SMPTE Chapter 11 Newsletter Vol. 1
In this issue:
Steve Goze
Professor, Broadcast Television Engineering Technology
Napa Valley College
(707) 253-3258
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Ever wondered what has happened to the Telecommunications Technology program?
This is the first of a series of newsletters meant to inform Alumni, employers, Prospective students and interested parties in the operation of the Broadcast Television Engineering Technology Program at Napa Valley College.
Four years ago, Gary Vann retired to the big city of Napa and I was hired as a one year temporary leave replacement. Before he left, Gary spent only eight hours outlining the program Joe Piazza, the lab assistant, continued to show me the ropes and advise me based on his experience.
- Installed a donated Sony BVP-360 color camera system in place of one of the Ikegami 1” plumbicon cameras and verified its functionality.
- Replaced the troublesome parallel digital Abekas Effects unit with an analog Abekas effects unit
Because I was hired literally days before classes began, I hit the ground running and began teaching the program as it stood. It became my learning year! I had great students that helped me as much as I helped them. There were 15 second year and 9 first year students. I introduced an ongoing policy to incorporate and commission a major component into the studio in order to provide the students with installation experience.
- Installed a 48 channel Yamaha mixer, replacing the 12 channel mixer
- Installed an updated AVID Editor
- Wired the GVG switcher to properly function with chroma key
- Painted a “Blue screen” on the wall
The program must be updated on a 5 year cycle per college accreditation and my time was spent fulfilling this obligation and teaching the 9 second year students. The program was converted from a first and second year class to a single class.
- Installed a 20” Teleprompter and the software support into the BVP-360 camera system.
- Installed a Plasma high definition monitor
- Installed a Sony digital router to monitor some of the SDI capable items
- Replaced the AVID editor with an upgraded version
The program was renamed "Broadcast Television Engineering Technology" to more clearly define its intention. This is the first class of the rewritten curriculum. To make matters worse, Ernie Abbott, the electronics professor, retired. Studies showed that most of the electronics students had also been enrolled in Telecom leading administration to the conclusion that electronics should be part of the television program. At the same time, Larry Clark was reassigned to teach in the mathematics department leaving the technical math to the television program.
- Installed an RTS TW intercom system consisting of:
- 12 belt packs
- 5 camera interconnects
- 3 master stations
- 3 additional stations for lighting, voice over and the recording engineer.
- Installed a BTS Phillips Video Server and AES/EBU audio support
- All of the editors have been interfaced to the server, removing the need for master Betacam recorders at each edit station.
- Built and installed an MPEG server for video streaming (located on main menu).
- Installed a GPS referenced station sync generator/SMPTE time code generator
- All station clocks in the studio are synchronized to this GPS system
- Installed a computer networking lab
- Renovated the SMPTE Chapter 11 website
The Broadcast Television Engineering Technology program and my position as instructor was evaluated and reviewed. The Board of Directors of the college granted me tenure as well as a promotion to Professor. Joe Piazza retired and Brian Hughes was hired to fill the Broadcast Engineer position. Brian, a 2007 graduate, brings with him electronic experience from the US Air Force and the US Coast Guard as well as being a trained auto mechanic. He is also the webmaster/administrator of the new SMPTE Chapter 11 website. The users of the website can obtain a password and maintain their own "space", editing contact information, updating resumes, blogging and sharing information and generally keeping in touch. Employers can post jobs and review posted resumes of alumni and graduates.
- Approximately 50% digital both audio and video
- Capable of live streaming to the internet as our broadcast medium
- Supporting SMPTE11, SBE, and the SATv clubs
- Providing engineering support to KVET, the Veteran’s home television station in Yountville
- Supporting local school television programs
- Supporting the commercial acting and music classes at NVC
- Hosting SMPTE San Francisco and the "Taste of NAB" road show each year in May
The Broadcast Television Engineering Technology program and my position as instructor was evaluated and reviewed. The Board of Directors of the college granted me tenure as well as a promotion to Professor. Joe Piazza retired and Brian Hughes was hired to fill the Broadcast Engineer position. Brian, a 2007 graduate, brings with him electronic experience from the US Air Force and the US Coast Guard as well as being a trained auto mechanic. He is also the webmaster/administrator of the new SMPTE Chapter 11 website. The users of the website can obtain a password and maintain their own "space", editing contact information, updating resumes, blogging and sharing information and generally keeping in touch. Employers can post jobs and review posted resumes of alumni and graduates.
- The Ampex Quad found a home with Chuck Ferris in an antique video museum.
- All but a few of the U-Matic recorders have been retired
- The vacuum tube checker and the vacuum tube collection
- Unfortunately, the RCA dog was stolen from the studio
- Pixar
- Sony Broadcast
- KGO-TV
- NMT
- Bruce Eib (Alumni)
- Comcast
- Charles Adkins
- Lynne Browne
- SMPTE
- Holbrook Enterprises (Wirecad)
- SBE
- NABEF
- The NAB Road show