Amsterdam – September 9th, 2016: German broadcaster NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk) is updating its workflow for electronic broadcasting cameras and audio: Since spring this year, NDR has deployed 146 Sony DWT-B01N/21 digital bodypack transmitters and 94 Sony DWR-S02D/21 two-channel slot-in receivers to its camera teams at regional stations for electronic news gathering and field production. The latest hardware and software versions provide technically flawless stereo audio, which is transmitted wirelessly to the camera, where it is integrated directly into the video file. ​

"Around two years ago, NDR's camera and electronic broadcasting department came to us. They wanted to raise their workflow to the next technical level by using a wireless digital system. The focus was on the procurement of modern bodypack transmitters and two-channel receivers that can transmit true stereo audio from the audio pack to the camcorder", explains Sven Conquest, Managing Director of HL Audio, exclusive distributor of Sony Professional products in Germany.

As a first step, NDR received a digital wireless system from Sony in order to test the transmitters and receiver units over the course of several months. The aim was to determine whether both the hardware and the software were able to meet the broadcaster's exacting quality standards as regards RF stability, sound quality and stereo performance. The most important criterion, in addition to the excellent sound quality offered by the DWX system, was that the phase stability of the two audio channels needed to be sufficient to transmit stereo audio to the camera in line with modern quality expectations.

Successful collaboration between NDR, Sony and HL Audio

Throughout the evaluation period, which lasted almost two years, NDR was in continuous contact with the Sony development engineers and the experts from HL Audio. Together, they worked on optimising the phase stability to achieve a technically flawless stereo signal. The outcome of this extremely strong collaboration was a revised version of the software from DWX components, which HL Audio installed on the hardware components already supplied to NDR. With the latest software version, it is now possible to process the audio signal from two—essentially unsynchronised—units in "common mode" in such a way that a full-quality stereo signal can be transmitted to the receiver. ​

"This makes NDR the first public media company that is able to transmit stereo two-channel audio—measurable across the entire operating frequency—from the mixer bag to the camera. The technical implementation of this solution can only be achieved using Sony's DWX-series digital wireless systems", says Sven Conquest of HL Audio.
​ The roll-out of the Sony wireless systems to regional broadcasters started in spring of this year. Prior to the roll-out, HL Audio installed the latest software update on the 146 transmitters and 94 receiver units — when combined with the latest hardware version, this fulfils all of NDR's demanding technical requirements.

The camera teams are now using the DWT-B01N/21 digital bodypack transmitter from the Sony DWX-N series on an ongoing basis. An operating frequency of 470 MHz to 542 MHz is used, which was certified for the European market by Sony for the first time in order to meet NDR's requirements. On the receiver side, the teams work with the Sony DWR-S02D/21 true diversity two-channel receiver. Thanks to its slot-in design, the receiver fits directly into the relevant slot on a Sony camcorder. The die-cast magnesium and aluminium housing is both durable and weather-resistant, and at a weight of just 280 g, does not affect the camcorder's compact design. ​

"Without the continuous constructive dialogue with the Sony development department in Japan and with HL Audio, it would not have been possible to upgrade our electronic broadcasting systems so successfully. The Sony digital wireless systems have really impressed us when used in practical scenarios. Both the hardware and the software meet all of our requirements for high-quality stereo audio", comments Torsten Gathmann, head of the camera and electronic broadcasting department at NDR.

"I want to thank all involved parties for the very successful collaboration during this project. Within a short period of time, the Sony colleagues from the development division in Japan were able to respond to the various requirements by NDR, presenting a precise solution", says Markus Warlich, Product Specialist for Professional Audio, Sony Europe Limited.
​ For more information on HL Audio, please go to www.hlaudio.de

For more information on DWT-B01N/21 please go to: ​ pro.sony.eu