A top-quality engineer helps keepclients from making costly mistakes, savesmoney on purchases and suggests solutionsthat can increase income.

Rate is a function of quality of service. Ifyou're paying a high fee, you should expectbroad experience and rapid results. If you'repaying a low fee, expect things to take longer.Inexperienced managers hire inexperiencedcontractors in an effort to save money.

Also, you don't have to pay contractorsmany of the costs of employee labor. There areno Social Security taxes, unemployment in-surance taxes, liability insurance, Worker'sCompensation insurance, benefits, severance

pay or vacations. This creates a potentialsavings of at least 30%. Of course, a goodcontractor may still cost more per hour thanan average staff engineer, and the costs ofthese benefits are still being paid by thecontractor or the contract engineering firm.But the fees paid to contractors are for "pure"engineering, and the other items often comefrom the station's administrative overhead. Sowhile the engineering budget line may in-crease with a contractor, the station usuallyends up saving money overall. (It may takesome accounting prowess to demonstrate thisconvincingly.)

Another advantage of contracting: A goodcontracting firm can provide extra engineerswhen you need them, and can scale backinvolvement if things slow down for the sta-tion. This no -cost flexibility is one of the keysto the use of contractors.

When you negotiate the deal, make sure it'sclear to both parties before you start theservices. You should have a written contractthat spells out scope of services, costs, pur-chasing authority, response times, how tohandle extra project work and a paymentschedule. (See "Contract Engineering," March/April 1995.)

PitfallsDepending on outsiders can be rife with

problems. Radio stations need to find loyal,reliable contractors they can trust with tradesecrets. If the need for engineering suddenlyincreases due to an LMA, station purchase orother expansion, stations need assurancesthat the contracting firm will stretch and beprepared to cope with the added workload.

When the Internal Revenue Service reviewsindependent contractor relationships, theylook for various levels of control between theparties. The trick is to carefully balance therole of the station management and the con-tract engineer so that you don't run afoul of thelaw. If your station is audited, the IRS will lookat 20 factors that determine whether yourcontract engineer is actually an independentcontractor or an employee. In general, if theradio station has the right to control not onlythe result to be achieved by the worker, butalso the means by which it is accomplished,the worker is probably an employee.

If the IRS determines that your engineer isreally an employee, the station will have to payback taxes and penalties that can far exceedthe savings you may have realized.

Qualifications of contract engineersThere arc cut -rend) two major IN pcs of

contract engineering firms. One twc is asingle free-lance engineer. This contractormay be an employee of one or more stationsand a contractor to others. The other type offirm is comprised of a group of engineers inpractice together working for multiple clients.Some of the engineers may be employees ofthe contract engineering firm and others maybe contractors or consultants to it.

In either case, it is important that the inde-pendent contractor is set up as a legal busi-ness. The scope of services provided by a

10 BI.; RADIO, May/June 1995

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contractor should include systems man-agement and systems analysis. Whenscreening candidates, station managersalso should look for good people skills,computer awareness, broad radio experi-ence, logic, purchasing and budgetingexperience, and a lot of common sense. Inaddition, you want people who present agood image to the public. Engineers whohave worked in on -the -air positions canalso be valuable because they under-stand programming needs and idiosyn-crasies.

Good contract engineers are self-start-ers, honest, know their limitations andkeep abreast of technical advances in theindustry and the market. They have strongproduct knowledge, know how to managerepair and service activities, and are espe-cially good at juggling time -sensitive, high-pressure work requirements.

A contractor should ask to see yourfacility before quoting support costs. Thecontractor should also tell station man-agement about emergency response pro-cedures, day-to-day support capabilities,documentation of work, budget prepara-tion, discrepancy systems, frequency ofbilling, expense and pares procedures,FCC compliance systems, preventive

maintenance plans, training services andproject management capabilities.

Ask about references, training and ex-perience, industry contacts, FCC licensesand SBE certification, examples of workthey've done in the past, insurance (in-cluding workers compensation and li-ability), a business license and a list ofother clients.

The best engineerscombine art and

science, and have agreat passion for radio.

Above all, get a feeling for their sense ofpriority and ability to see the big picture.Some people don't understand that it'sas important to do the right job as it is todo the job right. The best engineers com-bine art and science, have a great passionfor radio, and have lots of ideas abouthow to improve your facility.

Qualffications ofcontracting stations

A station considering the outsourcing

Who's

of engineering must examine its ownsituation to see how well it can use con-tract engineers.

First consider your performance ex-pectations. Do you expect an engineer tobe at the studio five days a week duringbusiness hours? Do you want preventivemaintenance? Do you have project workto be done?

Also consider how well equipped thestation is. If there's no backup equipmentand the existing equipment is fallingapart, you don't need a contractor tomaintain it - you need a contractor towbuild it. Day-to-day engineering in afacility with bad or poorly maintainedequipment is futile for all involved.

