First Evo.Live console hands back control to CatholicTV
Published: WORSHIP
WORLD: National and international religious broadcaster, The CatholicTV Network, has purchased the first Fairlight Evo.Live digital mixing console. The desk is to be used for both the live production and postproduction of its programmes, and has reportedly resulted in increased ease of operations and ‘full control in any live situation’.
Based in the US in the Greater Boston area, CatholicTV is distributed on cable systems and broadcast stations across 10 US states, as well as via the internet, IPTV and ‘over-the-top’ applications. The console is being used at the facility to mix live and pre-recorded HD programming, including This is the Day, a live chat show; WOW: The CatholicTV Challenge, a long-running children’s game show; and Catholic Newsbreak, an update of daily news for Catholics. The network also broadcasts coverage of the Pontiff’s world travels, devotional and educational programmes as well as live religious services, including daily mass, and events from the Vatican. It total, services are broadcast to an audience of more than 14 million homes worldwide.
‘Only Fairlight could meet the wide range of capabilities we required from our audio production system in the timeframe we needed it,’ explained Mark Quella, director of engineering and operations for the network. ‘EVO.Live meets all of our needs and then some, from easy integration with the communications of the newsroom to the beautiful musical horsepower to do symphonic recordings. Plus, of course, Fairlight’s world-class postproduction mix-to-picture capability is second to none.’
The system delivered to The CatholicTV Network makes use of the Evo.Live’s dual-operator configuration, with a main control surface located in the audio production suite and a second, smaller surface positioned in the video control room. Both surfaces access the same I/O and processor kernel but operate independently of each other, with separate fader sets for each engineer. Either surface can control the audio going to air while the other is being used for a rehearsal or getting ready for the next production. The surface can also reportedly be reconfigured to operate as a postproduction system ‘at the push of a button’.
‘Fairlight has hit this one out of the park,’ added Steve Sasso, the network’s assistant chief engineer. ‘The design of this desk is really well thought out. When I'm in front of it, it's “in my face”. That's what I like, not to have to search for controls, especially in a live situation. And, I can still record all my tracks for use in post later on. I would recommend this console to any broadcaster that wants ease of operation and full control in any live situation—as well as in post. Plus, Steve Rance and the guys at Fairlight are just a text away when it comes to support, with in-depth knowledge of every aspect of the desk.’