During broadcasting and audiovisual events, fluidity and coordination are key to running the show smoothly. Technical teams need to communicate clearly and instantly, filtering out ambient noise. For this, they rely on state-of-the-art radio communication systems: professional intercoms. BFM TV shares its experience.
Walkie-talkie or intercom, what’s the difference?
Technical teams can communicate through walkie-talkies, smartphones or… professional intercoms. Although walkie-talkies are easy to use, inexpensive and have a long range, their limit is that only one person can speak at a time.
Every team member already has a smartphone, but communication is often limited to 2 people, and 4G/5G connections are poor at some venues. Professional intercoms provide real-time, high-quality communication between all team members, and can be configured to suit the way the team is organized. They combine a radio terminal with a headset/earpiece for each team member, and can be classified in two categories: wired or wireless.
Maximum fluidity with full duplex intercoms
A full duplex intercom creates an instant and permanent conference, without the need for manual intervention when speaking. All team members can exchange at all times, without cutting each other off as with walkie-talkies.
VOGO’s full duplex offers zero-latency communication with exceptional audio quality, keeping teams in sync.
Wireless intercom for freedom and efficient coordination
Wireless intercom frees up the movement and circulation of technicians, allowing them to concentrate on what’s most important: managing the live event.
It can also be used during assembly and dismantling, avoiding the clutter of wires between the terminal and the headset.
Clear communication in noisy environments thanks to noise filtering
Based on patented noise reduction technology, VOKKERO SHOW intercoms offer 16 kHz HD audio quality. The built-in noise filter facilitates transmissions via headset or earpiece in a quiet environment as well, such as a studio.
During an exercise organized for Bastille Day parade (July 14th) in Bitche, Moselle (East of France), with snipers from the 16th Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied (Battalion of Foothunters) on board zodiacs, BFM TV teams wanted to be able to communicate in complete safety with noise cancelling headphones.
“We were able to set up a link enabling the whole team to receive instructions from a director or from coordination, while allowing them to communicate with each other in the field. All we needed was WI and intercoms. It was easy to set up and use. No need for a computer, antenna, splitter or base. With VOKKERO SHOW, a small suitcase is enough to carry the whole solution. Configuration is very simple, and a technician can be trained to use it very quickly”, says Pierre Grattepanche, Head of Operations at Altice France.
The “group” function for BFM TV teams
VOKKERO SHOW intercom systems make it possible to set up groups of users. Each user can only communicate and hear within their own group, unless he/she switches to group ‘0’.
In large technical teams, ‘Group’ mode is essential for communicating within each operational unit without disturbing the others. ‘Voice Priority’ mode can also be activated on one of the radio terminals, to give communication priority to the stage director or technical director, for example.
During a TV program at Cirque Gruss, the show was transmitted by DNSG (satellite transmission van) and coordinated by VSAT (satellite communication network).
The configuration of the VOKKERO SHOW solution included a video and audio link with a Codec in a VOKKERO WI connected to three VOKKERO SHOW intercoms for the technicians and one intercom for the reporter.
BFM TV teams configured their intercom to suit the needs of the show and the teams on site:
– Group 0, dedicated to the reporter, a supervisor and a control room coordinator.
– Group 1, for the technicians, also received the supervisor and the control room coordinator.
They exchanged within the group without disturbing the reporter. If necessary, the technician switched to group 0 to reply directly to the control room when the studio was not on air.
The intercom system has become a fully-fledged member of the team, guaranteeing efficient operations thanks to full-duplex, hands-free radio communication.