Broadcast Production
Two-way radio makes the cut in broadcast production.
Outside broadcast, location filming and studios are challenging environments with many variables in play, from background noise, weather, demanding directors, temperamental talent, and equipment all conspiring against achieving the perfect take or capturing the critical moment.
It’s an industry that understands that time is money and that mistakes cost – whether in missing that crucial news shot or interview, doing a different take or paying for overtime and extra equipment costs.
Little wonder that despite the ubiquity of mobile phones, two-way radio communications cut broadcast production. The ability to communicate between director, producers, actors, lighting engineers, sound engineers, production assistants, grips, and camera operators and the myriad of support personnel within and across groups, clearly and instantly, can often make the difference between chaos and success.
One of the advantages of two-way radio is that it allows you to set up a channel specific to each department or group. Team members can instantly exchange instructions and responses while allowing priority and emergency calls to break-in and additional open channels for more extended conversations.
A RANGE TO SUIT EVERY BROADCAST APPLICATION
With the financial risks and pressures on the broadcast and film industry, it’s tempting to cut corners and shave costs. For example, multi-packs of consumer PMR446 walkie-talkies from a supermarket, catalogue store or even toy shop bought for less than half the price of a decent microphone. While they might work, they are not designed to survive the rough and tumble of broadcast activities, usage in all weather conditions (and with gloved hands) or last a long day’s work without needing to be charged or replace batteries.
A license-free or licensed two-way radio is a critical piece of equipment. Giving production management the ability to coordinate operations being carried out by individuals and teams, often working out of the sight colleagues reliably and clearly at the push of a button to optimise efficiency and safety. Especially important when circumstances change or in the event of an incident requiring assistance, so it pays to invest in the right kit for the job.
Typical applications include:
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- Safety of lone and out of sight units and crew |
- Supervision of cast and extras |
KENWOOD PROVEN PERFORMANCE IN THE BROADCAST SECTOR
KENWOOD two-way radio communication to coordinate workflow and safety in the broadcast sector is widespread. Providing the ability to deliver clear voice and data transmissions to staff located within a single site or across widely spread spaces to prioritise work, respond to situations, manage emergency procedures and ultimately maximise the efficient use of resources, improve safety and productivity.
Solutions include the simplicity of license-free digital dPMR446 walkie-talkies to highly flexible, voice and data-enabled digital conventional, IP networked and trunked DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN communications systems. The utility of which can be significantly extended with the addition of applications and software suites to include dispatch and location capabilities, automated and event-triggered audio and text alerts and real-time asset tracking and monitoring.
ProTalk License-Free PMR446 – simple and effective
The simplicity and convenience of analogue and digital license-free PMR446 technology have made it a popular choice in smaller OB units and studios. Its reliability, ruggedness, and ease of use provide instant communication between individuals and groups at the push of a button.
KENWOOD ProTalk digital dPMR446 is suited for use in open spaces in congested cities where channels are required to be allocated to specific teams. It offers better reception to the full extent of the coverage area and 32 digital channels and 16 analogue channels (compatible with existing and other analogue PMR446 radios). Durability, long battery life between charges and simplicity of operation are just some of the critical attributes of the current generation of KENWOOD ProTalk dPMR446 radios, along with many more advanced features only previously found in licensed radios.
KENWOOD ProTalk digital dPMR446 at a glance:
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- Compact hand-portable format |
- 7-colour LED indicator illuminates to notify multi-status functions, including power-on and different unit identification |
KENWOOD licensed digital radio – the flexibility to meet the demands of larger sets, productions, and studios
For larger single sites or communications to units and crews across multiple locations, a licensed KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN digital technologies bring even greater benefits, including:
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- Multi-protocol DMR/NXDN + FM Analogue options |
- Optional and built-in GPS |
KENWOOD licensed DMR, and NEXEDGE NXDN offers both hand-portable and in-vehicle devices that can integrate with existing security systems, including fire and security, access control etc. It provides a failsafe, scalable and future-proofed communication solution.
An important point to note is that all KENWOOD digital radiocommunication devices feature native mixed-mode operation, which allows them to communicate with existing analogue radios automatically.
KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN digital protocols both offer the capability to build flexible and scalable systems. In contrast, the native analogue/digital Mixed Operation (enabling radios to communicate automatically with existing licensed analogue radios). Provides a predictable, economical migration path to complete digital two-way radio implementation at an affordable cost and the basis to build a future-proof radio communications system.
