CRAS Broadcast Crew Goes to Barrett-Jackson

The Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction is broadcast live this week on Discovery Communication’s Velocity channel. Barrett-Jackson is a Scottsdale, Arizona company that specializes in vintage, collector, and classic cars. This show is the where the best of the best, most unique cars in the world, come to find new owners. The most expensive car auctioned at Barrett-Jackson is an original 1962 Shelby Cobra, which sold for a cool $13.75 million dollars.

The Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction is broadcast live this week on Discovery Communication’s Velocity channel. Barrett-Jackson is a Scottsdale, Arizona company that specializes in vintage, collector, and classic cars. This show is the where the best of the best, most unique cars in the world, come to find new owners. The most expensive car auctioned at Barrett-Jackson is an original 1962 Shelby Cobra, which sold for a cool $13.75 million dollars.

CRAS student checking out the showroom floor

On site at Barrett-Jackson

The CRAS broadcast crew, including student volunteers, were invited by Bryan Korot, who is one of the audio engineers we’ve met at NASCAR. Bryan mixes this show, as well as the Supercross event we’re also invited to next week.

Technical Manager Bill Kavis was our main contact for getting approval. He forwarded our request to Discovery and is the primary person facilitating our visit. The Barrett-Jackson auction will be aired on Discovery’s Velocity channel all this week, as well as their Canadian affiliates. It takes over 110 crew members to put on this broadcast. About 8 of them are audio specific engineers.

Dave Powers tours the CRAS Broadcast Crew

Some of the audio positions in the broadcast world include:

  • A1 – Chief Audio Engineer
  • A2 – Assistant Audio Engineer
  • AU – Audio Utility Person

There are a total of 22 cameras running live feeds for this auction. Each of the camera feeds, as well as the audio lines, arrive at the main production control room (pictured above). A total of 6 main technical broadcast trucks, with an additional 3 support trucks, provide all the coverage for this event.

Pictured above is the main patch panel for the camera and audio feeds coming from the show floor. All of the yellow lines are fiber channel feeds.

CRAS students get hands on experience running the robotic cameras on the showroom floor.

Broadcast audio engineering is just one of the five disciplines taught in the Conservatory’s comprehensive MRP2 audio education program. Students gain an extensive understanding of the important role that communications systems play in broadcast situations. Our education includes hands-on experience with the industry standard RTS line of communications products, including configuration of the system using AZ Edit software.

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson

Cras At Barret Jackson