The Talent Pod II from Henry Engineering is an announcer's mic and headphone controller for use by talent at a remote broadcast. It is ideal for use at sporting events and on-location broadcasts. Talent Pod II solves the problem of providing talent with a mix Local and Return (IFB or "back- haul") audio for their headphones. Its simplicity allows for error-free use by non-technical users, and it provides a
simple way to link several units when a broadcast requires multiple announcers.
The Talent Pod II provides the announcer a convenient way to turn his mic on and off and control his headphone audio. There is a large illuminated Mic On/ Off button and also a Cough button which momentarily mutes mic audio. Mic audio is switched on and off electronically without any pops or clicks.
The Talent Pod II also provides control of the announcer's headphone audio, allowing remote-site Local audio to be mixed with the Return audio that's sent to the site from the main studio. There are separate inputs for Local and Return audio with a Volume control for each source, so the talent can adjust the mix in his headphones. To minimize confusion between the two, Talent Pod II's two Pan switches can independently position Local and Return audio in the Left, Center, or Right channel of the announcer's headphones.
For broadcasts with multiple announcers, several Talent Pod IIs can be used so that each announcer can control his own mic, headphone volume, mix, and pan settings.
Multiple Talent Pod IIs can be quickly linked with cat5
cables, distributing Power, Local and Return headphone audio to all units and eliminating the need for multiple power sources, DAs and complicated wiring. Talent Pod IIs can be used by themselves or integrated with Henry Engineering's MultiPhones system or with Sports Pods/Mini Pods/Guest Pods.
The Talent Pod II also includes a mic preamplifier, which can be used to add an additional mic input to a mixer or used with a codec that has no microphone input and/or monitor jack. The LOCal button (on rear) allows the output of the mic preamp to be used for local monitoring (via the Local volume control) when doing a "single-mic" broadcast without a mixer. If the Local audio source is stereo (as in a studio environment) the MODE button can select Stereo operation, with both headphone channels controlled by the Local Volume control.
Talent Pod IIs can be powered with a MultiPhones Master unit, Power Pod, or an external wall transformer (not included). One power source will operate several units linked with cat5 cables. An optional retractable Desk Mount stand is available. Talent Pod II is 1/3 rack width, and can be rack mounted using the optional Rack Shelf. It can also be wall or cabinet mounted using
optional wall/cabinet mounting brackets.