As general manager or program direc-tor, you can ensure the quality of the finalproduct (the on -air sound) by providingadequate information for appropriate de-cisions. Insist on top-quality work andmaterials. Pay a fair amount for technicalwork and pay on time.

Engineers are often stereotyped as hav-ing poor people skills and being hard toget along with. As manager, you need tosupport your engineers if you expectthem to be motivated. If they know yourpriorities and feel that their work is ap-preciated, they'll help you by saving yourstation money and providing profitableideas and reliable systems that will paydividends for years to come. ii

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RF Engineering:

Towerinspections

By John Battison, P.E.

John Battison, BE Radio's con-sultant on antennas and radia-tion, owns John H. Battison andAssociates, a consulting engi-neering company In Loudonville,nearColumbus,OH.Respondvlathe BE Radio FAXback line at913-967-1905 or via E-mail toberadio@intertec.com.

There are two kinds of tower inspec-tions: One is the required quarterlyFCC tower light inspection, and the

other is the kind that prudent engineersmake about every three months on theirtowers and the radiating devices mounted onthem.

Tower light inspectionsSection 17.47 2(b) of the FCC rules re-

quires that every lighted tower be inspectedat intervals of not less than three months.This is to ensure that all mechanical lightingdevices, automatic alarms and indicatingdevices associated with the tower lightingsystem are working correctly. The degree ofdifficulty that this involves will depend onthe height of your tower and the lightingrequired by your license.

If your tower is less than 200 feet, younormally will have no lighting requirementsto worry about. Above that height you will

find various lighting arrangements.The appropriate one will be speci-fied in the station's constructionpermit (CP). Occasionally, shorttowers in the vicinity of an airportwill have to be lit. Again, this willbe specified in the CP, so read itcarefully - including all the backpages.

When making your lighting in-spection, remember the magicnumber 40,1 2 This refers to themaximum and minimum flashingrates of 40 and 12 times perminute, respectively. If you havean older mechanical flasher, besure to make a careful count andlubricate and clean the flashingmechanism as required.

The top 300mm beacon for alltowers using red lights must havetwo lamps in it, of either 620W or700W (type PS -40 code beacon).When inspecting the lights at night,it is not always possible to tell ifboth lamps are burning. It's a good

idea to take a clamp -on ammeter and checkthe lighting current to the beacon to be surethat both are burningg.

It is not unusual to find one or more side-light red globes broken. They seem to attractidiots with rifles. So be sure when performingthe night inspection that all lights are red,and not just partly red.

If your tower uses strobe lighting, checkthat your day/interim/night power changeis working properly. It is not uncommon tofind faulty power -change switching equip-ment that continues to run daytime power atnight - much to the displeasure of thoseliving nearby. The opposite effect is far moredangerous, however. Running tower strobesat their reduced nighttime power during theday is a serious violation.

Sometimes the flasher rate for strobe light-ing systems changes and creates unusualcombinations of lights, so check this compo-nent for proper operation. Note that someolder systems carry the high strobe voltage to

each light via heavily insulated cables. Checkthese for worn or weakened insulation whereshorting might occur. (Most newer strobesystems generate the high voltage at eachlight fixture, and use only a power pulsefrom the ground controller to initiate thestrobe discharge.)

Gaskets on electrical boxes used by towerlighting systems are a common source oftrouble. It is important that their integrity bemaintained to prevent water entry. Be surethat gaskets are replaced as necessary, andthat gasket material is not caught in a box'slid or cover when it is closed.

Nowadays most stations probably haveremote indicating alarms observing towerlight operation. Don't forget to check thesedevices when making the tower inspection,and verify that they are telling the correctstory to all control points. Be sure that thecurrent sensors can tell if a single sidelightis out. Sometimes the heavy current of thetop beacon is all that is checked. For facili-ties using strobe daytime and red nighttimelighting, make sure that both lighting -moni-tor systems are working properly.

The FCC and FAA take adim view (no pun

intended) of incorrecttower -light failure reports.

While checking the tower lighting, be sureto check on the operators or whoever iskeeping the operating logs for the lights. (It'snot a bad idea to make sure that a tower lightlog is being kept.) Even daytimers may berequired to have lit towers, and someonehas to oversee their lighting. Be sure alsothat the "responsible person" at night knowswhom to call at the FAA if lights fail. Pointout that delays can cost the licensee money.

In fact, it is important to verify at allstations that board operators and remote-control personnel are absolutely sure of thecorrect procedure to follow in the event oftower -light failure. Be sure that the correctFAA number(s) are posted along with theproper instructions. The FCC and FAA takea dim view (no pun intended) of incorrecttower -light failure reports.

After performing the tower lighting in-spection, be sure that it is entered in themaintenance log in a visible location. Itdoes not do much good to make an inspec-tion report that can't be found when theinspector comes callingg.

Other tower checksFor incandescently lighted towers, when

making the light inspection also check thecondition of the tower's paint, both forflaking and fading. Also check that the paint-ing configuration conforms with the rules.

