Mobile Surround Sound.
ARD and ZDF expand their Mobile Production Unit with mc² consoles.
The Mobile Production Unit (MPE) of German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF comprises the most diverse elements of technical equipment that can be assembled and set up as a control room on site, meeting the requirements of a wide range of productions.
In 2008, the broadcasters purchased a Nova73 HD routing system from Lawo for their MPE, together with 87 line redundantly connected DALLIS frames. The reason for this technical upgrade was the broadcast of the Beijing Olympic Games, because their previously used equipment was not up to scratch for the task of signal distribution in the International Broadcasting Center (IBC). In June 2009, the system will be completed by the installation of two Lawo mixing consoles – an mc²90 and an mc²56.
Both Lawo consoles will provide a tailor-made operating surface with a central control section, known as the 'C' or extended 'CL' area. The mc²90 with an 8-CL-8 layout and a 16-fader extender will provide, in its largest configuration, 72 physical faders in two rows, plus 336 DSP channels. The redundantly designed MKII router in the HD core will have a capacity of 8192 crosspoints. The design of the mc²56 console includes a 16-16C layout and two 16-fader extenders. In its largest configuration, this console will be equipped with 64 faders and 288 DSP channels; a fully redundant MKII router will also be integrated.
In planning the MPE, expansion with two new Lawo consoles was included in the design – because, amongst other reasons, the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, will be produced completely in 5.1 surround sound. The main control room at the IBC in Vancouver will be equipped with an mc²90 and one extender; the second control room in Whistler will include the mc²56 with two extenders. Each console is fitted with an HD core (a large router with 8192 crosspoints). In the master control room – set up to interconnect all venues, edit suites and control rooms, and also used for signal distribution – the Lawo Nova73 HD, that was used successfully in Beijing, will be deployed.
‘Use of the Mobile Production Unit is shared by ARD and ZDF. However, the equipment is inventoried, stored and administrated by ZDF. The MPE is mainly used for big sports events such as the Olympic Games, as well as World and European Football Championships. In addition, the unit is also used for the production of daily events, such as the NATO or G8 summits – primarily for joint productions and events for which ARD and ZDF have together purchased the broadcasting rights’, explains Horst Dünchem (ZDF), the MPE administrator responsible for the function and field of application of this production unit.
Flexible and modularly extensible
On site, we use the individual components of the Mobile Production Unit, depending on the requirements of the production, for example in containers or in a main control room. The add-on capability of the modular MPE allows for the production-compatible installation of control rooms, and the networked operation of control room and MCR components. The system also provides networking for the advantages of signal. Crucial factors for the decision to choose Lawo were, the router capacity of 8192 crosspoints, and the hot-plug ability that allows components to be replaced during runtime. The possibility of remote servicing, as well as personal on demand on-site support by Lawo service engineers, also positively influenced the decision to go with Lawo.
Modularity and flexibility of the MPE were followed in the planning and construction of the new Lawo consoles; with their extenders they can be flexibly adapted to the requirements and room dimensions. Horst Dünchem: ‘All MPE components are fitted in flight cases, suitable for transportation by ship, plane and containerization. The flight cases – built mainly in the 19" rack format – are fitted with rails on a fixed grid, so that on site the MPE is freely extendable in a modular fashion, just like a construction kit.’
