Salford University selects Sony to prepare students for media industry careers
With over 1,200 students a year enrolled on a range of courses from television and radio, to visual and animation, Salford University is well known for preparing students for the realities of the media industry. Central to this preparation are its dedicated studios, opened in 2011, which offer students practical experience and are also used by industry veterans including the BBC and ITV.
Since their opening, the studios have evolved Salford University’s capabilities substantially. Where previously they had one single older 4 camera, 4 mic system, the university now houses 3 industry compliant TV studios and a vast array of cameras, lighting and audio solutions.
“In this space we produce everything from 1 on 1 interviews all the way through to performances of 18-piece Latin bands. We have a large variety of different shows that come in and out. It’s not only for the students, it’s also for working with commercial clients like the BBC, CBEEBIES and ITV,” commented Ash Tidball, the TV studio manager.
In the summer of 2019, Ash and the team (Joseph John, Liz Starkie and Ben Jackson) turned their focus to audio equipment. The studios needed a current, professional and reliable system, with top of the range performance, design and engineering.
“The university tries to mirror the industry as much as possible, not only in what the academics bring from the outside world in terms of production, presenting and educating, but we also have people like us, Creative Technical Demonstrators, that are bringing in skill sets from the Live Broadcast and Engineering industry. We need to mirror the industry so we can prepare our students to have the transferable skills they need for their jobs in the real world later on,” explained Tidball.
After extensive research and testing, the team decided to invest in the new SONY DWX Gen3 Digital Wireless Series, installing the range across Salford University’s 3 TV studios.
“The Sony DWX series was something that we felt was needed for the studio, not just as a new microphones system, but for the network capabilities it offers. It was further needed for the robustness and the quality of features offered,” continued Tidball.
The Sony DWT-B03R wireless microphone bodypack transmitter, for example, is known as the most robust of its kind. With a strong magnesium-alloy casing, resistant to rain, spray and sweat; and weighing under 100g, it’s perfect for round-the-clock operation in a wide variety of applications at Salford’s busy studios.