For the last seven years Gearhouse broadcast has been providing the audio system for X Factor, ITV largest music talent show.  Gearhouse Broadcast supplied the majority of all presenter and contestant radio microphones for both the ITV1 and ITV2 shows and worked with clients, Talkback Thames and Video Sound Services to deliver a huge, complex audio system in accordance with the shows production requirements.  The job was so involved that the setup and project planning for the production begins at least two months before the first studio transmission goes live.

In total seven x8-way receiver racks was rigged at the Studios for use on both the ITV1 & ITV2 shows. The seven racks were used in conjunction with a Sennheiser custom built ‘Titan X’ aerial combiner which allowed full diversity coverage throughout the studios during the shows.  This type of audio solution was determined by both the ITV1 and ITV2 shows requiring not only coverage of the studio but also the backstage areas, green rooms, dressing rooms and connecting corridors all on one system so that contestants could move around the different areas. 

The Titan combiner is a bespoke solution built by Gearhouse Broadcast in conjunction with Sennheiser, specifically to meet the audio RF demands of The X Factor and provide a multi-zone radio microphone system.  Further audio equipment that was supplied by Gearhouse Broadcast included 43 x Sennheiser SK 5012 microphones and 5212 transmitters, 5 Sennheiser SKM 5200-U transmitters,  2 Sennheiser SKP 30 plug on transmitters and a set of two Sennheiser wireless in ear monitors.  Due to the 54 channels of Radio Frequencies throughout the building a custom calculated frequency plan was needed to avoid any interference between the equipment. This was developed in conjunction with the audio manufacturer Sennheiser and radio spectrum managers JFMG.   

All radio equipment was configured to meet the specifications of BAFTA award winning Sound Director, Robert Edwards of VSS Limited, who sets out the requirements for the shows and has worked with Gearhouse Broadcast on a number of projects before including Talent TV’s ‘Test the Nation’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.

For the duration of the show Gearhouse Broadcast’s Audio division supplied full technical support and back-up to assist with the smooth running of the production. 

Mandy Lee, Line Producer for Talkback Thames said “We have worked with Gearhouse Broadcast and Robert Edwards on many projects before.  Highly recommended by Robert, Gearhouse Broadcast proved that their audio department could tailor their service to suit any needs and any schedule that we could throw at them”

Gearhouse Broadcast’s Managing Director Eamonn Dowdall said “Drawing on our vast experience of live television production we understand the time constraints involved and the need to work within budget and provide reliable, quality systems.  For the X Factor we create a multi-purpose radio microphone solution to meet the large scale requirements of this high profile show.”