Ward-Beck Systems (WBS) to Cease Manufacturing

[Mikey Radio]

Ward-Beck Will Cease Manufacturing - Radio World

Canadian manufacturer was founded in 1967 by Ron Ward and Rodger Beck

www.radioworld.com

My first station had a WBS console. Regardless how many times our daytime host splashed his coffee into that thing, it still kept ticking.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm surprised they lasted this long. There has been little to no R&D, nor migration to IP platforms like other studio equipment manufacturers.

In fact, I got a demo the other day from an audio console provider where there is no physical audio console involved. Any local devices are multicast IP to the AWS cloud, with all the music and spot files also residing in the cloud. The virtual audio console ran via a tablet. In a world where much of the talent is still at home, this makes the ability to do away with racks of equipment and geographic versatility so much easier. The business model for broadcast equipment moves from capital purchases of hardware, to software/cloud services licenses. The tricky part will be built-in network security baked-into the architecture, then maintained as part of the service agreement. Broadcast groups won't tolerate someone in Russia or N. Korea hijacking their radio stations.

 

[Mikey Radio]

In fact, I got a demo the other day from an audio console provider where there is no physical audio console involved. Any local devices are multicast IP to the AWS cloud, with all the music and spot files also residing in the cloud. The virtual audio console ran via a tablet.

Sounds like a great use of technology...But what about redundancy? Just a few weeks ago in one state, there was an AT&T outage that affected both internet and cell service (granted, it was relatively brief, but still...). There was also the recent story about the RV bomber, which affected communications in that area for some time. Sure, these are somewhat isolated incidents that affected a relatively small section of the population, but I'm still not sure how comfortable I'd be with everything in the cloud without a solid redundant backup plan.

 

[frankberry]

Ward-Beck Will Cease Manufacturing - Radio World

Canadian manufacturer was founded in 1967 by Ron Ward and Rodger Beck

www.radioworld.com

My first station had a WBS console. Regardless how many times our daytime host splashed his coffee into that thing, it still kept ticking.

We had a big WB console many years ago at WTVT Television. It was a workhorse.

 

[frankberry]

The vertical faders on the Ward Beck consoles were unique. They contained a rotary pot which was rotated by a gear system which converted the vertical motion of the fader to a rotating motion. The rotary pots were offset-mounted so that anything spilled into the faders would not drip onto the pot.

 

[Kelly A]

Sounds like a great use of technology...But what about redundancy? Just a few weeks ago in one state, there was an AT&T outage that affected both internet and cell service (granted, it was relatively brief, but still...). There was also the recent story about the RV bomber, which affected communications in that area for some time. Sure, these are somewhat isolated incidents that affected a relatively small section of the population, but I'm still not sure how comfortable I'd be with everything in the cloud without a solid redundant backup plan.

The beauty of being cloud-based, is not only are your systems backed up in data centers all over the planet, but all you need to run it is a working Internet connection. If you lose Internet at your home, but the local Starbucks or Panera has Internet, you're up and running. Being stuck in a single studio location isn't necessary. For that matter, you could use the HotSpot on your phone as a backup.

 

[Kelly A]

The vertical faders on the Ward Beck consoles were unique. They contained a rotary pot which was rotated by a gear system which converted the vertical motion of the fader to a rotating motion. The rotary pots were offset-mounted so that anything spilled into the faders would not drip onto the pot.

The old Auditronics consoles like the Grandson did the same thing. The pot was mounted at the end of a worm gear that rotated as the fader slid up and down.

 

[TheBigA]

Broadcast groups won't tolerate someone in Russia or N. Korea hijacking their radio stations.

Seems to me they already have. Isn't that what happened to Entercom?

But yes, Ward-Beck was once considered the gold standard of audio consoles, a more modern version of Neve. But that was a long time ago. When ABC Radio built their network studios on West End Avenue in NYC, all the consoles were Ward-Beck. But now 40 years later, that building is being retired, and the operation is moving downtown.

 

[Kelly A]

Seems to me they already have. Isn't that what happened to Entercom?

Entercom got hit not once, but twice by ransomware. From what I hear, the bad guy's locked-up their billing and financial records.
This was just another high profile prime example of traditional radio corporate management not understanding the gravity, let alone being willing to spend the money, on things like IT security. Management thought just buying some anti-virus software is all that's needed.