Broadcasters overcome World Cup challenges with Lawo
Published: MEA
SOUTH AFRICA: Console manufacturer Lawo is celebrating the use of an mc290 desk at the recent FIFA World Cup, particularly its use in overcoming the sound of the vuvuzela during broadcasts.
Though widely considered a success, the South Africa-hosted tournament presented a number of technical and logistical challenges to broadcasters. Among them were issues with importing equipment previously used for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver into the country following a harbour worker’s strike in Durban, and power outages.
Nevertheless, despite the vuvuzela’s role in building atmosphere within the World Cup stadia, it was the instrument’s persistent sound that proved most challenging. The Lawo mc290 – deployed at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) – was reportedly a key factor in reducing the impact of the horns on audio feeds. ‘The ability to use the steep notch filters on the Lawo console’s EQ was extremely helpful in the creation of signals with reduced interference from the vuvuzelas,’ explained Carsten Higler, technical director of ARD, the German public national radio and TV network.
During the tournament, Host Broadcast Services (HBS) was responsible for the production and distribution of all the audio and video feeds. It provided 12 feeds for the IBC’s control room, and up to 14 in the stadiums, depending on the match taking place. In addition, return lines for transfer and switching to satellite news gatherers and broadcaster headquarters, as well as the national OB vans at the stadiums, were handled in the IBC.
SWR sound engineer Erich Ebert added: ‘Because Lawo engineers worked for HBS in the IBC, an efficient path was available for the fast exchange of information, and to deal with any problems.’