LQ-R4W8 as an SIP phone bridge for the Eclipse , which provides eight phone lines for less technically-inclined producers to get into each control room ’ s Party Line , and a Dante-64 card for sending and receiving audio from the multitude of Dante-enabled devices throughout the control rooms .
Similarly , their wireless intercom depends on Clear-Com AES67 FreeSpeak II IP transceivers and beltpacks , and 10 Agent-IC seats for remote producers , operators , and / or venues . For wired intercom , 12 VI-PNL- 12L V-Series Iris , two VI-PNL-32L V-Series Iris Lever Panels , and four HXII-BP two-channel HelixNet beltpacks are deployed . Further connectivity is also available with additional LW-2W2s that can be sent to remote venues to integrate their intercom systems with Bespoke AV ’ s matrix if required .
Overall , the level of connectivity , communication , functionality , and flexibility in the systems Bespoke AV has created ensure that , although event participants are in separate spaces , the quality of the message their clients impart and the experience those participants have is just as impactful as it would be in “ normal ” times .
“ The big pivot ,” Bernacki explains , “ was moving from one-directional webcasts with a time delay to two-directional , remote presentations with low latency that incorporates
a virtual audience ; with everyone experiencing the show in real-time , fluent communication between operators ( producers and talent ), and with everyone interacting with each other – on stage and behind the scenes – just like an in-person event .” Many companies and production houses have had to pivot in a similar fashion to find a means for musical artists and other performers to reach their audience in a way that ’ s more compelling than , for example , an Instagram Live broadcast from their own home or studio space . Bespoke AV ’ s approach , however , is particularly useful for companies , charities , and individuals who may require higher production value and a greater degree of real-time connectivity and interaction to be successful .
The many events they ’ ve mounted with clients since the pandemic began run the gamut from small- to large-scale efforts such as gala award shows / dinners where the individuals at each virtual table can interact on their own Zoom call , as well as view and take part in the virtual main stage festivities . “ For example , when someone at a particular table won an award ,” Bernacki says , “ we took video and audio from that , broadcast it to the other participants , and allowed those on stage to interact and have an ongoing conversation with the audience .”
Another application he cites required the deployment of individual video displays – one for every 50 virtual audience members – so that the host could see and react to the audience ’ s facial expressions and feedback in real-time .
More recently , Bespoke AV facilitated the unveiling of a company ’ s new corporate headquarters in which the firm ’ s CEO walked their entire staff through the new space , virtually , while interacting with the staff almost as they would if they had been in the same space .
In lockstep with their mandate of offering bespoke solutions , the company will work with whatever technology their clients have on hand and / or provide additional equipment as required . “ It all depends on the scope of an event ,” Bernacki notes . “ We ’ re extremely flexible in that regard . If it ’ s a budget-conscious show we ’ ll use the client ’ s existing hardware , but there are a number of different options . We can send out a remote presenter kit with a laptop , microphone , and interface and then go upwards from there and include higher quality cameras , lighting , and audio gear . Typically , we use wired IFBs that go into their ear and not speakers because of the potential for their mic to pick up the loudspeakers , but we have sent out loudspeakers in the past .”
Bernacki explains further , “ It all depends , [ the presenter ] may not have great internet available at their primary location , so we ’ ll use a neutral location and set it up for them . Or it may be a scenario where the presenter is at home , so we ’ ll send them a care package that ’ s clearly labeled so they can basically open the laptop , plug everything in , and they ’ re off to the races . We ’ re very agile and this is a highly-customizable offering . If something doesn ’ t fit with one of our control rooms , we ’ ll build whatever works for their show in the same way we would in any room where an in-person event was being held .”
Going forward , Bernacki continues : “ The next piece of the puzzle – which will become more important as venues and other spaces open up for live events in the future – is producing events where we have a remote contribution from a site , but also have an audience in the room .” While that adds layers of complexity in terms of latency and infrastructure , it ’ s something Bespoke AV has been preparing for and , characteristically , are highly enthusiastic about .
“ It ’ s exciting when you can create a solution and product that truly suits your client ’ s needs in such a difficult situation ,” Wilson says . “ Coming out of COVID we ’ re not sure what the landscape is going to look like , but we know hybrid events will certainly be the way forward and we ’ re embracing the idea that this is going to be a permanent portion of our business .”
And it ’ s not just clients who are enthusiastic about that fact . Even staff members like Adrian Gorrizan , a long-time live concert mix engineer who ’ s now been working at Bespoke for some time , is a big fan of the workflow and possibilities the systems provide . “ Doing what we ’ re doing here is a lot easier and less involved than what I was doing in a live environment . There ’ s obvi-
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