Talkback

The talkback system in the TV Studios enables communication between the gallery and all operational areas. The main function is for the crew to hear instructions from the Director, Producer, and PA or Script Supervisor. The Floor Manager and Camera Ops can pass information back to the gallery and all technical areas can talk to each other.

(NOTE: In larger studio complexes sound and lighting might be controlled from separate galleries so talkback would be the only way of communicating with them. The system would also include edit suites, engineer’s workshop, outside broadcasts, production office or newsroom etc.)

BEWARE:

In all TV spaces you should expect that you may be heard over talkback. DO NOT hold private conversations or say things you would not want the rest of the team to hear.

The red CUT button should turn off the microphone when lit but there is always a chance that another nearby is switched on.

Trilogy Talkback Panels

There is a panel at each workstation in the gallery, and a desktop unit for use on the studio floor as required.

Each black toggle switch relates to the source or destination showing in the display either above or below the switch. More sources are revealed by pressing the SHIFT button.

Most buttons operate like a walkie-talkie - press down to talk, release to listen - sometimes known as Push-to-Talk (PTT).

If the Producer wants to talk to the Autocue operator on the floor they hold the Acue button down and speak. To reply, the Autocue operator would press and hold the Prod button on their panel whilst talking.

Protocol: It is good practice to identify yourself by role and to say who you are trying to talk to. This alerts the person you need to talk to and let’s others who can hear, know who you want to speak to…. and that possibly they don’t need to hear what is being said. In a busy production it is good to be able to ignore some chatter.

Example: In the situation above the Producer should say:

“Autocue, producer” or “Producer to Autocue” (whilst pressing the Acue button).

The Autocue operator would respond by pressing their Prod button and saying: “Autocue”.

Pressing a button and saying ‘Hello’, doesn’t tell anyone who is calling or who they want to speak to…….be specific.

It’s worth waiting a moment after pressing the button to let Trilogy make the connection before you talk, or your first words might be missed.

Some buttons are designed to work in a ‘conference’ or ‘always on’ mode.

The most obvious of these is Production Talkback - PTB. This is the Director’s main method of communication with the team and is normally on all the time. It is heard by the Floor Manager(s) and anyone who listens to it by flicking the PTB switch on their talkback panel UP. Doing so will turn on a yellow light to indicate that you are listening to PTB.

Normal Operation - Director’s Position

This is how the Director’s panel should be set up.

These buttons latch on and can be left on permanently.

The RED light on PTB shows that the Director is ‘transmitting’ on Production Talkback all the time - which is why PTB is often called ‘open talkback’.

The YELLOW lights show that the Director is listening to:

Rad-A This is ‘Radio A’, the radio talkback system used by the Floor Manager.

The Director will hear the Floor Manager when they press their talk button.

Sometimes used for extra camera operators too - e.g. Camera 4.

CProd Camera Production - the Director will hear the camera operators if they press their talk switch.

Volumes

The master volume for your speaker is controlled by the grey knob nearest to it. There is also a red CUT button by the speaker but it cuts the microphone, not the speaker. This means you can be sure no one can hear you if you need to have a private conversation. (Of course other microphones might be switched on nearby!)

There is another volume control just to the bottom right of the source switches. For a few seconds after selecting a source (e.g. PTB or Rad-A) you can use this knob to adjust the incoming volume of that source. The source name changes to an indication of the level as it is adjusted. If you have a few sources selected you can use this facility to balance the volume of each on against the others. (See video)

Volumes on talkback need to be adjusted carefully to avoid feedback or howlround.

Talkback Settings for Each Role

Director

As described above - PTB on red, Rad-A and CProd (Camera Production) on yellow.

If the presenter has an earpiece the Director can press the Pres button to talk directly to the presenter. This is known as Switched Talkback (SWTB) because the presenter hears nothing from the gallery unless the Director presses the switch.

Some presenters like to work with ‘open talkback’, particularly newsreaders, so they can be aware of what is happening on a fast-changing show. Others prefer Switched Talkback so they are not distracted by gallery instructions not intended for them.

Producer

Shouldn’t need to have anything permanently on; can help sometimes to have Rad-A on the Producer’s panel instead of the Director’s to achieve some separation.

PA

Should have PTB on (red) so that people can hear counts and other information.

Sound

It can be useful to be listening to PTB on the back row of the gallery.

For taking levels from presenters and guests you can talk to the Floor Manager via Rad-A.

Flick the switch up to be able to hear the FM (Yellow light) and push it down to talk. This means you can let the director get on with other things whilst you take levels.

Be aware that the FM might also be trying to listen/talk to the Director - so pick your moment carefully.

Graphics & VT

It can be useful to be listening to PTB on the back row of the gallery and possibly Rad-A too.

Flick the switches up - Yellow light.

Cameras

Camera operators hear the Director via the ‘PROD’ (PTB) volume control on the camera panel.

They respond to the Director by nodding their camera for ‘yes’ and waggling it - left/right - for ‘no’.

To talk to the Director they push the silver switch up to ‘PROD’, but should switch it to ‘OFF’ after use. This keeps the number of open microphones on the system to a minimum and stops sounds from the floor - especially loud music - leaking over talkback.

The sound output of the studio can be added to the camera operator’s headset using the PGM1 volume control.

Camera Ops can also listen/talk to each other and the Vision Engineering (racks) position in the gallery using the ENG volume control and by pushing the silver switch down to ENG.

(NOTE: The labels INTERCOM and EARPHONE at the bottom of the panel refer to the sockets underneath, not the knobs above.)

Floor Manager Talkback (Radio Sets)

The portable ‘Altair’ headsets are powered on using the small red button.

The MIC button can be used as a walkie-talkie - push and hold to talk / release to listen; known as Push-to-Talk (PTT).

If the button is pressed and released quickly, the microphone turns on and stays on. Press again to turn it off.

It is best practice for the FM to work in Push-to-Talk mode (PTT) so that sounds from the floor do not leak over talkback.

The green light shows when the microphone is switched on.

Some Destinations and their Abbreviations:

CAR The Apparatus Room (the one full of engineering kit beyond the gallery).

Pres Talks directly into a Presenter’s earpiece, if using one.

Vis-M Vision Mixer

Snd Sound

GFX Graphics / VT

LD Lighting Director (in the gallery)

Acue Set up for the desktop talkback panel usually on the studio floor.

Rad-B A second radio talkback system not currently used.

Dir Director

Prod Producer

LSTB Loudspeaker Talkback - speak over the loudspeaker mounted in the lighting rig in Studio A. Useful when no one is listening to talkback. NOT to be used during productions as you will be heard over microphones.

Written by PS

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