The second season of Big Brother Canada will see the Insight Production Company using much more elaborate production set-up than for the first.
The backbone of the audio infraqstructure includes two Lawo mc²56 digital audio mixing consoles with fibre-connected stageboxes. Installed in a single day by Broadcast Systems & Equipment and Lawo North America as a rental package, the consoles, fibre-optic cabling and analogue breakouts were supported by relevant training and support.
With the new set-up, the production is free of the bulky, copper infrastructure that characterised the last series, and can be software reconfigured without the need for any rewiring.
The decision to go with Lawo was supported by Manager of Engineering and Operations Shawn Hughes and Lead Audio Engineer Kent Ford, who both have worked with Lawo equipment on MTV productions. Ford was hired by Insight Productions as audio design consultant to source and implement equipment needs, supervise the installation and train other operators. During the show he is one of ten audio operators and will be responsible for maintaining audio consistency throughout the run of the show. He also mixes the live-to-air weekly eviction broadcasts.
‘Shawn and I previously installed the mc²56 at MTV Canada,’ he says. ‘Given our past experiences with their systems, we felt that Lawo was the best solution for ease of installation and operation and the ability to quickly and easily route and re-route audio signals. We’re excited to see how this platform will allow us to expand further for Season 3.
‘What distinguishes the Big Brother Canada show from other productions is the massive use of inputs and outputs, requiring lots of processing power in the audio console. The show uses about 100 mics and outputs signals to eight multitrack recorders; and there are two live streams that output up to three different stories to follow, as well as a daily live-to-air show that streams to the internet,’ he explains. ‘Weekly we also produce two one-hour taped shows, a one-hour live studio show that includes all elements live from the house as the houseguests are evicted, and a 30-minute live studio show all for the TV Network Slice. The show is heavily dependent on an intercom system that provides communications amongst the various staff and is also used to move audio into the house during the show. Many ports of the intercom are routed through Lawo’s Madi matrix to be used on air or recorded. The equipment needs to possess the ability to constantly and reliably adapt to the changing needs of the show as the weeks go on.’
The two Lawo mc²56 consoles have dedicated roles, producing different mixes that are determined by the producers and dependent upon the stories unfolding in the house. Additionally, Console 1 – a 48-fader mc²56 – acts as a router and supplies the second console with signals via its direct outs. Together, they handle 68 house mics, ten crowd mics and 32 wireless mics that are connected locally. The entire set-up has about 140 mics and up to 120 cameras.
‘A special benefit in the use of the Lawo consoles is the ability to manage signal flow to the many channels of recording used for three different story lines, as well as having the intercom interfaced though the available Madi ports,’ Ford says. ‘It’s reduced our cable needs considerably.’
‘Last season of Big Brother Canada was the first to be produced in Canada. We had a lot to learn. There was so much copper, the consoles were undersized for the show, and the continuing changes in the daily requirements meant constant re-patching. The Lawo solution allows easy connection and ease of operation, with all changes accommodated virtually.’
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