Broadcast Engineer Essentials
3-4 days (flexible)
Overview
The syllabus below has been partitioned into 6 sessions, each one taking approximately half a day to complete for a total of 3 days training time.
An alternative syllabus (contact us for more info) runs over 4 days and is also suited to being delivered online over 8x 4-hour sessions.
Session Depth and Target Audience
The content covered in the sessions will include enough detail to be classed ‘intermediate’ level but will be condensed into a short time making the sessions feel intensive – care will be taken with the presentation of the content to highlight salient points and use visuals where possible to avoid the attendees feeling too overwhelmed by the amount of content covered.
Due to the short duration there is no capacity to include any practical element within the sessions. It is recommended that attendees seek further training opportunities to gain ‘hands-on’ experience of signals and systems discussed in this course. This could be formal organised sessions or informal training through work shadowing more experienced colleagues.
This course is suitable for anybody working in a technical or engineering role within a broadcast facility or service provider where having a broad technical knowledge will assist in supporting operational colleagues, fault-finding systems and reviewing/evaluating new architectures.
Syllabus
The course is split into 6 sections running over 3 days. Days 1 and 2 should ideally be run back-to-back. Day 3 could be separated and run at a different time if flexibility for scheduling of time is needed.
| S1 | Intro and Basics | Day 1 – AM |
| 1 | Agenda & Introduction | 25 mins (approx.) |
| 2 | IP Video Basics (fast overview to set the scene and give context) | 35 mins (approx.) |
| 3 | Video Fundamentals | 60 mins (approx.) |
| 4 | Audio Fundamentals | 60 mins (approx.) |
| S2 | Digital Video | Day 1 – PM |
| 5 | Digital Video | 45 mins (approx.) |
| 6 | Ancillary data | 60 mins (approx.) |
| 7 | Video Formats | 60 mins (approx.) |
| S3 | Compression & Files | Day 2 – AM |
| 8 | Compression (Audio) | 25 mins (approx.) |
| 9 | Compression (Video) | 45 mins (approx.) |
| 10 | DVB/MPEG (SPTS/MPTS) | 30 mins (approx.) |
| 11 | File Formats | 60 mins (approx.) |
| S4 | Systems | Day 2 – PM |
| 12 | Timing and Control | 50 mins (approx.) |
| 13 | The Broadcast Chain | 15 mins (approx.) |
| 14 | Broadcast Systems – Production | 35 mins (approx.) |
| 15 | Broadcast Systems – Post Production | 35 mins (approx.) |
| 16 | Broadcast Systems – Playout | 35 mins (approx.) |
| S5 | IP in Broadcast | Day 3 – AM |
| 8 | Networking Basics | 80 mins (approx.) |
| 9 | IP in Broadcast | 80 mins (approx.) |
| S6 | New Architectures & Technology | Day 3 – PM |
| 8 | Dematerialization (Virtual Servers / Containers / Serverless) | 80 mins (approx.) |
| 9 | Cloud Services | 45 mins (approx.) |
| 10 | New Architectures and Technology | 40 mins (approx.) |
A more detailed syllabus detailing topics covered within each section can be provided on request.
Course Technicals
Recommended class size for the session is 4-6 people. Training days typically run from 9:30am to 5:00pm with a 60 minute break for lunch and multiple shorter breaks throughout the day.
As this is a mainly presenter led course a larger number of people could be accommodated but limiting to the recommended size ensures all attendees have a chance of having questions addressed within the time available making the sessions more effective.
Printed notebooks containing slides used on the course will be provided (up to 8 copies per session). Electronic copies of the notebook can also be provided but are licenced for revision use by the attendees only.
Training should take place in a private, quiet room, free from visual distraction. A large display or projector is required – image should be large enough for all attendees with normal sight to read 16pt text from where they are seated. Connection to the display should be via full-size HDMI suitably located for connection to the presenter’s laptop.
Cost
The fee to run this course is 3/4-days is £5,000 / £6,400. This is a fixed fee regardless of the number of attendees, however the recommended maximum number of attendees is 6. Travel and accommodation expenses are recharged as incurred (an inclusive fixed price can be provided on request).
View Our Other Courses
TR-1001 IP Media Networks
This session covers everything you need to know about IP-based networking for Media Production. It covers all the essential network protocols and standards for uncompressed video over IP (SMPTE ST 2022-6 / ST 2110) as well as looking at how to make such systems work through the use of PTP and NMOS specifications.
The Broadcast Training Day
This 1-day course has been put together to provide a cost-effective way to address the often-overlooked basics of the broadcast industry and its technology whilst also having a positive impact on staff morale by encouraging back-office/admin staff to be included in the initial session(s).
Broadcast Engineer Essentials
3-day (flexible) session covering the fundamentals of broadcast technology that every engineer and technician should know. Attendees of this course will be more confident and able to approach any new technology challenges they may face.
Cloud Playout
Up to date industry information combined with education on cloud technology. This 1-day session is essential for anyone looking to increase their knowledge of linear playout from the cloud and will give them the information they need to compare and evaluate available options.
Exec 1-to-1 Sessions
For those in senior roles who may benefit from a better technical understanding of new technologies, please take a look at our new Exec 1-to-1 sessions. A great chance to fill in those embarrassing knowledge gaps, keep up to date, or just to brush up on the basics.