Broadcast News

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TC Furlong’s Live Event division supports a very wide range of events from concerts to corporate meetings, special events to broadcast originations.  Over the past couple of months, the Live Events team coordinated audio for three Broadcast events including several HD concert tapings for public television and an MSNBC town hall with Bernie sanders.

The common thread to all of our live events work is the scope of involvement that focuses on comprehensive project management, in-depth design work, complete system solutions and having our staff engineering team onsite.

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“The MSNBC taping came together on relatively short notice,” says TC Furlong’s Chris Wintz who managed the project and was also the reinforcement mixer.  The call had come in only five days before taping.  “We had to forgo a site survey and instead designed off of a diagram and photos. We worked closely with the MSNBC line producer to make sure the broadcast team was fully supported, as well as making sure every seat in the house had good coverage, without interfering with the live broadcast.”

 

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In terms of gear, everything was designed with a small visual footprint in mind including Meyer UPM-1P loudspeakers on heavy based mic stands. “Mixing backstage, watching the action on a LED display, getting level notes from my A2 and simultaneously listening to the director and production mixer on intercom is a challenge under any circumstance and even more so in live TV,” Wintz continued.  “Working with the MSNBC New York crew and the other many local vendors required that precision advancing and being super-nimble onsite. We’re really good at being flexible.”

Contact Jeff with TC Furlong’s Live Event group next time you have an important function that demands expert planning and flexible execution at 847.367.9588 or  jc@tcfurlong.com.

TC Furlong Supplies House of Vans Chicago

by Brian Grahn, Sales/Marketing

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TC Furlong Inc. is excited to have designed and supplied the entire sound system for the new House of Vans Chicago. The re-purposed warehouse space serves both as a music venue and Chicago’s only existing indoor skatepark, home to a custom-built course featuring re-imaginations of iconic skate spots and obstacles for all skill levels.

House of Vans Chicago officially opened its doors on February 3, 2017 with a two-day celebration of music, skating and art.  The opening night featured live performances from Future Islands, Digable Planets, and Chicago-based breakout artist, Noname.  

TC, in collaboration with House of Van’s Chuck Radue and d&b audiotechnik design serivces, worked to develop the “little, light & loud” system.  “They were able to design a system that was not only within my budget, but saved me so much in cable and rigging costs,” says House of Vans Production Manager Chuck Radue.  “The ability to cover a 900 capacity space using six cabinets is quite an achievement.”  Chuck and his team self-installed the system.  TC oversaw the system commissioning and alignment prior to opening night along with Jake Kenneally.

At the heart of the system are two d&b V10P 3-way main speakers that feature two 10″ drivers, an 8″ MF driver and 1.4″ compression driver, while low frequency content is provided by four V-GSUB subwoofers.  Each V-GSUB houses two elements, an 18″ driver in a bass-reflex design and a 12″ driver in a two chamber bandpass, that create a cardiod dispersion pattern.

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photo by Jake Kenneally

A delay system to service the VIP bar is made up of two d&b E8 cabinets with two E12x subwoofers, while two d&b E6 speakers supply coverage for the skate bowl.  Stage monitoring is provided by six d&b MAX2 wedges along with a B6 subwoofer for drum fill.  A complement of d&b D80 and D20 amplifiers provide power for the systems.

TC Furlong Inc. also provided the nuts and bolts of the system.  On-stage an analog split supplies inputs to Allen & Heath AR2412 and AR84 stage boxes which feeds an Allen & Heath GLD-80 for monitor mixing.  Front of house is mixed on a Midas Pro2 digital console that provides up to 64 input channels and 27 mix buses at 96kHz.  I/O comes via digital snake from a Midas DL251 stage box with 48 channels and 16 returns.  

“I am an old school Midas guy,” says Chuck, “I think they make the best sounding pre’s in the business.  We multi-track all of our shows, so with the combination of the Midas preamps and the 96k sampling rate made the recordings come out fantastic.

