BSMC Spotlight: Henry Cohen
May 12, 2008 6:00 PM
Henry Cohen will discuss the rapidly changing RF landscape in his Broadway Sound Master Classes session on Saturday May 17, “The Changing Rf Landscape: What's Happening, How It Affects Production”. This session will review the past, present, and post DTV transition regulatory issues and spectrum allocations regarding wireless microphone, IEM, intercom, and IFB use. Along with a discussion of the current status of white space device legislation and regulations, testing and probable impact, the sound designer will gain a better understanding of the RF challenges ahead and strategies to mitigate potential pitfalls in their designs where RF equipment is concerned.
"For more than fifteen years, multi-channel RF systems have been an integral and vital part in the modern theatrical production. Wireless microphones, intercoms, and in-ear monitors provide a level of production value, efficiencies and even safety that are otherwise virtually impossible. RF spectrum, however, is becoming a highly-congested resource due to less allocated spectrum, more and more wireless equipment employed in contemporary productions, and the probability that license free consumer broadband devices will also be utilizing the same spectrum,” says Cohen. “All this means sound designers need to begin rethinking their use of wireless in positions that otherwise wouldn't be given a second thought and have a better understanding of the possible problems and limitations of RF operation in a touring environment.”
