Opening with Liszt

To guarantee optimal sound, the ORF (Austrian National Broadcaster) uses its new OB van, the HÜ-8D. Fully equipped with digital technology and a Lawo mc²66 console at its heart, the eighth digital OB van in the ORF’s arsenal has by now provedits flexibility in a high pressure situation.

OB Van Concept
At its base, the OB van for the ORF’s regional studio Burgenland consists of a M.A.N truck with a box-type van body. Using an aluminum sandwich construction method, it features separate A/C for each room and device; the power is supplied by a three-phase grid connection delivering a maximum of 16A. Of course, acoustics and sound insulation were among the top priorities in the OB van in order to guarantee high-quality productions. With this design, all program requirements are covered and even music recordings, such as recordings of classical concerts at open-air events and in concert halls for CD productions or for broadcasts of classical music on Ö1 (first programme of ORF). The concept allows for the handling of mid- to large-scale productions for recording and live operations and makes both audience inclusion and an improved presentation to the audience possible.

Lawo Technology
A mc² 66 with 40 faders (16-8-16) and 144 DSP channels is used as central mixing console. Both the router with a capacity of 8,000 x 8,000 crosspoints and the Lawo stageboxes with 28 mic- or line inputs follow a fully redundant design thanks to MADI. Moreover, the Riedel intercom can be displayed through the stageboxes using BNC In and Out, and two 64-track recorders are connected directly to the Lawo HD-Core via MADI. “Lawo products come with a reputation of high quality and operating safety,” explained Reinhard Tomek from the ORF.

The System Engineer and Project Manager Tomek continued, saying that the ORF had made its very first decision in favour of Lawo consoles for its TV OB vans some time ago. After very positive experiences, they decided to implement a consistent operating concept for all TV and radio OB vans. This allows sound engineers and Tonmeisters to transfer between different OB vans and start productions right away while eliminating any additional time necessary to familiarize themselves with the equipment and increasing the efficiency of training sessions. With Lawo consoles installed in almost all OB vans and production control rooms, productions can be continued from different control rooms almost at will. “The workflows are kept consistent, and we are able to adapt to any changes quickly thanks to the configurability of the consoles,” continued Tomek.

With a view to constantly increasing efficiency, this OB van allows productions to be handled with a minimum crew. All signals relevant to the production (mic/line-In, audio returns, intercom, and signalling) can be combined into a single, light fibre optics wire, avoiding complex cabeling and reducing setup times. Repeating broadcast formats can be superimposed onto existing console programming, again saving valuable preparation time. “For a broadcaster like ORF, availability and reliability of the equipment are of utmost importance. As our partner, Lawo provides products that excel in terms of quality and that are backed by a very competent and quick customer service to help us with any problems we might encounter,” concluded Tomek.

Lawo AG
Lawo, headquartered in Rastatt/Germany, specialises in developing, designing and manufacturing mixing consoles and matrix systems for radio and TV broadcasters, as well as for use in live events. Standards of high quality and innovative technology are supported by more than 40 years of experience in the field of professional audio technology.

Lawo’s product range covers digital audio mixing consoles for use in radio, broadcast, production and live applications, including the required software. In addition to the provision of matrix systems and audio networks, Lawo also carries out project engineering tasks and acts as a main contractor for radio OB trucks; these services include user training and maintenance. This high level of expertise results in a comprehensive support service for Lawo customers.