For many years, KENWOOD communications equipment has featured strongly in the broadcast production industry. Whether the simplicity of ProTalk PMR446 license-free hand-portable walkie talkies supporting outside broadcast units and location sets. Or fixed radio systems covering entire film sets and studio complexes, customers have come to rely on KENWOOD to deliver the reliable and economical voice and data communications that help to keep productions on schedule and budgets in check.
With NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR digital two-way radio systems incorporating hand-portable walkie-talkies, mobile units and repeaters operating in fully scalable IP linked digital systems, more production units than ever are migrating to the outstanding coverage, flexibility and security that two-way digital radio offers.
Exceptional audio quality even in noisy environments
KENWOOD radiocommunication devices benefit from JVCKENWOOD Group’s 60-years of experience in producing consumer audio and visual equipment (Trio, JVC and KENWOOD), renowned for exceptional sound quality.
This transfer of knowledge and experience has led to the development of several novel and innovative solutions which overcome the problem of cancelling ambient noise while improving the audio clarity of the transmitted voice in any operating environment.
| Ultimate noise cancellation: |
NX-5000 Series hand-portable radios achieve optimum noise cancellation using two integrated microphones. The primary microphone is situated closer to the desired source (front of the radio), while a second microphone in the radio's rear receives the ambient noise. In a noisy environment, both microphones receive noise at a similar level. However, the primary microphone receives the user's voice more strongly. The processor in the radio subtracts one noise source from the other so that most of the ambient noise is cancelled out, which effectively enhances the quality of the transmitted audio of the user's voice. |
| Active Noise Reduction: |
Both NX-5000 and NX-3000 Series radios feature Active Noise Reduction (ANR). ANR serves to cancel the noise component of the collected audio to improve the transmitted audio quality. Noise cancellation functions can be 'Custom' configured to adjust the vocoder, DSP, filters, specific noises etc., to suit the operating environment. |
| Selectable Audio profiles: |
The received audio will sound different depending on the usage environment of the radio, characteristics of the device (such as the microphone to be combined with the radio and external devices), and the tone of voice and manner of speaking of the speaker. The received audio will also sound different depending on the output method, such as using the radio speaker or earphone to hear the received audio. KENWOOD radios feature six customisable audio profiles which can be configured for specific scenarios and selected by the user to suit the operating environment. |
ADVANCED HEALTH & SAFETY AND LONE WORKER PROTECTION
All NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR digital two-way radio devices feature an Emergency Key. Emergency Call features as standard, while more advanced models additionally offer built-in or optional GPS modules, Lone Worker, Motion Detection, and compatibility with Location services, which can be programmed to deliver automated proximity triggered prompts. For example, when the crew enter a hazardous area requiring special safety clothing or checking a safety status with a member of the production management team, they are essential in a robust health and safety policy.
These advanced safety features offer an added layer of protection in support of emergency and first aid protocols with the ability to automatically send alerts and alarms to the production control unit and/or other radio users, for example:
| Priority Call: |
The Priority Call feature ensures the availability of a radio channel in the event of an emergency and allows a control centre to interrupt all existing calls on a channel. |
| Emergency Key: |
An alarm is triggered along with the sender's user ID and when the Emergency Key button is pressed. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user. |
| Lone Worker: |
An alarm is triggered along with the sender's user ID if a user does not respond to a status prompt within a specified time. |
| Man Down: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender if the radio is tilted beyond a pre-determined angle indicating that the user may have fallen or become incapacitated. Other programmable features include: - Stationary Detection: Emergency mode is triggered along with the user ID of the sender when the radio remains in a stationary position for a period exceeding a pre-set time, indicating that the user is unable to operate the transceiver, or it’s has been lost, mislaid etc. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user to a control centre using software such as KAS-10 and KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites. - Motion Detection: Emergency mode is triggered along with the user ID of the sender when the radio is vigorously shaken or swung for a period exceeding a pre-set time, indicating that the user is running to or from an incident. GPS equipped radios can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user to a control centre using software such as KAS-10 and KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites. |
| Location Services: |
NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR radios equipped with GPS can additionally be programmed to send location information to the control centre using software such as KAS-10 or KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites so that the user at risk can be located quickly and response times reduced. |
| Asset Tracking and Monitoring: |
With Trackuracy, KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems can be equipped with low-energy, real-time asset monitoring and tracking across single and multiple sites, indoors and out. Alerts, alarms delivered as audible tones, voice or data messages can be programmed to trigger automatically should the user stray off course or enter restricted areas. |
| Remote Monitor: |
Remote Monitor allows control centre staff to listen in to a radio through its microphone in situations where an alarm is activated, and the radio user is unable to respond. This provides Health, Safety and Security management with the intelligence to assess a situation in real-time and to quickly initiate an appropriate response. |
| Intrinsically Safe Radios: |
NEXEDGE NXDN ATEX/IECEx certified radios provide the solution for crew operating in explosive atmospheres or situations where hazardous airborne particles are present. |
SECURITY & PRIVACY
As more products are connected by IP and to networked information and automation systems, there is a growing risk of leakage and theft of personal and other information, fabrication or destruction of data, and hijacking of products. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of radiocommunication products and solutions, we take responsibility for ensuring the security integrity of our products and the data we hold on systems developed on behalf of our customers. Click for more information on JVCKENWOOD’s Group Privacy Policy.
