Kevin Callahan, a graduate of CETA’s Audio Engineering Technology program studying here for his master’s in electronics engineering, worked with NBC Olympics this summer as a technical intern in the audio department in Beijing, China. Kevin covered both the Olympics, which ran from August 8 to August 24, and the Paralympics, which ran from September 6 to September 17. Before the internship began, and based on his knowledge and experience with broadcast video and STN, the campus television station, Kevin was asked to work at the NBC Olympics facility here in Connecticut as a replacement house engineer because the senior engineers left early to set up venues in China.
On his arrival in Beijing in July, Kevin and Jon, another intern, this one from New England Institute of Art in Boston, began working with Lloyd Jacobson, the head of the audio integration team, and Mark Butler, a mixer who has handled Superbowls, NASCAR events, and other sports broadcasts. They took responsibility for the ENG–electronic news gathering–audio kits that went out with all the camera crews to the various venues. Kevin and Jon also set up and tested the audio systems for the basketball, indoor volleyball, and boxing venues. The systems included Digico audio consoles, AES sound processing and distribution racks, and intercoms. Each system had to be tested at NBC Olympics’ warehouse before installation, then tested again after installation. Each setup and test procedure took about three days. And after testing, Kevin and Jon were on call for support and training at each of the three venues. What’s more, rain required the interns to test cable paths, dry out connections, and replace shorted gear. In addition, microphone kits and supplemental gear had to be supplied to all the other venues. Kevin was also involved in helping to set up other venues and troubleshoot after the opening ceremonies.
Once the Olympic Games were completed, Kevin went to work as a lead engineer for NBC’s coverage of the Paralympic Games. He oversaw a recording and archiving process that took in 14 high-definition feeds for 18 hours each day, live Internet streams, and two field production crews who gathered athlete profiles and stories for later airing. Although the process was on a smaller scale than that for the Olympic Games (which involved 3,000 NBC employees), the same equipment and technology were required. NBC received feeds from the Beijing Olympic Broadcaster (the host) in HD at 50Hz and used five standard converters to convert to HD 70Hz for use in the United States. The feeds were recorded on Sony XDCAM recorders using Blu Ray optical technology.
In 2006, Chris Hareema, an Audio Engineering Technology undergraduate student, interned with NBC at the Winter Games in Turin, Italy, along with a student from the University’s Music Production & Technology program in The Hartt School. The strong performance of those two students led the head of sports audio for NBC, Bob Dixon, to come back to the University for interns for this year’s Olympic Games.
Kevin says that the one thing that truly prepared him for the work he did with NBC is “diversity in subject matter” in his studies in CETA. Not only did the many audio courses in recording, mixing, and multi-track recording help him, but what set him apart from other candidates, according to his supervisor at NBC, is that he also knows electronics, circuitry, acoustics, and wireless technologies, “which is why they have continued to select audio interns from CETA.” The equipment used at the Olympics is “beyond state of the art,” most of it custom built and often a hybrid of technologies. So the various courses required for an Audio Engineering Technology major and the electives Kevin took in fiber optics and industrial controls, among others, definitely prepared him to work at the high level required by NBC.
CETA is proud of Kevin and Chris and the work they’ve done for NBC and the Olympic Games. They have represented our Audio Engineering Technology program and our College and University in excellent fashion. As Tim Britt, the audio program director says, “our hope is to continue to produce top talent that will aid NBC in broadcasting such world-attention-grabbing sports events to their audience.”
On his arrival in Beijing in July, Kevin and Jon, another intern, this one from New England Institute of Art in Boston, began working with Lloyd Jacobson, the head of the audio integration team, and Mark Butler, a mixer who has handled Superbowls, NASCAR events, and other sports broadcasts. They took responsibility for the ENG–electronic news gathering–audio kits that went out with all the camera crews to the various venues. Kevin and Jon also set up and tested the audio systems for the basketball, indoor volleyball, and boxing venues. The systems included Digico audio consoles, AES sound processing and distribution racks, and intercoms. Each system had to be tested at NBC Olympics’ warehouse before installation, then tested again after installation. Each setup and test procedure took about three days. And after testing, Kevin and Jon were on call for support and training at each of the three venues. What’s more, rain required the interns to test cable paths, dry out connections, and replace shorted gear. In addition, microphone kits and supplemental gear had to be supplied to all the other venues. Kevin was also involved in helping to set up other venues and troubleshoot after the opening ceremonies.
Once the Olympic Games were completed, Kevin went to work as a lead engineer for NBC’s coverage of the Paralympic Games. He oversaw a recording and archiving process that took in 14 high-definition feeds for 18 hours each day, live Internet streams, and two field production crews who gathered athlete profiles and stories for later airing. Although the process was on a smaller scale than that for the Olympic Games (which involved 3,000 NBC employees), the same equipment and technology were required. NBC received feeds from the Beijing Olympic Broadcaster (the host) in HD at 50Hz and used five standard converters to convert to HD 70Hz for use in the United States. The feeds were recorded on Sony XDCAM recorders using Blu Ray optical technology.
In 2006, Chris Hareema, an Audio Engineering Technology undergraduate student, interned with NBC at the Winter Games in Turin, Italy, along with a student from the University’s Music Production & Technology program in The Hartt School. The strong performance of those two students led the head of sports audio for NBC, Bob Dixon, to come back to the University for interns for this year’s Olympic Games.
Kevin says that the one thing that truly prepared him for the work he did with NBC is “diversity in subject matter” in his studies in CETA. Not only did the many audio courses in recording, mixing, and multi-track recording help him, but what set him apart from other candidates, according to his supervisor at NBC, is that he also knows electronics, circuitry, acoustics, and wireless technologies, “which is why they have continued to select audio interns from CETA.” The equipment used at the Olympics is “beyond state of the art,” most of it custom built and often a hybrid of technologies. So the various courses required for an Audio Engineering Technology major and the electives Kevin took in fiber optics and industrial controls, among others, definitely prepared him to work at the high level required by NBC.
CETA is proud of Kevin and Chris and the work they’ve done for NBC and the Olympic Games. They have represented our Audio Engineering Technology program and our College and University in excellent fashion. As Tim Britt, the audio program director says, “our hope is to continue to produce top talent that will aid NBC in broadcasting such world-attention-grabbing sports events to their audience.”
Kevin Callahan and some of the equipment used at the Paralympic Games.
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