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photo by Jake Kenneally

TC Furlong Inc. provided a mix and match of the usual suspects to make up the microphone selection.  Microphones from Shure’s SM and Beta series are paired along with products from Sennheiser, AKG and Radial.  K&M and Atlas stands keep everything in the right place, while Whirlwind cabling makes sure the signal path is clean and consistent.  A custom Whirlwind Power Link rack provides electrical distribution. Whirlwind PL1 stringers distribute necessary power around the stage via Neutrik Powercon connections.

“TC Furlong as a person and as a company has been nothing but supportive, professional, and knowledgeable,” says Chuck in regards to the experience. “Add in the fact that the pricing is the best I have found in the country and you have a customer for life.”

We are happy to have worked with Chuck, Vans, and d&b on such a fun project, and to have played our part in delivering the soundtrack for many skaters in the Chicago area.

House of Vans Chicago is now open.  For more information, including a calendar of events, visit their website.

For more information about the products in this article or anything from our list of over 100 professional audio manufacturers, contact our Sales Team at 847.367.9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com.

When Good Gear Goes Bad…

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Photo credit: LordMinion777 via Youtube

Does this sound familiar?

“It was  a good  piece of gear and it came from a nice home.”

“It was working fine yesterday and then… betrayal.”

“I loved that gear like it was my own.”

We’ve all been there with good gear that succumbed to the influences of abuse, entropy, old age and neglect.  What are you going to do about it– Fix it or forget it?

TC Furlong offers  a range of support –including  Repair services, Warranty Support Advantage and Emergency Audio Support –to help “repair” your relationship with your gear.

Repair Services:  our repair technician Scott Helmke is an excellent bench tech who has the specialty tools and experience to diagnose and repair most sound reinforcement equipment.  Most work is done in our shop, but we do a limited amount of field work as well.  Our focus is on gear that we’ve sold and there are items we don’t work on (speaker re-coning, power amplifiers, musical instruments).  Contact Scott at repairs@tcfurlong.com to start a conversation about labor rates, capabilities and turn-around time.

Warranty Support Advantage:  our warranty support service offers end-to-end peace of mind on every purchase.  If any new item you buy from us fails during the manufacturer’s warranty period, we will provide a no-charge loaner while we assist you in dealing with the manufacturer.  After the manufacturer’s warranty expires, we provide a 50% discount on a rental while we assist you with the repair, for as long as you own the gear.  For more information about our Warranty Support Advantage contact sales@tcfurlong.com or go to www.tcfurlong.com/warrantysupport/

Emergency Audio Support:  our Emergency Audio Response Team is available 24×7 for show-related emergencies.  Leave a message with our 24×7 answering service (800-866-3875) and we’ll get back to you quickly – usually within 5 minutes.  We’ll do everything we can to get your show back on track, whether it’s helping troubleshoot over the phone, or dispatching replacement gear.  For more information: www.tcfurlong.com/support/

When your gear goes bad, let TC Furlong help get things back on track with repair services, warranty support or emergency support.

 

Rentals Update: Shure ULX-P Express Wireless Systems

By Oz, Sales/Marketing

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At TC Furlong, we typically design and assemble each wireless system specifically to our customers’ specifications, but sometimes, a quick and simple solution is best.

We now offer Express Wireless Systems featuring Shure ULX-P in single, dual, and quad configurations that are racked up and ready to go. Transmitter options include SM58 hand-helds, WL-185 lavalieres, and Point Source Audio CO-8WS ear-worn. All express systems include fresh batteries, ½ wave antennas, frequency coordination, and complete shop testing.

ULX-P is one of many Shure wireless systems that we have in our rental inventory. Audio engineers and sound contractors rely on Shure’s wireless solutions to achieve clear, hassle-free wireless sound. An ultra-wide tuning range for ULX, with up to 40 compatible systems, guarantees confident command of demanding installations and live sound productions.

Over 1400 selectable, pre-programmed frequencies are available, and Automatic Frequency Selection provides a straight shot to a clear channel. ULX Professional systems offer more advanced features and controls, including lockable settings and group scan function.

For more information on adding an Express Wireless System to your next rental or show, contact our Rental Team at 847.367.9588 or rentals@tcfurlong.com.

