The setup also uses Lawo’s V__pro 8 video processing toolkit for audio de-embedding/embedding.
MBC Group has upgraded its audio infrastructure with AES67/RAVENNA-compliant Lawo IP equipment in two control rooms and studios at its Dubai Studio City location.
The solution includes two 48-fader Lawo mc²56 Production Consoles and shared I/O for the IP networked system, set up as a mix of A__stage64 and modular DALLIS Stagebox devices. Lawo’s V__pro8 eight-channel video/audio toolbox manages the embedding and de-embedding of the audio in and from video feeds. Based on a rights-management scheme, this approach has so far exceeded MBC’s initial expectations, the company said.
While most audio streams are exchanged via AES67/Ravenna over IP in any combination at a high channel count, however, other signals are received via MADI. For reasons of continuity regarding previously installed audio gear, a Nova73 HD router provides a 4-port DANTE card, thus allowing the audio engineers at Studio City to leverage a variety of formats in any authorized combination. The user rights management system built into the Lawo consoles installed at MBC’s Studio City allows protection of audio sources booked by one mc²56 to avoid unexpected setting changes from the console in the other audio control room.
The new system can handle open-standards AoIP streams, MADI signals and even DANTE sources in any combination and at a high channel count.
Supported by a live video link, the native IP support also allows Lawo to directly provide remote hands-on training from Europe via WAN-based remote fader and screen control. MBC operators can use the same native remote capability to control on-location stage boxes during high-profile events, running audio productions from their familiar Studio City control rooms. This IP-based setup will make it possible for the operators to do back-to-back productions because they no longer need to travel onsite. Similarly, compact flypacks do away with the need to send OB trucks on-location events, the company said.
