Lawo Powers Next-Generation Broadcast Training

Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Western Australia has unveiled a new state-of-the-art broadcast facility at its City Campus, designed to combine education-focused accessibility with real-world production standards.

Developed to support hands-on learning in journalism and broadcast media, the facility reflects ECU's commitment to equipping students with practical skills while fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. The project was delivered in partnership with Lawo, alongside its partner PAT, systems integrator Diversified, and broadcast consultant Techniq Media.

At the heart of the installation is Lawo's HOME management platform for IP-based infrastructures, integrated with the VSM (Virtual Studio Manager) control system. Together, they provide a unified and scalable environment for managing broadcast workflows. The setup is completed by the mc²36 audio production console, giving students access to the same tools and workflows used in professional broadcast environments.

From the outset, the university aimed to create a studio that could be quickly configured for teaching, rehearsal, and live production, while remaining intuitive for users with varying levels of technical expertise.

"The studio now resembles a NASA control room, delivering capabilities that will be the envy of our colleagues in professional news or production companies," said Andrea Burns, Academic Lead of Screen and Media at Edith Cowan University.

The HOME platform underpins the facility's Audio-over-IP infrastructure, enabling centralised management, security, and resource allocation across networked audio devices. Supporting standards such as ST 2110, AES67, and RAVENNA, the system allows students to work with advanced IP audio workflows without requiring in-depth technical knowledge.

Complementing this, VSM acts as the overarching control and orchestration layer, integrating the studio's multi-vendor technology stack into a single interface. Video routing is handled by an Ultrix FR5 system, with IP transport and timing provided by Riedel Horizon and Riedel Micron. This unified approach ensures that audio, video, and control systems operate seamlessly together.

The mc²36 console provides a professional-grade audio production environment, featuring high channel capacity, extensive I/O options, and native IP support. Its user-friendly interface, including touchscreens and visual metering, offers students an intuitive experience that mirrors modern broadcast control rooms.

Across the facility, Lawo's LUX (Lawo Unified Experience) principles have been applied to simplify operation. Studio presets and role-based controls allow lecturers to switch between teaching, production, and reset modes at the push of a button, streamlining workflows and reducing complexity for users.

For ECU, the integration of HOME, VSM, and mc²36 aligns closely with its educational goals, providing students with early exposure to IP-based production environments while ensuring a structured and accessible learning experience.

Burns concluded: "It's the fact the team worked with one eye on technical precision and the other on student potential that made this collaboration a real success. And they're as excited as we are by the possibilities this system creates for our students."

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