No Sax Metaphor

Sorry, the headline is a cheap shot, but Mark Turner used it as a subhead in his article called Digital TV, Sax and Violins in the September 19th issue of TV Technology. As you know, one of my pet peeves is broadcast IT people crowing about how great it is that ubiquitous computing has made it possible for many separate devices (like CGs, still-stores, video switchers and audio consoles) to be combined into a time-line-centric single (keyboard and mouse controlled) device.

Now I have nothing against the Ross Video Overdrive and the Thomson Grass Valley Ignite – they are great at automating repetitive tasks. But I have racked-up some flight time on Ignite’s predecessor and you have keep in mind that when the excrement hits the fan (like truly breaking BIG news), you really want to have a couple of those old fashioned ‘single button per function’ devices and some warm bodies to run them in your control room. Otherwise you might be able to characterize your coverage as “no sax radio.”