ReeceProductions

Still more moaning about radio mics...

2012-01-09T14:47:00.000Z

Looking for something else, I just found thisupdated page on JFMG website:

(the page says updated in August 2011, but thebottom table is defiantly new!)

http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/equip/Radiomics/dtv.htm

From what I can see, the only guaranteed spectrumto work is CH38 and CH70 after the completion of DSO.

Try as I have, I can’t see how you can use anymore than 8 or perhaps 10 systems interference free in CH38 (606-614). Fouris the maximum in CH70(863-865).

Everything else may or will be covered indigital broadcasts that will certainly make outdoor use very difficult, and theinterleaved spectrum we will have to pay separately for on a short-term licensebasis.

Finally let me quote JFMG:

“This means that coordinated, exclusive use licensesare no longer be available in Channel 38. Existing licensees will need toconvert to the new license and accept an increased risk of interference or moveto 'interleaved' spectrum.”

Accept an increased risk of interference, orphone and pay a second fee EVERY-TIME you want to use them?

Thanks a lot. I’ll let clients know that. Infact, I may have to write that on all our radio packs…

So, how can we buy anything new, as they seemto be suggesting they can just move us again without much notice, and this timethey are unlikely to want to pay for the old kit that has to be binned?

RP become Social...

2011-10-12T17:14:00.001+01:00

Well, we are very socialble here at Reece Productions, so we're now to be found on face book and twitter!
facebook.com/reeceproductions
twitter.com/#!/ReecePro

Oh, and we've always been on YouTube:
youtube.com/user/reecepro

Book titles

2011-08-24T13:53:00.004+01:00

Thoughts from a walk with Gary, we came up with:

Electrician's autobiography - Arcing for trouble
Canoeist's autobiography - Weir we go again

Doesnt seem as funny wrote down as when we were wondering along the canal (under some arcing power lines so you can see both connections). Oh well, i'm posting it anyway :-)

How many channels have you got?

2011-08-15T17:00:00.007+01:00

As everyone should be aware (and shame on those industry types who don't), next year see's the final stages of DSO (Digital Switchover) in the UK. For our industry this means the loss of the radio frequency that we use our radio microphones on - CH69, and a move to CH38.

First, let me just clarify a couple of points about the current (pre-DSO) use of radios...

JFMG are the people in charge of the radio use for PSME (Programme Making and Special Events).
The current PMSE standard license is for 13 spot frequencies between 854.900MHz and 861.750MHz.
ALL USERS SHARE THIS SPACE - WITHOUT PRIORITY. So, if you have four frequencies at a conference, and another meeting next door has the same, it is up to the two sound-blokes to negotiate who's going to use what. Of course, if the bloke next door hasn't bothered to get a license, you can tell him to sod off, and if you're really mean, report him...

'I just need some space, OK?'
Users needing more space can license, with JFMG, other frequencies for a minimum of 48hrs in frequencies lower than this, as long as you know where you are going to be in the UK. For most of the TV band this is £8.50 per frequency.

'I'm cheap...'
Finally, there is also a bit of spectrum called CH70 which is completely de-regulated. Anyone can use it for anything. ANYTHING. That's 863 to 865MHz. Again A N Y T H I N G!

So what does all this mean to the guy with the mic? Well, in the real world, most small conferences use 8 to 12 wireless microphones. Which, interference-free, would pretty much fit somewhere in the CH69 with a little help from CH70 (if you must) and very very occasionally a bit of the top of CH68. Not too bad if you're the only conference in the building, and you're not in central London.

Now, I think at this point I should point out a couple points about the radio microphone equipment we use. The units are not made to only work on the frequencies that are listed in CH69 ('cause you might want to get a license for some of that other spectrum?), and finding your frequencies can sometimes be a bit of a black-art. If you want to bore yourself to death about inter-modulation, do so here: http://broadcastengineering.com/newsrooms/broadcasting_wireless_microphones_frequency/

OK. So, what next?

