Auracast Broadcast Audio - Bluetooth LE (ALS) technology as IFB discussion

[PCMsoundie]

Will this change how IATSE feature film and Episodics handle IFBs on the set? No.

Indie films, documentaries, corporate & smaller productions? Yes.

 

Just announced by Bluetooth spec group's multi-stream audio called Auracast™ broadcast audio enables an audio transmitter, such as a smartphone, laptop, television, or public address system to broadcast audio to an unlimited number of nearby Bluetooth audio receivers, including speakers, earbuds, or hearing devices/next-generation assistive listening system (ALS) technology.

Auracast will allow a single audio transmitting device to broadcast to an unlimited number of nearby receiving devices.
share audio with other listeners and even receive broadcast transmissions in airports, museums, auditoriums, and more.
Hearing Loss Association of America have already said that they are going to support the new standard. [Hearing aid industry as Bluetooth Auracast transmitter vendors]
https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/just-announced-auracast-broadcast-audio-a-new-feature-of-le-audio/

Augmented/Assistive Listening
Auracast broadcast audio will function as a high quality, low-cost, next-generation assistive listening system (ALS)
https://www.bluetooth.com/auracast/assistive-listening/

specs:
Your Bluetooth 5.2 device is about to be able to listen in to Auracast broadcasts,
Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE, colloquially BLE) , Bluetooth 5 connection range to up to 240m.  LC3 audio codec @ 48KHz audio streams to 192Kbps

Quote

In order to use the Auracast™ trademarks in promoting services available at your location, you will need to meet the licensing requirements detailed in the Public Location Brand Guide for Auracast™ Trademarks, which will include registering your location with the Bluetooth SIG.

https://www.bluetooth.com/auracast/public-locations/

Quote

public uses—like, say, a theater in which everyone has headphones—as well as private ones: users will be able to create closed audio feeds protected via passcode.

How join an Auracast™ broadcast on a mobile phone?
A simple scan of a QR code will allow you to join an Auracast™ broadcast effortlessly.
[Think a QR code shown shown discretely to the crewmember at the sound cart]

 

Let's discuss the pros and cons of this for film/TV set use.

security? possibly unauthorized recording of the sound mix leaked, script/plot leaks from it.

 

Would a production company buy a transmitter and expect crew to use their own mobile phones? maybe on a smaller production like a 4 week non-union indie film. Expect to hear of a film doing this in 2023.

Would the Sound dept maintain Auracast transmitter equipment for production? and also lose out on IFB rentals? Possibly.

Would we have to put in a Deal Memo that we are not liable of unauthorized recording of the sound mix leaked, script/plot leaks from use of it?

RF conflicts with other Bluetooth 2.4Ghz bandwidth onset? possibly.

[Ian Berman]

Very interesting. Bluetooth 5.2 was already pretty impressive, in terms of range, quality and power draw. Curious how reliable multi-receiver use will be. Is the delay still around ~250ms ? Can't find info on it. 

[codyman]

This will be nice for indies / docs where you are out running about and that field producer just wants to listen to what's going on with their airpods.  But yeah, IFB's are not going anywhere like you said.

[Shastapete]

There's certainly a cost/benefit ratio of not needing to supply comtek/IFBs – If the transmitter is reasonably priced, and "professional" enough, I could see myself getting one and charging to deploy it on set for the agency folks to all connect. Since I don't need to worry about supplying additional headsets or tracking them down at wrap that could save me a lot of grief on set (even though the IFBs basically just print money for me, since clients want them and they're already paid off)

 

What I don't want (and what I'm sure it would turn into) is being tech support for everyone having issues connecting their phone/headphones/whatever to the transmitter.

 

My gear is already pre-configured and when I hand it to them, I know it's already set up and ready. So for the $50/per they're also getting my time, effort, and knowledge for setting them up with something I stand behind.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Now there's minimum system requirements to receive an IFB feed?

Sounds like a support nightmare until all the older BT devices age out of existence.

I like the potential.  I dread the reality.

[PCMsoundie]

has anyone seen this yet from April 25, 2024

 

Google is adding a dedicated “audio sharing” page in Android 15 that allows users to find, connect to, or start their own Auracast stream.

 

 

Quote

To start an Auracast stream, I had to go to the new Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Audio sharing page in Android 15. Then, I had to toggle “share audio” up top to begin the stream. Once my phone began streaming audio, a notification from “Bluetooth LE audio” appeared that told me I was “sharing media audio.” This notification also had buttons to “stop” the stream or open the “settings” for audio sharing. The media output switcher also reflected that I was now “sharing audio” instead of playing audio on “this phone.”

