Italian companies partner to create high-spec Unit 22 OB van

A new 10m long OB van created to serve major Italian and other European sports events is the result of a partnership between two Italian companies, Telerecord and Aret Audio and Video Engineering. Unit 22 represents the latest in a series of similar projects carried out in recent years, and is the fifth OB unit in a row created under the same name and sold to international broadcasters.

The high-spec van’s technical infrastructure includes: 10 Sony HDC 2500 cameras (fibre connected up to 10 km); SuperMotion 2x Cameras; Sony MVS 3G video mixer with 60 inputs and 20 outputs; a wall production monitor with integrated quad split display up to 80 sources; and several Quad Split 18” Monitors from Kroma Telecom Monitor for the engineering and slow motion section.

All monitors boast a very low delay of just a frame; the decision was made not to use the multi-viewer in order to minimise the delay and maximize reliability.

Also onboard is a multi-format 3G Snell Sirius 128-in 192 out video matrix; 3HDR BLT SMS 4U six channels for slow motion, all networkable; 2 +2 HDCAM VTRs / XDCAM 3G distribution; Up- Down-Cross cross converter, mux, DA, AD, VDA by Ross Video; 4 frame synchronizer FA 9500 by FOR- A; and Tektronix WVR7200, TSL TM1 under monitor tally system.

Audio systems, meanwhile, include: a Yamaha audio CL5 mixer with 72 analogue inputs, 40 analogue outputs, 32 AES outputs and RIO 3224D interfaces; Yamaha 01V96 auxiliary audio mixer; and Snell Pixis 36×36 AES-EBU audio matrix. Also in use are Ross Video audio distribution technology, a Clear-Com intercom, Dolby DP570 Multichannel Audio Tool, Harris CMN-LA audio control loudness instrument, Glensound commentary system and GSM ISDN telephone hybrids. More specifically, this new mobile vehicle stems from a ‘concept’ derived from the long experience of Telerecord in major productions, and was fully integrated by Aret.

Giovanni Bertini, founder of Telerecord, comments: “These mobile vehicles jointly signed by Telerecord Aret are ‘ready to go’, high performance and flexible and guarantee up-to-date on-field operational functions and great reliability.”

Fabio Bertini, co-owner, adds: “In recent years we have intensified our cooperation with Aret Video and Audio Engineering, which is a partner of most important international brands, and also acquired Italian distribution for key market products and brands. [Indeed] we often integrate broadcast products distributed by Aret on OB vehicles [from suppliers such as] Calrec Audio, Ross Video, Vinten, Kroma Telecom, Wohler, Tektronix and several others.”

Alessandro Asti, vice-president of Aret, continues: “We loved this ‘concept’ by Telerecord, first of all for the available room which is definitely spacious thanks to a double expansion in the video master control section, which has allowed us to board three workbenches in just 10m, with a result comparable to that of far longer vehicles.

“Inside Unit 22 we have provided 15 very comfortable operational seats, thanks to the double expansion [to] a total of 4m width. Onboard the main video mixer is a Sony system, whilst a second surface is meant for production assistants and authors. A third workbench accommodates slow motion operators. This is a truly remarkable achievement in terms of floor room [capacity] for a rather compact production vehicle.

“This mobile unit operates on top class sports events such as football matches in the premier league Serie A and this speaks volumes about the quality of the equipment that must be onboard: it is a guarantee of reliability and quality. “