VME supplied the comms system used on the Sky Sports coverage for the Zurich Premiership, the Heineken Cup and the Parker Pen Cup and the BBC coverage of the RBS 6 Nations. Unknown to most, mics on the referee and other match officials provide the commentary team with more 'inside information' on decisions made during the game, and enable the referee and officials to communicate with each other. The system consists of four Sennheiser SK50 radio belt-packs, for the referee, touchline judges, 4th match official in the dugout and a 4-wire communication link from the 3rd match official in the TV outside broadcast truck, all mixed on a Rane 1U digital mixer. The mix, minus the 3rd match official, is then sent by a Sennheiser IEM transmitter to the receiver belt packs for all of the above so that each of them, and the commentary team, can hear everything being said. The Rane mixer has digital dynamics built in with processing for all i/p and o/p signals. Generally microphones used are Sennheiser MKE Platinum.
VME also provide all of the radio mic channels for Top Gear. Kit consisted of six Sennheiser SK50 belt packs with Sennheiser MKE Platinum mics, one Sennheiser SKM 5000 hand held radio mic, a VME3000 Triax system with active antenna paddles and switchable remote Triax aerials and built-in distribution for receivers, all in a 2U base, enabling the external test track to be covered, if necessary from the same receiver rack without re-locating it.
In addition VME supplied Kling & Freitag CA106 loudspeaker for in-fill, allowing the audience to hear the presenters in the studio. The CA 106's are powered by Lab.gruppen iP450 amplifiers, zoned and controlled from the TV truck mix position. Four Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mics mounted on tall stands provide audience reaction and effects.
VME has a long term hire contract with the TV show Question Time for which it supplies six Sennheiser ME 36 mini-shotgun condenser microphones with 1304 set tubes. VME also provide an Apex Intelli-Q real-time digital dynamic processor, to give maximum help with the sound reinforcement and TV broadcast for the location studios, often sports or multi-purpose halls with temporary seating and poor acoustics. Questions coming from the floor are covered by four fish-poles with Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun microphones, Dimbleby is also fitted with a Sennheiser SK 50 radio microphone.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
