WASHINGTON—Earlier this year, DVG installed a Calrec Brio36 digital audio console at the BBC’s Washington bureau in Washington, D.C. Serving as the main mixer for all of its D.C.-based productions, the console is part of key upgrades for the broadcaster’s “Gallery” production control room. It primarily works on nightly news productions and also covers special events such as elections or conventions. 

This is the first time the BBC Washington bureau is using a Calrec console, suggested by DVG because of the Brio36’s easy-to-use routing system, great EQs and dynamics, numerous aux buses and mix minus legs, plus plenty of power. One particular feature used on several channels is the ability to have a second input routed and waiting on standby that’s accessed by the press of a button. From having backup wired mics for the wireless signals, or for having a backup telephone hybrid ready to cover the main hybrid used for directors in London to communicate with the talent, this feature really stood out as crucial for redundancy and reliability on air. 

The Brio setup also lets the BBC see the GUI on an external monitor. DVG took the DVI output of the Brio36 and put it into a KVM matrix, which means multiple end-users can train at the same time, with proper social distancing, which is mandatory during COVID times. Everyone has the same view of the GUI right in front of them on a local monitor, which is especially useful if you are in another room trying to troubleshoot something and can’t be in front of the Brio at the same time.

The setup also involves a Dante card installed in the Brio, which ties in their other IP systems. Through the Dante card, the BBC can feed their intercom system and remotes all the mix minus feeds they need without tying up physical audio output ports. They also interface with their existing audio router through an external MADI/Dante bridge adaptor. 

Although automation isn’t currently being used, they’re talking about adding it in the future and this feature will be incredibly useful for redundancy and ease of programming.

Joe Davenport is vice president of Engineering at Digital Video Group.

MADISON, WI—Rush Media produces live sports broadcasts as both a packager and truck provider for numerous regional and national networks, including Fox, CBS, NBCSN and ATTSN to name a few. We recently embarked on a complete fleet upgrade, and were looking for a high-quality console with a small footprint. Calrec Audio’s Brio36 was a viable choice because of its size, reliability and coverage with the Hydra2 network.

We purchased our first Brio for a national sports package and have since ordered five more consoles for our six new custom built, 40-foot mobile units with expanding sides. Each truck includes eight camera control units, two 8-channel replay servers, two graphics generators, 36-input switcher, 48-port communication frame and a main truck router with full audio capabilities. The Brio36 is the perfect fit to bring all these elements together.

Rush Media offers a smaller, cost-effective alternative to the full budget, larger footprint mobile units. We needed an audio console that could deliver the quality networks were accustomed to and be familiar to the freelancers that would be using it. We found that the Brio can do both, with no other console at this price point coming close.

Many factors came into play when selecting a console. As with any mobile unit, size is limited. The Brio36 provides 36 dual layer faders and by using a Hydra2 expansion card, we were able to double the size of the console’s I/O. Utilizing MADI in and out of the truck router, left us with more than enough paths and fit nicely in the space available.

The Brio36 has many functions that I’ve used in the past with larger Calrec consoles. With high frame rate cameras being a standard complement on our trucks, delay on every input and output is a must. GPI, together with Auto Fader, has become very useful with the Vizrt graphics generator, and handheld cameras in the field. The Hydra2 network has made it easy to expand the I/O and network multiple desks together.

Our newest mobile unit is being used for all home and away broadcasts for a major league soccer team. The home broadcasts require us to send multiple transmission feeds with unique audio assignments, as well as provide the visiting team separate field FX microphones to be used for their broadcasts. The combination of extra I/O provided by the Br.IO wallbox and MADI to our truck router makes it easy for the operator to provide feeds. The I/O routing section on the Brio is very user friendly and no coordination is needed with the mobile unit engineer. We are so pleased with the performance of the Brio36’s and see no reason to look elsewhere.

We plan to add more mobile units to our fleet next year and additional Calrec audio consoles will be included in this expansion.

Rusty Cummins has worked in the broadcast industry since 2005, joining Rush Media full time in 2013. He can be reached atrustycummins@rushmediaco.com.

For more information, please visitwww.calrec.com or call 661-877-9775.

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