Audio And Expansion: The JoeCo Way

Audio solutions specialists JoeCo have been operating since 2007, expanding and producing industry-changing products such as the BLACKBOX RECORDER and the BLACKBOX PLAYER. Since the recorder hit the market in 2009, JoeCo has scooped several gongs, including a PLASA Award for Innovation (UK) and a TEC Award (USA). BFV caught up with MD Joe Bull from the company's new offices in Cambridge.

I understand the latest product making waves at JoeCo is the BlackBox BBR1MP Recorder. Can you tell us what makes it so special? How do you view its potential within the broadcast industry?

The BBR1MP is the first recording device that incorporates 24 channels of high quality mic preamps into a one-rack unit box. Typically, customers who need to record multiple channels of mic level inputs have to use multiple eight-channel mic pre boxes or an external console to provide the required phantom power, pop filtering and limiting that a live recording mandates. The BBR1MP combines all this functionality into the single unit.

Although originally designed with stand-alone location recording in mind, BBR1MP applications to date are proving quite varied. These have included recording live concerts for broadcast, as well as Reality TV shows where making a remote recording often requires the minimum of equipment. We recently made a 48-channel recording, using two BBR1MP Recorders, of a 100-voice choir with 16-piece band, which only required a two-rack unit set-up (due to the integrated mic pres). We are also hearing of drama recordings where use of multiple mics on each actor can save on ADR costs if technical issues create problems with the live recording.

In addition to its mic preamps recording to USB2, the BBR1MP also includes optional MADI or Dante interfaces to feed the signals through to backup recorders or consoles. The unit is usually controlled using the JoeCoRemote iPad app, which gives total control of all the parameters and allows for take and track naming and gives a full iXML implementation to ease the movement of acquired audio data into the post production environment.

One of the big stories at this year's BVE is bound to be the new DPP standards. How has the initiative affected JoeCo, if at all? Do you view this as a positive step within the world of audio?

As I understand it, DPP is designed as a mechanism for final programme delivery between broadcasters. I've yet to hear of anyone wanting to drag it into the pre production and acquisition process, but when we're asked for a modified variant of DPP (should the subject ever arise) we will consider it.

We have been leading the field in adopting international standards for ease of interchange. I was on the original EBU committee that defined the Broadcast WAV file format for interchange of audio files; I was also part of the AES committee that standardised the format into AES31. In addition, I was consulted during the development of the iXML standard to interchange acquisition metadata from the field into the post production environment. All these initiatives have been predicated on making the front end of broadcast production as slick and painless as possible. DPP is now doing the same task for the final deliverable product of the whole process.

Beyond that, what are your expectations for this year's show? What will you be bringing to the table? Will you have any major announcements?

We first attended BVE about four years ago and it has become a very important show in the JoeCo calendar. The calibre of attendees is always excellent and it's good to be able to catch up with our customers and meet with other professionals involved in the industry. At this year's show we'll be previewing our latest software updates, which are largely focused on the broadcast acquisition market and also on expanding our remote control possibilities.

Our broadcast customers have requested various features relating in particular to file naming and the iXML interface. We have been working on these over the last few months and intend to introduce them at the show.

JoeCo Remote saw the company delve into the world of tablet control, which is becoming commonplace across all aspects of the industry. Has this been a success?

We have been pleased with the response to the JoeCoRemote app so far, but we're continuing our developments to add more features to the user interface. It's inevitable that tablet control of technical equipment will continue to grow. The development costs for any control surface are often prohibitive and tablets allow tweaks and changes to be ongoing. It doesn't mean that the development costs are insignificant – software development is also expensive but at least you can continue to add features or tweak aspects of the interface design once you have a wide customer base using it in anger.

It was only a decade or so ago when every user interface had to be designed in hardware, which forced the user to adapt to the UI rather than allowing the UI to be customisable by the end user to fit into his/her workflow.

Last summer saw JoeCo relocate to new offices in Cambridge. Is this a sign of continuing expansion at the company?

We are continuing to expand and we'd got to the stage where we were bursting at the seams at the previous accommodation. We now have enough space to grow and have completely reorganised our processes to streamline the development and production of the JoeCo product range.

Finally, what are the company's plans for the rest of the year, with regard to trade shows and big announcements?

We now operate across a number of markets, so once again we will be exhibiting at a variety of trade shows, either directly or with the help of our local distribution channels. The NAMM show in California was our first this year where we were working with our US distributor, FullScaleAV.

Then we have Integrated Systems Europe in Amsterdam with BVE hot on its heels. NAB in Las Vegas coincides with Frankfurt Prolight + Sound, so we're splitting the sales team in order to cover both. Then we'll no doubt have InfoComm followed by IBC and PLASA, with AES New York rounding off the year. We will also be represented at a number of other regional shows such as InterBEE in Japan and JTSE in Paris.

Regarding any Big Announcements in 2015, I think that's a case of 'watch this space...'

The interview is also available to read in BFV online.

(IT/JP)