With the 2025/26 concert season underway, Austrian national broadcaster ORF has put its recently upgraded sound control room at the Vienna Musikverein – now equipped with IP-based audio technology from Lawo.
This modernisation marks a significant step forward in ORF’s live broadcast workflows, capturing the soundscapes of orchestral performances with greater precision, and ensuring robust operational reliability for high-profile live productions. The smooth functioning of the Vienna Musikverein control room plays a central role in mixing not only concerts and live broadcasts throughout the year, but also the globally celebrated Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert, viewed by millions around the world.
The decision to implement Lawo technology was driven by the need to improve system compatibility and foster synergies across ORF’s production infrastructure. ‘This new set-up is more than just an upgrade – it’s our gateway into next-generation audio IP technology,’ says ORF Project Manager for Audio Technology, Reinhard Tomek. ‘It offers us tremendous flexibility for future expansions and seamless integration of external devices. The incorporation of Lawo’s Home platform simplifies system management, while keeping interfaces to external IP-enabled systems open and adaptable.’
At the heart of the new infrastructure is an mc²56 MkIII production console with 48 faders, powered by an A__UHD Core audio engine licenced for 256 DSP channels. Two A__stage80 stageboxes provide connectivity, while the signal architecture is managed via Lawo’s Home platform, designed for IP-based production environments. The console runs the latest software version 12.2, which introduces several key enhancements. Most notably, a new seven-band EQ with three dynamic bands enables sound engineers to shape orchestral audio with a new level of precision. Additional improvements include optimised channel displays, more intuitive operation of audio crosspoints via the Home API, and the ability to switch banks and layers directly from the fader panel.
Previous software versions such as 10.12 and 12.0 laid the foundation for deeper integration between console, DSP, and network. With the Home mc² DSP app, CPU-based processing resources are now also available.
Another major highlight is the full integration of Waves SuperRack V15. Extensive Waves plug-in bundles can be loaded into the Immersive Wrapper and operated directly from the console – ideal for immersive formats such as 5.1.4, 7.1.4, or 9.1.4. ‘Native control of Waves processing within the console streamlines live operations significantly,’ Tomek explains. ‘It allows complex sound processing to be embedded directly into the workflow, eliminating the need for external workstations or workaround solutions.’
Following commissioning in August, Lawo conducted a three-day hands-on training session for ORF’s sound engineers, focusing on practical application of the new features. The system made its debut during the season-opening concert featuring the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Lahav Shani. ‘Despite the new technology, it was a routine production for our team – a clear sign that the system is intuitive, and the transition went smoothly,’ Tomek says.
More: www.lawo.com