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LightViper™ Shines For Ireland’s RTE Broadcasting
Annapolis Junction, MD, December 4, 2007 — FiberPlex, Inc., announced that their VIS-1832 LightViper™ audio transport system was recently acquired by Radio Telefís Éireann (RTE), the Dublin-based independent state broadcaster. The system was purchased by RTE’s Program Support Manager, Donie Stritch, following a demo by U.K. distributors, Fuzion, plc. Stritch commented, “We had been recommended a LightViper 32 by 8 system, particularly for our work in large venues like churches and cathedrals where using fiber audio transport cables can save a lot of rigging time. In the past, it could take as much as three hours to cable such an event. With the LightViper system we got everything rigged in 20 minutes.”
Performances for which RTÉ provide coverage are getting increasingly complex. Many broadcast productions now require a much larger complement of microphones — and thus considerably more cabling. Typical of the new requirements was a live broadcast of the National Symphony Orchestra’s presentation of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony that featured an orchestra of 150 pieces — plus a 700-voice choir.
Stritch elaborated, “Using traditional cable and catenaries we could never get the aerial span required because of the sheer weight of the conventional audio cable. The small size of the LightViper’s fiber cabling allows for longer audio runs — and without interference from the lighting.”
In addition to the labor savings, the challenge of working in historical buildings and cathedrals often creates a need to respect the décor and be mindful of the heritage of the building while rigging a show.
The LightViper VIS-1832 consists of a compact 32 x 8 audio input stage box and a complementary 1U rack VIM-1832 installed at the main front-of-house audio mixing position. These are connected via a rugged and extremely lightweight military spec fiber optic cable (terminated with the broadcast standard TAC-4 connections to match RTE’s existing stock of fiber). The fiber optic cable offers total signal path isolation between both stage and mixer as well as between the mixer and power amplification, and it is totally immune to ground loops, RFI, EMI and electromechanical noise.
“The digital optical snake is fast replacing standard multicore cables,” added the RTE Manager, “It means we can now carry out the rigging on the day of the event, instead of the previous day, which used to be the case.”
RTE’s new LightViper system has already been used for a number of broadcast assignments. Additional LightViper systems have been budgeted by Ireland’s RTE for inclusion in the broadcaster’s new satellite vans in 2008.
Editor’s Technical Notes:
The LightViper systems offer total signal path isolation between both stage and mixer as well as between the mixer and power amplification; the cable is totally immune to ground loops, RFI, EMI and electromechanical noise, and runs of up to 1 1/4 miles (6,600 feet) can be easily accomplished without signal loss or degradation. FiberPlex includes a limited lifetime warranty with all of its LightViper system components.
Links: http://www.fuzion.co.uk
10840-412 Guilford Rd, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701• Phone: 301-604-0100 • Fax: 301-604-0773