14 . BE RADIO, May/June 1995

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RF Engineering:Tower inspections

Make sure that the alternating bands of red and white areproperly sized, and check that the top band is a red one-- I have come across towers that were reversed.

Guy wires are often left to rust away quietly. If necessary,see about getting them greased. If you've never seen itdone, it's interesting to watch someone slide down a guywire, greasing it as he goes.

Check the guy anchors. Look for unlocked turnbuckles.Watch for ice damage at the anchors themselves, as wellas for rising anchors that have heaved with groundfreezing. This doesn't often happen, but it's better to besure.

On series -fed AM towers, check the tower base to besure that the weep holes in the base insulator are clear.Look for cracks in the base insulator. Fortunately, thisalso does not seem to happen often, but again it's wellworth checking.

Speaking of insulators, check all the guy insulators asbest you can with a pair of field glasses. Also make a checkof base operating current to be sure that there is nochange in operating impedance. One of my clients had arobin family that built a nest in the base insulator of hissouth tower every year. It did not appear to affect theoperating impedance, so we left it there. (We did notreceive complaints from the EPA about the RF environ-ment, so I guess that the eggs all hatched properly.)

Don't forget the invisible hall (Ifthe antenna that lies underground.

If you have a shunt -fed antenna, the same points apply.I f the antenna was originally built as a series -fed, make surethat the copper strap bypassing the base insulator is stillsound and properly connected. I recommend the use offour straps - one for each side of the footing. Make surethese straps are still adequately brazed to the groundsystem.

Be sure that the RF-drive copper link is tightly secured ateach end. If tower lighting power is fed along the RFtransmission line, be sure the insulation is still sound andall connections are tight. If static drain chokes are used,ensure that there is still a DC path through them, and thatthey are not burned out or corroded into uselessness.

The ATU is part of the antenna system, and it should becleansed of rodent nests and other animal life that enjoysliving in an RF environment. It's a good idea to check thecalibration of the base current meter when going over ATUconnections, and to clean coil clamps.

FM antennas should also be checked, although there islittle that can be visually inspected from the ground. Again,field glasses will give a general idea of antenna condition,but if there are no listener complaints of increased multipathor other transmission anomalies, it is usually best to letsleeping dogs lie.

High -power transmission systems with rigid copper coaxshould have coax joints inspected where possible for signsof heating or leakage. Nitrogen or thy -air systems alsoshould be inspected. Many engineers keep a small log ofgas usage, which gives them a handle on leak development.

Continued on page 19

4

Circle (16) on Reply Card

16 BE RADIO, May/June 1995

RI EngineerTower ns

Continued from page 16In the case of a dry -air system, excessive dehydratorrunning time should raise a flag.

Don't forget the invisible half of the AM antenna that liesunderground - the ground system, an unappreciated andoften neglected part of such systems. Over the years, theground radials tend to become broken and corroded. It isnot at all unusual to find an older station with only abouthalf its nominal radial complement remaining.

Experience has shown that a radial system works bestwith about 120 radials, each equal in length to the towerheight. Shorter radials reduce radiation efficiency.

The number of radials has little effect on the reactanceof an antenna system, so losing a few radials over the yearswill not cause much of a change. But, as the number ofactive radials decreases, the base resistance increases. Thiswill produce an operating resistance above the optimumoperating value. Such a change affects only ground lossresistance, however, and antenna resistance includes both

It may provide comfort to have agrounded tower, but if it is onlyhalf -grounded it will be worse

than useless.

ground loss resistance and radiation resistance compo-nents. As the ground loss resistance increases, the powertransmitted decreases, and coverage becomes poorer.

FM antennas have ground systems, too. FM -only towersare usually grounded - or at least they're supposed to be.It is not sufficient to pour foundations and mount towerson them. Ofter. the grounding of an FM tower is over-looked or done poorly. Therefore, include a check of towergrounding in any FM -tower inspection process. The cop-per grounding strap should be brazed or properly clampedto the tower base and run to at least four grounding rods.Even better is one of the various special grounding systemsand chemical salts that are offered to improve grounding.

It may provide comfort to FM broadcasters to have agrounded tower, but if it is only half -grounded it will beworse than useless. A piece of 18 -gauge wire running to aground rod doesn't truly ground the tower, but it may offerenough impedance to a lightning strike to divert it to thecoax and thence to the transmitter. Remember, whenlightning hits a tower and goes down to ground, it choosesthe shortest path and the one of least resistance. Manytransmitters arc located at the base of the antenna/tower.In such cases, the incredible current of a lightning pulsecan encounter an extremely high impedance even in apiece of 4 -inch copper strap - high enough to divert thedischarge away from a direct ground path, and straight tothe final stage.

Regardless of the modulation system (AM or FM), allgrounding straps should be in place at the tower base, andthey should tie the whole system together. These connec-tions should be checked during inspection and if absent ordamaged they should be installed or replaced.

