YES Gives the Nod to Calrec for OB Truck’s HD Makeover

In its
newly refurbished broadcast truck, YES Productions has deployed a 56-fader
Calrec Omega console with Bluefin processing. HD-2 debuted its HD makeover while
covering the NBA at the New Orleans Hornets’ victorious home opener against the
Cleveland Cavaliers in November. Since then, HD-2 has been on the road
supporting two or three shows a week.

“Calrec
has earned its outstanding reputation by listening to audio engineers around
the country and responding to their needs,” says Jim Moriarty, vice
president and general manager of YES Productions. “The Omega console is
easy to operate and to get around. Setup times are fast, and the freelance
operators are already familiar with it. At the same time, the Omega is
sophisticated both in terms of features and power.”

Calrec’s
Bluefin High Density Signal Processing (HDSP) enables the Omega console to
manage 160 channel-processing paths on a single processing card. Packing a lot
of power in a small footprint makes the Omega eminently suitable for life in an
OB truck. The Omega also provides 8 x 5.1
surround, stereo, or mono audio groups, 20 auxiliary outputs (which can be 20
mono or 10 stereo), and 48 outputs for multitrack outputs. The console has two
main stereo or 5.1 surround program outputs with full EQ and compressor/limiter
facilities.

As of
2005, YES was operating two SD trucks. Hurricane Katrina flooded one, which the
company replaced with a new HD truck. The demand for HD was so high that YES
decided to upgrade its remaining truck — a 53-foot expando — as well,
incorporating the Calrec console. Beck Associates in Austin, Texas,
did the outfitting, completing the job in about four months.

Besides
the NBA coverage, YES’s HD-2 is positioned primarily for southeastern U.S.
regional sports broadcasts, including Louisiana State University football for
Cox Sports and Professional Bull Riders for Versus.