Know-how

The Deutsche Welle TV broadcasting service in Berlin has equipped another one of their control rooms with digital audio technology by the SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP. In August, a digital AURUS console replaced its somewhat outdated predecessor in the Tonregie 2 sound control room on the Voltastraße premises. The console features 32 channels strips and two DSP modules and is complemented by two NEXUS 9-U base devices. For the internationally broadcasting TV station, this has already been the second large project implementing products made by STAGETEC, member of SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP; in the middle of the 90’s, the Tonregie 1 control room had already been equipped with a CANTUS digital console, and a NEXUS audio network for signal routing within the studio complex had been installed.

From Berlin, the Deutsche Welle TV broadcasts a daily updated program. Therefore, the Tonregie 2 control room is constantly needed for news production. This fact meant a significant challenge to the MEDIAGROUP engineers as broadcasting operation had to be continued uninterruptedly while the installation was going on! To achieve this, they initially preinstalled the entire cabling and connected it to the main switching room. Then, an extra NEXUS base device was connected via MADI, providing the interface to a small “transition” console. “This provisional solution allowed for ensuring flawless operation during the changeover,” says Norbert Schömel, project manager from SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP. What was originally meant as a solution for some days, was at least only needed for some hours. Schömel: “Just one day after installation the AURUS was ready to use. Therfore, we just had to change a few connections and AURUS went on air.” However, the Deutsche Welle audio engineers even benefited from another factor: “After the implementation, the AURUS is now available for extensive training while the programs are being broadcasted using the substitute desk,” Schömel goes on.

It was the quick and instant accessibility of the channel strips – besides more technological details such as a very convenient N–1 matrix – that tipped the scales for the AURUS. Another crucial factor were the short setup times – a considerable aspect given the multitude of different productions made in the broadcasting house everyday. The engineering firm Muuß, based in the city of Kiel in northern Germany, oversaw the project as consulting engineers until it was finished at the end of the second week in August.