Gulf State customer takes delivery of 4K OB Truck from ARET

Incorporating their own coachbuilding facility, ARET Video and Audio Engineering’s unique approach offers ‘end to end’ solutions for outside broadcast vehicles. The Milan-based company‘s unique services include consultancy, structural design, electrical engineering, air-conditioning and system design throughout all the phases from coachbuilding to systems integration, commissioning, training and after sales support. ARET Video and Audio Engineering recently designed and built a 4K OB truck for a Gulf State customer that manages a culture-based television channel in addition to various tourist, cultural and media activities with plans to expand into filming sporting events in the region.

The OB van features a layout that maximises internal space while allowing interoperability between all three operational areas including an acoustically insulated audio room. The main production area is furnished with a monitor wall, slow motion equipment and character generator stand. The engineering and camera control area can manage up to eight cameras via fiber-optic connection in addition to two wireless cameras. Each of these areas, including the racks, has its own independent air conditioning system in order to cope with the region’s extreme weather conditions.

The video workflow in the new OB vehicle is complemented by a sophisticated audio system including a Lawo 24-fader mc²36 all-in-one console together with two I/O Lawo stageboxes. A fibre Ravenna IP connection to the compact stageboxes maximises flexibility during remote productions and dramatically reduces cabling infrastructure required to transmit audio back to the truck without compromising the audio quality. The mc²36 console interfaces directly with the video router via MADI, providing router operators direct access to all audio signals in addition to Lawo’s signal processing toolbox.

Optimised for fast-paced operation in demanding applications, the Lawo mc²36 mixing system was specified for its’ compact dimensions, built-in DSP and flexible I/O including 32 mic inputs, 32 line outputs, 8 AES3 inputs and 8 AES3 outputs. Ease-of-use features include touch-screen controls providing immediate access to all functions during fast-paced production and an integrated Remote Desktop function for seamless integration of external PCs with third-party solutions into the console’s user interface. The integrated DSP Micro Core includes a 512×512 routing matrix with up to 192 channels of audio processing.

“We are very proud of the result,” comments ARET vice president, Umberto Asti. “This project is one of the first, if not the very first, full-12G UHD OB van in the Gulf area. Its workflow is proof that you can build a cost efficient 4K OB van using 12G-SDI without compromising either signal quality or workflow.”