To control who could connect to my stream, I was able to manually pick the broadcast name and password under the “stream settings” header in the “audio sharing” page. Alternatively, I could tap the QR icon to open a page where an automatically generated QR code is shown that other people can scan to connect to my stream.

Here's a first look at Bluetooth audio sharing in Android 15 (androidauthority.com)

Auracast standardizes audio sharing over Bluetooth and even enables sharing with more than two devices, eliminating the need to pick up a specific brand of smartphone or headphones. 

as said in earlier post not going to replace IFBs on a proper set but it might be a quicker MacGyver DIY IFB to listen-in.

[PCMsoundie]

Well this week it was announced that The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 are the first Bose headphones to support this underrated Bluetooth tech.

 

https://support.bose.com/article/quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-2nd-gen-updating-your-headphones

 

Unless you already own 1 pair They cost $449USD!
A Comtek receiver and $10. headphones cost about the same. Of course you still need a Auracast transmitter.

 

I do see you can already purchase Auracast transmitters for under $100.

BA210 v2 Auracast Bluetooth Transmitter
Sennheiser BTA1 TV Transmitter with Auracast

Avantree Audikast 4 – Auracast & Bluetooth TV Transmitter for Headphones

Eppfun LE Audio Bluetooth 5.4 Audio Transmitter -Auracast LC3 for Gaming Watching Music with Broadcast Audio 1vn Auracast for 42USD 
 

[PMC]

PCM,

I own a BA210 v2 Auracast Bluetooth Transmitter. It came with two usb-c rechargeable  BT 5.4 Auracast over the ear headphones. The clarity is far superior to Comteks, of course. The range is greater than 150 feet. It introduces a bit of a delay but not as bad as a monitor in video village.

 

The BA210 v2 Auracast Bluetooth Transmitter has regular BT mode for eveyones ear buds or BT 5.4 for hearing aids and the Auracast headphones.

[Derek H]

On my show we recently tested an Auracast system from Listen Tech with their base station transmitter and little beltpack receivers.  Range was good, not as good as Comtek 216 but easily covered our entire stage. Audio quality was great.  The delay was noticeable and annoying if you’re right there on set in person but would be tolerable or even beneficial watching from a similarly delayed video monitor. It struggled a bit to reconnect at times when going out of and then back into range. Sometimes that worked sometimes not. Our conclusion was that the system we demoed would definitely not be a total Comtek replacement but only a bonus system for users who want to use their BYO listening gadgets. 
 

I can see it working as a self-service supplement at video village but only when and if Apple ever adopts the technology to work natively on their products. At least that’s the request we’ve gotten, producer or director comes up to us with their Airpod Pros and asks if they can use them to hear the set… But we didn’t see any point in owning, providing, maintaining, troubleshooting Auracast compatible headphones or receivers when it was clear we would need traditional Comteks as a fallback anyway. It would create a lot more work for us. But if the technology develops to the point where people at the village already own compatible earbuds and understand how to get on an Auracast stream without help from us by scanning a QR code or something then sure that could be cool. 
 

.. and then of course is this something that you can bill for or will they just expect it in the package??

 

If the latter then definitely no reason to pursue this. 

[PMC]

My problem with Comtek 216s is that 180 to 240 is very cluttered anymore and I don't have the wacking great external antenna. Just the rubber ducky.

 

Even in the middle of a corn field with no police or aircraft related infrastructure in the immediate area I get interference. 

 

Here is a scan from today. In a corn field. Scans are usually worse than this.

 

My comteks rarely come out to play anymore. I have switched to a 900mhz transmitter and receivers. Much more reliable. At this time, lol.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Thanks for the great write-up Derek.  Critical, real-world experience is why I hang out around here.

@PMC:  What the heck is transmitting at 240MHz VHF?  I've never seen anything in that range.  Always 100% clean where I've looked.

[PMC]

The resonate frequency of corn.

Blahahaha.

 

I will try to SDR that frequency today and have a listen.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Lol.  Hard to think of things that would be transmitting in corn country on the Great Plains.

[PMC]

The 240 freq is structured. And relatively quiet. Not just white noise.

I usually get stepped on by small airports in this range.

 

This morning's scan was performed without any two-way comms turned on.

[Philip Perkins]

Out in farm country some irrigation etc equipment is operated wirelessly.

[PMC]

Last update.

A mile down the road and it is even worse.