Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Productions has deployed a 64-fader Calrec Sigma with Bluefin console to provide digital audio mixing, including 5.1 surround sound, in its new HD production truck.
Mixing sound for an auto race is a complex operation. Calrec's Bluefin high-density signal processing enables the compact Sigma console to pack significant mixing power. Equipped with 320 channel processing paths packaged as 108 stereo and 104 mono channels, the Sigma can handle as many as 52 5.1 surround channels.
Delivering the roar of the crowd as well as the engines during the Indianapolis 500 is one example of how IMS Productions employs this mixing power. The race required some 40 microphones and three submix consoles — pit, effects and radio — as well as multiple music playback devices for a total of 128 sources. Sigma managed that load easily and even afforded the production company room to grow.
The new truck, IMS Productions' first HD truck, is equipped with 16 cameras, a Thomson Grass Valley Kalypso switcher, EVS production servers and an Evertz monitor wall. It replaced two analog production trucks when it debuted in April at the Honda Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, FL.
When the racing season concludes in the fall, the truck will be used for Indiana Pacers basketball as well as Purdue and Indiana University football. In handling a variety of events, IMS Productions will take advantage of the fast turnarounds enabled by the Sigma's software, which makes it easy to configure, load and recall setups.
For more information, visit www.calrec.com.
