Austrian recording company MSc Media & Management GmbH (MSc Media), has equipped one of its two mobile recording trucks with a Lawo mc²56 (MkIII) audio production console and an A__stage64 AoIP node in anticipation of increasing demand for on-site operations.

Headquartered in Bleiburg, Austria, MSc Media specialises in high-quality sound recordings of choirs, music ensembles and orchestras. Ordered in early 2021, MSc’s 48-fader console is optimised for IP video production environments with support for SMPTE 2110 and AES67/Ravenna. Significant operational features include Lawo Button Glow, color backlit touch-sense encoders, and colour TFT displays that provide operators with clear coding of channel strips for excellent visibility and fast access, even in low-light conditions.

It is paired with a Lawo mc² Micro Core, which provides 192 DSP channels and a 512×512 channel routing matrix. The Lawo mc²56 (MkIII) with mc² Micro Core also has Waves SoundGrid integration, and it provides extensive diagnostic tools for remote maintenance, including log files and http access. The A__stage64 AoIP node has a capacity of 32 switchable mic/line inputs, 16 analogue line outputs, eight stereo AES3 inputs and eight stereo AES3 outputs, on XLR connections. It also provides dual-redundant Madi ports on SFP, eight opto-isolated GPIO ports, two streaming and control ports and one management port, in a 4U-high package.

‘Although not every recording of classical music is as extensive as Bach’s St Matthew Passion, more and more productions require sophisticated miking with an appropriate number of channels in the console,’ says MSc Media & Management GmbH MD, Christian Miklin. ‘We were reaching the limits of our previous equipment, in terms of both the number of channels and the analogue infrastructure. For a future-orientated investment, the Lawo mc²56 console turned out to be the appropriate solution.’

In its 2018 market research, MSc Media paid particular attention to audio quality, technology, performance, flexibility, and future expansion options. ‘What sets MSc Media apart is the quality of our sound recordings, especially of classical music choirs and orchestras, with surround monitoring as well. Only a certain selection of mixing consoles fit the criteria,’ Miklin says.

After the selection process, only two manufacturers remained, of which Miklin says Lawo fit the budget best.

‘I was first contacted by Mr Miklin for discussions in the fall of 2019,’ says Lawo Sales Manager, Tibor Tamas. ‘In October we met at Lawo headquarters in Rastatt for an in-depth consultation and demo, and the mc²56 production console turned out to be the appropriate solution for MSc. I am very impressed by the high quality standards and professionalism that characterize MSc Media, and very pleased that they chose Lawo solutions after their rigorous evaluation. With the new IP-based equipment, MSc Media is well equipped to address new fields in audio production, in addition to their classic roots.’

‘I found the competent, detailed consultation and the practical demonstrations at Lawo in Rastatt particularly impressive,’ Miklin says. ‘The Lawo console gives me direct access to the channels on a compact surface. I personally like to work over only two layers, and the mc²56 offers a total of six banks with two layers each. The console is very intuitively designed with freely assignable controls, and it can be quickly adapted to the requirements of each respective production. Split operation is also possible. To my knowledge, no other manufacturer on the market offers the flexibility Lawo does, or the ability to prepare configurations offline and upload them as needed. And the price range also fits!’

Immediately after the decision was made, implementation began. Although the configuration of IP was still new territory for MSc Media, optimal results were quickly achieved together with the Lawo team. With the technical modernisation of the recording truck, broadcasts of cultural events are now possible, which positions MSc Media as a serious player in the broadcast sector for studio and concert recordings, as well as for live broadcasts.

‘This equipment, MSc Media is an investment that allows us to perform sound recordings beyond the choir sector, so that we can successfully offer our services in new areas in the future,’ says Miklin. ‘I am quite proud that this sound recording truck is one of the few vehicles in Austria with this level of equipment.’

More: www.lawo.com