In order to present coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament, Fox Brasil made the move from analogue to digital broadcast production. Temporarily set up in the broadcaster’s studio in Rio de Janeiro, the system of Lawo mixiong consoles, routing and video devices that made the move possible have now been relocated to Fox Brasil’s permanent broadcast facility, also located in Rio.
The new set-up comprises a Nova73 HD, which serves as the central audio router, a 48-fader mc²56 MkII console and two 32-fader mc²56 MkII consoles. In addition, four V__pro8 video processing devices serve as embedder/de-embedders at the heart of the centre.
The shift to digital was prompted by the need for greater flexibility, efficiency and reliability, which were crucial for coverage of the World Cup.
The decision to adopt Lawo’s technologies followed consultation with various manufacturers and system houses, with the winning proposal offered by LineUp, Lawo’s partner in Brazil. Led by System Engineer Daniel Lopes, the LineUp team installed the video and audio equipment in the IBC, and provided technical support during the World Cup. Fox Brasil used the Lawo installations providing complete coverage for Fox International Channels – even though there was no time for testing prior to the IBC set-up.
‘We gained a new level of flexibility in the use of available studios and SCRs, as well as in the efficient employment of our staff,’ says Fox Brasil Engineering Manager, Renato Maluhy. ‘There are no more bottlenecks, and we have state-of-the-art operation and easy handling from reliable equipment. With the Lawo audio consoles, router and video processing units, we are now up to the standards of the international broadcast market.’
‘Based on Ravenna/AES67 standard, the Lawo equipment was easily integrated into our IP infrastructure,’ says Luis Santos, Director of Engineering & Operations. ‘This gives us a future-proof investment and represents a major step towards flexible and efficient content production, with all content being available within our organisation. We will be able to extend our IP infrastructure without restructuring it, and we will reach a new level of savings in time, money and personnel expenses at OB productions through less cabling and by using IP structures.’
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