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XM Uses Model 230s for MLB Remotes
After Adding Major League Baseball to Its Lineup, XM Needed
Remote Setups for Game Commentary
by Michael W. LaBoone, CPBE CBNT
Broadcast Technical Services
XM Satellite Radio
WASHINGTON Last fall, XM Satellite Radio announced an 11-year
agreement with Major League Baseball as the exclusive satellite
provider of MLB games and other programming. Until this point, the
vast majority of XM remotes were live musical events, and a technician
supported every broadcast. Now, however, our challenge has become
designing and installing remote equipment in the homes of the MLB
talent, who host live daily talk shows on XM Home Plate Channel
175.
 Further,
we needed to design a system that was rugged and reliable, and needed
little attention. Because XM technicians are located in Washington,
any failure would require the talent to work with a tech to determine
the faulty device that would need to be swapped out. We would then,
in all but the most extreme circumstances, ship overnight a replacement
to be swapped by the talent.
As all of the installations are for a single talent, there was
no need for a full-blown mixer, and several good reasons why a mixer
would not be desirable in this situation. Our search led us to the
Studio Technologies Model 200-Series announcer's consoles.
Features and specs
While the majority of customers will use their announcer's consoles
for live sports remotes, we saw a piece of gear that was flexible
enough to meet the requirements for our application.
The console specifications were well within our desired parameters.
The low-noise microphone preamp has adjustable gain from +20 dB
to +60 dB, in 10 dB steps, and can supply 48V phantom power to the
microphone. There also is processing to provide a bit of "gain
riding" for the microphone.
With a compression ratio of 5:1, and attack and release times of
2 ms and 100 ms respectively, the Model 230 can handle the occasional
outburst of excitement that sportscasters sometimes must express
vocally.
Features on the Model 200-Series include connections for IFB and
intercom systems, headphone output and an auxiliary relay. A unique
feature is the ability to configure the units for their specific
task. There are four operating modes on the Model 230, each designed
for different requirements.
The main output button can be set to mute when pressed (cough button),
to mute unless pressed, to alternately latch on or off for each
press or a hybrid mode which allows both push-to-talk and alternate
latching. Status LEDs give a constant visual indication of the state
of the console. There are many other configuration options for the
talkback output, and the cue sources for the talent.
A picture diagram is located on the bottom of the cover plate for
the unit, and it shows the location of the configuration dip switches,
the switch function and other operating information, which comes
in handy in the field.
There are many ways to power the Model 230. One is by using the
supplied 24 Vdc transformer. Another is by utilizing the voltage
from a "wet" intercom or IFB connection. Or, all of these
can be present simultaneously, because of the internal switching
power supply that regulates the operating power for the Model 230.
Level balance adjustment
We purchased four of the Model 230s and installed them. The initial
feedback exposed a problem that could potentially have made us seek
another solution. The problem was that the talent could not hear
themselves through their headset. We were able to work around this
problem by adding a "Y" cable to split the line-level
output of the mic preamp, sending one output back to an IFB input,
and the other output to the transmission equipment.
But this created another problem. The level balance between the
talent mic and the mix-minus from Washington could not be adjusted
to the satisfaction of any of the MLB talent.
After further reading in the user's manual, I decided to e-mail
Studio Technologies and explain our circumstances, in the hopes
that they could help with our problem. I suggested adding an optional
mode that would provide local sidetone to the headset output, and
configure the two volume control knobs so that one would control
only the mix-minus headset level, and the other would control the
local sidetone level.
This way, the talent could adjust the mix ratio that they hear in
their headsets to their own individual taste.
I got a reply the next day, and I had revised software the next
week with all the features I requested, which are now standard in
the Model 230.
We purchased additional 230s so that we could swap out the units
deployed in the field, keep units in stock as spares and have some
on hand for future needs. As each 230 was swapped out for units
with the new software, it was evident that the talent were pleased
with the changes from the previous version. We no longer get complaints
from the talent, which was one of the biggest design goals: Put
it in, and forget about it.
So far, the 230s have been trouble-free, and considering how well
they are built, we expect them to continue operating as such.
Most engineers who have worked on remote broadcasts envision an
all-in-one command station for the announcer's audio needs. With
four versions to choose from, Studio Technologies has built the
box for you.
The Model 230 retails for $1,095.
For more information, contact Studio Technologies in Illinois
at (847) 676-9177 or visit www.studio-tech.com.
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