Upgrading and standardising its operations internationally, Al Jazeera Media Network has chosen seven Calrec Audio Apollo digital mixing consoles at its broadcast facility in Qatar. The move is part of a ‘full modernisation’ of the Doha facility, which supports 24-hour operation of Al Jazeera’s English, Arabic and Mubasher television channels.
The purchase also marks the largest Apollo deployment in the Middle East, and the creation of one of the world’s largest Hydra2 networks.
‘Al Jazeera Network is a fast-paced environment with no room for error and a desire for the highest standards. Extensive research and planning is needed to ensure we install equipment to meet these demanding requirements,’ said the lead audio specialist for Al Jazeera Network and the project, Allie Gaffoor. ‘We decided to use Calrec as our standard for audio because we needed a reliable console for our 24/7 environment, ease of operator use, and longevity. Calrec meets our networking and I/O needs, and Calrec’s Bluefin2 and Hydra2 technologies fit our requirements exactly.’
‘Bluefin2 gives us plenty of horsepower and that gives us peace of mind that the desks will be able to cope with future technological developments,’ adds Al Jazeera Sound Supervisor, Abdulaziz Ghazi Al Dosari. ‘At the same time, Hydra2 networking and routing system gives us a powerful management tool that increases network-wide control over many parameters, and ensures our I/O can be available in any audio control room.’
This level of flexible networking is particularly important to this new facility. Hydra2 enables Al Jazeera to build adaptable networks quickly, easily and reliably, ensuring that inputs are available on the desired consoles and patched directly to multiple destinations. It was also important that the Apollo consoles integrate with third-party equipment and control protocols.
‘These features will not only improve our content, but will prepare us for the increased workload of HD broadcasting, whatever the magnitude,’ says Al Jazeera Arabic Senior Sound Engineer, Amr Mohey. ‘Intuitive physical controls, colour-coding, TFT displays, elegant touchscreens, the spectrum of control parameters, and fader scales adjacent to the fader all give us faster, easier and more ergonomic ways to drive a much greater number of channels, tracks, busses and outputs. With these desks, we will be able to control more digital audio channels at ever-higher resolutions.
The first Apollo console is being installed by system integrator Tek Signals and joins other Calrec consoles in Al Jazeera facilities throughout the world, including two Artemis consoles in London, three Artemis consoles in Washington and two Artemis consoles and a Summa console in Bosnia. The remaining six consoles for Doha will be delivered through 2015 and installed as the project progresses.
‘Al Jazeera is among the world’s most watched news outlets and broadcasts in multiple languages and regions,’ says Calrec Audio International Sales Manager, Anthony Harrison. ‘Now, this broadcasting giant will rely on the most powerful and flexible audio network on the market, Hydra2. By standardising facilities, all consoles in Doha will be networked so that engineers can share resources and move easily between locations within the organisation. This set-up will give Al Jazeera more operational flexibility and scalability into the future.’
More: http://calrec.com