After completing your full tower inspection, be sure toenter it into the maintenance log.

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BE RADIO, May/June 1995 . 1 9

FCC Update:

FCCcompliance

checkup

By Harry C. Martin

Harry C. Martin is an attor-ney with Reddy, Begley,Martin & McCormick, Wash-ington, DC. Respond via theBE Radio FAXback line at913-967-1905 or via E-mail toberadioUintertec.com.

Broadcasters should periodically con-duct a self -inspection of all facilities,including their transmission facility

and tower, to ensure compliance with appli-cable FCC rules and regulations. (See "RFEngineering," p. 14.) The first step in review-ing a station's technical operation is to checkthe areas where FCC inspectors most oftenissue violations. See the check list below forreferencing the pertinent sections of the rules:

All towers are correctly painted. (17.50) AM towers are properly fenced. (73.49) All current station authorizations (includingauxiliary) are posted. (73.1230(a)) Chief operator is designated in writing andposted. (73.1230(a) & (b)) Contract chief operator agreements are onfile. (73.1870(b)(3)) Chief operator's and all duty operators'licenses posted. (73.1230(a) & (b)) AM monitor point descriptions are correct

(73.158) Chief operator is making weeklystation log review. (73.1870(c)(3)) Station logs for the past two yearsare available and complete.(73.1840) All station logs indicate a weeklyEBS tests sent and received.(73.961) Remote control and meteringoperational and calibrated.(73.1410) Most recent equipment perfor-mance measurements availableand complete. (73.1590) Transmitted signal meets FCCspecifications and is in accordancewith station license. (73.44/73.317) Operators are properly trained.(73.1860) EBS receiver working and tunedto proper station. (73.932) EBS test transmissions OK EBS encoder is FCC type ac-cepted (i.e., no tones on cart).

(73.942(a)) EBS check list with authenticator envelopeat operator duty position. (73.908)

"Reinventing" the FCCThe FCC has responded to Vice President

Al Gore's mandate to federal agencies for"reinventing government" in a report issuedthis past February.

The first part of the report describes theagency's efforts over the past year to eliminatebacklogs, improve processes and reduce regu-latory burdens. More interesting, however, arethe reports proposals for administrative andrulemaking actions for further streamliningFCC operations. Among these are the follow-ing proposals of interest to radio broadcasters:1. Simplify and clarify the criteria used incomparative hearings to choose among com-peting applicants for new broadcast facilities.2. Streamline and consolidate the equip-ment authorization process, including shift-ing to electronic filing.

3. Relax the marketing and certain adminis-trative rules related to equipment authoriza-tion.4. Remove restrictions on the use of frequen-cies above 40GHz and open up spectrum forlicensed and unlicensed services.5. Authorize the use of electronic mail andelectronic filing,6. Make the effective date for delegatedauthority items the release date to a publicnetwork like Internet.7. Delegate to the designated frequency co-ordinators authority to deal with Canada forfrequency coordination.8. Simplify procedures for certification tothe requirements of the Anti -Drug Abuse Actof 1988.9. Simplify or eliminate several filing re-quirements for microwave stations, includ-ing expansion of the types of station modifi-cations that do not require FCC approval.10. Propose to Congress the followingchanges in the Communications Act: Modify the prohibition against the com-mission waiving the requirement for a broad-cast construction permit. This proposal wouldgive the FCC flexibility to determine whenpermits are necessary and when constructioncan be undertaken without prior approval Provide that a license authorization for astation silent for one year automaticallycancels. This would save commission re-sources, eliminate undue protection of non-operational stations, and allow operationalstations greater flexibility in changing fre-quencies and upgrading facilities. Legalize the broadcast or cablecast adver-tising anywhere in the United States of anylottery enterprise that is lawful where con-ducted. Simplify the broadcast license renewalprocess by establishing a 2 -tiered process:First, the incumbent licensee's performanceduring the preceding license term would becompared only against statutory standardsand not against any competing applications.Second, the renewal application would beautomatically granted if the statutory stan-dards are met or exceeded or designated forhearing if the standards are not met Authorize the use of private, independenttesting labs to test and certify radio equip-ment to ensure compliance with technicalstandards for radio frequency (RF) emissions. Authorize FCC to: a) retain fees above acertain sum sent to the Treasury, b) amendfee categories, c) change the amounts of fees,and d) create new fees.

DatelineOnJune 1, broadcast stations in the

following states must file their annualownership reports: Arizona, Wash-ington, DC, Idaho, Maryland, Michi-gan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, NewMexico, Texas, Utah, Virginia, WestVirginia and Wyoming,

20 131: RADIO, May/June 1995

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In the production studio, timeequals money. For the fastest,easiest multi -track productionfor commercials and stationpromos, Computer Conceptsintroduces the StudioFrameTMthe complete audio workstation,"studio in a box." Everyproduction feature from true8 track input and output(expandable to 24 tracks) to timecompression, digital EQ tndfilters is built into StudioFrame.Best of all, with its directintegration with DCS, prodt cedspots can be on the air seccudsafter completion.

