New IP (and Skype) studio link
We now have a new link for IP-based recording in our studio.
The link is currently configured to work with Skype and Apple’s iChat, and connects directly to our control room. This makes it possible to mix live and remote guests in one programme; we can also mix ISDN and IP links. The plan is to add more codecs; currently we are testing a number of G.722 software options and we might also add Luci Live software, if there is enough demand.
Some people have expressed reservations about the quality of audio recorded over the Internet, and especially Skype. In fact it it works well, if it is managed well. Most resistance seems to come either from PRs or from companies’ IT departments, rather than from producers or broadcast engineers.
Our experience is that the most important element is the microphone at the remote end; some headsets are very poor quality. The second most important factor is microphone positioning (to avoid plosives or ‘pop’s) and the use of a windshield; the third is the ambient noise level in the room; the fourth is the actual bandwidth.
Of course there are some issues that can trip up Skype and other VoIP technology, such as overly aggressive firewalls — though usually these will block calls altogether rather than degrade quality — bandwidth, and the processing power of the host computer.
If you want to try out VoIP for interviews — and we really think you should — contact us and we can set up a test connection.
And if you want advice or technical help in setting up a link for your offices or for a client, we can recommend the consultants at Radio Studio Services, who have developed a set of packages to suit a range of budgets and needs, including IP and ISDN.
