In Broadcast - May 2017 - 48
48 www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 7 - Issue 5 | May 2017 InStudio Lawo mc²96 Grand Audio Production Console L awo's flagship audio mixing console has been specifically designed to provide optimal performance in IP video production environments through native support for all relevant standards - SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA and DANTE. Launched at NAB, the Lawo mc²96 console, available in frame sizes with 24 to 200 faders with the same legendary quality known from Lawo's mc²90 series, is designed as Lawo's most visual broadcast console ever. The mc2 96 features 21.5-inch full HD touch-screens as well as multiple mini colour-TFTs in channel strips and touch-sensitive colour-coded encoders, providing fast overview and userfriendly operation. The new production console features LiveView video thumbnails. In addition to standard channel labelling via channel numbers, individual text labels and static pictures or icons, the mc²96 can display real-time video thumbnails right at the fader's mini TFTs for intuitive channel identification. Touching a fader changes the LiveView thumbnail to full-screen mode, providing a more detailed view of that channel's video source, such as a camera or a replay machine. Network Gain Designed for networking in complex IP production infrastructures, the Lawo mc²96 employs Lawo's unique IP-Share Network Gain Compensation when using shared DALLIS I/Os to prevent unexpected changes on up to eight networked consoles when individual users adjust their gain settings. The DALLIS I/O communicates with all networked consoles, and its IP-Share algorithm sets the optimum analogue gain for multiclient requirements. IP-Share also ensures that the corresponding gain compensation is applied to the digital gain stages of all consoles when the analogue gain of the preamp is being adjusted. Reflecting today's requirements for 3D/immersive audio productions, the mc²96 provides not only superb tools for surround sound mixing, but also a dedicated elevation controller as standard. Furthermore, the mc²96 offers Lawo-grade integrated Lawo mc²96 flagship audio mixing console Loudness Metering with full loudness control in accordance with ITU 1770 (EBU/R128 or ATSC/A85). ln addition to programme buses, Lawo Loudness Metering can also measure individual channels, which allows fast and convenient "visual" mixing of multiplemicrophone setups. Lawo's new flagship can also be operated in Multi-User Mode, with 96 rotary encoders in each 16-fader bay giving direct access to all parameters, effectively creating an additional central control panel. Colour-coding of the encoders, coupled with the highres colour TFT displays, guarantees a perfect overview and users can now create, save and recall multiple personalised free control layouts directly in their own bay. Addressing live broadcast and performing arts applications, the mc²96 offers many innovative mixassist systems enabling the sound engineer to concentrate on the overall balance and sound quality of the production. In addition to Lawo's renowned Audio-follow-Video functionality, the desk's automated mixing capabilities include an Automix function that automatically adjusts the Ievels of active and inactive microphones, while maintaining a constant, natural-sounding ambient Ievel. The console also features Lawo's highly-acclaimed AMBIT Upmix function, which guarantees perfect conversion of stereo signals for amazingly authentic surround sound and supports KICK 2.0, Lawo's automated close-ball mixing solution for sports such as football, hockey and basketball. For ultimate flexibility in I/O requirements the console offers plug and play interfacing to all Lawo DALLIS modular stageboxes including AoIP options and the Lawo A__line interfaces and NOVA central routers. In addition, as the mc²96 surface includes local I/Os that feature comprehensive connectivity with 16 Lawo-grade Mic/Line inputs, 16 Line outputs, eight AES3 inputs and outputs, eight GPIOs plus a local MADI port (SFP). A built-in switch provides four Ethernet ports with network connectivity via two redundant SMPTE2110 / AES67 / RAVENNA ports with seamless protection switching. Multiviewer Lawo's V__matrix vm_mv24-4 and vm_ mv16-4 virtual modules (VMs), adds high-quality multiviewer functionality to the V__matrix ecosystem when loaded onto a c100 core processing module. Capable of handling both IP and SDI sources, these VMs can monitor uncompressed 4K/UHD, 3G, HD and SD video as well as both embedded and discrete audio while generating pixel perfect mosaics with ultra-low latency. The award-winning V__matrix is a software-defined IP core routing and processing platform based on data centre principles of flexibility, fabric computing and COTS economics. Designed to provide a completely virtualised real-time production infrastructure, V__matrix leverages multiple cores connected to a high-capacity COTS IP network with redundant 10GE and 40GE connections, to form a distributed IP routing and processing matrix with frame-accurate, clean switching just like a legacy baseband matrix. The vm_mv24-4 can monitor up to 24 sources or max 36 Gbps of IP or SDI video while the vm_mv16-4 is capable of up to 16 sources or a max of 36 Gbps. Both multiviewer VMs can generate up to four output heads (mosaics) and scale and display any source on any output head without limitation. The same source can be displayed on multiple output heads at different resolutions. The output heads can be configured as either HD, 3G or 4K and output over IP interfaces or, using the modular rear-plate I/O, as SDI. V__matrix Multiviewer functionality