PGA Tour Studios Employs Sennheiser's Spectera Wireless Audio System at Its Fresh Campus
In a significant move towards modernizing its audio infrastructure, PGA Tour Studios has deployed the Sennheiser Spectera wireless audio ecosystem at its new campus in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. This innovative system offers a unique capability to run both microphone and Interruptible Foldback (IFB) channels together on a single wideband RF channel, revolutionizing wireless audio management.
The bidirectional Spectera system, controlled centrally from a compact 1 rack-unit base station, can manage up to 64 audio channels within a 6 or 8 MHz bandwidth. This integration of multiple audio streams (microphones and IFBs) on a single, wideband RF channel simplifies the infrastructure, providing a reliable RF performance even in complex, multi-show broadcast environments like PGA Tour Studios’ new state-of-the-art campus.
The system's key advantage was demonstrated at the PGA Tour Studios, where it seamlessly handled the demanding, multi-studio environment with seven studios and simultaneous broadcasting of up to 11 shows. The Spectera system has operated without any RF issues, showcasing its robustness and making it crucial for the PGA Tour’s diverse production needs.
After two weeks of extensive testing in early January, PGA Tour Studios fully deployed Spectera, actively supporting on-air broadcasts across four studios. The audio team can access all base stations from all computers around the facility and continuously monitor the health of microphones, In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)/IFBs, and antennas using Spectera WebUI.
The new system offers effortless transitions between studios and a simplified management interface. Talent can move between different studios without worry, pick up any available pack, and immediately be operational without the need for any backend reconfigurations or manual adjustments.
PGA Tour Studios has implemented Spectera as the backbone audio infrastructure of its new campus, with plans to expand the setup to six base stations and additional packs in fall of 2025. The infrastructure cost savings were an important factor in selecting Spectera, as it does not require RF-over-fiber converters, combiners, amplifiers, or 3⁄4-inch RF cable, reducing system costs.
Spectera integrated seamlessly with PGA Tour Studios' existing Dante and Calrec 2110 audio environments, ensuring no discernible delay or compromise in audio. The system has consistently demonstrated RF resilience and stability even in demanding broadcast environments, such as during The Players Championship, without experiencing any dropouts, hits, or interference issues.
Spectera is consistently used across coverage of numerous live tournaments, including four streams for PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, PGA Tour Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour on Golf Channel, as well as popular studio shows like "The Drop" on Golf Channel, "On the Range" on Golf Channel and YouTube, and the "Creator Classic Series presented by YouTube."
In summary, the Sennheiser Spectera wireless audio ecosystem, now a cornerstone of PGA Tour Studios' operations, offers a simplified infrastructure, reliable RF performance, and streamlined management in complex, multi-show broadcast environments. This innovative system is set to redefine wireless audio management in the broadcast industry.
- PGA Tour Studios has adopted the Sennheiser Spectera wireless audio ecosystem as the core of its digital infrastructure at its new campus in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
- The Spectera system can manage up to 64 audio channels within a 6 or 8 MHz bandwidth, integrating multiple audio streams on a single, wideband RF channel.
- The innovative Spectera system, controlled centrally from a compact base station, has streamlined infrastructure, offering reliable RF performance even in complex, multi-show broadcast environments like PGA Tour Studios' new state-of-the-art campus.
- Spectera has demonstrated its robustness and become essential for PGA Tour’s diverse production needs, handling the demanding, multi-studio environment with ease.
- After two weeks of testing in early January, PGA Tour Studios fully deployed Spectera, supporting live broadcasts across four studios, and allowing the audio team to monitor the health of microphones, In-Ear Monitors, and antennas using Spectera WebUI.
- The new system offers simplified management and effortless transitions between studios, allowing talent to move freely without reconfigurations or manual adjustments.
- PGA Tour Studios plans to expand the Spectera setup to six base stations and additional packs in fall of 2025, citing infrastructure cost savings as a significant factor in its selection.
- Spectera has integrated seamlessly with PGA Tour Studios' existing Dante and Calrec 2110 audio environments, ensuring minimal delay or compromise in audio quality.
- The Sennheiser Spectera wireless audio ecosystem is consistently used across live tournament coverage, including PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, PGA Tour Championships, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour on Golf Channel, and popular studio shows like "The Drop" on Golf Channel, "On the Range" on Golf Channel and YouTube, and the "Creator Classic Series presented by YouTube."
