A Fax Check (short for facilities check) is a systematic testing of all expected production equipment in a mobile unit (MU) approx 3.5 hours to air. This is when the following happens:
Cameras
- The TD will tally each camera in the switcher to ensure the correct camera is getting tallied when expected.
- If there is more than 1 set of tallies on the show, the TD will test those as well.
- Cameras are expected to fully test the basic features of their equipment.
- Zoom / Focus / PGM Audio / Return Video / Comms to the Truck
- Video will work with each camera to ensure their lens is fully seated and the back focus is correct.
Audio
- The A1 will pump music down PGM to ensure all camera ops have it in their headsets, all tape machines are getting the proper mix as well as all announcer headsets/IFBs are receiving audio.
- The A2 will go around to all talent mics and test the following:
- Talk
- Listen – to themselves and the truck
- Talkback
- Cough
- If there is any RF on the show – the A2/RF will test the same with all RF microphones.
- If the show has more than 2 channels (99% of the time it will), the A1 will work with tape to break each channel to ensure everything is routed correctly.
- Any sources that make noise are tested here – Spot Boxes / Music Playback / Bug / Fonts
Technical Director
- Aside from their duties helping other areas fax – the TD also needs to fax out their panel.
- Do all effects/custom controls work as expected?
- Do all DVE effects recall and work correctly?
- Are all sources tallying correctly?
- Is the TX Bus routed properly?
