Japan’s TV Asahi Upgrades OB Truck with Lawo mc²56 Console

One of the most viewed television stations in Japan, TV Asahi is currently undertaking a refit of its EX 402 audio OB truck, including the installation of a 48-fader Lawo mc²56 console. Two Lawo stageboxes, based on the DALLIS I/O-system, will be connected to the console via MADI to provide the inputs and outputs for the system. The upgraded vehicle will primarily be used for sports productions, including baseball, soccer and figure skating – all very popular sports in Japan.

TV Asahi is refitting its EX 402 audio OB truck, including the installation of a 48-fader Lawo mc²56 console.

TV Asahi was the first mc² customer in Japan, and is convinced of the features and the usability of the mc² consoles. Having worked on many international outside broadcast productions, for example on Alfacam trucks, TV Asahi’s project engineer has become very familiar with Lawo consoles: “By choosing the mc²56 for our OB truck, I can be sure of the highest levels of sound quality, reliability and usability. And I can be sure to find many engineers who can operate the consoles,” he says.

The Lawo mc²56 MKII is the latest addition to the mc² series, aimed at production use, as well as theater and live applications. Because of its compact size, it is also ideally suited to OB van integration. The refit of EX 402 is being handled by Lawo’s partner in Japan, OTARITEC Corporation, and is expected to be completed in March 2014.

Lawo Adds Felix Krückels as Business Development Director
As of January, Felix Krückels’ role within Lawo has changed to take on the newly created position of Business Development Director.

In his new position, Krückels will evaluate and forward the development and implementation of new business ideas, as well as overseeing the advancement of the company, which has been building up new opportunities in audio-over-IP and video processing alongside its established audio broadcast solutions. With experience and expertise gained in his long-standing role at Lawo as Senior Product Manager for Lawo’s mc² mixing console series, Nova routing systems and V__line video solutions, Krückels is the ideal candidate for this position.

Krückels graduated from the renowned University of Music in Detmold/Germany as Dipl.-Tonmeister, and subsequently worked as full-time sound engineer, mainly in OB trucks. He continues to work as a sound engineer for particularly ambitious broadcast productions (he is currently in Sochi for a high-profile sports event). In this way, he is able to remain in direct contact with the industry, and conversant with the requirements and trends in modern TV and radio production.

“The Broadcast market requires more and more comprehensive, integrated solutions,” says Krückels. “Audio and video merge more and more – and that IP networks will be used for signal distribution is beyond doubt, due to the indisputable benefits. Lawo is already using the IP-based RAVENNA network technology in its products. To amalgamate these new developments and technologies is an exciting challenge, and one that I am ready to meet.”