r/broadcastengineering

Anyone know the tech stack (besides iPhones, obviously?)

I’m a videographer for a sports team and I’ve been tasked with lighting a new press conference room. I’m quite adept in lighting skills and the general theory of inverse square, levels, color temp, etc. What I’m not used to are “locked down” lights in the ceiling and controlling lighting remotely (probably a DMX receiver?). I’d love advice from anyone with experience in the realm, especially gear-wise for lights and DMX controls. Thanks in advance!

I'm wondering how many others have added 3D printing the their tool kits and what your experience has been. It would also be interesting to hear what type of creative solutions you might have come up with. My 3D printer has been an amazing tool for repairs and creating solutions. I have found quite a few uses for things I print around the station. One of the first things that has become absolutely essential is a bunch of simple SD card cases. We stopped losing cards every couple days, once everyone got a box. I also made an organizer for the MMJ bags that's been great. I have printed cable management guides and clips that have been a game changer. The list just goes on and on. Let's share how printing has improved our operations and get some ideas.

Over the past months, I have been building a free interactive DVB / Broadcast engineering training platform as part of my VMA Broadcast side project.

The idea was to make some of the more abstract broadcast concepts easier to visualize interactively instead of using only static diagrams or PowerPoint slides.

So far I have been adding animated/simulated pages for topics such as:

• MPEG Transport Streams
• PSI/SI
• DVB-S vs DVB-S2
• QPSK / 8PSK / APSK
• IQ signals
• Viterbi / FEC
• MER / BER
• DVB-S2 framing
• RF spectrum behaviour
• satellite IF conversion
• etc.

Most of this was motivated by trying to explain DVB concepts more intuitively to junior engineers and students.

It is not a commercial training platform or polished corporate product — just an independent engineering project built alongside the DVB/IPTV tools I develop for VMA Broadcast.

Feedback from broadcast/RF engineers is very welcome, especially ideas for additional simulations or concepts that are usually difficult to teach.

https://vma-broadcast.com/training/

Look. My ears aren’t steaming yet, but the pressure is building and the fuse is lit. I am trying to set up a legal, solo, compliant FM broadcast right here in Orem, UT. I do NOT want a non-compliant, uncertified piece of junk from Amazon being shipped to a locker. I want a setup that strictly respects the FCC’s uV/m at 3 meters limit (120 uV/m at 1 meter absolute minimum before it's just static). I am trying to avoid an NAL while actually getting full-quieting operation within a tight 10-20 foot radius.

Because LPFM is completely locked down for individuals and families, Part 15 is the only legal cliff I have left to hang onto.

I need TECHNICAL HELP ONLY. No lectures on how hard Part 15 FM is compared to AM. No unsolicited advice telling me to just give up and buy an illegal import.

The Ultimatum: You have exactly until the first firework explodes over the Utah Valley on July 4th. If there are two or fewer legitimate technical comments on this thread by then, the terrestrial experiment is dead. I will pull the plug, rage-quit the airwaves, and take my audio strictly to the internet.

Don't waste my time. And DO NOT make me block you! Give me actual engineering solutions for a compliant solo FM setup. Go!

Remember that I’ll check my Reddit notifications and this thread on my profile on July 4th when the fireworks start!

Hopefully no FCC fleet of black or white direction-finding vans pull over in front of our house to file an NAL due to a complaint from a neighbor.

Hi guys! I’m using a Behringer X32 Compact for tv broadcasting and I’m encountering a major issue: I need to monitor the stereo bus 9-10 during the show since that is my program (the sound the embedder takes and delivers to the tv channel).
Now, when I solo the stereo linked busses 9-10 I hear a mono mix and the M/C meter on the right of the display of the console shows a mono signal that sometimes appears to be clipping (due to the summing of L and R channel I believe: the embedder receives a non-clipped audio from my bus!). How can I monitor (either with headphones or monitor speakers) the stereo linked busses 9-10 in stereo when soloed? (“Mono” setting for monitoring in mono only is disabled oc)

The main stereo out of the mixer receives only a few of my inputs and is being sent to another tv channel, so I can’t just use the main stereo out for monitoring in place of bus 9-10

Please send help🥲

I’ve been experimenting with a lightweight push-to-talk coordination app aimed more at temporary production/event crews than traditional enterprise comms.

The problem I kept running into was that most setups seem to fall somewhere between:

• radios with limited flexibility
• WhatsApp/Discord chaos
• or larger intercom systems that are overkill for smaller/temporary teams

The approach I’m testing is basically:

• instant talkgroups over mobile networks
• quick onboarding via invite/PIN
• support for normal wired/Bluetooth headset buttons as PTT
• temporary operational groups for backstage / camera / logistics / security etc.

I’m also experimenting with things like proximity-based listening groups and an ops-console/tablet view for live coordination.

