Bahrain TV OB vans controlled by Lawo VSM with mc² production consoles

posted:

19/07/2021

Bahrain TV of the Ministry of Information Affairs have two new medium-sized Outside Broadcast vans (OB vans) with two Lawo IP-based mc² audio production consoles in the audio control rooms and VSM Broadcast Control System architecture for the overall control in both OBs. They are part of the framework governing the modernization process of the direct TV broadcasting system. Dubai-located system integrator Broadcast & Studio Solutions (BSS) equipped the OB vans with high-definition TV broadcasting technologies, following the most stringent international specifications, security, and safety standards, to allow the vans to cover all official events, exhibitions, conferences as well as local and international sporting events with the maximum efficiency and top quality.

Bahrain TV’s OB vans are controlled by Lawo’s VSM Broadcast Control and Workflow Solution in combination with VSM servers in a redundant setup at the heart of the control system. Thanks to the vsmSTUDIO software, all administration and configuration tasks can be programmed and saved at runtime using intuitive tools. Control interfaces in the form of a wide range of hardware LCD button panels and software panel clients allow simplified operation from highly flexible and custom-designed configurable GUIs. Additional VSM hardware includes GPIO interfaces, UMDs for dynamic labelling, and SmartHubs, which convert control signals from serial to TCP/IP and vice versa. SNMP Monitoring capabilities are provided by the vSNMP editor software tool, which runs on a separate server.

The audio infrastructure integrates a 48-fader Lawo mc²56 audio production console with 384 DSP channels, a routing capacity of 5120×5120 mono channels, plus local I/Os directly available at the audio desk. An additional mc² Compact I/O system provides an abundance of remote I/Os for high-profile productions. The smaller OB van carries a compact but powerful 24-fader mc²36, again with a multitude of remote and local I/Os controlled by 192 DSP channels via a 512×512 matrix.

The project that started on-site on January 1, 2021, was concluded by mid-January. The handover with some prominent guests took place on February 1, 2021.

About the Ministry of Information Affairs (MIA) – General Directorate of Technical & Technology Affairs
The Ministry of Information Affairs is a government-owned organization in the Kingdom of Bahrain, running several TV and Radio stations to cater to the country’s requirement of general entertainment. MIA produces local content, such as general live entertainment programs, local and international news, talk shows and game shows as well as live sporting events in English and Arabic. MIA is proud to have the two new OB vans (10+ cameras & 4+ Cameras) in its existing fleet of OB vans, whose workflows are provided by the LAWO VSM control system. MIA would like to stress how happy it is with Lawo’s products, support and services.

About BSS
BSS—Broadcast and Studio Solutions—is one of the leading providers and integrators of broadcast solutions and equipment in the Middle East.

Services comprise all broadcast and studio solutions to help to manage business processes of all categories: content acquisition, outside broadcast & mobile units, studios & master control rooms, news production, radio & audio production, post-production & graphics, transmission & playout, DSNG and earth stations.

From HD production OB vehicles, 24-hour news studios, file-based workflows to multi-channel playout, Visual Unity has a proven track record of successfully working in live environments, minimizing disruption and delivering projects – on time and on budget.

About Lawo
Lawo designs and manufactures pioneering network, video, audio, control and monitoring technology for TV and radio broadcast, performing arts, houses of worship, stadiums and corporate applications. Products include IP-based media infrastructure solutions, control and monitoring systems, digital audio mixing consoles and video processing tools. All products are developed in Germany and manufactured according to highest quality standards at the company’s headquarters in the Rhine valley town of Rastatt, Germany.