[BC] Any other staticides?

[SHAFFER, RANDY L]

Barry wrote -

>Someone suggested a mixture of water and Downy as the best solution 
>for "winter static" ...

>Are there any others?  How about a humidifier for the studio?


Barry -

For some reason about three years ago we started noticing an increasing number of tape "hits". We finally determined due to the dry air in the winter months, there was a slight static discharge coming from the tape or the tape head which looked like a "hit" or dropout on the tape. It seemed silly at the time, but we installed a console room humidifier in MCR and the problem was greatly reduced. It is the operators job at the start of the shift to make sure the containers are filled. That seemed to solve the problem. If I start seeing dropouts, it is nearly always due to someone letting the humidifer go dry. Some people didn't think that a console unit would be large enough for such a large room, but it seems to be enough to work.
I plan to add a second unit on the other side of the control room this year so that there is always one operating.
We still have a problem with a certain director who wears a synthetic jacket and then discharges himself on the switcher. He claims he never had that problem at ESPN and wants us to install a mat discharge system for people to walk on when entering the control booth. I can't figure out how that would work if you are walking on it with sneakers or shoes. I'll have to do more research.

Randy Shaffer
WLYH-TV/WHP-TV
Harrisburg, PA 17110