Adtec Digital, Modulation Sciences Combine on IFB Solution for ENG Crews

With the transition to digital television, news directors and field crews lost a vital line of communication enjoyed with analog television: their PRO channel IFB systems.  IFB (Interruptible Foldback) systems are used in ENG for crew communication, audio monitoring and cueing. Adtec Digital and Modulation Sciences have teamed up to provide a convenient solution for this niche market.

Built into Adtec’s contribution encoders is a broadcast quality IFB system. Using a very small percentage of the station’s transport stream, the encoders in conjunction with Modulation Sciences’ DIGITAL PROceiver provide IFB for reporters in the field.  This one-way channel from the studio to the field will not interfere with the broadcast audio or video, nor can it be received by the general public.

Adtec offers several HD and SD contribution encoders capable of working with DIGITAL PROceiver, including the mediaHUB-HD 422, mediaHUB-HD Pro, and new EN-80 and EN-40. New in 2010, the EN-80 and EN-40 offer flexible encoding of HD and SD MPEG 2 and MPEG 4 AVC with 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 color space, four pairs of audio, AC or DC dual-power supplies and optional built-in DVBS/S2 modulation.

“The DIGITAL PROceiver paired with an Adtec encoder proves to be a reliable, economical, and practical solution for IFB or program relay,” says Eric Small, Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Modulation Sciences. “Attempting to use cell phones for IFB invites disaster, with total blockage common during major news events or emergencies.  Some broadcasters have tried IFB systems based on wireless IP. These have proven less reliable than cell with dropouts and variable latency during heavy usage.”