SIS Live Select Soundcraft BB100's For New Dual HD Satellite Uplink Trucks

From the production and distribution of live pictures and real time data to operating the largest fleet of satellite uplink fleets in Europe, Satellite Information Services (SIS) is constantly reviewing its facilities based on the changing requirements of its customers.
To remain at the forefront of live news and sports coverage, the company recently commissioned two new dual antenna HD trucks, equipping each with 20-channel Soundcraft BB100 production/on-air mixing consoles.
Designed to offer complete diversity and unparalleled transmission resilience, each vehicle contains two fully-isolated/fully redundant SD/HD transmission chains and comprehensive audio/video test and monitoring.
Dave George, Project Manager for SIS LIVE, said: "We looked into the marketplace and found the BB100 to be a high specification desk at a competitive price. It offered an excellent featureset, such as the mix minus facility and we use the sub groups to subs to handle the small mixes, feeding them into the comms system to supply production. The BB100's are meeting all of our expectations."
No strangers to Soundcraft technology, SIS LIVE simultaneously purchased three further BB100's configured 8/4/2 for rack-mounting in their smaller, single-dish trucks.
George said: "The tiny footprint of these 8-channel mixers are ideal for the size of trucks we are operating. We needed a hi-spec desk and these are excellent."
The BB100 is available in configurations from 10 to 32 input channels, with four stereo or eight mono subgroups, and offers fully balanced input and output connections. The BB100 features four internal mix minus feeds as standard and is easily configurable for a variety of custom options through internal factory-set links.
Dave George said that by offering fail-safe continuous transmission - the result of utilising independent paths from the power source to the antenna - the new dual uplink trucks are already in high demand. He said: "We are always listening to our clients' requests and these have been built in response to the growing requirement for HD work.
"We've previously built HD trucks but they were just pure uplinks. These dual uplinks are like small OBs where you can really guarantee HD feeds to the host broadcaster - with two independent satellites that you can run simultaneously. You can put everything in one signal path, safe in the knowledge that everything at the truck end is fully redundant."
SIS LIVE work extensively with major terrestrial and satellite broadcasters, as well as the EBU and Dave George confirmed that the company is looking at an impressive order book for 2009.
(KMcA)