ALAMEDA, CA — Clear-Com® (InfoComm Booth 349), a global leader in critical voice communication systems, is pleased to announce that its Tempest®2400 4-Channel Digital Wireless Intercom has become one of the go-to communication systems for renowned live production audio provider Eighth Day Sound. Based on a unique RF system design, the Tempest system enables on-tour crew members from specific departments to communicate with each other on discrete channels without interfering with other departments or wireless devices.
Eighth Day Sound Systems has built its reputation by offering clients state-of-the-art, well maintained and efficiently packaged audio equipment; seasoned crew and unparalleled service for major live events around the world. Some of Eight Day Sound’s touring credits include Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, Drake, Jay-Z, Coldplay and Kings of Leon. For high-profile events like these, proper equipment performance is key. Tempest2400’s ability to manage multi-channel communications enables the Eighth Day Sound crew to coordinate elaborate pyrotechnics, moving stages and multiple costume and set changes. Tempest2400 offers up to four channels of full duplex audio, allowing the production to assign separate channels to specific departments, such as lighting, pyrotechnics or sound. At the same time, the show caller, who is responsible for giving cues, can communicate directives to the entire staff without being distracted by other conversations, as he can easily drop to a side channel when necessary.
“For shows which include moving stages, sometimes we cannot lay cable, which is why we needed a high-quality, reliable wireless system,� says Jason Kirschnick, Chief Technology Officer/IT Manager, for Eighth Day Sound. “We were thrilled to find the Tempest system. We simply could not coordinate productions of this size and complexity without its multi-channel capabilities, ability to play well with other wireless devices and overall reliability. It has become as important to us as one of our engineers. Clear-Com’s customer service and willingness to help tailor the best system for individual customer needs are also a major plus.�
Even when several other wireless devices, such as wireless microphones and in-ear monitors (IEM’s), are in operation in and around the stage, none of these devices will interfere with the Tempest BeltStations since its RF scheme provides high resistance to most RF wireless signals. Tempest2400 also operates in the 2.4 GHZ frequency band — outside the UHF frequency band, making it license-free and capable of operating virtually anywhere in the world.
“The projects that Eighth Day Sound works on are the perfect opportunities to showcase the tremendous benefits of Tempest2400, so we are very happy to be part of the company’s audio tool kit,� says Bob Boster, Vice President, Worldwide Sales for Clear-Com. “Being wireless, Tempest2400 doesn’t add to the wiring clutter that exists in the crowded stage environments and is highly resistant to interference from most of the Wi-Fi and RF devices you typically find in these scenarios. It’s easy to set up and just as simple to take down, making it an excellent choice for the demands of hectic, fast pace concert tours.�
The Tempest2400 is one of the most reliable digital wireless intercoms in its class. It features state-of-the-art 2xTX Transmission Voice Data Redundancy, which sends each packet of audio data twice on different frequencies and through different antennas, ensuring uninterrupted audio communications. Via 4- and 2-wire connections, it can interoperate with other Clear-Com intercom systems, as well as those from other manufacturers.
Each Tempest2400 BaseStation supports up to five full-duplex and available as either 2- or 4-channel systems. Each digital BeltStation offers four audio channels. By stacking up to 10 BaseStations together, 50 independent, full-duplex wireless BeltStations can operate together in a single system.
Tempest 2400 offers users three different modes of operations – Normal, Shared and Split. Normal mode allows for five full-duplex (simultaneous talk and listen) BeltStations per BaseStation. With Shared mode, all of the BeltStations can utilize the dual listen/talk feature. Users can individually select which channels they listen and talk to just like in Normal mode; however, only five BeltStations may have talk enabled at any one time. If a sixth BeltStation tries to talk, the user will receive a busy signal. In Split Mode, users operate in a combination of the other two modes: Normal and Shared, offering the use of four BeltStations that utilizes the standard anytime talk back capability and an unlimited number of BeltStations sharing one talk path at any given time.