We are authorized dealers for Shure, as well as many other manufacturers. If you have any questions about purchasing a Shure wireless system, or anything from our list of over 100 professional audio manufacturers, contact our Sales Team at 847.367.9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com.

FCC Spectrum Auction Update

by Brian Grahn, Sales/Marketing

FCC Spectrum Auction

 

As of January 18, 2017, the fourth stage of the FCC Incentive Auction has proceeded into the Forward Auction phase.  In these confusing times, Shure has created their Incentive Auction Resource Center where they are compiling and updating information as each stage of the process is completed.  The website provides great details about many of the nuances of the auction system, but we have included some of the basic information here for easy reference.

What is the Incentive Auction?

Congress has directed the FCC to reallocate some of the UHF TV Spectrum for use by broadband wireless devices, such as smart phones. Unlike the 700 MHz auction, the incentive auction offers broadcasters an opportunity to voluntarily give up spectrum in return for a share of the auction proceeds, hence the term “incentive auction”. This auction is sometimes referred to as the “600 MHz Auction” because the frequencies offered at auction start at 698 MHz (currently the top-end of the UHF TV band) and move down from there. After 4 stages, supply met demand with a reallocation of 84 MHz (614-698 MHz). TV stations electing to continue operations will be “re-packed” into channels below TV37. The UHF TV band is therefore getting smaller, and what remains will likely be more crowded.

How does the Auction work?

The Incentive Auction consists of several sequential phases: the reverse auction, forward auction, and spectrum re-pack. In the reverse auction phase, broadcasters that have elected to participate submit an exit price for relinquishing their spectrum assignment. The level of participation in this phase determines how much spectrum is available for auction and its corresponding valuation. These figures are also known as the clearing target and clearing cost. After the reverse auction, the buyers (such as, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Dish, T-Mobile, etc.) bid on the available spectrum during the forward auction. If the dollar amount generated during the forward auction is less than that of the reverse auction, the process repeats. This sequence of reverse and forward auctions is known as a “stage.” After 4 stages that began March 2016 and ran through Jan 2017, the dollar amount generated in the forward auction exceeded that of the reverse auction.

Since Stage 4 of the auction was successful, a new UHF band plan will be issued and work begins to repack the UHF TV spectrum. Once the band plan is made public, the clock starts on a 39-month transition. During this time, broadcasters will move to their new TV channel assignments, and the auction winners will begin building out their new services. Once a new service commences operation, wireless microphones that operate in the spectrum between 617 MHz through 652 MHz and 663 MHz through 698 MHz can no longer be used, making this a rolling transition on a city by city basis. However, the entire repacking process is scheduled to be completed by the end of this 39-month period, after which time no wireless microphones may legally operate in any of the auctioned spectrum, regardless of its level of occupancy. At this time, the soonest this could happen would be sometime in the year 2020.

How will the Auction affect my wireless systems?

The FCC has successfully auctioned 84 MHz of UHF spectrum. 70 MHz of this spectrum will be reallocated to mobile broadband services. A 3 MHz band and an 11 MHz band will be used as a guard band and a duplex gap band. During the 39-month transition period, if you own wireless microphone systems that operate in auctioned spectrum (617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz), it will be your responsibility not to interfere with new services once they begin operation. At the conclusion of the transition period, operation of wireless microphones in the auction spectrum will not be permitted by law. On a practical level, it is likely that these new services will create an unpredictable spectrum environment, resulting in interference that will impact the reliability of a wireless microphone operating in this spectrum. Equipment owners are advised to confirm the operating frequency range of their systems and comply with the new rules of operation during and after the transition period. It is worth noting that 653 MHz through 663 MHz will still be available for wireless microphone operation, with some restrictions, during and after the transition period. See our webinar (linked below) on the topic for more details.

For more information about the auction, visit the Shure Incentive Auction Resource Center.  

If you have any additional questions about how the auction could potentially effect your current wireless systems and help planning for the future, contact our Sales Team at 847.367.9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com.

Click here for a free consultation with our Sales Team.

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