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LAS VEGAS- Visitors to the 1995 NAB convention were amazed to see no fewer than six newproducts for radio from Computer Concepts, makers of DCSTM, the world's leading hard disk system. Forthe first time, one company offers proven products for stations of every size - from 100% live majormarket powerhouses to fully automated local stations - all working together through the DCSarchitecture. Some of these new products, while new to the US, have been in use for years in internationalmarkets... another advantage of Computer Concepts' world-wide scope. With so many products to choosefrom, Computer Concepts can now custom -tailor a profit -making system for every radio operation.

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MAESTRO BRINGS MUSICAND SPOTS TOGETHER.DC'S has always managed commercials and spots

flawlessly. Maestro" now does the same for music,integrating all music and commercial information andcontrol with a WinchwsTm-based on -screen interface.Maestro is the key to accessing music directly from harddisk. It interfaces directly with music scheduling databasesystems and gives on -sir talent total flexibility to executeperfect song-over-jiagle-over-song crossfades. Musicsearch by type, anis', etc., intro and outro countdowndisplay and instant access to news and weather info arejust a few of the many features which make Maestro theperfect DCS interface for creative on -air control.

Newsroomkeeps you up-to-the-minute.Radio news can be a profit

center with Newsroom*", thecomplete electronic newsoperation from ComputerConcepts. The key word withNewsroom is efficiency. Thesystem automatically takes bothtext and actualities from wireservices, networks and othersources. A news person writesand edits copy on screen,linking sound bites to the copy- playing the wrong "cart' is athing of the past. Editing ofaudio actualities is fast andprecise. On -screen promptinglets talents read final copy rightoff the screen. Newsroom isfully integrated with DCS andMaestro and can be added to aninstalled system at anytime.

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CafRackTM is a field -proven"front-end" to DCS which putsright on the screen all the cartsyour morning (or other) talentcould ever want, for instant,no -hassle access. Individual"racks" of carts can beprogrammed for each show -there's no limit. Talent uses atouchscreen, trackball or mouseto "point and play" carts tothree on -screen graphic "cartmachines." Events played fromDCS can be controlled byCartRack. It's the easiest way tohandle live shows offered byany hard disk system. LetCartRack bring order into yourhectic, live, money-makerdrivetime shows, and then letDCS automation take over tohandle other dayparts.

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What makes ComputerConcepts stand out of the packof companies now offering harddisk products for radio? We'recustomer -driven, and we havebeen since we started over 20years ago. We maintain directcontact with our customersbefore, during and after the sale.We're so proud of our customerrelationships that unlike mostother vendors, we'll be happy tosupply our entire customer list toany prospective purchaser.

DCS from Computer Conceptshas long been the leader inautomating commercials andspot insertion for stations of allsizes. But the big news this yearis an unprecedented array ofnew products for every facet ofon -air operations, and everykind of radio facility. All arefield -proven and backed with thekind of customer service that hasbeen instrumental in the successof Computer Concepts.

As your needs change, so canyour DCS-based system. Forexample, DCS systems can beconfigured to store music,commercials, jingles and otheraudio cuts either centrally on anaudio server or distributed onindividual DCS workstations. Anew option, Audio Central+distributed audio, offers bothcapabilities plus complete fail-safe redundancy.

Another new DCS optiondeveloped in response tocustomer requests allows thesystem to start playing backmaterial while it is still beingrecorded. Perfect for delayingnetwork news -on -the -hour for afew seconds or minutes whilegiving local headlines first.

All the new and excitingComputer Concepts productsintegrate seamlessly to DCS.It's your assurance that -whichever components youchoose to make up your DCSsystem today - your system canbe expanded tomorrow.

Large stations or small, simplesystem or very complex, todaymore than ever, there's one placeto call for total expertise andtotal customer responsivenessin hard disk systems. CallComputer Concepts at 1-800-255-6350 and profit from ourexperience.

Ci'cle (6) on Reply Card

NAB 95ReviewBE Radio's exclusive team of reportersuncovers the new products of NAB 95.

Radio automationBy Kirk HarnackHarnack is president of Harnack Engineering, abroadcast contract engineering firm in Mem-phis, TN,

Purveyors of radio automation sys-tems introduced numerous features andcapabilities in their systems at the 1995NAB Convention.

A good example is Computer Con-cepts, maker of the DCS (Digital Com-mercial System). Many new elements ofthis DOS -based system were un-veiled, providing improved userinterfaces, storage/retrieval ac-cess, wire capture and programassembly. Also announced wereDCS's support of ISO/MPEGLayer II storage and an interfacebetween DCS and the TimeLineStudioFrame workstation.

