Mobile TV Group Taps Calrec's Artemis, IP Gateway Audio-over-IP for New 47 FLEX Production Truck

Mobile TV Group (MTVG) has expanded its fleet with the launch of 47 FLEX, which is the third ‘FLEX’ mobile unit within its 30+ OB fleet. The new 47 FLEX truck, along with its sister vehicles 45 FLEX and 46 FLEX, takes full advantage of Calrec’s Artemis digital audio console, with audio-over-IP capabilities via Calrec’s H2-IP Gateway technology, and is built with MTVG’s new Cloud Control capability. 47 FLEX serves the Marquee Sports Network, home of the Chicago Cubs.

“It’s important that our fleet can service events across the US, acquiring high-quality content that can be distributed over IP using our end-to-end native-IP mobile units,” says Peter Wehner, Director of Engineering for Mobile TV Group. “We’ve been working with Calrec since 2011, which is when we installed our first Artemis console, and have always found its audio systems to be first-class.”

The three latest FLEX units are dual-trailer outfits, with 53-foot expanding trailers (to 16’6” wide) for unit A, and 53-foot long (8’6” wide) for Unit B VMU trailers. The new dual-trailer units’ infrastructures are all based around the Grass Valley Kayenne K-Frame X IP switcher, an Evertz 384-port EXE 2.0 IP router and an Evertz Magnum control system, to offer 1080p capacity that would require at least a 3000×3000 baseband router.

Mobile TV Group is also building a 48 FLEX OB truck, which is a 53-foot expandable unit. It too will house a Calrec Artemis.

Mobile TV Group predominantly services the US sports markets, with units spread across the country, each run by around 50 engineers. The current count of 30+ mobile units, including 15 dual-trailer rigs (Unit A and VMU-Unit B) that can run the group’s ‘dual-feed’ production concept – operations for both home and visiting teams from two spaces but with shared technical resources.

“The power of the Artemis console, in combination with our H2-IP Gateway solution, is a huge advantage for Mobile TV Group,” says Dave Lewty, Regional Sales Manager at Calrec. “It gives them the flexibility they need and we’re excited to be a part of this ongoing process for them. By natively connecting all main devices, including the switcher, the cameras, replay devices, multi-viewers and the audio consoles, their OB units provide a powerful competitive edge in the OB space.”