Axon signal processing equipment at the heart of the Sochi broadcast

Russian broadcast systems company ANO Sports Broadcasting has 12 3Gbps capable OB trucks and 12 support trucks in use on site in Sochi. Axon modular signal processing product line Synapse is being used in a broad range of applications within the OB trucks, including the up, down and cross conversion of 3G signals. Axon modules support the distribution of video and audio signals throughout the trucks as well as the embedding and de-embedding of audio signals.

Axon miniaturised technology also controls the synchronising, legalising and keying operations within the fleet. Finally, Axon’s SynView forms the standard multiviewing platform on the trucks. One of the trucks is configured as a large master control room with five discrete areas providing feed/line control, supervisor area, server control, audio control and a main technical area. A second support truck contains a complete flight-case based eight-camera production unit.

Next to the trucks the Sochi mobile MCR is constructed with Axon’s SynView multiviewers and amongst others the Synapse up/down/cross converter GXG110. This module also has a powerful cross-input audio shuffler and ProcAmp. 2×8 channels out of any of the 16 embedded audio channels can be de-embedded and shuffled. This means that combining embedded audio from input 1 and from input 2 in the SD outputs is possible.

A number of Axon’s Dutch customers are also active in Sochi. DutchView, specialist in live registrations of big (sports) events is onsite with one of its trucks. United, a full service facilities provider is present with three trucks equipped with Axon products. Also present with Axon equipment is Broadcast Rental, a services and products rental company specialised in broadcasting.