So while some of us are trying to find the perfect app for recording audio on a portable device, along comes an app that just lets you send it over IP, live.
This came out in March, so I apologize for not finding it till now (feel like my tech-nose is failing me!).
Tieline is an Aussie company, and TieLine is a serious product for people with a substantial budget (but there are also some basic, and very affordable options, here). Here’s a quote from a recent article in Broadcast Engineering: TieLine is…“a new application for the Apple iPhone that serves as an IP audio codec for live, wireless newsgathering. The new application lets iPhone users capture and transmit live, high-quality audio to Tieline codecs in the studio.”
I don’t know about you, but this is the first time I’ve seen the words AUDIO CODEC mentioned in the same sentence with iPhone. I know, I know…it says the program is for wireless newsgathering, but lets face it…half the hardware and software we use as voice actors was either designed for musicians, audio studios, or broadcast studios. So what’s the problem adapting this technology for live connections.? Ever heard of ISDN, Source-Connect of VOIP?
When you search for this app in the iTunes store, you’ll find a “lite” version, an “enterprise” version, and a paid version…the first two are free, and have limited (but capable) functionality. The third version is $30, and it goes up from there. In fact, ProAudio.com offers a fully-functional package of TieLine connections and live streaming for $995 (ouch!). There are some extended costs to use this product to its full potential, but the lite version could easily be a solution for a VO cutting network promos in the back seat of his car in a pinch (Ashton Smith?).
I’ve been busy in TV news for 30 years, and I’ve never pretended to understand all the details of the broadcast equipment and protocols, so you’ll have to visit the TieLine.com site to get answers to your technical questions. However, I can tell you that broadcasters everywhere are dabbling in all sorts of new possibilities in digital journalism, and you can expect solutions like this to grow and multiply.
Mark my words, technology headed in this direction CAN be adapted to voice-over situations, and we all need to keep our eyes open for the possibilities.
CourVO
