Clear-Com Deployed For Facebook 'F8' Project

An intercom network from Clear-Com was recently deployed for this year's Facebook 'F8' Developers Conference in San Francisco.

FNTECH, a production technology company based in California, provided the live production services to this year's conference. The firm chose a Clear-Com system for the project. It consisted of the Eclipse HX digital matrix, HelixNet digital network partyline, LQ IP gateways and the FreeSpeak II wireless intercom, all connected over an IP backbone.

The two-day event was broadcasted to Facebook applications developers worldwide. It was produced across six separate TV studio-style theatre locations situated in different buildings, and needed to switch between the studios liv, as well as create custom talk groups as required to coordinate the multi-room broadcast and link it to a nearby satellite truck.

Jeremy Muir, CEO, FNTECH, explained: "This is the third year we have produced the Facebook developers conference. To keep up with the growing complexity of this event, we invested heavily in cutting-edge Clear-Com intercoms this year. When it came time to prepare for F8, we worked closely with Kari Eythorsson, Clear-Com's Southwest USA Regional Sales Manager, to map out which mix of wired and wireless equipment would work best for us."

FNTECH utilised an Eclipse HX digital matrix intercom to connect all six theatres over an IP backbone.

"Within this network, we created a 'global' partyline for all directors to communicate using eight wired V-Series rotary keypanels, as well as providing point-to-point paths for the Master Control Video Director to communicate with each location individually," said Jon Johannsen, Intercom Technician, FNTECH. "This intercom network had an Eclipse HX-Delta frame and integrated FreeSpeak II wireless solution comprising a 10-antenna scheme to support 17 wireless beltpacks, in order to provide complete wireless intercom coverage throughout the multiple buildings used for the show at the Fort Mason campus."

FNTECH also used the FreeSpeak II systems to connect a director with two roaming ENG camera crews who moved between the theatres. The FreeSpeak II and HelixNet systems also performed in tandem to serve as the partyline system for producing the keynote speech by Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. A total of 12 four-wire and two-wire interface paths into the HelixNet ensured that there were sufficient paths for both partyline and point-to-point routing between the Clear-Com wired and wireless intercom systems.

"F8 had a relatively complex setup given the live broadcast component across multiple locations," said Kari Eythorsson. "Working closely with the FNTECH's technical team beforehand allowed us to understand the demands of their client and hence their communication challenges this year. We were very happy to support them in this process and pleased that FNTECH had another successful F8 event in the end."

www.clearcom.com

(JP/CD)