Well, as I said, we're all moving down to CH38, and users with a license from JFMG have automatically had CH38 added to their license (606.100 to 613.900), and from next year these will be the only frequency you can use, without an additional license.
EXCEPT - CH70, which will remain de-regulated and free to use for ANYTHING. (Why do I keep putting anything in capitals? Well, it's worth reminding ourselves that this means anything by anyone, and not just radio mic users. Kids toys, 'walkie-talkies', remote control cars - although these are usually down in VHF - you can use mics down there too if you like...)

So, back to the point. How many channels can you get in CH38?
Well, now it gets tricky. Shure say 10 (if you push for an answer), MIPRO say eight, Sennheiser won't say! However, all of them are selling systems with tag lines claiming 16+ channels inter-mod free.
Let's take MIPRO. We love them, and we use them. We also sell them, do give us a call.
They can squeeze eight channels inter-modulation free in to CH38.
They also have a standard plot for 16 channels, split across two bands with different transmitters (soon there will be a single wide-band version). Anyway, to achieve these 16 channels, you really need to head up as far as at least 640.500MHz - well into CH42. So you're going to need to get a least eight temporary licenses (as above from JFMG) for the additional bandwidth. And that is EVERY TIME you use them. Hire rates for radios is going to go up a bit, no?

'There's just one thing that bothers me...'
We've already talked about getting licenses for extra frequencies, both pre and post DSO. But what does this really really mean to the user? Well at the moment your more than likely sharing those frequencies with analogue TV. This has always been the case, and radio mics have generally always worked. Great. However, the frequencies above we have looked at for extending our new CH38 system, isn't going to be analogue TV from DSO, that's sort of the point of DSO! So, will those little 10-50mW packs stand up to a big fat band-efficient digital TV broadcast full of 0's & 1's? Who knows? I would say, that in the real world, the black art of radio-plotting will become a whole load harder. (Take a look at the the article I mentioned above, and look at fig.3)

'Is that a light at the end of the tunnel?'
I think there is. The phrase, if you can't beat them - join them springs to mind. And in that vein, RP is looking into going Digital. No coincidence that MIPRO has a rather tasty and well-proven Digital Radio Microphone system up and running and ready for use in the UK.

You might ask 'what bloody frequencies do they use then?'. Simple, the same as that nasty digital TV I'm so scared of. BUT, because the radio's are also using a digital signal, we've negated all the possible problems of inter-mod. Yes, you will ALWAYS have to buy spot frequencies, but you'll also know that they will work. And, it's a premium product, full of features such as 128 encryption (meaning no-one with a cheap receiver can 'listen-in' to your mics.).

This sound engineer likes the sound of knowing he hasn't to worry about spending his gigs worrying about dropouts...

Finally.
Although the 'science' works anywhere the frequencies don't. Many European Countries don't have a JFMG to manage spectrum. In Ireland you just have to find a frequency that works. In others, you have to share with the Military, and can get in to a heap of trouble if you use their space without permission.

Oh, and give it five years and it'll be all change again...

DISCLAIMER.
Right, usual stuff, this is much opinion, I'm not a scientist, just a sound-man in the real world.
Don't take my word for it, look around the internet and forums.
Stay legal. I suspect that there will be much much more 'Radio Police' about in the future, and you don't want to have to explain to your client why you can't use the radio microphones.

Silverstone Classic

2011-07-25T14:47:00.003+01:00

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

I had such a good day on Saturday. The lovely people at AC Entertainment took me and my girlfriend Ellen to Silverstone on Saturday. Phill Capstick was a great host, the hospitality at the BRDC was brilliant, and seeing 700, yes 700! E type Jags on the circuit at the same time was just stunning! A great days racing, a super lunch and finished off by watching 10cc made for a most enjoyable day.

Thanks again to Phill and Jono at AC for making this possible!

Headlights, or not!

2010-12-10T16:43:00.002Z

Having done an inordinate amount of miles in the last couple of weeks in this bad weather I have one major gripe.
It's snowing, or foggy, or dark, or all of these. You get the picture, poor visibility. So PUT ON THE F~~***#G HEADLIGHTS! people. Young and old, cars, vans and trucks, all guilty. What with dirty windows and mirrors how can you be expected to see some twat overtaking you without his/her lights on. It costs nothing but could save an awful lot of grief.
There, rant over.

