AV configuration for dual language broadcasts?

[dave.swartz]

Thank you for sharing. This looks like a nice clean installation. It’s nice to see how others have solved these common problems. I am not sure how much 75 ohm coax is left in our building since during the av uplift much was removed. Nice concept.

I will need to look at what we can do. The primary and RS rooms both have mics inputs that run all the way back to the av rack and processor. They also have HDMI display outputs.

Thanks for the photos, nice.

[russellhltn]

I hope you get a chance to re-label that "TV" connection. I hate leaving surprises for helpers and successors.

[danpass]

Although they recommend vertical mounting, we tried it horizontally and found it worked well, so it was left that way. With FM approval, we installed the antenna and cabling. We added about 50 ft of new 75 Ohm coax to extend the antenna to the wall connection, and use a 6 ft 75 Ohm coax cable to connect from the wall plate to the transmitter in the classroom.

We have an ANT 005 antenna installed in the same way. The horizontal mounting on the chapel ledge has worked great for us, for more than 10 years.

[dave.swartz]

6 months later and I have posted an update to http://federalwaystake.net/Hosting
See the link for Stake Conference Setup Guide - Nov 2024

A couple of more details. The translator mics feed the audio processor. The audio processor is configured with a noise gate on all three inputs. That way audio passes when the interpreter speaks into the microphone. When they are not speaking then nothing passes. This helps eliminate background noise.

Additionally Zoom Interpretation natively does audio ducking of the program audio. When the interpreter is silent, such as during hymns, then the program audio passes to the interpretation stream. When the interpreter speaks then the main audio is suppressed.

One thing we learned was to not rely on a PC to do any of the work. Our previous design used a PC to route audio. This time we are using an audio processor to do the patching and routing. The PC unfortunately will patch itself at the most inconvenient time and could be unavailable during part of conference. The dedicated processor eliminates this potential point of failure.

Some of the design decisions were based on what hardware was available used. I wanted a system that would operate in parallel and complimentary to the church provided AV system and require no modification to the existing system.

[rknelson]

Thanks for the update Dave! Two interesting things I noted in your diagram link: 1) "Turn CC panel on to prevent system shutdown from rostrum" (This is a clever simple approach everyone can use for a real problem!) And 2) Using an HDMI splitter to feed the Extron system and prevent HDCP problems - (I've had problems with HDCP on Extron also - for slides from an Apple laptop. We use a splitter also as Extron seems to be very troublesome with some sources.)

[russellhltn]

One thing we learned was to not rely on a PC to do any of the work. Our previous design used a PC to route audio. This time we are using an audio processor to do the patching and routing. The PC unfortunately will patch itself at the most inconvenient time and could be unavailable during part of conference. The dedicated processor eliminates this potential point of failure.

Which patches? Windows or an application? That's a real problem for machines not in daily use, but the Windows updates are on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Running a manually update check prior to the event should prevent that along with triggering the option to delay updates for a week.

Most applications have options to turn off automatic update checks.

Just trying to avoid having units spend more money if the fix is a simple procedure. Given that stake conference is only twice a year, and most equipment becomes functionally obsolete in 5 years or so, any added equipment gets expensive on a per-use basis, unless it can be used for other events.

[lajackson]

"Turn CC panel on to prevent system shutdown from rostrum" (This is a clever simple approach everyone can use for a real problem!)

What exactly does this mean. Is there something I can do at the AV rack that will keep the pedestal from turning off the microphone during the conference? I am having a terrible time training my stake presidency.

[russellhltn]

Is there something I can do at the AV rack that will keep the pedestal from turning off the microphone during the conference? I am having a terrible time training my stake presidency.

I'm interested too. What I do is put a piece of gaffers/duck tape over the controls.

[Mikerowaved]

I am having a terrible time training my stake presidency.

Just finished our stake conference two weeks ago. I asked the stake presidency to NOT turn off the sound system at the pulpit following the meeting. I assured them I would mute the audio for the webcast so any after-meeting chatter on the stand wouldn't get broadcasted. They actually remembered this time!

[dave.swartz]

In a QSC based system there are switched and unswitched power outlets. On our system the ALS (Listen LT-800-72), VS (Extron IN1808), Decimator SDI-HDMI converter, and all Extron HDMI hardware are on these switched circuits. Other items such as the monitor, audio DSP (QSC Core 110f), and amplifier are on the unswitched circuits.

If leaders on the stand turn off the system from the rostrum, then all the switched devices are powered off. Should this be done is error then restarting this hardware takes a few minutes to accomplish. There are two ways to turn on these switched devices. They can be turned on from the rostrum or they can be turned on from the cultural center. It is a OR operation. If either of these control panels is turned on, then the system will stay powered up. The work around for the chapel control being turned off and powering down the system is to have the Cultural Center panel on as well.

Presiding leaders can still turn the system off from the chapel rostrum if they wish to disable the podium microphone. With the CC panel on this act will not power down the entire video distribution system.

Some additional considerations. MHT has told me that should the system be turned off at the rostrum, if they immediately turn it back on, then the system will not power down the video distribution system. They have built in a delay to reduce this impact for an inadvertent shutdown. I have also requested for new installations that they suppress the ability to turn the system off while the system is booting to reduce the likelihood of bricking video components which are in the process of booting and the power is removed.

Hopefully this information is helpful. Please post if you have any other questions.