New United OB 16 features VSM control system

For the 8-camera OB 16, the newest addition to Dutch multicam specialist United’s fleet, the company has chosen L-S-B’s VSM system to control all major components of the vehicle. L-S-B’s local partner LDM Audiovisual Systems, based in Lint/Belgium, carried out the delivery and configuration of the VSM system.

VSM works as overall control for central automation of all systems in the vehicle, integrating the video (Grass Valley), audio (Lawo) and intercom (Riedel) router, and also the multiviewer (Grass Valley), thus offering workflows, individually configured to the needs of the company and the operators alike.

The OB van works in HD quality and all connections are realised with fibre cabling. On the audio part a Lawo mc256 console plus a Nova73 compact core is in place. The audio mixing console works as a controller for the Nova router, which is equipped with MADI, allowing transferring audio signals of 64 audio channels over one fibre cable. Furthermore, VSM has direct access to the Riedel Artist Matrix intercom system that connects to the Lawo system via MADI protocol.

The fifteen different workplaces use VSM hardware panels for switching the signals or even trigger multiple complex functions with one button push. The operators at the fifteen different workplaces can select their specific visualisation. The buttons on the VSM panels are LCDs, dynamically displaying the signal labels.

Using VSM setups can be set, saved and recalled for any situation. Operators can configure their workflows individually, even during preparations. With global snapshots these workflows can be recalled for production immediately. For example, changing the order of the cameras previously required a lot of effort by changing setup and re-configuration plus re-naming of tally signals. With the use of VSM now that can be programmed centrally – changing all labelling of signals for UMDs, monitors or CCUs – which makes the workstations very flexible.