Labs, Leds, Watches & Flying Carpets...

2010-11-21T19:35:00.003Z

Sorry for the hiatus here, but, as I seem to always be saying, it has been monumentally busy at RP.

We've been busy with events, and equally busy buying new toys to use on them. Starting off with DT Video Labs Playback Pro system, which I made a nod to last time. Essentially it is a video playback system (you might have guessed that), designed by some like minded event technicians in the US specifically for our industry. Videos are the corner stone of presentations, be it a 'walk-in' loop, and video a presenter found on youtube, or 'talking head' style client interviews. Playbackpro is designed specifically for OSX, and provides a rock solid playback system or all sorts of formats, with the ability to seamlessly loop, set 'in' and 'out' points, fade times et al. We had Apple build us a big fat MacPro (Quad core, 6GB RAM, 500GB SSD, 1TB HD, 1GB graphics card - for you techies), and performance is blistering - thank you Mr Gage for the HD Stanley Kubrick test files...

Also new in stock are 80 Robe Force7 LED fixtures. We picked these at PLASA show, whilst looking for LED up-lighters for a project for the guys at White Space Productions. We were most impressed by the light output of the fixture - similar to a PAR56 300w - with physical dimensions similar to a PAR38, whilst only consuming 29 watts!
The power consumption was the reason for finding them in the first place, as WSP had asked us to install some 80 up-lighters for a week-long watch exhibition at One Marylebone, London. At first look, just the power consumption of 300w pars would be too much for the venues ring mains, plus the saturated colours the client had asked for would burn through gel quite quickly.
The LED's were the perfect solution.

So, when the team at One Marylebone asked WSP to stay on another week to assist with a 'Flying Carpet' exhibtion by the ambassador of Azerbaijan, and a book launch by the Princess of Azerbaijan, the LED's stayed on too. Again, they helped to provide saturated colours to create a 'market' feel in the exhibition, without the heat and possible fire risk of using conventional fixtures near (or sometime against) priceless antique carpets!

More to follow!

James.

We've not all been on holiday...

2010-09-07T09:31:00.003+01:00

...but holidays do explain the gap in the RP blog.
However, we've certainly not been idle this summer. We're used to a quiet time over the summer months as corporate events and conferencing often slows down (well, there's no point having a conference if half your staff are on vacation...), but actually, August was one of the busiest we've seen. Much of this is down to a push by RP into sales & installation sectors. We've just completed an AV install for Richard Atkins Primary School in Clapham, which although very successful, has been a steep learning curve as it is the first time our team have worked on an install in a building that wasn't actually finished...
In a similar vane, we've also completed a bunch of much-overdue upgrades to Charter Hall's technical gallery. We've installed a new lighting desk in the form of the LSC maXim console, providing future control of intelligent fixtures and LED based technology. A new digital audio console from Yamaha plus Kv2 Audio ES1.8 sub-bass units make the in-house PA system a realistic alternative to promoters bringing in lots of additional equipment.
Along with the above, and a few extras (new stage weights, haze machine...), we've added a TVone 3 channel processor to the video system, enabling greater use of the in house projection (which RP installed last year), and offering the potential to run 'coming up...' advertising for the venue preceding events.

Oh, and you may remember a hint at some exciting news in my last post.
Well, two new things at RP...

reecemedia.co.uk is now our brand for web design, video and media based projects. We decided that by separating these activities from our event based work, we could better serve our clients that know us for this, whilst introducing new clients to this side of the business. It's still us!

On the rental side, we have a new video playback system in the final stages of testing, which we hope to roll out for this seasons Awards Events. Based on Apple Mac platform and developed in America specifically for event video playback, we hope this new system, packaged up with the best hardware by us, will solve a great number of video problems. Available to hire soon...

But don't think that's it, we're always evolving, we're always looking out to see how we can do better, so continue to watch this space...

The Cloud

2010-07-17T16:32:00.003+01:00

And so in the last month RP has moved into The Cloud.

