BINGO! STAC-VIP Talk Show System And CallMe Codecs Link Entertainments Venues

The STAC-VIP is many things, its main role being the heart of a Talk Show / Phone-In system. But because of its ability to conference up to 12 callers and to receive calls from Broadcast IP Codecs, it also turns out to be ideal as a studio back-end for OBs, reporters and guest contributors, writes Ian Prowse at Vortex Communications.

With its operation based on the much-loved STAC-6 and STAC-12, themselves updated versions of the old TS612, the STAC-VIP offers connectivity for up to 12 telephone calls, delivered over IP as opposed to direct connection to six or twelve dedicated PSTN telephone lines.

Contributions can also be taken from normal PSTN phones via a VoIP gateway – a low-cost piece of hardware with PSTN connectivity on one side and a network connection on the other – as well as interfacing directly to IP phone systems which are fast becoming the norm. In addition, STAC-VIP can take calls directly from Broadcast audio codecs, including smartphone codecs and browser codecs such as Vortex CallMe™ which makes it ideal for managing contributions from both reporters and guests.

The dividing line between conventional Broadcast IP Audio Codecs and codecs used in telephony such as HD Voice has become much less defined, with dedicated broadcast codecs able to receive calls from IP Phone codecs. The STAC-VIP further crosses this divide where converse is also true – it can also receive calls from Broadcast IP codecs – and handle a number of contributions at the same time.

The STAC-VIP comprises a 1-U electronics rack that provides all the connectivity and clean feed technology to conference up to 12 contributors. It also has dual hybrids built in for conventional connection to a mixer. As a phone-in system, dedicated Control Surfaces allow call screening and the browser web interface shows status of all lines, providing CLI Caller information as well as allowing messaging between users. Calls can be controlled from either the web interface or the control surface allowing up to 12 callers on-air together, made possible by the STAC-VIP's sophisticated clean feed echo-cancellation. The PlusPak adds database capability and provides an integrated interface for Social Media.

Because no physical connection is required between the control interface and the rack, the electronics can be located remotely which gives the opportunity to use STAC-VIP as a 'virtual conferencing system' which, when coupled with CallMe web codecs, provided a cost-effective and efficient way New to link venues for the New Pontins Holidays company.

Pontins Entertainments first got in touch looking for telephone interfaces to let a number of venues share activities such as Bingo games, having any venue act as host for the others, all linked using their local PA systems.

Open microphones and speakers shouts howl-round and using the DH-30 Conference Hybrid and MixMinus clean-feed bridge could have achieved the end result at normal telephone quality and with a lot of telephone lines needed. Aiming to improve the audio quality to allow music-quality link-ups moved the conversation to dedicated IP Audio Codecs, but this still needed the ability to conference a number of calls together – all of which can be achieved using HotSwitch many-to-one application that lets a number of remote ACCESS or BricLink codecs connect to one at the central site.

However, remembering a previous STAC-12 application for linking Bingo halls together, the STAC-VIP came to mind and proved to be the ideal solution. It is housed centrally and provides all the mixing and clean feed with each site able to browse to the Control page over the internet. Each site connects to the STAC-VIP using CallMe – our new subscription codec that just needs a computer with sound card with a suitable browser such as Firefox or Chrome.

The connection to the STAC-VIP is pre-programmed and when each site connects to the STAC-VIP, its location and the name of the Caller is displayed on the STAC's web interface, together with its audio level and any notes that users may wish to share – and each Venue hears all the others with low-delay and at high quality; simple as that.

The article is also available to read in BFV online.

(IT/JP)