GMTV's sound supervisor Nigel Gates specified the Trantec systems, which comprised the S6000, S4000 and the S3500, basing his choice on the sonic quality and reliability in a pressured live broadcast environment. Playing the starring role, the S6000 was used specifically for the wedding group itself. Apart form the stressful nature of working on a live broadcast, the location in Rhodes presented a number of challenges including soaring August temperatures and an exceptionally hostile RF environment.
As the wedding group was dressed for the occasion in 'summery' designer outfits, the S6000's miniature transmitter proved invaluable, both practically and aesthetically. Compact and lightweight, it was discreetly hidden in the group's undergarments helping provide the perfect solution, previously unavailable with bulky belt-pack alternatives.
Using the S6000's Spectrum Analyser and its frequency scanning software - both standard features on the S6000 RX receiver - the production team was able to locate sufficient spots in the frequency band, to enable the use of 14 radio mics, which were free from RF interference, somewhere in the S6000's 72 MHz RF window. Being able to analyse the RF environment prior to going live and having the ability to re-tune the receivers and transmitters over such a large frequency band made the situation far more controllable.
The S6000 enables easy programming of all the receiver modules with the help of its inbuilt computer, making retuning to a different frequency as simple as a click of the mouse. The transmitters can be re-aligned simply by downloading the frequency file to a PALM PDA and transferring the unit's profile to the required transmitters.
Gates commented: "I've worked with Trantec systems for many years and I'd been aware of the S6000 from its inception at Trantec's HQ. Wanting to put the system through its paces, 'Interactive Wedding' was the perfect opportunity. With time against us and working in a horrifically demanding environment, where available interference-free RF channels are nearly impossible to locate, the S6000 proved invaluable. It performed fantastically and I would recommend it as a robust and practical tool."
The design and manufacture of the S6000 underlines Trantec's commitment to creating radio products that continue to push boundaries and provide audio solutions for the most challenging contemporary applications - making Trantec synonymous with quality and innovation.
(Lee Baldock)