To be precise, we have moved to Google Business Apps, which means we get many of the features of an Exchange server without having to host our own server. This also has the additional benefits of meaning that as our email, contacts and calendars are now with Google if we have a computer fail in the office, our data is all intact.

Next step, Google Docs - can we really start living without Microsoft?

The summer is time for RP to take some holidays, and work on some projects in the office.

We will be making some exciting announcements with some new systems and products in time for the autumn, stay tuned!

Enjoy the sun!

Bruce, Oliver, Haircuts and Balls.

2010-06-13T18:20:00.003+01:00

And another busy couple of weeks for Reece Productions...

Over the May bank holiday weekend I joined Richard Bowden from Penguins, to mix audio for the second time for songwriter & producer Rick Knowles' charity event at Home House, London.

The line-up to entertain the 85 select guests this time around included Mel C and Jack Bruce. Yes, the Jack Bruce. And yes, he still is very Rock n Roll.

Next up in June, we provided the production to the J&E Training awards at the Towngate Theatre, Basildon. This event consists of 9 hair collections preceding the awards ceremony, which are part fashion show and part dance show making for a high energy event. This year we decided to utilise a HippoCriter media server to put logo's and visuals onto four screens placed around the catwalk. The effect worked well, adding texture to the stage lighting, showing well the convergence of lighting and video. The Hippo was all run by Wiz on our Chamsys MagicQ console.

A day later finds myself and Gary and young Ben in the Hospital Club London, providing a new format to White Space Productions, for the Launch of 'Jamie Oliver's Home Cooking Skills BTEC'. (more info here). We supplied the AV system for the event, which was a great success for both Edexcel and WS Productions, with a further six regional events rolling during June. The event was also filmed for a DVD that will accompany the course.

To round off that particular week, and whilst Wiz was busy on site for KI at the Essex University Summer Ball, I found myself on a job for Penguins again. EA sports had decided the help launch the new Fifa 2010 World Cup game by having us Brits kick footballs to America from Leicester Square. Entitled 'Balls to the Yanks!' the idea was to twitter a post that was then printed on to a ball and shot at a crowd in the US, their reciprocal posts were printed over here and shot into a busy Friday evening in the square. With a tight time scale to plan the event, and pressures from Westminster Council in regard to event times, Adam Glover and Max Jelfs at Penguins did a great job.

James

The first month is done.....

2010-04-30T14:09:00.003+01:00

Well I've just completed my first month as a full time employee of Reece Productions, and so thought it would be a good reason to get someone other than James on a post.

The first week was relatively quiet, I would say giving me time to settle in but having worked with everyone so much in the past there was no need for that, straight down to business!
Week 2 saw the start of an installation for a good friend of ours, Ray Cornish, Landlord of The Warwick in Maldon. A complete refit of his AV install was in need, I won't bore you all with the details but it was pretty much the first pub install James, and to an extent Gary, had really taken part in, so was a good learning curve for all involved, pubs are never as easy as a nice clean venue! James tried to continue his ongoing argument with me, in that he believes sticky back conduit is better but I think I might be slowly winning the battle, having had a few bits not quite stick where they were supposed to! But thankfully the majority of it was non sticky, but this caused the problem of arming Gary with an SDS drill, quite a scary sight! The project has gone well, Ray is very happy with his ever-growing collection of screens and flexible audio system, James and Gary realise why I take so many tools and fixing kits to installs, and we've now got a nice pub installation under our belts to show further clients.

The rest of April saw a lot of jobs being quoted and sorted, along with sourcing some new suppliers, including a shipping account with UPS to enable RP to easily ship it's growing pro-av sales, and a new supplier for plasma and laptop hire. There was also some more popup's for WS allowing me a couple of days in Manchester & Newcastle.

May looks like it will be a different story, with only 3 days currently free from site to be in the office until the 24th, at which point I'll be heavily involved in the production management of the Essex University Summer Ball for KI, which is happening in early June.

So overall it’s been a good month at RP, with many busy months ahead. The future is looking very positive.

Chris (Wiz).

Busy-ness

2010-04-06T08:06:00.002+01:00

It has been quite a start to the year for RP. Five weeks of European Roadshows for our friends at HW, lots of 'Popups' for WS, and two new staff in the office...

