Election cycles are getting longer and longer, and more campaigns are on the road for extended periods of time while cable and Internet news outlets hunger for content to fill their 24-hour news formats.
This has resulted in an increased demand to sound companies and AV rental houses for providing press conference feeds. If you don’t have at least one press mult in inventory and available, you may be missing out on increased revenue opportunities.
A Menu For Feeding The Press
At a minimum, it’s a good idea to have a passive multiple channel distribution box or panel.
Because it’s often tough to know where or when a press conference will be set up, one important design concern is its ability to keep RF and other hums and buzzes from getting into the feeds. It’s not unusual to be asked to provide feeds at an airport, government facility, arena, banquet hall, school, etc. and in many cases, the audio gear may be subjected to increased levels of radio traffic from police, security, and other general event radio communications.
Immunity to RF is improved by utilizing high-quality transformers between the input and each output. Transformers, by design, increase the Common Mode Rejection (CMR) of feeds, and although they don’t come cheap, a well-designed mult will have them.
Another consideration is, “How many channels?” Off-the-shelf commercially produced passive press boxes are available in configurations of six channels and up.
But the most important issue for a press mult is that it be designed to have a high degree of isolation between outputs. You never know who is going to plug what into the press mult and it’s vital to avoid someone/something killing your feed at the last minute or worse, during the press conference. Even if someone dead shorts one of the outputs is dead-shorted, it must have a negligible effect on all of the others.
Line Gets You Mic
Most passive press mults utilize transformer coupling and resistive pad circuits to attain improved CMR and isolation. This usually results in at least a 40 dB drop in level from input to output and requires feeding a strong line level signal into the press mult to get a usable mic level signal out.
Most members of TV and radio crews and media reporters are experienced with this situation and are equipped to accept mic level signal into their gear. FYI—it’s not uncommon for someone to see an XLR input on a press mult and stick a mic in it expecting it to work. This results in extremely low or no output level. Remember, with passive press mults, it’s vital to provide a line level signal from a mixer or other separate mic preamplifier to get mic level out.
Go Anywhere Under Your Own Power
An active press mult is really a distribution amplifier (DA) with specialized features geared toward press conferencing. It has the advantage of being entirely self contained and should operate on AC or battery power.
A basic unit will have a single mic input, several mic outputs and one or two line outputs for attaching passive press mult boxes as expanders. It will usually have an input level control with signal/clip LEDs, phantom power select and headphone monitor.
More elaborate units might have dual redundant mic inputs, a tone generator, Signal meters, outputs that are selectable for mic or line and automatic power switching—that is, if AC fails, the unit will switch seamlessly to battery backup. When the outputs are mic/line selectable, each user has the choice of receiving mic or line signal or outputs can be set to line level to be used for attaching passive expanders.
Procedures & What To Expect
It’s important, of course, to locate press mults in a location that’s accessible to those plugging in, usually at or near the podium/lectern. It helps if that’s an open area nearby that gives convenient access for the press.
Often, the press will use wireless “cubes” like the Lectrosonics plug-in transmitters. If possible, locate the press mult where it gives line of sight to the coverage area and avoids obstructions and obvious sources of RF interference. These transmitters also use up more area around them than standard mic cables so make sure that the press mult’s connectors are spaced far enough apart to accommodate these popular units side by side.
Once you’re set up, send tone to the press mult at +4 dB. This will output a usable mic level signal on the press mult, with the press able to adjust their devices accordingly.
Although most of the press folks are old hands at this and carry adapters to go from balanced XLRs into whatever device they have, be prepared. It’s inevitable to encounter someone who’s new to this or forgot cables/adapters, and they’ll come to you for help, so keep a black bag of various adapters and cables handy.
Custom Situations
Remember that you’re not always limited to providing or encountering off-the-shelf units. Some government buildings, public utilities, airports, etc., utilize large-format systems as permanent installs with or without ancillary portable units.
Some buildings might even have a press system built into the outside wall. Kept behind lockable doors, it’s always ready when a conference is held outside “on the steps.” Feeds are then readily available not only to reporters, but also to broadcast trucks parked on the street.
Get The News
Don’t miss out! The ability to provide press feeds can seal the deal when you are into political or corporate sound work or if you want to realize an additional source of rental income. Keep a press mult handy… you never know when the president might stop by!
AI Keltz serves as general manager at Whirlwind.