Curious what people here are actually using today for:

• backstage coordination
• temporary crews
• remote productions
• roaming teams during live events

Are people mostly still on radios/intercoms, or are mobile-network workflows becoming more accepted?

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to find a solution for really remote locations/ setups where you barely find mobile network connection. A few weeks ago I produced a 50h livestream, it was a running event with 20 obstacles on the course. I used many cams with fiber cable but also some mobile cams. Because of the deep down remoteness of the location we also had a MRT from VODAFONE one of the biggest mobile network brands in germany. In the end we had a lot of issues with this setup... the MRT was to small, was blocked by trees, sometimes the sound failed completey, kind of a disaster.

So my BIG question for you guys: What do you think is the best, almost rock solid solution for mobile Cams in complete remote but bigger locations (normal transmitters won't reach the whole location)?

My first thought is: network + PoE Wifi Access Points + NDI or SRT protocol. What do you guys think? Do you have experience in NDI protocol + switching Access Points? Will it shut down or just jump a little while switching?

Or do you have other suggestions for moving Cameras, which has to be stable around a 5 Km Course and cable is not an option?

I'm very thankful for every thought or suggestion, let's discuss!

As of May 18th podbean has decided to end live streaming radio due to business decisions.

A new seperate platform has been created in its wake

www.anywair.online

Create your own radio station in minutes

Hey everyone,

Tired of manufacturer calculators that only work for their own gear? I’ve spent the last few months building AV TOOLS PRO, a centralized, platform-agnostic engineering suite designed for the modern AV/IT specialist.

It’s completely free, and we just hit 19 professional-grade tools. Every tool is built for actual engineering submittals, not just quick estimates.

The Complete 19-Tool Engineering Suite:

Video & Display Engineering:

1. AVoIP Bandwidth Calculator: Analyzes data rates for NDI, SDVoE, and custom multicast streams based on resolution, frame rate, and chroma subsampling.
2. Projector Brightness & Throw: Calculates required Lumens (fL) based on ambient light levels and validates throw distances for lens selection.
3. Display Brightness Calculator: Uses the Inverse Square Law to determine the required display nits/fL for clear visibility in high-ambient light environments.
4. Display Viewing Angle: Calculates optimal seating positions and viewing distances following AVIXA DISCAS standards for image quality.
5. DvLED Pixel Pitch: Determines the optimal LED pitch (mm) to avoid pixellation based on the closest viewer's distance and desired resolution.
6. Video Wall Controller: Maps out processor requirements, I/O counts, and canvas sizing for complex multi-input display systems.
7. Video Wall Builder: A visual tool to design tiled display arrays, calculating total bezel-to-bezel dimensions and power requirements.
8. Display Size (BDM/ADM): Professional screen sizing tool using the Basic Decision Making (BDM) and Analytical Decision Making (ADM) content standards.
9. Camera Distance (DORI): Calculates camera placement and lens requirements using IEC 62676-4 (Detection, Observation, Recognition, Identification) benchmarks.
10. .Audio Data Rate & Bandwidth: Real-time bandwidth tracking for Dante, AES67, and Milan streams based on sample rate and channel count.
11. Speaker Design (EPR): Calculates Equivalent Pink Noise (EPR) and amplifier sizing to ensure consistent SPL coverage across the listening area.
12. Speaker Cable Calculator: Determines the required wire gauge (AWG) to keep power loss under 5%, factoring in NEC ampacity and distance limits.
13. DSP System Design: A documentation tool for matrix gain structure, AEC tail lengths, system latency, and I/O routing.
14. Cable Conduit Capacity: Calculates fill-ratios (40% rule) and required conduit trade sizes for complex bundles of Cat6, Fiber, and Power.
15. PoE Budget Calculator: Tracks power draw across network switches and injectors to ensure compliance with 802.3af/at/bt power classes.
16. Rack Cooling & BTU: Aggregates equipment wattage to calculate total thermal load (BTU/hr) and required airflow (CFM) for the equipment room.
17. Rack Builder: A visual layout tool to design equipment racks while ensuring proper spacing, weight distribution, and thermal management.
18. Professional IP Planner: A network documentation engine with auto-conflict detection, VLAN tagging, and CSV assignment export.
19. Enterprise UPS Sizing: Our advanced tool to calculates capacity, runtime, Heat Load (BTU/hr), and Input Breaker Sizing for UPS sizing coordination.

Advanced Reporting & Exports

I know how important documentation is for project closeouts. Most of the advanced tools (like UPS, IP Planner, and Rack Builder) include Professional PDF Export and CSV/Excel capabilities so you can attach high-fidelity engineering reports directly to your project submittals.

Why use this for your designs?

• Engineering Standards: Everything is built on AVIXA, IEC, or NEC formulas.
• Cross-Trade Coordination: We provide the BTU/hr and Breaker Sizes that your electrical and HVAC contractors actually ask for.
• Hardware Neutral: Whether you're speccing Q-SYS, Crestron, or Extron, the math stays the same.