Product Security
Secure encryption is an essential requirement in radiocommunications to provide security against eavesdropping, jamming and other malicious attacks on a radio system.
All KENWOOD digital radio devices are equipped with a voice scrambler feature as standard, while licenced NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR radios are further protected with more advanced encryption:
| PROTALK PMR446: |
Voice inversion scrambler |
| NX-1000 Series: |
Built-in digital scrambler as standard, optional upgrade to ARC4 Encryption for DMR |
| NX-3000 Series: |
Built-in digital scrambler as standard, optional 56-bit DES encryption and upgrade to 256-bit AES (NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR) and 40-bit ARC4 encryption for DMR |
| NX-5000 Series: |
Built-in digital scrambler and DES-56 bit (4 keys) as standard, optional hardware upgrade to 56-bit DES and support to 256-bit AES |
Information Security
The Communications Systems Business, Professional Systems Business and the Healthcare Business units of JVCKENWOOD Corporation are certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 international standards for information security management systems and JIS Q 27001:2014 Japanese industrial standards. Both of which specify standards for information security management systems and establish requirements and implementation of the framework to protect information assets.
SUSTAINABILITY
JVCKENWOOD Corporation is rolling-out ISO14001 certification as an integral part of our environmental management system. To date, it has obtained certification at all of its business centres and eleven affiliate companies in Japan and all of its production companies outside Japan. Please visit our corporate website for further information on our environmental and sustainability policies.
COST-EFFECTIVE MIGRATION FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL
The beauty of investing in a KENWOOD digital two-way radio solution means you can phase out your analogue equipment over time. All KENWOOD digital radio devices feature automatic analogue/digital Mixed Mode operation (which allows them to communicate automatically with any existing analogue radios, whatever the make), providing a predictable and cost-effective path to full digital implementation.
BUILT TOUGH FOR USE IN STUDIOS, FILM SETS AND ON LOCATION
As you would expect, all KENWOOD professional hand portable walkie talkies and mobile radios conform to MIL-STD-810 C/D/E/F/G for ruggedness and durability and are IP54/55/67 Water & Dust Intrusion rated, making them suited for use in any environment.
In addition, KENWOOD can offer ATEX IECEx devices for use in hazardous, explosive atmospheres.
EXPLORE KENWOOD SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BROADCAST OPERATION
KENWOOD systems deployments in broadcast production include TBS in Japan and Realise Film capturing the essence of a live gala event.
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Realise FilmRealise Film capture the essence of Centrepoint’s star-studded fundraising gala and awards event at Kensington Palace with a 9-camera set-up and live editing. |
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Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS)TBS launched a new VHF wireless communications system compliant with the ARIB STD-B54 standard; playing a key role at the heart of this system is JVCKENWOOD products. |
To discover more about the millions of Kenwood devices in use by countless customers in hundreds of applications around the world, including the innovative, multi-protocol NX-5000 Series (NXDN, DMR, P25 and FM Analogue), NX-3000 Series (NXDN, DMR and FM Analogue) and exceptional value offered by the entry-level NX-1000 Series hand portable walkie talkies and mobiles. Please click on the banners below.
For more information on KENWOOD digital system solutions including, DMR Tier 3 trunking and Simulcast, NXDN Type-C, Type-D and Gen2 trunking, click here.
If you’d like to learn more about our TRACKURACY, our real-time Bluetooth Low Energy asset tracking and monitoring solution, click here.
Alternatively, please post an enquiry to us or contact an authorised KENWOOD Communications reseller.
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