Unit 10 Returns To Megahertz For Final HD Upgrade

Following the announcement of their successful bid to construct two new HD production vehicles for SIS Outside Broadcasts, formerly BBC Outside Broadcasts, earlier this year, Cambridgeshire-based independent systems integrator Megahertz has announced that HD upgrade work has just been completed on another of SIS's extensive fleet of production vehicles.
The SIS OB fleet will see heavy use on sporting events over the next few months including the tennis championships at Wimbledon. The SIS OB team have been in planning for this important period for some time, to ensure that as many fully HD capable vehicles can be deployed over Summer 2008 as possible.
Unit 10, a 14-metre production trailer, was originally designed and built by Megahertz for BBC Outside Broadcasts in early 2002 as an SD vehicle. Megahertz subsequently upgraded the vehicle to handle HD video in 2006, but the audio systems were left untouched. Now the final part of the trailer's HD upgrade has been completed by replacing the analogue audio cable throughout with balanced and unbalanced AES digital audio cabling, digitising the audio interfacing in the VT area, and installing Dolby processors and Dynaudio 5.1 BM5A and BM6A audio monitors so that a Dolby E-encoded 5.1 audio signal can be properly monitored. Most significantly, the old Calrec S2 analogue sound mixer has been replaced with an HD 5.1 surround-sound-capable Sigma digital console with BlueFin processing.
As well as supplying and installing all of the new equipment in the sound gallery, Megahertz are also manufacturing the requisite custom furniture - equipment racks and a bespoke control desk to accommodate the Calrec mixer - in their in-house woodwork studio.
Megahertz commenced work on Unit 10's audio systems upgrade in late March. The OB unit itself arrived at the company's Ely headquarters in early April, and was back in service covering the horse trials at Badminton for BBC Sport by the end of the month, following extensive audio testing by SIS OB staff.
Cambridgeshire-based Megahertz Broadcast Systems, established in 1982, is a leading provider of independent broadcasting systems integrators. Further information is available at: www.megahertz.co.uk.
SIS Outside Broadcasts Limited is a leading European provider of outside broadcast facilities in Europe. Further information is available at: www.sisob.tv.
(KMcA/JM)