Webb County

Webb County - Laredo, TX - Completed December 2004

This installation was featured in Pro AV magazine, December 2005.

Local Government entities have a duty to keep the public informed of all of the issues that come before the commissioners each week. For Webb county, local cable access is the communication method of choice.

With ageing equipment consisting of parts generally used for security A/V systems, Webb County hired TMS to assist in designing and implementing a new broadcast level system, using DSI as a signal standard. DVCAM was chosen as the recording format for its cost effectiveness, high quality, and compatibility with the local cable access channel.

An electronic conferencing system was installed to help the Commissioners deal with the acoustic problems inherent in their 100 year-old historical courtroom. This system allows for electronic voting with instant recording and tabulation. A timer module was added to the podium conferencing station, which allows each guest speaker to view their remaining time. The system also helps to streamline meetings by giving the conference president the ability to control a speaker's terminal.

Webb County is a local government entity that deals with public issues, thus system reliability is a must. Anywhere possible, TMS built redundancy into the system. For this reason, Lectrosonics automixers were chosen to mix the backup microphones. The Lectrosonics DM16/12 also serves as a matrix router for the control room monitoring system. For telephone conferencing, a Lectrosonics TH3A telephone hybrid was installed and integrated into the system.

Presentation equipment was also upgraded to include an Eiki 4500 lumen projector and an Extron System 7 switcher that allows presenters to use visual aids from VHS, DVD, Power Point, or their existing document camera.

To assist county personnel with the workflow change, TMS provided training for each of the sub-systems, including how to best utilize their existing Avid NLE system with the new broadcast and presentation systems. Along with reconfiguring and optimizing the Avid, TMS also added a DVCAM deck and Winsted studio furniture to the Avid suite. Our on-staff Avid certified Support Rep. (ACSR) handled the task of completing the Avid suite install.

The presentation, broadcast, conferencing and post systems were all installed simultaneously and treated as one complete system. This ensured that all sub-systems worked together, and provided the client with a smooth transition to the new system.

Wilford Hall Medical Center

Wilford Hall Medical Center - Lackland AFB, TX - Completed July 2005

The full version of this Press Release can be found at Lectrosonics' website, August 2005.

Lackland Air Force Base outside of San Antonio is renowned as a home to surgical advancement and information by way of it’s videography in the operating room. Craig Miller, principal medical videographer at Lackland’s Wilford Hall Medical Center, works side by side with some of the United States’ most celebrated military surgeons, but has felt self-conscious around his colleagues because “the equipment that [he] was provided was never up to par with what these doctors expected from a professional organization.” After some research, Miller contacted Texas Media Systems to effectively enhance and advance his audio-visual presentations.

Lectrosonics wireless audio systems were recommended by TMS because of their consistency and capability in this atmosphere. Paired together, Miller and TMS selected the Compact UHF receiver (UCR201) designed for use in camera-mounted applications for field production and location recording along with the Digital Hybrid Wireless Compact Receiver (UCR411A) which, in addition to the aforementioned, offers adjustments from its front panel – a perfect choice for use in portable rack-mount carriers.

Texas Media Systems also guided Miller to 2 different UHF belt-pack transmitters: Wideband (UM200C), ideal for environments where television and radio broadcast equipment can cause frequency coordination problems, and the Digital Hybrid Wireless Compact (UM400) or what Miller describes as what “is going to be [his] baby.”

The plethora of aluminum housed visual and wireless microphone equipment will successfully and accurately capture the sights and sounds of operations for instructional videos in military hospitals.

Texas Media System’s ability to incorporate quality service, equipment, and support in environments where there simply isn’t a second take is what leaves Miller with the quote, “Now I have equipment that’s better than what ‘combat camera’ gets; it’s so rugged that it could go off to war, if need be.”