An addition to the HarrisAllied automation product linewas the DDS Digital Deliver)System from Radio Systems. In-stead of using a PC screen, itemploys multiple control pan-els that look like cart machineswith LCD screens. DDS is UNIX -based, allowing up to 16 simul-taneous audio operations froma single file server.

Wizard for Windows isProphet Systems' radio auto-mation system. It is based onpowerful, off -the -shelf computers con-nected by a Novell network. Features for1995 include automated time and tem-perature announcements. The system'sversion 4.0 software also includes addi-tional fault tolerance and an improvedfile server interface.

The Phantom from Register Data Sys-tems (RDS) is a hard -disk -based auto-mation system designed primarily forsatellite automation. For 1995, RDSintroduced a special Macro Keyboard,

TABLE OF CONTENTSRadio automation - 22Digital audio workstations .... _23Microphones, accessories, telephoneinterfacing, and audio mixers 23

Audio processing and storage 26Backhaul and distribution 28Routing switchers, wire/cableand test equipment -29RF equipment 33Studio support equipment andfield accessories '34

which allows pre-programming of com-monly used keystroke sequences to sim-plify and quicken daily tasks.

Enhancements to the Scott Studiosradio automation system includeCompuCarts and a graphic waveformeditor. CompuCarts is a "wall -of -carts"system designed for quick and easyaccess to hundreds of cuts on a touch -screen display. The graphic waveformeditor adds stereo cut -and -paste edit-ing as an integral part of the Scott

Studios system.Radio Computing Services (RCS)

showed the ProSonix digital editor/workstation addition to its growing lineof PC -based modules in the RCS Workspackage. Available in stereo or 8 -trackform, ProSonix includes ISO-MPEGLayer II coding and a dedicated controlsurface with familiar, assignable con-trols. Based on the Motorola 56000DSP, ProSonix includes AFS/EBU VO,waveform editing, automated mixing and

time compression/expansion.Arrakis has officially rolled out the

Gemini software and hardware enhance-ments to its DigiLink automation sys-tem. Gemini gives an announcer instantaccess to hundreds of audio cuts, andup to three cuts can play simultaneously.DigiLink News Text is a software mod-ule for entering and editing news, com-mercial tags, weather scripts, E-mail andmore, while Remote Control allows com-plete control of a DigiLink workstation

over a LAN or via modem.Broadcast Electronics (BE)

introduced NewsBoss, a Win-dows -based newsroom auto-mation system that integrateswith new or existingAudioVAULT automation sys-tems. It includes wire -captureand a complete text editor,along with a TV -styleteleprompter on the computerscreen. Working with its sub-sidiary, Broadcast Program-ming, BE is able to supply ra-dio automation systems withmusic already on hard diskplus ongoing music support.

Dalet is a Windows -basedradio automation system thatworks in a stand-alone or net-work configuration, using stan-dard PC hardware and LANs.New features include a 4 -track

digital editor and ISDN, satellite or POTSconnectivity for wide -area networkingg.

Features introduced by ENCO Sys-tems for its DAD486x DOS -based sys-tem included advanced automated pro-gram -transition options, comprehensiveassembly editing, transparent links tothird -party audio and text editors, aninteractive interface with a major musicscheduling system, and the availability ofmusic libraries pre-recorded on harddisk.

22 BE RADIO, May/June 1995

ITC added several features to its radioautomation system, DigiCenter, includ-ing one -touch playback of up to 256audio cuts and log editing/merging soft-ware. Also introduced was CD DigitalTransfer, which allows digital dubbing ofCD audio into Di giCenter at 4x real time.

LPB showed some enhancements toits Salsa automation system, including aPentium platform option that providesa noticeable speed increase.

The Management also showed up-dates.to its AXSsystem and TM Centurypresented the latest on its UltimateDigital Studio VDS). Finally, on theinternational scene, some interestingsystems and upgrades were shown byABC Digital of Australia (showing D -RADIO), AEQ of Spain (now with a US.office, showing the MAR system) andRadiomation of Ireland.

Circle (75) on Reply Card

Digital audio workstationsBy Tom McCarthyMcCarthy Is a systems engineer for NationalPublic Radio, Washington, DC.

NAB 95 was massive in terms ofdigital audio workstation products. Al-most all DAW manufacturers introducedsoftware upgrades and somevendors released redesignedor new workstations.

Fostex Corporation ofAmerica released TimeFlextime compression/expansioncapability and Version 4 soft-ware for the lire of Founda-tion 2000 digital audio work-stations.

Orban presented Version5.0 software for theDSE-7000workstation, adding pitch -shift,time compression/expansion,van -speed, reverse audio, im-proved screen display and anexpanded help package. TheDSE-7000 now interfaces withSystems'DAD486xand Broadcast Elec-tronics' AudioVAULT systems.

