Red Bull Media House’s North American HQ in Santa Monica, California, is using Riedel’s MediorNet real-time network, RockNet audio system, and Artist digital matrix intercom system for the production of events and the live streams watched by millions of fans.
Scott Gillies, director of production and technology at Red Bull Media House North America, commented:”The robust functionality of both the MediorNet and Artist systems actually simplifies production while enabling us to put on a sophisticated and exciting show for the millions of fans tuning in from all around the world.”
For example, one eSports broadcast format that’s produced out of the Red Bull eSports studio pits two video gaming teams of five players against one another. As they play, MediorNet Modular frames take in a total of 20 HDMI POV video signals from the gaming consoles, convert them into HD-SDI, and carry them to the control room. The POV cameras focus on the faces and hands of all ten players, with additional HD-SDI cameras positioned on the game commentators. These inputs are combined with the primary gameplay feeds to produce a complete eSports broadcast. An additional MediorNet Compact Frame is used for complementary shots from other parts of the competition.
Additionally, each player in this example wears a headset that provides game audio and a link to other team members. The Artist system supports these communications, as well as the intercom and on-air audio signals of the commentators, and is also being used to create a downmix of game audio for each team, as well as for the audio mixing console. Combining individual game audio with the team communications, the Artist creates ten individual mixes for each of the ten players. A single four-core fibre cable, equipped with OpticalCON QUAD connectors, handles all signals.
Within the control room, the MediorNet system acts as a pre-switcher, feeding eight signals to the video switcher, and also provides feeds to the edit bay, two SSD recording units, and to a monitor wall. The MediorNet also serves as an audio de-embedder, in turn feeding audio to the audio mixing desk. The resulting audio and video mix is sent to two encoders for streaming via the internet.
