TVNZ goes digital with new Calrec console
Published: ASIA
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand national broadcaster TVNZ recently replaced its old Calrec Audio analogue console with a new 48-fader Artemis Beam digital audio console for its studios. The Artemis Beam console now mixes audio for TVNZ's flagship news programming as well as other content for its commercial networks. The console's routing capabilities are a major feature in TVNZ's audio operations.
In total, the console is used for more than 14 different live and recorded shows each week. The Artemis console manages all incoming audio, triggering effects, and production of mix-minus and IFB feeds.
‘The Artemis Beam replaced a much-loved analogue console, but it also replaced time-consuming patch bays,’ said Paul Hedges, TVNZ production services manager. ‘We used to rely on physical patching to achieve things that we can now do with routing in the new console. We were running out of fader modules on the analogue console, but now we simply map faders to sources and change the configuration. Some of the work we do now was physically impossible on the old analogue console.’
The new system gives TVNZ access to more inputs on the same number of faders. Having different layers for different shows makes it easier to transition from one show to the next, especially because TVNZ often requires very fast, sometimes immediate turnaround between shows. The Artemis Beam's routing capabilities manage TVNZ's audio workflows, which accelerates setup whether for a remote stand-up shot or an in-studio production.
‘Our operational team members who use the console every day found it to be intuitive and very flexible,’ said Mr Hedges. ‘Versatility, capacity, ease of learning, and similarity to the old analogue desk were very attractive features for us.’
Furthermore, when TVNZ covers major events such as political elections, it can quickly and easily expand its capacity by using the console's networking and resource-sharing abilities to join various sources, locations, and studios.
‘It's gratifying to see our newer technology joining the mix at TVNZ,’ said Graham Murray, Calrec's Asia-Pacific regional sales director. ‘Reliability, redundancy, and expandability were critical technical criteria for TVNZ's operation, which is mostly live-to-air for about 17 hours each day, and the Artemis Beam was perfectly suited to its news-oriented environment.’