PAT deploys largest mc2 system in Australian TV
Published: ASIA
AUSTRALIA: Lawo mc2 90 and mc2 56 mixing consoles have been installed at the ABC TV studios in Melbourne, forming the largest mc2 system in a fixed Australian television installation to date. Professional Audio & Television (PAT) was contracted to supply, configure, install and commission the new system, working in close partnership with the manufacturer in Germany to ensure tight deadlines were met.
These deadlines resulted in the system being built up in stages. While the manufacturer was building and testing the 48-fader mc2 56 mkII in preparation for use in ABC’s Studio 33, PAT supplied and installed an extensive fibre network throughout the entire facility.
‘We had to accommodate TV production schedules while performing this major upgrade of the audio facilities and it was imperative that the PAT project team worked extremely close with Lawo in Germany to ensure all timelines were met precisely,’ explained Patrick Salloch, managing director of PAT.
Located in the facility’s DCAR, the desk’s Nova73 HD core was equipped with 18 Madi ports, 64 AES3 I/O channels and five DSP cards (including one redundant card). Two local Dallis frames were also positioned in the control room, providing access to all local Control Room I/O while connected to the main console core via Madi.
After the mc2 56 had been installed and commissioned, attention turned the larger 3.5m-long mc2 90 installation in Studio 31. Due to its size, the unit was delivered in sections and assembled on-site with engineers from Lawo visiting the studios in October this year for assembly and commission. The console core was supplied with 27 Madi ports, 96 AES3 I/Os and eight DSP cards. Two local Dallis frames were deployed in the control room, and for additional connectivity with the Madi network, six mobile stageboxes with fully redundant Dallis Frames were installed. Each provides 48 mic ins, 16 line outs, four AES3 I/Os and four serial ports.
Both console systems also provide engineers with access to an extensive library of VST plugins via two Lawo plugin servers located in DCAR and connected to the desk via Madi.
‘We are delighted to have supplied the ABC with Lawo's proven cutting edge mc2 90 and 56 television production consoles,’ remarked Phillip Lawo, CEO and president. ‘In cooperation with our Australian partner PAT we are looking forward to servicing the ABC in their future broadcasting needs.’