Doha-based Qatar TV has invested in a Lawo audio, video and control infrastructure for its two new OB trucks.
Each vehicle comprises a 24-fader mc²36 audio console plus external and fixed installed DALLIS I/O stageboxes, an A__madi4 audio-to-IP interface as well as one V__pro8 video processor and router. Overall control of the OB van equipment is performed via a redundantly designed Lawo VSM (Virtual Studio Manager). The OBs are being built under the co-ordination of system integrator Sony Professional Solutions MEA.
The deal is the latest in a long relationship between Lawo and Qatar TV; the broadcaster had previously fitted two OB Vans with mc²56 consoles and VSM in 2012. Qatar TV also uses Lawo systems for outside broadcast as well as for its Broadcast Center in Doha, which opened in 2012 with a Master Control Room (MCR), Central Apparatus Room (CAR), 450sqm news studio and a 1,013sqm production studio and edit studios. The solutions provided for the studio complex include three networked mc²56 audio production consoles, redundant Nova73 HD central router as well as VSM for the overall control.
The compact mc²36 is particularly suited for installations where space is limited, such as OB trucks. Similarly, the V__pro8 combines many video and audio features in one tool and so saves rack space in the new vehicles. Qatar TV uses its V__pro8, which handles different video formats and integrating audio and video, mainly for audio embedding and de-embedding, but also for format conversion and colour correction.
