NRK rolls out single-expanding OB24 trailer for winter sports coverage

Lithuanian system integrator TVC has completed construction of an OB trailer for Norwegian public broadcaster NRK around a Lawo IP audio infrastructure, including mc²56 mixing console, a UHD Core processing engine and VSM control. The new vehicle is an investment for NRK’s ambitious future productions and is part of a technological standardisation within the broadcast production facilities and mobile studios at NRK.

The 13.6m-long single-side expansion (4.15m expanded), 26 ton NRK OB24 features a large interior space with 24 dedicated workplaces, high levels of both sound and heat insulation and automatic preparation for operation and transportation. It features two production rooms, slo-mo operator’s row, camera control area, separate audio room and a completely separate equipment & server room, with a separate entrance door from outside.

Alongside its single-side expansion, the truck features protective fold-down roofs on the expandable side and entrance platform, interior floor heating and readiness for deployment in a cold climate – as its main production duties include winter sports like biathlon, slalom and ski jumping. Other assignments will include cultural and music events.

Central to the audio infrastructure are a 64-fader Lawo mc²56 Broadcast Production Console and a core providing 5,096 x 5,096 crosspoints and fully redundant 512-channel use of Lawo’s UHD Core, with an upgradeable power capacity of 1,024 DSP channels as well as DALLIS, A__stage80 and Power Core RP for I/O interfacing and mixing.

For overall broadcast control system with its tight integration of video and audio mixing and routing systems, and GPIO, TVC has adopted Lawo’s VSM IP broadcast control and workflow solution with operating panels configured by Lawo project engineer Anthony Teunen, together with the NRK team.

A unique separate expandable platform allows quick access to a separate rack room, even without expanding the whole trailer. Its rear bottom hatch has an aluminum non-slip covering, which forms a roof with side covers, or tent, convertible to a working ramp of 300kg load capacity.

The infrastructure of the 28-camera trailer (24 CCUs + 4 RF Link cameras) includes equipment from Sony (cameras, production switcher, monitoring, video mixer), Grass Valley (video router and multiviewer), EVS (slomo servers, net hub), Vizrt (graphics) and Genelec (audio monitoring).

“I worked closely with NRK and TVC to make sure we chose a design which is future-proof regarding scalability and new workflows,” said Jarle Felin, Lawo vice president of Northern Europe operations. “The system is already SMPTE 2110/2022-7 compatible and, through its RAVENNA AoIP and A_UHD design, it can be upgraded to meet any new demands for formats, IO and DSP capacity without a lot of redesign.

“Also, using the Lawo Powercore RP as a stagebox brings new possibilities for the use of mixing and DSP functions on stage, mixed zones and other destinations needing this feature without adding latency to monitor outputs. The TVC team has done a great job with the deployment.”