As part of the Comcast Programming Group, Golf Channel operates in partnership with the PGA Tour and showcases the biggest and the best of everything related to the sport for the television news show, Golf Central.
Because capturing the magic of this sport must be done efficiently and without distracting the competitors, Digital Hybrid Wireless technology from Lectrosonics plays a central role in location sound recording for the show’s production.
Los Angeles-based Stef Butler serves as the show’s camera operator and high-definition engineer and selects and specifies equipment. He relies on an arsenal of Lectrosonics UM400 beltpack transmitters, SRb5P slot mount ENG receivers, and IFBR1a beltpack IFB receivers to capture the activity without holding up production.
“For my work with the Golf Channel, I’m using eight UM400s, four SRb5P receivers, plus four of the IFBR1a beltpack IFB receivers,” says Butler. “Much of my work for the Golf Channel show, Golf Central is news related, so it’s fast paced. The Lectrosonics SRb receivers are an essential part of my kit in such an environment. It really makes a tremendous difference having the receivers mounted in the slot inside the camera’s body, as it increases both ease of use and efficiency.”
A matter of vital concern to someone in Butler’s field is the equipment’s ease of use. “The very nature of news gathering is demanding,” says Butler. “Having a wireless system that is intuitive is a tremendous help.
“I constantly encounter situations where the RF frequencies need to be changed in order to avoid RF interference and optimize sound quality. Lectrosonics equipment makes it very easy to scan for open frequencies and then lock them down with a single button press.”
Sound quality is, of course, central to Butler’s work.“Lectrosonics’ Digital Hybrid Wireless technology sounds terrific and makes for a strong signal with very low power consumption,” adds Butler. “I experience great range with this equipment and the sound never exhibits any of the sonic artifacts that are common with wireless systems using a compandor.”
“My Lectrosonics gear delivers excellent sound quality, bulletproof reliability, along with great tech support and customer service,” Butler concludes. “I wouldn’t trust my business to any other manufacturer.”
