Televising The Revolution

A READER ASKS

I create television graphics for broadcast. I typically save my files for use in the JPEG format (.JPG). My question is how stable are digital formats like .JPG. Can we ever expect obsolescence of these seemingly ubiquitous files?

It is always suggested that one maintain a cautious posture when it comes to formats. There are really no guarantees. You can print a photograph from a negative that is over 100 years old but some computer files created a few short years ago cannot be processed on today’s computer systems.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Consider what happened to the Sony BetaMax® video format. The general thought was that there would always be a machine on which to playback the tapes produced in this format. How many home movies were made by early video users only to have them sit on a shelf with nothing available to play them? Conversions are possible but the companies that do them are few and far between and the cost is high. VHS® could be destined for the same end now that DVDs are all the rage. There is a possibility that DVDs will be replaced in the next 10 years. HD DVD® and Blu-Ray® are already beginning to edge them out.

Considering software applications: If you had Native files created in an early version of a illustration application that let’s say ran on DOS or the Windows® 3.1 operating system, the Native files from that version may not open in today’s operating systems. Some early JPEG files might be incompatible too.

Many applications and operating systems have become obsolete over the years. Unless you have the original software, opening files created in these obsolete packages today might be a challenge or even impossible. How about 8” and 5” floppy discs? If you have files on those formats you are out of luck also. Time marches on, formats and applications change.

ANTICIPATE

 The best rule of thumb to follow is to watch the formats, anticipate obsolescence and do conversions as required to keep your files up to date. Do not fall victim to changes. To ignore this simple fact one puts their files at risk. -33-

Wireless microphone systems seem to be everywhere today. The spectrum is getting crowded and with the application of digital television and a plethora of other wireless gizmos frequency availability is at a premium. Knowing how to set up and use these systems is important to getting the best performance and to stay within regulations.

1. Always use fresh batteries. Make sure batteries are installed properly matching the positive - negative prongs. Improper installation could result in shorting out the electronics, fire or in some cases the battery could explode. Make sure battery terminals are touching the battery tightly and that the battery is tightly secured in the battery holder to avoid power drop and shortage. When using more than one battery in a pack replace all batteries at the same time. Never use a fresh battery with a used battery. Avoid using rechargeable batteries unless the manufacturer designs them for use with the units.
2. Place your receivers properly. For best reception keep receiver in a high, open area and within line-of-site of the transmitter if possible. Avoid areas with liquids, cables lines, steel or metal structure, neon lights, satellite receivers, scanners, other audio lines and cell phones that might interfere with your reception. 
3. Optimize reception. To avoid drop out, expand the antennas as wide and far as they go. Stay within your transceiver’s recommended reception range whenever possible. Although a range test is a good suggestion before use, be aware that the system response changes with the environment and as areas fill with people and objects.
4. Don’t pop your P’s. To avoid outside noise and vocals pops use a windscreen. For best results, a windscreen is always recommended for a headset microphone
5. Place microphones properly. For best vocal response, keep the talent’s mouth 4-6 inches away from handheld microphone Headset microphones should be placed directly in front on the mouth within 1-3 inches. A lavaliere microphone should be placed at heart level or at 10-12 inches down from the chin. Suggest that talent wear clothing that dampens noise such as cotton and wool, avoiding noisy material such as leather, metals, satin, silk and polyester blends. 
6. Handling the microphones. Avoid dropping the microphone, touching the microphone with wet hands, or blowing into the microphone to see if it is on. Place the microphone on your talent to avoid sweat clogging the element. When wearing a lavaliere microphone avoid contact with the chest to cut down on unwanted sounds.
7. Don’t bang heads. Make sure your transmitter and receiver are using matching frequencies. Be aware that others may be working with wireless in proximity to yours, which may cause frequency disturbance and drop out. To solve this problem utilize a frequency agile system or a wired microphone If you don’t have a back up and others are using the same frequency in the area, keep the transmitter close to your receiver to limit problems and shut off the transmitter when not in use. 
8. Avoid the sonic boom. When using wireless, as with any other audio products, make sure the unit is turned off and volume is down before inserting wires. Make sure volume is turned down before speaking or playing through the unit. 
9. Hold the howl. Avoid subjecting the microphone to feedback by walking in front of speakers, placing the microphone on the floor or near power supplies or amps while the microphone is on. 
10. Adjustments. Squelch adjustment can be used to help boost reception and frequency response.

