System integration of the new OBs was managed by NEP Australia's own System Integration team with supply of various equipment from Lawo's exclusive partner, Professional Audio & Television (PAT).
All four OB Vans share the same size and technical specifications and rely on Lawo's VSM Broadcast Control and Monitoring system for their overall control. On the audio side, each truck is equipped with a 64-fader Lawo mc256 audio mixing console plus a Lawo audio core.
NEP Australia has adopted the Sony solutions across its OB fleet, implementing Sony HDC-4300 cameras and Sony MVS/XVS-8000X Vision Mixers. Each unit can operate with up to 28 cameras and provides enough space to accommodate 34 staff.
Each OB Van's audio section is centered on a Lawo mc256 audio console and an audio core with eight DSP cards and five stageboxes connected via fibre, using MADI. The Lawo mc²56 console and VSM work closely together, enabling VSM to have direct parameter control over the audio system.
Milan Milenkovic, NEP Australia project director, comments, "Since introducing the first Lawo audio console into Australia back in 2006, we have been pioneers of new technologies. In this time, Lawo audio consoles have become the broadcast standard in Australia and currently the best solution in the market for such an application, there was no hesitation on NEP Australia's part in opting for the Lawo approach."
The large OB vans will be handling production for major live sports and concert events. HD11 and HD12 are already on air, with HD13 and HD14 coming into service early next year in time for the 2017 AFL (Australian Football League) and NRL (National Rugby League) seasons.
(Jim Evans)
