Resume

 John H. Schmidt

(516) 483-2915

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Employment:

2013 - 2022:               John Schmidt Audio/Video Systems Design &            Consultation

• Providing audio/video/RF systems design, consultation, commissioning/setup, operator training, troubleshooting services.
• Broadcast Station systems design, maintenance, training and troubleshooting.
• Location recording, digitization and media transfer, restoration of audio media.
• Until recently, contracted to WRLI and WPPB, Southampton, NY as Chief Engineer.  Provided backup engineering coverage to several other radio stations.
  

1977 - 2013:                ABC Television Network, Senior Audio/Video Systems Engineer

Design of new state of the art digital audio facilities for TV7/TV1, used for The Katie Show, in 2011.  Facilities now used for broadcasting The View.

• Three state-of-the-art digital audio consoles.
• Extensive use of SDI embedded audio, AES audio, MADI (both fiber and coax), TDM. Extensive redundancy in audio/video signal flow.
• Rocknet distributed TDM: microphone, line inputs and outputs on studio floor connected to consoles.
• Large split A/V routing switcher with TDM fiber embedding/deembedding.
• ENCO DAD networked system for music, audio ingest/playout.

Replacement of the master pulse and time code generation and distribution system throughout the ABC television plant, from 2005 to 2009

• Triple redundant cesium standards for frequency reference.
• Quadruple redundant sync generators, each with GPS for time reference.
• Extensive distribution system feeding over 100 facilities and devices, cut over from old system with no unplanned outages.
• As a part of this project, redesigned and retimed slave reference system within HD playout facility, to improve redundancy/isolation between facilities and resolve timing issues.

During my 36 years at ABC, designed and supervised construction of four major audio sweetening rooms and new audio facilities in seven television control rooms, several more than once.

Converted ABC transmission facilities to stereo in the 1980’s.

Specified and designed central facilities with automated playout system and in-house designed traffic system for the ABC Radio Network in the early 1980s.

1970 - 1977:              Adelphi University, University Electronics Engineer

Was responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of the University radio and television facilities, electronics equipment, interconnect telephone system and primary electrical power distribution throughout the University. Prepared FCC applications for the University’s FM station, WBAU.  Continued as volunteer/contract technical director of WBAU until 1995 when the station was sold.

1968 - 1977:              Consulting Engineer

Performed contract engineering for a number of radio stations and a recording studio. Served as the contract Chief Engineer or Assistant Chief Engineer of several radio stations including WLIR and WBAI.

1964 - 1970:              Grumman Aerospace, Systems Reliability Engineer

 Principal work was on the Lunar Module project.

 Education:

1964                                      BSEE,  Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

1970                                      MBA, Adelphi University.

Certification and other experience:

I am a Registered Professional Engineer in New York State, now inactive.

I hold an FCC General Class Radiotelephone Operator's License and an amateur radio operator’s license.

I am a life member of the Audio Engineering Society, active on standards committees.

For many years I was ABC’s representative on the New York USITT committee making recommendations for updates to the National Electric Code.

I am proficient in Autocad, and much of the Microsoft suite of Office products, including Word, Excel and Access. I have done some programming in Visual Basic for Applications.

I have set up Internet websites (including this one), and am familiar with IT based systems.

I am familiar with DLNA/UPNP NAS home media storage and playback systems.

Avocational Interests:

Caribbean culture, particularly Trinidadian; music of all genres; photography; travel.

I have been  involved with a number of steelbands in Trinidad and the New York area for many years as a supporter.  You can listen to a few of my recordings and watch slideshows of the Adlib Steel Orchestra on my YouTube page.   You can read about the location recording techniques I use to record steel orchestras and view many of my photographs at my steelpan (steel drum) webpage: www.panjumbie.com.