Clair Solutions Installs Bittree Patchbays, Sound Reinforcement, Broadcast Cabling, and Video Replay System for Orlando Stadium.
Built to state-of-the-art standards for fan comfort, engagement, and convenience, Orlando City Stadium is the newly-constructed home of the city's major league soccer team, aptly named the Orlando City Soccer Club. The stadium's 360-degree seating accommodates capacity crowds of nearly 30,000 people with low-slung roofs to shield fans from the powerful Florida sun and not-infrequent Florida rain. The roofs also purposefully amplify crowd noise to energize the game-day experience. A distributed JBLloudspeaker system conveys announcements with intelligibility and music with plenty of fidelity and impact to stir emotions. Clair Solutions worked closely with all the firms involved in the design and construction of Orlando City Stadium to make its sound reinforcement system a timely success.
"The bid and interview process for Orlando City Stadium was extremely competitive," explained Tim Jacobs, project manager for Clair Solutions. "Populous was the architectural firm for the stadium, and WJHWconsultant, Gary White, designed the sound reinforcement, broadcast cabling, and video production systems. Over the course of the roughly six-month installation process, Clair Solutions installed all of the audio for the building -- including the bowl, the VIP lounge, bathrooms, locker rooms, and press area, as well as the broadcast cabling and the video replay system. Typical for a project of this size, timelines for project milestones were tight. Working with Jose Sandoval, project manager for Barton Mallow, we were able to stay on schedule and deliver the finished product on time."
To ensure a smooth installation on site, the Clair Solutions team set up, programmed, and tested the entire system under more controlled conditions at their facility in Manheim, Pennsylvania. In a nutshell, Dantedigital audio and BSS HiQnet Audio Architect control are distributed from the mix booth to six separate amp rack locations over single mode fiber optics using Cisco SG500 switches. Harman BluLink distributes digital audio within each amp rack location, where Crown amplifiers power the JBL loudspeakers distributed throughout the bowl, concourses, and restrooms. A Soundcraft Expression 2 console located in the announcer's booth serves as the main interface for the system, and a Soundcraft Si Expression 1 provides mixing capabilities in the video production booth. Extron switches and controllers link systems, and to save space within the venue, an externally-positioned, stainless steel enclosure houses audio tie lines, Triax camera connections, fiber optic, data, and video ties between the dock and all camera positions around the stadium.
Reflecting the unique advantages of different microphones for different applications, Clair Solutions installed models from Shure, Sennheiser, AKG, and Klover. Two Shure desktop microphones serve in the writing press booth for production announcements and two Shure handheld paging microphones allow for remote or on-field production pages. Two Sennheiser wireless systems convey performances of the national anthem and other a cappella performances with solid musicality, and four wired AKG microphones join them to accommodate larger vocal groups. One Sennheiser lavalier microphone used with a Klover parabolic collector pick up specific on-field sounds and voices for use in broadcasts. Finally, two headset microphones, interfaced with two Studio Technologies announcer's consoles, deliver public pages and commentary with intelligibility and intuitive control for the hard of hearing.
Because different independent contractors for different teams and events handle in-house video production for the stadium's scoreboard, Clair Solutions worked hard to provide a powerful, open-architecture video replay system with impeccable documentation. "We had to build a system that subcontractor A could use one way, subcontractor B could use a different way, and subcontractor C could use in a still different way," explained Seth Morth, engineering manager with Clair Solutions. "It's a real sandbox -- users can configure it any which way, but the trade-off for all that power is the risk of making it too difficult to use. We fell back on industry best practices, including predictable signal flows and abundant, consistent documentation. Every source, destination, and connection always gets exactly the same label in all the documentation."
Major components in Orland Stadium's in-house video replay system include a Ross Video Carbonite 2ME switcher, Ross SDI-based NK-Series video and analog audio routers, a Ross Video Blackstorm Video Server, and a Ross MIRA Slo-Mo / Replay system. An AJA FS-2 handles video signal conversion when necessary, and IHSE KVM matrix switches transmit video signals. Several Ikegami HC-HD300 cameras with Fujifilm lenses cover both the stadium and the stands. Bittree B96H Series Video Patchbays provide robust connection points and Forecast Consoles and Middle Atlantic Products provide custom furniture and racks.
Bittree ProStudio Audio Patchbays Win Two Coveted ‘Best of Show’ Awards at 2018 NAB Show
High-quality, dependable ProStudio PS96DB25F and PS96DB25i honored for innovation, rich features, cost efficiency and performance
The 40th anniversary celebrations of patching systems innovator Bittree were further amplified at the 2018 NAB Show, as the company’s ProStudio PS96DB25 audio patchbay series was honored with a pair of Best of Show Awards from NewBay Media. Highlighting the advantages of the ProStudio family for both end users and systems integrators, Bittree was presented with awards from NewBay publications Pro Sound News (dedicated to the business of the professional audio industry) and Sound & Video Contractor (the definitive technical resource for A/V integrators, contractors, dealers and consultants).
