www.sbe.org Raising the Bar
Society of Broadcast Engineers Monthly Newsletter on Career Advancement        September 2011
Issue Highlights
Did you know?
Stand out to your employers
New SBE University Course - Television Video and Audio
New SBE University Course - IP and File Based Architecture & Workflows
SBE CertPreview now w/DRB Specialist
Webinars by SBE
SBE University Courses - online, on-demand
On the Horizon

September

16      cert applications due for 

          November exams 

27-28 SBE National Meeting

          Columbus, OH

30      FEMA IPAWS Virtual

          Roundtable

October

18      SBE RF Safety Course

23      SBE certification   

          exams during AES in NY

November

5        NYC Ennes Workshop

Did you know?

Archived issues of SBE's publication The Signal are available on the SBE website. Get even more from SBE by clicking here to see issues from 2008-2010.

Contact Information


John L. Poray, CAE
Executive Director

Certification Director

Education Director
Stand out to your employers
SBE CertifiedSomething you may consider when you apply for certification is your option to request that a letter be sent to your employer from the SBE President. This letter would state that you have obtained a level of SBE Certification.

While the certification itself looks good on a resume, this letter "steps it up" to acknowledge your efforts for career improvement in the broadcast engineering field.

Certification applicants can request the employer letter when filling out the certification or recertification application

The employer letter is only sent when the applicant passes an exam.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Certification Director, Megan Clappe.

  

NEW SBE University Course

Television Video and Audio - a Ready Reference for Engineers

SBE UniversityA new course on SBE University, Television Video and Audio - a Ready Reference for Engineers, was developed by Randy Hoffner. Hoffner is retired from ABC Broadcast Operations and Engineering West Coast.  The purpose of this course is to give the television engineer a solid grounding in the various aspects of video and audio for television, and to serve as a reference to the pertinent standards. The course provides an overview of video and audio for television, from the dawn of analog television broadcasting to today's digital television transmission. It is specifically aimed at television in the U.S., although, where appropriate, other world television systems are mentioned.

 

Subjects in this online, on-demand course include: NTSC Video and Transmission, Component Video, Analog Resolution and Aspect Ratio, Digital Video, Digital Scanning Formats, Other SD and HD Video Characteristics, Baseband Signal Interfaces, Video Compression for DTV, Video Storage, Analog Audio, Digital Audio, Digital Audio Compression for Television and Audio Storage. 

More Info and Registration 

 

RF Safety Banner Ad

NEW SBE University Course

The New Lifecycle of Media - IP and File Based Architecture and Workflows

SBE UniversityGary Olson, Principal of GHO Group LLC, is the author of a new course on SBE University titled The New Lifecycle of Media - IP and File Based Architecture and Workflows. The intent of this course is to review the entire IP and file based architecture, the changes in workflows and the broad spectrum of technologies that make up the environment. The transition to an IP infrastructure supporting file based broadcast and production came about more quickly and completely than any of the other recent changes in the broadcast and production industry. The course will show how this is a transition that is dependent on people, process and technology. 
 

This online, on-demand course will provide an understanding of:

  1. all the technical considerations that need to be taken into account in a file based architecture.
  2. the changing roles and responsibilities engineers will have in designing and maintaining these new systems.
  3. the new jobs / roles that are necessary in handling media in this architecture.
  4. the changes in workflow and business processes.

 More Info and Registration  

   

SBE CertPreview study guide (now with DRB)

 

If you are taking or thinking about taking an SBE Certification exam, consider using the SBE CertPreview to aid in your exam preparation. 

 SBE CertPreview

The SBE CertPreview is the only product endorsed by the SBE National Certification Committee as a way of studying for SBE Certification exams.

 

The SBE CertPreview will take you through a 50 multiple choice question exam and allow you to revisit your answers before you score the sample test.

 
Once you have scored the sample test you will be given a breakdown percentage of categories. You will also have the ability to go back to the questions contained within your sample test to see the correct answer.
 
You can take mulitple sample tests and each time you will have a new mixture of questions. The software was designed to give examinees an idea of what to expect on SBE Certification exams. Everyone's knowledge is different and the actual mulitple-choice exams are open book. 

 

The SBE CertPreview is available for PC and Mac users and can be downloaded and installed onto your computer or you can purchase the CD to install later.

 

The sample tests are $29 each for the download and $33 each (+$3 s/h) for the CD.

 

You may order online or contact the SBE office to order the SBE CertPreview.

 

 

DRB SPECIALIST NOW AVAILABLE ON CertPreview! 

The Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist CertPreview is now available for PC users.

(Mac version coming soon) 

The Digital Radio Broadcast Specialist certification was designed to help evaluate an individual's ability to perform the necessary tasks to build and keep facilities operating properly. It will qualify an individual's knowledge of digital radio broadcasting including audio processing, studio-to-transmitter links and transmission of multi-channel digital program streams.

  

UPCOMING SBE EXAMS - Register Now 

2011 dates:
October 23, 2011 in New York City during the AES Convention
Pre-registration is available as well as on-site registration.
November 4-14, 2011 at your local SBE chapter
You must send in your application to the National Office by September 16, 2011 in order to be registered for the exams.

 

2012 dates:

February 3-13, 2012 at your local SBE chapter, applications are due by December 21, 2011
April 17, 2012 held during the 2012 NAB Show  in Las Vegas, applications are due by March 25, 2012
June 1-11, 2012 at your local SBE chapter, applications are due by April 13, 2012
August 3-13, 2012 at your local SBE chapter, applications are due by June 1, 2012
November 2-12, 2012 at your local SBE chapter, applications are due by September 14, 2012

 

Make sure that you visit the SBE website to view the suggested reference lists for the SBE certification exams. A lot of the recommended books are available at a discount to SBE members through the SBE bookstore.

 

Please visit the SBE website or contact the Certification Director, Megan Clappe, for more information.
Webinars by SBE
FEMA IPAWS Virtual Roundtable - September 30 - 1:30 p.m. ET  FREE!
FEMA IPAWS Special Event - Prepared & Ready: The Final Stretch Before the Nationwide EAS Test
This roundtable discussion will involve a variety of topics and draft documents for feedback that will support updates to the EAS Best Practices Guide and Nationwide EAS Test Informational Toolkit. Some examples include:

· Television and Cable EAS Background Slate

· Nationwide EAS Test Message Transcript Draft

· Public Service Announcement Audio Sample  

· Nationwide EAS Test Data Reporting

· Required Monthly Test Activities and Findings           More Info

 

SBE RF Safety Course - October 18 - 2:30 p.m. ET Webinars by SBE
with Richard Strickland of RF Safety Solutions

SBE Members - $85; Non-Members - $125

The course is designed for broadcast station personnel, including chief and assistant chief engineers, transmitter site engineers, ENG and SNG maintenance personnel and management that need to have an understanding of RF safety issues and regulations. More Info

 

Webinars available on-demand

 

Managing a Project and Outside Contractors for Success

 


  

SBE University - online courses available on-demand