CTV enhances MPA1 audio monitoring experience with SNMP integration
Inside CTV OB’s OB12A, fully IP end to end
CTV Outside Broadcasts is enjoying significant improvements to its live production workflows, thanks to the integration of SNMP control with its MPA1 range of audio monitors.
The MPA1 range from TSL Products allows for several integration possibilities with control and monitoring systems using the SNMP protocol. The addition of SNMP control allows engineers to set pre-sets and enable operators to recall MPA1 states as part of a system salvo, thereby minimising risk and complexity.
CTV has more than 60 MPA1 range units dispersed across multiple OB trucks.
“We use MPA1 Mix Madi and MPA1 Mix Dante,” said Richard Morton, head of projects at CTV. “The Mix Madi model is deployed in our legacy SDI trucks and utilises the SNMP control protocol. Meanwhile, the Mix Dante is deployed in our brand-new flagship fully-IP truck, OB12, which launched towards the end of last year. The Dante units conveniently use the inherent Audinate control protocol and mnemonic transfer.”
“For the Mix Madi units, we use the SNMP object that control the MPA internal source mnemonics. When our broadcast controller, EVS Cerebrum, makes an audio route to an MPA channel, the display mnemonic on the unit automatically changes to reflect the new sound source. Combined with the faithful sound quality of the MPA series this automated naming function is incredibly convenient providing speed and confidence to switching many audio channels to a number of monitoring units.”
According to Morton, the capabilities of the SNMP combined with the MPA1 units have benefitted the whole team: “Producers and operators can see immediate changes to their panel when sources are switched. Our workflow is improved by reducing the need to manually identify and label volume controls around the truck. Since the entire operation is integrated in our control system, the MPA source names naturally follow the TSL UMDs, router panel names and vision mixer button names for a one-stop-shop to marry video, audio and control signals.”