www.tvtechnology.com/04-08-15 TV TECHNOLOGY April 8, 2015 21 TK

Comrex’s Future Takes Shape With IP Company’s NAB booth to feature updated LiveShot, BRIC-Link II

BY SUSAN ASHWORTH productions for ,” he said. “Over the last several decades we’ve been in LAS VEGAS—Building on its experience the space but we’ve had so many of in remote technology, our radio customers move on to TV [and Comrex will come to the 2015 NAB Show adopted] our audio-over-IP codec, so we with IP on its mind, showcasing technology had a lot of requests to make something that the company sees as the future of live as portable and compact as our audio broadcasting. products but for television.” Comrex will introduce the newest What’s especially compelling about this version of LiveShot, a system that allows segment of the market, he said, is that there broadcasters to tackle remote broadcast are people “who are doing really creative setups that would be tough with and unique broadcasts with our products traditional wired configurations. Using because [they] offer two-way video and Comrex ACCESS audio IP codecs, LiveShot return video to the field and intercom in a sends live HD video and audio over IP. The small little package.” system addresses technical inconsistencies For example, at a recent air show in in public locales and provides Wisconsin, two wireless Comrex devices access to low-latency broadcast-quality were used by a local broadcaster for their live video streaming, including , , and multicamera fieldwork. “And they were satellite-based links. one mile away from the truck but still “The newest version of Live Shot Video getting comments from the director well IP offers tighter integration An Italian ENG crew with Euro Group Line Production in Rome, sets up their Comrex LiveShot for a live shot outside of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. with our Switchboard Transversal Server and customer requests like this is what led the will show off the ACCESS Stereo BRIC, an easy connections to company to introduce the newest version IP audio codec for remote situations that other codecs using our of its BRIC-Link II, which offers GigE offers two USB ports and support for 4G Switchboard server,” said support, native XLR connection capability wireless cellular data service. Chris Crump, director of as well as the ability to move linear or For audio-to-IP conversion in remote sales and marketing for compressed audio with a low delay over broadcast settings, Comrex will show the the Devens, Mass.-based a wide range of IP links. Future updates BRIC-Link, which provides a means for company. At its NAB Show booth, Comrex will demonstrate the latest features include the ability to run on multiple moving linear or compressed audio with The portable system to its BRIC-Link II, which offers GigE support and native XLR networks for added stream stability. low delay and can be used over a wide offers a full-duplex cue connection capability. The company will also show off range of IP links. channel and is designed to integrate with outside of the [traditional] range,” Crump management systems like the STAC VIP, Of all the options that Comrex plans existing camera equipment weighing less said. “That was cool to be able to do,” he a voice-over-IP (VoIP) call management to show at the upcoming NAB Show, than three pounds. said. system that addresses on-air call Crump said the company’s goal “is to coordination. Available in either six or continue to improve and mature [our AUDIO-OVER-IP EXPERTS NEW CONVERSION AND 12-line configurations, STAC VIP makes it technologies]. We’re constantly making Crump elaborated on how the company MANAGEMENT PDOCUTS possible to conduct browser-based calls new improvements, making the systems has evolved from broadcast audio to One big selling point for Comrex is the and send low-delay, studio-quality audio in more usable.” expanding its TV business. “We’ve been need to eliminate extra equipment when two directions. Comrex will be in Booth C2627 in the making projects since 1961, mainly audio broadcasters are in the field. Listening to For remote broadcasts, the company Central Hall of the LVCC.