NEP Australia boosts live broadcast efficiency with Spectera system
NEP Australia has expanded its audio operations with the deployment of Sennheiser's Spectera wireless system across its sports and studio productions. The move is part of NEP's ongoing effort to manage the technical complexity and spectrum constraints that come with large-scale live broadcasts in major cities and multi-site remote setups.
Complexity rises
Over recent years, NEP's broadcast portfolio has grown to include major sporting events such as the AFL and NRL, as well as high-profile entertainment shows including The Chase and national boxing events. This scale growth brought increasing demands: teams faced congested RF environments, shorter setup windows, and higher expectations for remote production capabilities.
Alex Wong, Senior Supervising Audio Director at NEP Australia, said that frequency management in such circumstances presents a sizeable challenge. "It's a pretty hostile world out there for frequency management. We need something agile and easy to set up," said Wong.
Spectera introduced
NEP selected Sennheiser's Spectera technology to address these issues by reducing the number of hardware units required onsite and streamlining control processes. Spectera combines microphones, in-ear monitors, and control data on a single RF channel, reducing the need for multiple systems and simplifying deployment. Engineers use a compact base station and SEK bidirectional bodypacks, with remote monitoring handled over LinkDesk and a browser interface.
Wong reports the system's adoption has cut setup times from several hours to less than 40 minutes. Remote management abilities allow engineers to monitor systems without being physically present at each location. This has proved beneficial as NEP shifts further towards centralised and remote-first workflows.
Operational results
Spectera is currently active on productions such as The Chase, Fox Footy, and AFL matches. Trials are ongoing in other sporting events, where the system's versatility is being assessed. During a live mariachi band session, Spectera allowed easy miking of instruments and vocals despite older cabling, underlining its adaptability.
Annabelle Salomon, Audio Director at NEP, highlighted the impact of the system on operational efficiency. "The build quality is exactly what we expect from Sennheiser. But the flexibility and ease of use really stood out. We had the system installed and running in under an hour, and its footprint is just a quarter of what we'd typically need," said Salomon.
Further integration with Neumann monitors and Merging's Anubis audio interface forms a portable and scalable setup, with field teams able to complete installations single-handedly. "[Our] clients were impressed with the small footprint, ease of use, versatility and of course, how it all sounded," said Wong.
Live trials
NEP has been trialling Spectera in OB environments, pairing it with existing handheld units for flexible coverage. During the live broadcast of the SBW vs Gallen boxing event at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena, the system was tested under heavy RF traffic and delivered stable performance.
"Even though this was a new type of setup, there were no nasty surprises, and I was able to do most of the rigging myself. Once the system was up, our field crew, who hadn't seen Spectera before, were able to get across it quickly and run it live. It sounded great and the talent was very happy," said Wong.
Spectera will be further evaluated in forthcoming NRL events, particularly for referee communications and IEM deployment, where the system's rapid setup and reliable coverage could drive operational changes.
Remote expansion
NEP is preparing for the rollout of SMPTE 2110, enabling audio signals to travel over IP networks instead of conventional cabling. This upgrade is expected to allow direct remote connections between Spectera and mixing consoles or commentary systems, enhancing the flexibility of broadcast workflows.
Salomon cited Spectera's scalability and flexibility as influential in NEP's decision to invest in the system for future projects. "Its scalability and flexibility have already impressed us," said Salomon.
Wong described the technical evolution as significant for NEP's future workflows. "If we can stream signals from anywhere to anywhere, we're not limited by geography anymore. That's the future," said Wong.
Collaboration process
NEP's involvement in Sennheiser's Spectera Pioneer Programme enabled the team to provide feedback influencing areas such as the user interface, hardware ergonomics, and monitoring tools. Wong acknowledged the advantages of this approach. "Sennheiser has always built what we need. The MKH 8018 mic filled a World Cup gap for us, and Spectera is the same. They're not just selling gear, they're listening to end users," said Wong.
