L-S-B Virtual Studio Manager specified for Qatar TV’s new Broadcast Centre

Among the extensive facilities now complete at the new Broadcast Centre in Doha are a Master Control Room (MCR), Central Apparatus Room (CAR), a 450sqm News Studio, 1,013sqm Production Studio and Edit Studios. In addition, two OB trucks have been completed.

In the complete studio facility L-S-B’s Virtual Studio Manager (VSM) is implemented to function as the one solution control system. Working independently from hardware manufacturers the VSM integrates easily in the studio facility and controls seamlessly the existing hardware.

The project also marks the launch of the Qatar Television Support & Development Committee, making TVSDC Project Manager and Consultant Engineer, Samer Younes, an important part of the proceedings. “We wanted to build a world- class playout centre that is flexible and supports evolving requirements,” he says, “one that uses the latest service orientated architectures and is enabled for future technical growth in order to provide our audience with continuous, high- quality service.”

The project began in January 2012, with Sony Professional Solutions MEA handling systems integration. Key among the equipment suppliers were Grass Valley, Sony, Miranda, Riedel, L-S-B and Lawo.

“All of the companies worked in one place and worked in a professional way, even though they are competitors,” Younes says. “It was a pleasure to deal with such professional teams from all of them.”

Key to the configuration is the use of the L-S-B Broadcast Technologies VSM (Virtual Studio Manager) to centralise and simplify operation of the MCR’s Miranda NVision Routers (with integrated Multi-viewers), three Sony MVS8000 switchers, three Lawo mc266 digital audio mixing consoles, and a Riedel intercom system. VSM handles all Tally and UMD requirements, tieline and router control management, Monitor Wall Setup, audio routing control and modular gear parameter control.

The VSM system configured for use in the TVSDC is fully redundant incorporating VSMs unique server cluster logic. A variety of VSM hardware LCD and rotary control panels are deployed including three VSM LBP51 panels, 12 LBP33e panels, three LBP 17 panels and three LBPB-32 Sony-style panels, which are used as Emergency Switcher Panels. Three GPIO32 interfaces and 55 Under Monitor Displays (UMDs) are also included in the system design.