A common cliche in television is that audio is the neglected relative of video. There is a degree of truth in this but how much depends on what part of the TV chain is being discussed. Now that the video server is an almost universal device for both production and play-out, it would be easy to assume that audio is even more subservient to the pictures and is merely carried along as a secondary element. As the technology has become established and more sophisticated, particularly in terms of control, audio is coming to the forefront of broadcasters' thoughts and demands. For play-out it is multichannel digital TV services that have created a new style and market; in production it is the increase in shared working. In both cases operators are calling for greater manipulation and control of audio within the server, leading manufacturers to consider providing tools similar to those used during post-production. Play-out centres are now serving vast areas, beaming multiple channels from a base in one country to broadcasters and cable head-ends across other countries and continents. All such operations are looking for ways to keep running costs down; by ingesting the vision only once and then synchronising the appropriate language track from different segments on the server, a channel can personalise its output raise efficiency and save money.
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