Tech Notes from the Field

All we hear about is remote this, remote that. This Covid-19 pandemic has really changed the way we look at life and how we adapt. Humans adapt. That is what we do, just like a virus. So, as I know I should be working on my next Audinate Dante post that I keep promising, I’ve been busy at work adapting. Remote control of…Everything!

We all in the broadcast world is working on some sort of remote access to everything. Our facility has been built with remote access in mind, at least for troubleshooting. I’ve had IP control of my transmitter sites for years using Burk Technology equipment. I’ve worked with Tieline Technology with codecs and using their new Cloud Codec Controller giving me remote access to codecs, like the Via, for support and fine tuning during live broadcasts. Now working with corporate IT and VPN access, we have proven that we can run a radio station with no one in the studio.

Today I put the pieces together and today was remotely connected to one of our stations through a VPN connection. I had full access and control of the automation playback workstation, WideOribit. I installed a remote console application on the workstation giving me full control of my SAS Rubicon console which includes a button panel to control the profanity delay. With another application, I showed I can control, answer, and put on air phone calls, including conferencing multiple calls on our AVT studio phone system. All this with codec control and mix minus. With these tools, a talent can run their show as if they were in the studio.

Innovation and working with awesome manufacturers like SAS has made this possible. Working out the nuances is always the fun and frustrating part, but the time and effort pays off. The next step is to work out the caller detail while screening calls and database access. I think this will fall into place as the rest has. This innovation and thinking will bring new ways to look at live remote broadcasts. The future will be interesting for sure, and I have been working and wanting this type of control from way back. This world situation has brought it to the forefront, and now we can make it a realization. Progress.