As a provider of OB and production services in the Greek and Balkan regions, INA TV is using Calrec’s Summa console and Hydra2 networking uses a Summa to handle the HD, 4K, and Dolby 5.1.2 immersive audio requirements of the European qualifying matches for the forthcoming UEFA World Cup broadcasts.
INA TV is covering home games of the Kosova national team for the European qualifiers. ‘There’s a tight protocol that includes specifications for the feeds, transmission channels, and audio,’ explains Yannis Petrakoyannis, an A1 working with INA TV. ‘The 16-camera OB truck has been significantly customised to provide these high-level production services. Each match can require at least three OB trucks, with one operating as the host vehicle – often this one. There can be up to 16 condenser mics around the pitch, one mic on every portable camera, plus other additional mics.’
The truck is equipped with a 24+8 fader Calrec Summa and two I/O expansion racks, all on a Calrec Hydra2 network. The truck has three I/O soundboard panels inside and outside, three patchbays and three audio multicores on motorised reels, as well as Ethernet and LANs for IP/network connections, intercom and IFBs.
In addition to the matches, INA TV provides coverage of pre-match press conferences, the team’s arrival on the pitch and warm-ups, as well as any interviews that occur during the event.
The decision to use Calrec technology was an easy one, according to Petrakoyannis: ‘Summa and Hydra2 are fully expandable, high-end systems from the market’s leading brand. For broadcast, lots of channels and mix busses are fundamental for the audio traffic. But automation, mixing and routing tools and procedures are also crucial.
‘The Summa is superior in all of this; its display monitors excellently present the sound environment as well as what’s going on all over the network and the signal paths. Monitoring and use of 5.1.2 Dolby signals, multiple channels and paths are simple; monitor busses and outputs are the perfect tools. The four mains output buses and signal distribution are excellent. The standard AES connections on I/O racks are a must and the automix and mix minus features are lifesavers. It feels like you are on a huge sound mixing hub.
‘There is a very large number of audio feeds to handle when all the traffic is taken into account and patching, routing, mixing, and distributing these occupies a lot of capacity with the Summa. It is very busy but easily able to handle the requirements.’
‘Bringing these matches to the world and satisfying the requirements of dedicated football fans is always a challenge and requires market-leading technology,’ adds Calrec International Sales Manager, Graham Murray. ‘It’s very rewarding to see our Summa and Hydra2 meet, and exceed, expectations with the technology used in such a sophisticated set-up to convey all the atmosphere at some of Europe’s most important sporting events.’
More: http://calrec.com