Enabling users to easily define and modify their audio signal flows while providing the cleanest sound possible, Bittree’s ProStudio family brings the company’s renowned patchbay quality and rugged reliability to price points accessible to everyone from broadcasters and elite studio engineers to hobbyist musicians.
The front-programmable ProStudio PS96DB25F offers these benefits in a 1.5RU rackmount form factor with 96 TT (bantam) jacks in a high-density 2x48 configuration, and features 12 DB25 rear connectors for interfacing with Avid® ProTools® and Tascam® gear. The internally-configurable ProStudio PS96DB25i packs similar connectivity into just 1RU of rack space. Both models deliver their sound superior quality in heavy-duty designs that are built for dependability and durability in demanding environments.
“The ProStudio PS96DB25F and ProStudio PS96DB25i were designed to fill a void in the market for professional-grade, rackmount audio patchbays at affordable pricing, and these awards are signs that we’ve succeeded in meeting those goals,” said Ari Baron, general manager at Bittree. “We are honored that the judges selected the ProStudio series for these accolades, and look forward to continuing to empower our customers’ studios with more innovations in the future.”
NewBay’s Best of Show Awards are evaluated by engineers and industry experts, and are selected based on innovation, feature set, cost efficiency and performance in serving the industry.
“The NewBay Best of Show Awards at NAB are now in their fifth year,” said Paul McLane, NewBay managing director, content. “The program seeks to shine a spotlight on relevant innovations in technology as seen around the million-square-foot exhibit floor of the industry’s top trade show. The list of 2018 winners and nominees gives real insight into where and how rapidly our media tech businesses are evolving.”
For more information about Bittree and ProStudio family of audio patchbays, please visit ProStudio.
About Bittree:
Established in 1978, Bittree is dedicated to offering state-of-the-art patchbays and patch panels that streamline signal routing and troubleshooting in media and entertainment operations of all sizes. The company offers an innovative line of audio, video, and data patchbays for use in broadcasting, postproduction, and pro A/V operations. Tailored for use in the post-production, pro A/V, systems integration, and radio and television broadcasting fields, Bittree’s patching solutions are rigorously tested to ensure long-term functionality and dependability, especially for mission-critical operations and live events. To ensure consistency, performance, and adherence to rigid quality standards, all of the company’s patching products are designed, assembled, and tested in its state-of-the-art facility in Glendale, California. Bittree is an active member of industry trade organizations NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), and SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers). For more information, please visit www.bittree.com.
Bittree to Unveil Limited-Edition, 40th Anniversary Patchbay Series at 2018 NAB Show
Uniquely- stylized video, audio and data patching solutions commemorate significant milestone
Glendale, CA – April 4, 2018 – Bittree – a leading manufacturer of high-quality audio, video and data patching systems – is offering customers the opportunity to share in the company’s 40th anniversary celebrations by owning fully-functional mementos of the occasion. Exhibiting in booth SU3417 at the 2018 NAB Show from April 9 to 12, the company will unveil three new limited-edition patchbay models commemorating its four decades of innovation in the broadcast, professional audio/video and musical instrument markets.
The trio of special-edition products – one video, one audio and one data patching solution – will be powder-coated nickel with black silk screening for a distinctive look. Only 40 of each model will be offered, making them an instant collectable for infrastructure equipment aficionados. The limited-edition series includes:
“Our previous limited-edition models have proven very popular with our customers,” said Ari Baron, general manager at Bittree. “Our 40 years of success is a tremendous accomplishment, and a natural milestone to recognize with a new series of special units. We look forward to seeing our anniversary celebrations represented in users’ systems.”
Non Normal (Isolated) Patchbays - Normalling patchbays
A non-normal, isolated grounds patchbay configuration is often used for a completely configurable patchbay setup. This layout involves absolutely no connection between patch points, which ensures that differently grounded equipment share no connection or ground. A non-normal setup allows the engineer to connect external gear to their signal-chain at any time, and in any order of their recording or mixing process. This configuration is often used for effect processors' sends and returns.
A half-normal patchbay configuration is commonly used with analog line level signals. The signal from the source device, at the top jack, flows through to the jack directly below, to a destination device, via the “half-normal” signal route. This type of normaling differs from a full-normal in that the signal switches off, breaking the normal when patching into the bottom jack only.
This configuration also allows the engineer to create a second signal route, while maintaining the half-normal signal route - In effect, a Y cable. An identical signal is created when patching into the top jack, thus not breaking the normal. The top jack can also be used as a monitor jack, allowing quick checks of signal without breaking the normal.
Breaking the normal by inserting a patchcord into the bottom jack creates no connection between the vertical pairs of jacks. This “broken normal” state is maintained as long as there is a patchcord in the bottom jack. The signal can then be re-routed, as required, in the signal chain.