The DM -809 was introduced byRoland. Its most striking feature is itssize, especially considering the numberof features that the 26" x 11.25," 12 -pound package contains. The DM -800includes eight tracks of hard -disk re-cording with 100 layers per track, fulldynamic automation and eight dedi-cated faders. Up to 3.5 track hours ofrecording at 48kHz can be stored in-side the unit, and an additional 24 trackhours can be accessed outboard viaSCSI ports.

Studer Editeth introduced the DyaxisHbv digital audio workstation, essen-tially a Dyaxis II minus its synchroniza-

tion and expansion capabilities. It isspecifically geared for the broadcast ra-dio production market, and features abuilt-in automated digital mixer withdynamic level control, panning, meter-ing and 5 -band parametric equaliza-tion. Also new was the Edit Controller, adedicated transport and edit controlpanel, and the Dyaxis Ili InterMix pro-cessor, a self-contained digital studiothat includes all the basic requirementsfor recording, editing and automateddigital mixing.

Avid Technology demonstrated Ver-sion 3.1 software for its AudioStationand AudioVision digital audio worksta-tions. Features include enhanced com-patibility with Avid's Media Composerand Film Composer non-linear editingsystems. The 3.1 upgrade also includesenhanced hardware and software inte-gration between Audiovision andAudioStation and the Yamaha DMC1000 digital mixing console.

Nagra Lysis introduced an array ofdigital audio workstations and an inte-grated approach for the formation ofan entire digital network. Three work-station models are offered: a consulta-tion/news editing unit, a pre -produc-tion workstation and an on -air unitspecifically tailored for broadcast con -

Power Mac platform called SessionSoftware 2.0. Using the native audiocapabilities of the platform, this inex-pensive software package adds numer-ous production, synchronization andimport/export features.

Meanwhile, several of Digidesign'sthird -party developers (now number-ing more than 60) produced an arrayof plug-in modules, includingLexicon's NuVerb, Steinberg's VirtualIX Rack and products from Waves,Jupiter Systems, QSound Labs andGray Matter.

A software update was announced byLexicon for Opus that takes the systemto Version 5. Enhancements includesupport for standard SCSI hard drives(including low-cost 2.2GB removabledrives) and an overall increase in sys-tem performance and reliability.

Sonic Solutions introduced theJour-nalist/News System, to accommodatebasic editing and sequencing of newsclips and short programs cost-effec-tively. The company also introduced itsRadio Workgroup Architecture, whichenables broadcasters to configure scal-able networks of radio production sys-tems. Multiple DAWs with varying de-grees of capability can be linked to-gether so users can share common

soundfiles and access them si-multaneously in real time.

Timeline Vista announcedthat effective immediately all ofits Timeline DAW-80 digitalaudio workstations will containupgraded Intel Pentium pro-cessing power without a priceincrease.

ABC Digital introduced aGraphic User Interface (GUI)for its D -CART system, whichnow allows it to be accessed ona standard Windows -based PC.

Circle (76) on Reply Card Microphones, accessories,telephone interfacing,and audio mixersBy Chip MorganChip Morgan owns Chip Morgan BroadcastEnterprises (CMBE), a broadcast design, sys-tems management and engineering firm basedin Sacramento, CA.

ENCO trol room use. The workstations runUNIX on 486 and Pentium platformsto achieve true multitasking.

Studio Audio & Video demonstratedthe latest SADiE software release, Ver-sion 2.2. Upgrades include The SpeechEditor, which has the ability to auto-matically find, mark and remove areasof silence based on user -definable level -threshold and duration settings, pro-viding high -quality time -compressionfor speech recordings.

Digidesign presented an upgrade ofPro Tools III to version 3.1, whichincludes punch -on -the -fly and improve-ments to its ADAT interface, includingexternal synchronization and supportfor the Fostex RD -8. Another releasefrom Digidesign was a product for the

New digital systems notwithstand-ing, there is still plenty of need formicrophones, mixers and related prod-ucts in radio - as evidenced by thenumber of new products in this cat-egory, and the number of people inthese exhibitors' booths at NAB 95.

MicrophonesElectro-Voice showed a studio con -

BE RADIO, May/June 1995 23

NAB 95 Reviewdenser microphone called the RE2000.It's a short -D, high -efficiency unit withthe high output of a large diaphragmmic, but the tighter polar pattern andfaster transient response associated withsmall -diaphragm designs. The RE2000features a true balanced -outputtransformer designed for the mi-crophone by Jensen.

Shure Brothers announced theIT Wireless System, a low-costVHF line comprised of three dif-ferent battery -operated receiver/transmitter combinations. Theunits run on 9V batteries, up toseven hours on a single battery.All operate in 10 frequency des-ignations between 169 and216MHz.

Sennheiser introduced theMD431 II, an update of itsMD431 supercardioid dynamicshock -mounted microphone, fea-turing improved frequency andpolar response. A UHF diversitywireless microphone receiver, theEM2004-UHF was also presented. Itcan be tuned to any one of 16preprogrammed channels, and has atotal bandwidth of 24MHz, allowing itto be used anywhere in the world. An-other product was the ME67, a long-

shotgun addition to the K6 modularcondenser line.