-33-

A Reader Asks:

Do I need my new flat panel television calibrated in my home? I’m told this is something that should be done with new sets, but I have to tell you so far the picture seems pretty good.  In your opinion is this something that should be done with these new sets…?

Excellent question! If you feel a calibration is right for you. That is exactly what you should have done. As for my opinion: If you are satisfied and happy with the image and sonic performance of your new TV I wouldn’t change it.

The “need” sometime comes from some retailers who not only want to sell service contracts and expensive, high tech cabling that has the same performance as good quality, standard cabling costing much less, they also want you to consider having them come out and set up your new purchase in your home to “customize it for your personal viewing and listening space.” There is usually a fee attached to this service call.

SELLING ON THE NEW CAR SMELL

This “gotta have it” sales pitch is much the same when buying a new car as it is when buying a top of the line “Uber-Television.” Most vehicles today offer a nice “standard” package with many creature comforts. The dealer makes some profit on the cars but the aftermarket “dealer installed” items like undercoating and rust proofing are their big money makers.

The car leaves the factory with a warranty. In 5-, 10-, or 15-years when you trade your care in for a new car, aftermarket rust proofing won’t make any difference in value and you likely would have gotten the same performance if you did not choose the dealer installed option. Did you need it? Probably not but the dealer made you think you did and made a hansom profit to boot.

From the tens of thousands of LCD, DLP, CRT and Plasma televisions seen in professional dealings with clients, it has been observed that a consumer level set comes out of the box ready to roll.

RESET THE DEFAULTS

There is one recommendation that I do like to offer–Go into your setups and change from the brightest most vivid setting to another setup that pleases you. Do not change anything else but that setting and live with the set for about a week or two before you decide you need to change it back or have it calibrated. TVs leave the factory defaulted to pumped color and contrast because the factory wants it to look its best if it should be put in the bright lights of a store showroom display. Another reason for moving the set from the brightest setting is it will prolong the life of the unit’s internal lamp.  

WHEN IS A FULL CALIBRATION REASONABLE?

The only calibrations that I normally recommend are in critical production applications where a wall of television monitors in a television control room need to be critically color matched. Other areas are in hospitals and operating rooms, photographic applications and graphics workstations where critical technical color observation is required for a medical/surgical diagnosis, printing application or digital photographic processing. Corporate displays usually need critical color matching too. Corporations are very fussy about proper reproduction of their corporate identity, including color. -33-  

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) took the wraps off a 30 second spot to inform the public of the February 17, 2009 advance to all digital television transmissions. Here is a link to the spot on dtvanswers.com. The spot is said to promote consumer awareness of the digital transition. Presented below is a transcript of the spot.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

“Notice how digital’s made pretty much everything better?

Especially television.

Digital TV’s got
Better picture
better sound
more channels—

In fact, digital’s so much better that, by law, ALL broadcast TV has to be digital by 2009

But there’s a catch:

Some TV’s need an upgrade to get digital. You could even lose your signal.

Get the facts.

Visit DTVAnswers.com to learn about television’s switch to digital.

Or call this number to see how you can stay connected”

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

The question is, does this spot arm consumers with the information they need to help them “go digital?” It says little about what action to take. It offers a link to a website for more information but how about those who do not have web access or do not own or know how to operate a computer?

To avoid chaos, confusion and to make it as stress free as possible all facts pertaining to the digital cut-over need to be presented in a very simple, concise manner. Consumers need to be clearly informed that on February 17, 2009 and for some time following there is going to be a very difficult period to cope with if they want to watch over-the-air TV.

Will consumers be ready? Will the over-the-air television viewing public possess the information needed to be able to watch TV on February 18?  Does this spot address these questions? 

For more information see the related stories, A Requiem For Analog TV from September 4, 2007 and Spreading The Word from September 7, 2007 elsewhere in the Televising The Revolution blog.                                         -33-

Putting additional capacity into a power grid is not an unusual move for a power company. Events such as hot and humid summer days often call for the boost to prevent power brownouts and outages, but a television show?

Turn up the juice was the order of the day and power officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil were expected to do just that on Friday, September 28 during the airing of the season finale of a soap opera.

The final episode of “Tropical Paradise” had the power folks scrambling for the switches to crank up the energy as an estimated 90% of the country’s population was expected to view the popular show. The power grid had a surge of new life in anticipation for great demand of those who would go to the fridge to get a drink or snack or want to use a microwave to prep a meal.

Prime-time soap operas known as telenovelas, with average runs of 200 episodes, are a major event in Brazil. Their plot lines often show up as front-page news and the show’s characters are major topics of conversation.     -33-