Lawo will supply and implement a new central audio router and control system for all CBC/Radio-Canada radio production and distribution in Montreal. The yearlong, multistage deployment is beginning immediately, with initial on-air deployment scheduled for May, expansion to four regional stations by October and final completion in December 2008.
The Lawo-designed Dual Self-Healing Star (DSHS) system architecture for CBC/Radio-Canada is built around two Lawo Nova 73 router cores interconnected with 18 Lawo Dallis frames for AES and analog I/O, which will be distributed throughout multiple locations of CBC/Radio-Canada’s French language broadcast operations. Additionally, MADI interfaces will allow direct connection of existing consoles. The completed project will ultimately encompass roughly 3000 I/Os with gain control; 400 DSP channels; and 110 stereo peak program meters (PPMs), which are displayed as part of the control system and dynamically allocated. Four regional stations will use compact Lawo Nova 17 routers equipped with integrated fader, gain, PPMs and silence detectors.
The DSHS architecture is a highly redundant, failsafe system that is capable of circumventing issues such as power failure, water or fire damage that can befall single, central frame systems. This includes redundancy for failure of individual router components, with the additional benefit of being able to have a physically separated core structure in separate physical locations. Significantly, the system allows repair of damage to individual Dallis frames or MADI connections without switching the entire system from one core router to another.
The system will employ Virtual Studio Manager (VSM) control software to manage all the routers. When complete, the system will handle error tracking, reporting and resolution; audio monitoring, metering of the 110 stereo PPMs; facilitate remote control; and provide supervision of the four regional routers in addition to the primary DSHS system. The VSM will support integration with the Harris automation system for apology and router control and will enable existing radio consoles to control the router directly. The system also supports integration of a redundant Avocent KVM matrix. For the regional stations, the VSM control software includes a scheduler and functionality that supports the automated importation of the CBC/Radio-Canada traffic schedule.
The system replaces an analog patchbay with roughly 11,000 manual patch points and will allow full monitor and control of up to 60 radio stations in parallel while integrating legacy consoles in remote master control rooms throughout the province.
For more information, visit www.lawo.ca.