Sony introduced a UHF synthesizedtransmitter for wireless microphonebodypack applications, the WRT-860A.It's physically the smallest unit Sony

makes in the 800 series, yet it supplies20mW of power and offers a broadspectrum of operating frequencies.

Telex Communications introducedthe ENG-500 wireless microphone. Itcombines the low -noise performance ofcrystal control with much of the fre-

quency agility of synthesized PLL de-signs. An interchangeable module holdscrystals for three different UHF frequen-cies selected for their compatibility witheach other. A similarly configured VHFversion, the FMR-I50, was also shown.

Lectrosonics demonstrated the195 series of wireless microphonesystems. These units are designedfor maximum battery life, featuredual -band companding, ratio -diversity reception with dynamicaudio combining, wide devia-tion with no pre -emphasis orde -emphasis and rugged ma-chined aluminum construction.The series has extensive meter-ing and control capabilities andis designed for critical applica-tions.

Vega introduced the T-678synthesized miniature bodypacktransmitter with internal dipswitches for 1,600 frequenciesin 25kHz steps over a 42MHz

range (seven UHF -TV channels). Vegaalso showed the SU-620 series of syn-thesized wireless mics with cost effec-tiveness designed for a variety of appli-cations.

Audio-Technica (AT) presented theAT873R, a small hypercardioid vocal

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NAB 95 Reviewmic that is phantom -powered and in-cludes internal shock -mounting. Thehigh-SPL capsule can be replaced withavailable omni, cardioid and subcardioidcapsules. AT also showed the ATR65, aunidirectional electret mic that can beused as a lavalier or slip into its silver -dollar -sized base for attachment almostanywhere, and the AT858, a wide -rangecardioid on a slim gooseneck with dipswitches in its tabletop base to mate itsoutput with almost anything.

Posthorn was showing a Schoeps"Compact" condenser mic, the CCM-U,which looks like the company's Coletteseries without the amplifier. Also newwas the WMS, a windscreen built to slipover two mics for M -S coincident use.

Crown showed two unique an-nouncer headset mics with bracketsmade to mount on the Sony MDR -V6and MDR -7506 headsets. The CM-312HShas a hypercardioid pattern andthe CM31111S uses Crown's Differoidnoise -cancelling technology.

Circle (77) on Reply Card

Microphone accessoriesBenchmark Media System presented

its MicMan Jr., a high -quality stereo micpre -amp that can be powered by inter-nal batteries or AC. Also on hand wasthe IMS01 daughterboard, which plugs

onto the MDA101 mic-pre-amp/DAcard to provide a switchable, separatecommunications channel output.

Studer International introduced thefirst of a range of digital mic/line pre -amps, the D19 series. One of these, theMicAD, features a high -quality 8 -chan-nel mic/line pre -amp system with 20 -bit conversion. It's 2RU high, has fourAES/EBU outputs, plus optional ADAToptical, S/PDIF or TDIF outputs.

Aphex Systems introduced the Model107 dual -channel thermionic micro-phone pre-arnp, featuringa transformerlesssolid-state front end followed by a tubecircuit that provides the sonic charac-teristics of tube amplification withoutthe high voltages, heat, fragility andshort life span of conventional tubecircuitry.

Circle (78) on Reply Card

Telephone interfacingGentner Communications showed its

latest refinement for telephone interfac-ing, the TeleHybrid. (See "NAB 95 PickHits," p. 36.) In addition, Gentner de-buted several enhancements to theTS612 digital telephone system, in-cluding PC call -screening software, anetwork interface that allows up to 10TS612s to share a set of telephonelines, a 1A2 key -system interface, and

TS612 control panels configured asdrop -in modules that fit into on -air con-soles.

Telos Systems showed its line of digi-tal hybrids, including the ONE -x -SixTalk Show System, the ONE plus ONEdual -hybrid and the 100 Delta interfacewith dynamic equalization. Call ScreenManager talk -show software was alsodemonstrated.

Circle (79) on Reply Card

Audio mixersWheatstone Broadcast Group showed

the D-500, a digital on -air console thatlooks like a traditional analog unit. (See"NAB 95 Pick Hits," p. 36.)

Otani Corporation introduced the Sta-tus family of digitally controlled analogmixing consoles. The consoles featureflexible on -board automation and sta-tus -recall. Options include moving fad-ers, dynamics -processing software andpatchbays.

Ramsa debuted the WR-C4500 se-ries of portable mixing consoles, featur-ing 12 -input and 20 -input mainframes.Each includes four stereo line inputs,four bus -outs plus a stereo mix outputand four aux buses. A larger console, theWR-SX1, was also shown. Available in44- or 52 -input versions, this mixerincludes 20 subgroups and VCA con-

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