Golf Channel gains flexibility with Lawo technology

The American channel dedicated to golf reviews its entire audio infrastructure by integrating Lawo solutions that allow IP transport, pool resources, facilitate operation and improve workflows.

In 2016, Golf Channel began a transition plan to refresh the popular American golf channel. Eric Gardner, director of engineering at Golf Channel, comments: "When we began this project, our goal was to overhaul our entire audio infrastructure while achieving IP transport, pooled resources, ease of operation and improved workflows. Lawo's product portfolio allowed us to design and build a comprehensive system that seamlessly combines audio, video, intercom and commentator positions based on single-source solutions."

As part of this technology upgrade, the channel has installed three 64-fader mc²56 consoles in the primary production control rooms for live audio, as well as three additional 16-fader mc²36 consoles in hybrid live audio and post-production rooms. In addition to the consoles, Lawo commentary units have been installed in several broadcast booths throughout the Golf Channel production complex.

Additionally, a Nova 73 audio matrix and eleven Dallis audio I/O frames have been integrated located in Golf Channel's studios, control rooms and equipment areas. Gardner maintains that "the beauty of this design is that all the messy wiring only occurs near the core or at the edge. Ravenna allows for an extensive, extremely clean audio network around our facilities using fiber and copper."

Their V__pro8

For added flexibility, Golf Channel has also installed four Lawo V__pro8 audio/video processors to eliminate the complexity of audio and video channel assignment.
"The addition of four Lawo V_pro8 units gives us the flexibility to perfectly synchronize any of the eight inputs and outputs with a MADI audio matrix. Live video and audio monitoring is integrated into the HTML5 web GUI, and the flexibility to build program paths, auxiliaries and cameras in minutes," says Bob van Deering, director of design and broadcast systems at Lawo.

V__pro8 units are used as additional resources, with one dedicated unit per production control room and a fourth unit wrapped around the central video router.
Dennis Milewski, director of systems services at Golf Channel, comments, "One feature our operations team has been excited about is the flexibility of Lawo's custom functions. Using the mc² series consoles' custom function, operators can program the console to do almost anything they can imagine. Currently, custom functions are used for special audio monitoring situations, backup microphone routing, and GPIO tasks such as 'on-air' signaling, among many other uses."

Milewski concluye afirmando que “fue increíble trabajar desde el principio hasta el final del proyecto con Lawo. Nuestros operadores descubrieron que el formador de Lawo fue más allá y los hizo sentir cómodos con una amplia capacitación y presencia en el lugar”.