Audio Streaming - The technical side

Wilkommen, Bienvenue and Wotcha.......

Given that audio streaming is a far cry from a simple teleconference type project, I thought I would explain a bit about how we need to approach the streaming of the concert to the web.

The main concert runs through the teleconferencing bridge, which links callers, listeners, inbound and outbound calls and the project teams with countries and technology to put everything in one place.

You wish to listen, you dial one of our numbers, 800 13458 for Norway or +44 (0) 208 602 0835 for anyone else, and you listen to the concert via your normal telephone handset, bluetooth, mobile or using Voip.

But telephone signals are of low output and quality, and as the performances are from all over the world, DAD2007 is unable to have a high quality desk and system as you would in a concert, so what do you do?

Firstly you need a way of capturing the audio signal from the concert, and for this you need a Telephone Balancing Unit (TBU). This is the type of equipment used by radio stations and TV stations for calls.

The TBU takes the signal from a telephone connection using a standard RJ11 connection, and cleans it up whilst simultaneously boosting the signal strength so that it is compatible with a mixing desk or PA system. FYI output is normally through an XLR connector

There are two types of basic TBU and two ways of handling the signal.

A basic TBU will only receive incoming signals, the hybrid version will allow you to convert incoming AND outgoing telephone calls.

Secondly as with speakers, there are two ways of powering the unit, active and passive.

Passive units draw power from the telephone signal, and convert the audio. They are massively cheaper than active units, but the signal output is low, and probably only suited for small operations.

Active units use an integrated amplifier to manage the signal and produce a higher quality and higher strength output.

As we need to provide sound for the mixing desk in the venue (so we can broadcast the sound via speakers at the venue), and then feed sound back to the audio streaming server, DAD 2007 will be using an active TBU.

Because Zoe is 'nice' and this is a new piece of technology with potential for the future for some of her projects, I am intent on trying to find an active hybrid unit within the budget so that we futureproof for other DAD events etc.

If you have any questions please add to the blog or give me a bell on 0845 174 6060