! Disclaimer: I’ve added some non-intrusive ads to the site. I want to keep these tools free for the community, and the ad revenue helps cover the server costs and maintenance required to keep the engineering logic up to date.

Please check it out, I’d love to hear your feedback on what other professional parameters would be useful for your next project!

 

I am at my absolute wits' end. I’m trying to do the right thing in Orem, UT, but the market is flooded with these '7-watt' Amazon specials that are basically FCC-bait. I don't want to be a 'persona,' I don't want to be a pirate, and I CERTAINLY DO NOT want a visit from the Denver field office because a 'Part 15' device decided to blast a signal 3 miles instead of 200 feet.

I know the rules: FM is field strength (250uV/m @ 3 meters), not the 10-foot antenna/100mW rule AM gets. But every 'legal' FM dongle has the range of a wet noodle (10 feet), and every 'hobbyist' kit is a felony waiting to happen.

Does anyone actually sell a certified, high-quality FM transmitter that is physically incapable of exceeding Part 15 limits via Amazon? Or do I have to become a literal electrical engineer just to broadcast to my own backyard without looking over my shoulder for a white van? Please, no 'just stream it' or 'just do AM'—I've heard it all. I want FM to work, ESPECIALLY before Summer arrives! I want it legal, and I want to stop worrying about Rachana and Amazon lockers shipping my dad 'illegal' power levels I didn't ask for.

PLEASE HELP!1!

Hi folks.

I'm really not a technical guy. I'm a super solid Cam Op, I am good with intuitively feeling my way into good shots, things like that, but honestly I am never going to be an EIC. You guys really understand, deep down, all these aspect ratios and frame rates and I just start to disassociate when I hear those terms. (I've been a Cam Op, in one form or another, since I was 14 years-old, so this stuff comes very naturally to me.)

HOWEVER ... I just had my first taste of being a TD/Camera Switcher, and I liked it. A lot. I want to do more of it. It has been suggested to me that that role often is coupled with Shading, and I think Shading is something I can handle. So: any reccos for where to take a Shading class? Evolve Media doesn't offer it anymore. The last time AV Educate gave it was in April of 2025. Can anyone point me to a good class where I can learn the craft of shading? Thanks! (Could be anywhere in the "lower 48" states of the US. Not looking to travel internationally for this.)

I've been a primarily Windows user all my life but with enough linux experience that I can see the advantages of having a nix native OS for certain things. As a broadcast and video engineer I fear I might still run into compatibility issues with a lot of older vendor gear and workflows from Evertz/EVS, GV, Harmonic etc, but also I'm going back to school for a MS in CS degree and I feel like most devs on OTT environments rely heavily in the Apple ecosystm and become proficient in it is going to become useful regardless. I have the opportunity for a laptop refresh and I do feel that the overall specs of the macbook pro are better thant the windows hp counterpart that my company is giving me as an alternative.

Any recommendations pros and cons? Call them all out. Especially any hard blocks that you were not able to overcome.

How much did your productivity dip when you made the switch if you did, and how long did it take you to be fully proficient or at least comfortable enough to do the same things you could do in windows?

As a side note I have a macbook pro at home but since I spend most of my time in my gaming rig the learning curve has been slow and maybe use it only once or twice a week when I'm doing coding homework.

Hi everyone,

I'm Pierre and I’ve been working as an A1 for French TV for a while now, and like many of you, I've spent years dealing with playback software that either felt too clunky, wasn't reliable enough, or just didn't fit our specific workflows.

Out of pure frustration, I decided to take matters into my own hands and code the tool I actually wanted to use on set.

After a lot of late nights and field testing, I recently launched PLayer for Windows and macOS. You can check out the interface and features here: https://laurensaudio.com

My main goal was to build something rock-solid, straightforward, and strictly focused on what we need in a fast-paced live environment. I also wanted to bring immersive audio to playback systems, so PLayer supports up to 7.1.4 audio output in a Dolby Atmos speaker configuration.

Since I’m just launching my company and this first product, getting feedback from peers in the broadcast industry is the most valuable thing for me right now. I am offering a free, full license to anyone here who is willing to put it to the test. In return, all I ask is your honest feedback (what works, what could be improved), a short testimonial, and a picture of PLayer running in your rig/workspace!

If you want to give it a spin, just drop a comment below or shoot me a DM, and I’ll send you a key.

Thanks for reading, and I'm happy to answer any technical questions you might have!

I've tried Googling this and Google seems to think I want a POE splitter (which that is the other way around) and I thought this community would probably have done this before...

I have an application where I would like to power a RTS comm pack over POE off the cameras Dtap. Currently the camera receives power and all the other bits from a CCU over SMPTE Lemo. I have a data port on the camera I can use for the comm pack, I just need an injector that can run off the Dtap.

Thoughts?