Mediapro Argentina Leverages Lawo for IP AV, Core Infrastructure

Mediapro Argentina has recently turned to IP for a comprehensive technical upgrade of their facilities, where ESPN broadcasts sports-related programming for the region in Spanish. The new IP infrastructure has been integrated by UNITECNIC, the Mediapro Group systems integrator and engineering company, and is based on solutions and knowhow of Lawo, German manufacturer of pioneering network, control, audio, and video technology for broadcast, post-pro, live performance, and theatrical applications.

Lawo’s video, audio, control, and networking solutions were chosen to ensure interoperability and maximum use of resources across the facilities. In a first upgrade stage, Mediapro Argentina and Unitecnic have installed a V__matrix IP video system for edge conversion and signal processing as well as an mc²-based audio infrastructure featuring six mc²56 production consoles, Nova audio routers, five Lawo Commentary Units (LCU), VisTool-based touchscreen control panels and several R3LAY virtual soundcards for integrating PC-based audio solutions into the ST2110/AES67/RAVENNA IP network.

Lawo is no stranger to Mediapro Argentina as they already installed Lawo equipment in their OB van, using an mc²56 production console, Compact I/Os and LCUs since May 2018. In January 2019, Lawo supplied an IP solution for the complete facility of CONMEBOL (South American football federation) with four ruby radio consoles and twelve LCUs in addition to a fully customized VisTool solution and a central PowerCore for routing tasks.

V__matrix Software-Defined IP Core Routing and Processing Platform
V__matrix is a software-defined IP core routing and processing platform based on the data center principles of flexibility, fabric computing, and COTS economics. Designed to provide a completely virtualized real-time production infrastructure, V__matrix leverages generic high capacity FPGA-based processing blades upon which Virtual Modules (apps) are loaded to create the functionality required. Multiple cores are connected through redundant 40GE (or 4x 10GE) Ethernet interfaces to an IP network to form a distributed IP routing and processing matrix that provides frame-accurate, clean switching just like a legacy baseband matrix.

Lawo mc²56 Audio Production Console
Lawo mc²56 audio production console features compact size, flexibility, and versatile design, for applications as diverse as broadcast trucks and studios to live performance and recording. It is optimized for today’s IP-video production environment, designed from the ground up for networking in complex production infrastructures, with full native support for SMPTE 2110, AES67 / RAVENNA, DANTE, and MADI audio streams. Networking performance features include IP-Share gain compensation and DSCA Dynamic Surface to Core Allocation. The console is incorporating LiveView™ thumbnail previews of associated video streams, enhancing user accuracy in fast-paced production situations.

Highlights are multi-user operation, AutoMix, upmix, downmix and optional Lawo KICK, Audio-Follow-Video functionality, integrated 3D/Immersive mixing tools and parallel compression for broadcast applications, dynamic time-code automation, Lawo-grade mic preamps and processing, DAW remote control and a customizable signal chain with four independent dynamic modules for recording tasks, and Selective Recall, Oversnaps (relative trim-sets), theater automation cue list including multiple triggers (MIDI, GPIO, LTC), Waves SoundGrid and Neumann DMI-8 digital microphone integration, and mirror-console operation for the Performing Arts sector.

Available in frames from 16 to 112 faders (dual fader version: up to 144 faders), 8,192 x 8,192 crosspoints, 1024 DSP channels, 192 summing buses, and 128 Aux buses at 44.1 – 96kHz operation.

Ruby Radio Console
Ruby is a true AES67 radio console with RAVENNA AoIP and Ember+ networked control. Its Power Core mixing engine features dual-network redundancy, hitless merge, and LACP for instantaneous recovery from network faults. High-density MADI and AES67 interfaces, plus eight expansion slots for mic, line, AES3 and studio outputs, supply a tremendous amount of I/O in just 1 RU of rack space.

Further showcasing the console’s versatility, Ruby clients can choose their level of DSP capabilities from a variety of tiered license packs. Designed for small, medium and large console sizes, these packs let users strike the perfect balance between power and price, delivering up to 96 DSP channels for precision audio shaping, 80 summing busses, multiple AutoMix groups, comprehensive compression / expansion / de-essing and much more.