Simplified Audio Distribution For Reality Television

Catapulting Aviom into its new reality role is MTV's hit talent series, "Making the Band 4," Nick at Nite's comedian search, "Funniest Mom in America 3," and VH1's new relationship show, "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels."

Regardless of the unique challenges in terms of audio needs, location and overall nature, each production found relief from the typically time consuming, tedious and complicated cabling setup and configuration through a colorful line-up of innovative A-Net digital audio networking distribution products from Aviom.

As the 22 contestants on this year's installment of "Making the Band" vie for a place in rap mogul Diddy's next male R&B quartet, the interaction will be captured through an array of Aviom audio networking products that include AN-16/i-M Mic Input Modules, AN-16/o Output Modules and AN-16SBR System Bridges. Throughout the contestants' loft, the gear is connected to more than 40 microphones running over a single Cat6 cable at 300 feet.

On Nick at Nite's "Funniest Mom in America 3," the production team is using Aviom's AN-16/i-M Mic Input Modules and Aviom 16/o-Y1 Yamaha Output Cards as viewers follow the journey of mothers competing for the top prize. The Aviom equipment accommodates the show's weekly traveling format, replacing the need for heavy and expensive copper snakes with the use of one Cat6 cable running up to 500 feet.

Whatever drama surrounds VH1's "Rock of Love with Bret Michaels," as the Poison front man seeks true love, will be captured using four Aviom 16/i-M Mic Input Modules and an AN-16SBR System Bridge. Preserving the aesthetic value of Michaels' Los Angeles mansion, where the 20 eligible bachelorettes will live, Aviom's A-Net technology is discreetly wired throughout the house and linked to more than 20 wireless mics, all of which run into the mic pres for isotrack recording.

"The engineering team at Aviom designed our A-Net technology as a vehicle for delivering many channels of high-quality audio for a wide variety of applications," says Aviom Marketing Director Jason Frenchman. "Now we're seeing Aviom's presence grow in new markets such as the reality broadcast arena, which illustrates how reliable and flexible the technology really is."

"The attractiveness of Aviom's A-Net technology is its unique ability to offer simplicity without sacrificing quality," says Gregg Kita, freelance Audio Supervisor and owner of iTech Audio, who oversaw all three productions. "While each of these shows was different, they were all able to capture audio using a single Cat6 cable that could be run up to 500 feet. This eliminated the need to use conventional heavy copper snakes and presented the opportunity for an organized, clean configuration that involved less time and labor."