RAI completes digital production initiative in news and sports departments
In the final stage of a long-term project to implement all-digital production across its network, Italian public broadcaster RAI has completed transitional work in news and sports production departments TG1 and TG3. Along with TG2, these operations create multiple news and sports bulletins, along with in-depth analysis, for the general TV networks RAI 1, 2 and 3.
Digitisation started with the goal of optimising production processes, taking into account current needs and future expectations. T-Cube has allowed the broadcaster to meet these requirements and is the backbone via which content is flexibly transferred.
All RAI TG departments are located on the Saxa Rubra campus in Rome. For TG1 and TG3, some technologies were already in place, including video mixers, cameras, monitors, lenses and audio mixers. Technology related to GLU and various processors, matrices and audio monitors needed to be added to the set-up.
Avid technology is integral to the new infrastructure. Along with TG2, TG1 and TG3 now make extensive use of an Avid ISIS 7000 archiving system.
LED walls incorporating Lightbeam technology are a core feature of the updated studios, while Hitachi SK HD1000E cameras, Fujinon lenses, Vinten pan-heads and tripods are used to capture the action.
The video mixer is a Grass Valley Kayenne XL, monitors are Sony OLED, and the audio mixer is a Stagetec Aurus, with about 180 DSP channels, controllable on 48 faders on 10 layers and interfaced with MADI.
Virtual scenery system
The scenery is created by 7thSense servers with the possibility of synchronisation, allowing 2D or 3D animations to be created and enhanced with special effects, mixing real-time video in any medium applied on any type of surface (curved, spherical projections and mapped in 3D).
The huge intercom section is based on Clear-Com technologies with media matrices interconnected on optical fiber. Thanks to the integration of two MADI cards (64 channels each), the system interfaces directly with the audio mixer, expanding application opportunities considerably. The integration of two cards by FreeSpeak Integra allows users to manage up to 80 radio beltpacks simultaneously.
The lights in the three studios are by QuartzColor, with some models by Arri and Martin Professional (Rush Zoom Par 2 and Par 1).
A reserve audio mixer from Lawo is interfaced thanks to Sonifex equipment and is paralleled with the main mixer so it is ready to use in an emergency. The patch panel is by Ghielmetti.
The matrix by Clearcom is fully interfaced and integrated with the MADI matrix to make all functions of the service as flexible as possible.
The audio monitoring is by Genelec; across the two TGs there are more than 140 monitors from the 8020, 8030 and 8040 series in control rooms and production areas.