Studio Berlin Invests In DirectOut Solutions

DirectOut provider of high-end audio solutions for any application scenario has extended its coverage at Studio Berlin, Germany based studio operation and television production company.

Two PRODIGY.MP, one PRODIGY.MX and three ANDIAMO have been installed by Studio Berlin to provide conversion and redundancy solutions for its brand-new control room upgrades in Hamburg. Studio Berlin had previously utilised an Outside Broadcast truck, but with an increasingly busy schedule and less opportunity for the control room to move, the decision was taken to replace the truck and create two new, permanently installed facilities.

The upgrades provide robust and reliable network conversions between the main Ravenna network and other audio network protocols. Three ANDIAMO units convert analog signals to digital and vice-versa, while the PRODIGY.MP enables all other conversions. The PRODIGY.MX manages the audio matrix, including radio microphones and In-Ear-Monitors (IEMs).

Using the PRODIGY.MX for this purpose has improved the studio’s wireless monitoring, allowing the audio team to monitor their radio microphones and IEMs assured of a completely direct signal. This has greatly improved their workflow, as Technical Manager and overseer of the entire project, Matthias Hitz, explains.

"The receivers for the radio mics are not based in the studio, they are in the tech room, where it is clean and cool," he said. "The antennas are connected to the receivers via the fibre network, and we use globcon with a small tablet so we can pre-listen to the system."

The Hamburg Studio is predominately used for Light Entertainment broadcasting and is famous for quiz shows like Gefragt-gejagt (Asked - Chased), Wer weiß denn sowas? (Who knows something like this?), and Quizduell Olymp.

Microphones are primarily used for speech, while IEMs are essential for presenters and hosts. Guaranteeing an independent, clean, direct signal for remote monitoring is not always simple with digital radio microphones and personal mics, which are susceptible to damage and interference, so reliable monitoring is critical for technicians. Issues are also time critical, so problems must be identified and fixed quickly to ensure hosts can stay on camera and filming stays on schedule.

The technical room is also home to the two PRODIGY.MP delivering audio conversions. The studio operates on a Ravenna Network, so for any audio equipment operating with a different network, such as Waves or MADI, the conversion will be made seamlessly.

In addition to remote monitoring, technicians can also add equipment to the PA system or the camera intercom system directly with the DirectOut BREAKOUT box. This handy adapter offers analog or digital connections via XLR or BNC on the front and D-Sub to the rear. It means that the loudspeakers can be re-patched as needed and the camera operators can switch positions easily.

Overseeing a project of this size and delivering on time and on budget requires a great deal of teamwork and, for Hitz, this was even more important, thanks to the limited time available to complete the project.

"It was a very small window. Our last production under the old system was in May and we opened the studios again in August," he concluded. "It was a nice project to be a part of and a lot of fun, thanks to the technical support and good ideas from our vendors. Our suppliers were able to ship quickly, so we could build everything and get it tested on time and on budget. DirectOut has delivered a strong system that offers so many options and possibilities, so we couldn’t be happier with the way our new control room is working."

Photo: ARD/MORRIS MAC MATZEN