Europe’s first 4K/UHD OB truck has taken to the road, ready to provide content for Europe’s first live Ultra High-Definition sports channel. Commissioned by OB and post provider Timeline Television, UHD1’s audio is centred on a Calrec Artemis mixing console
‘Our aim is to deliver high-quality, exciting, and engaging 5.1 surround sound for all of BT’s UHD and HD productions,’ says Timeline Lead Sound Engineer, Will Underwood. ‘But there are timing complications that go along with embedding audio and encoding/embedding Dolby E in 4K video that make it tricky.
‘We easily overcome those challenges with the Artemis console, he continues. ‘Redundancy, Hydra2 routing, the flexible range of fixed-format and modular I/O – all of those are important. And the loudness metering and ‘look-ahead’ limiters are particularly useful in helping mix engineers meet EBU R128 requirements.’
Timeline coordinates with BT Sport on its broadcast facility in London, and chose the 40-fader Artemis in part because of its high fader count and small footprint. The console’s surface is also familiar to many experienced OB audio mixers, which minimises set-up times. Hydra2 enables quick and easy integration with the truck infrastructure. More importantly, that ease of integration extends to Timeline’s existing Hydra2 network at BT Sport in iCity, where there are three Artemis consoles networked to a central Hydra2 router core.
‘We’ve enjoyed a long relationship with Timeline Television,’ says Calrec Audio International Sales Manager, Jim Green. ‘Although I’m happy to say that Calrec is the console of choice for major sports broadcasters around the world, we’re focused on making sure the Apollo platform continues to grow and evolve so that it’s ready for whatever broadcasters need next.’
Timeline’s UHD1 is under contract with BT Sport to cover sporting events across the UK and Europe, including UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League Football, Aviva Premiership Rugby and MotoGP. The truck’s first broadcast was the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on 2 August 2015.
More: www.calrec.com
