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Black Pedal??

(August 2003)

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ST
South Today
Does anyone know what that black pedal ( I think it's a pedal) is on the desk of the short bulletins of BBC regional news. I have seen on the short bulletins of East Midlands Today and South Today.

Could anyone tell me what the function of it is please.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
An autocue controller perhaps? Tilt forward to speed up, backward to slow down.
NG
noggin Founding member
Pedal operated autocue is certainly quite common in many regions. It is not that unusual to hear it squeak...

(You press harder to make the Autocue roll faster, and have a red button you can kick with your toe to reverse the direction of rolling)
ST
South Today
noggin posted:
Pedal operated autocue is certainly quite common in many regions. It is not that unusual to hear it squeak...

(You press harder to make the Autocue roll faster, and have a red button you can kick with your toe to reverse the direction of rolling)


Yes but wouldn't it be on the floor not on the desk.
HC
Hatton Cross
It's not a non standarded coloured mouse for the newswire screen built into the desk is it. My wireless mouse is sort of pedal shaped..
ST
South Today
Hatton Cross posted:
It's not a non standarded coloured mouse for the newswire screen built into the desk is it. My wireless mouse is sort of pedal shaped..


I really don't think it's a mouse.
RT
rts Founding member
I always thought it was a clock...
SP
Steve in Pudsey
If it's a sort of wedge shaped thing I think it's a boundary microphone, there as a back up for the personal mic I assume.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030826140856634&moduleno=27414&Products=1

North West Tonight has more traditional mics on the desk, and doesn't have the boundaries
ST
South Today
Steve in Pudsey posted:
If it's a sort of wedge shaped thing I think it's a boundary microphone, there as a back up for the personal mic I assume.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030826140856634&moduleno=27414&Products=1

North West Tonight has more traditional mics on the desk, and doesn't have the boundaries


Thats it!! If the newsreader is wearing a microphone why do there need that?!
RT
rts Founding member
South Today posted:
Steve in Pudsey posted:
If it's a sort of wedge shaped thing I think it's a boundary microphone, there as a back up for the personal mic I assume.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/products/module.asp?CartID=030826140856634&moduleno=27414&Products=1

North West Tonight has more traditional mics on the desk, and doesn't have the boundaries


Thats it!! If the newsreader is wearing a microphone why do there need that?!


In case the tie-mic packs up/gets disconnected etc.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
It's common practice to have a second mic on live desk based programmes.

News 24 do for example

http://www.asahicks.unisonplus.net/Images/BBC%20News%2024/Images/Studio%20Shot%20G.jpg
Source: TV Home

I think the previous set in the nationals studio had the boundary mics

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