Broadcasting camel racing from the Al Shahaniya racetrack in Doha has seen a major advance in its audio with the installation of a Calrec Artemis mixing console as part of an upgrade to Al Rayyan TV onsite studio.
The Artemis is installed in a sound control room that serves two studios, mixing commentary from a roving vehicle with ambience from the track. It replaces an analogue desk and submixer that lacked the control and capacity necessary for present-day broadcasts requiring multiple mixes. It will also bring signal processing, improved connectivity between the desk and communications systems, and the capability to produce multiple mixes simultaneously.
‘Camel racing is a major part of Qatar’s cultural identity and a source of national pride, which is why it is so important to produce a high-quality broadcast – for our own people and for the viewers in neighbouring countries,’ says Al Rayyan TV Head of Sound, Richard Whiston. ‘We needed a console that provided seamless connectivity, smooth mixes, and far more outputs than we had with our old console.
The Artemis’ extra outputs let us produce simultaneous mixes for local and international TV and radio. The connectivity with our overline and communications systems, alongside the signal-processing capabilities, has enabled us to produce a soundtrack that keeps the nation enthralled.’
‘The number of outputs has proven to be the most important part of the console,’ says Al Rayyan TV sound engineer, Hamza Guerfala. ‘It gives us the flexibility to patch between sources and destinations quite easily, which speeds up our workflow considerably.’
‘The move from analogue to digital greatly improves Al Rayyan’s ability to capture and transmit fantastic sound, and choosing the Artemis means they have plenty of resources and flexibility to do it smoothly and efficiently,’ adds Calrec Audio International Sales Manager, Anthony Harrison.
Al Rayyan has purchased a second Artemis for a new OB truck destined for delivery in Q3, 2015. The truck will be used for a variety of programming, including Qatar’s National Day where it will operate alongside an existing OB to serve a full TV studio and large concert hall. The new truck will also provide an additional control room when Al Rayyan upgrades its main studio facility.
More: www.calrec.com
