Big Brother is based at the Elstree Film and Television Studios complex, where Audio Village also supplies a number of other top shows. Barry Mizen and Vernon Cooper, directors of Audio Village, have been involved with the audio and PA systems for Big Brother since the second series at Elstree Film Studios and recently upgraded the PA for the outside area of the show.
The eviction arena is completely open-air and focuses on the second floor door, with its familiar Big Brother 'eye' logo, from where those evicted leave the house. A boardwalk leads from the door with steps down to a central podium and the arena floor where up to 800 spectators watch the evictions take place. At each corner of the arena is a scaffold watchtower and these provide for high-level camera and audio mixing positions. Loudspeaker positions are on and between the towers.
The system designed and installed by Audio Village was based around the Community WET Series ll model W2-2W8, as Vernon Cooper explained, "Our research led us to look at Community. We knew they had a good reputation for audio quality but I was still amazed when we tested the W2-2W8's - the sound quality is stunning and just six units provide the SPL required, with consistent coverage of the entire audience area of the site. They're efficient too, with two Lab.gruppen FP2200s providing all the power we need."
Cooper continues, "The sound from the PA will be picked up by the presenter mics, therefore a good flat response PA speaker is essential to avoid causing unwanted colouration on broadcast. For this reason I prefer to keep to 8" units or smaller for speech, and the Community's met this requirement."
As part of the complete audio solution provided by Audio Village for Big Brother, Gary Hastings and Martin Dineley are the PA system operators for all of the live eviction shows.
(Jim Evans)