So, welcome to Shona Murdoch who joined us part time in February as office admin (yes, finally I admit I need help!), and from today Chris Wisbey (Wiz) joins us full-time as Technical Project Manager to look after Charter Hall and keep us up-to-date with the latest toys, whilst adding a lampie to our skills set. Chris has been a freelancer and key part of our work for many years, it is great to have him on board in this new role, which can only make our little company stronger.

The Roadshow went rather well, taking us to Barcelona, Berlin (via Amsterdam and a French ATC strike), Poland (by train from Berlin, which really was a lot of fun), Reading and ending in Abu Dhabi. Oh, that was all after Cannes trip in my last post, which incidentally, we managed to get stuck in for an extra day when Nice airport closed due SNOW. Apparently that only happens in the Riviera once every 10 years or so, so I must just be lucky! I must say the Carlton Hotel was very accommodating...

It also seems to be the end of another Financial Year here at RP (how does it go so quick?), so this week is full of accounts, reviews and forecasting. Early results show us growing the business this year by a whopping great 63% compared to FY08/09, but we are forecasting a more modest growth of 23% this year. Let's all see shall we?

Oh, and finally, I'm off to Monaco next so I'll let you know if we have any snow this time...

James

we nearly did, but now we are glad we didn't...

2010-02-03T09:23:00.001Z

...move over to channel 38, just yet anyway.

In January, JFMG, the organisation for managing the radio channels for PSME use sent us all an e-mail letting us know that channel has been added to our license, and that, in most areas, we can start using it.

Except in Cambridge, where I am now... Radio Astronomy (which they have a lot of in Cambridge) is busy probing the depths of space on channel 38, so I could of accidently shown up as ET on someone's latest work.

Anyway, this event in Cambridge (once again with our Penguin friends), is, in this directors diary anyway, sandwiched by some more foreign crusades for Hart Wilcox. Last week you could of found myself with lots of our lovely Kv2 EX series speakers in Budapest (at -14 deg c), and this weekend myself, and the same kit, will be turning up in Cannes (at +12 deg c).

Then, after a short rest, it's Barcelona, Warsaw, Berlin, and Abu Dhabi. Proving I think that, at least for Motorola, times are not too hard, or at least if they are, they recognise the importance of visiting their regional teams and communicating one-to-one...

Obviously, for us a RP, and my air-miles card, this is another great start to the year alongside the continuing success of the Edexcel 'Popup' events, of which we already have 40 booked, and certainly more in the pipe-line. Thank you White Space for that one...

James

Welcome to our Blog.

2010-01-15T16:46:00.000Z

And, hello from me, James Reece-Ford. I'm the founder and director of Reece Productions.
I'm hoping the other boys will join me here with their thoughts, both of life at RP and the industry at large, although, if you already know us you will also know that Gary will probably have some ramblings about rambling in t'north.

So I sit here, happily at home thanks to 'Poets Day', recovering from the first corporate party of the year, thanks to Penguin Events. When a well-know and large-scale wine merchant has their new years party, you can imagine they like a drink, and they need a party to equal. Penguins always achieve that, and it has been a pleasure for us at RP provide audio know-how for the last 7 or so years. I, in my element might I add, was on monitor duties last night for two great bands, the Empire State Band and the Bogus Brothers. Both put on an excellent show. I have to admit, however, it wasn't the easiest mix I have done, a few more high up squeaks than I would usually allow, but, having dragged Matt Manasse down from the balcony to have a shout through the wedges with me, we decided it was just 'as loud as it's going to get'. Sometimes, it's just like that... but I have been looking longingly at at OM7 radio mic kits today; now there is a radio with "ultimate gain before feedback"!

To be honest, the whole gig was a bit of a shock to the system, because of the rather inclement weather we have been suffering in the UK lately, I left at 6:15am and didn't get home till 5am (although I will confess to the little sleep I had in the layby on the A12 - I know Wiz saw me there...). Been a while since I had one of those, but great to be back where I feel at home behind a mixer.

And so the years begins...

James