In August 2023, Dyn Media launched as a new broadcaster in European sports, aimed at giving sports beyond football the exposure and viewership they deserve. The broadcaster is taking completely new approaches in the production of its content. NEP Germany was contracted as the production service provider to develop a remote production infrastructure. The technical concept, signal workflows, and process operations were also created in collaboration with DYN. Broadcast Solutions served as the system integrator responsible for implementation.
The core of the entire infrastructure’s audio workflow is a comprehensive system solution from DirectOut Technologies, featuring several of its multifunctional PRODIGY.MP, .MC, and .MX units. With a total of 1x PRODIGY.MX, 20x PRODIGY.MP, and 12x PRODIGY.MC, this project represents the largest PRODIGY installation for DirectOut to date. Additionally, a variety of other audio solutions from DirectOut are in use, such as ANDIAMO or EXBOX.MD. To realize the complex and completely novel requirements and enable integration with other manufacturers, DirectOut developed and adapted new functions and interfaces.
DirectOut has evolved from a pure hardware manufacturer to a provider of audio solutions with its Audio Solution Model (ASM). The PRODIGY tools by DirectOut implement the ASM philosophy with modular hardware components, powerful DSP, and customizable control. DirectOut’s Audio Solution Model (ASM) comprises five layers: modular hardware, device functions tailored to specific applications (Skins), Control Protocols, Software, GUI and AI, and ADD-Ons consisting of hardware and software enhancements from other manufacturers. As a result, the Audio Solution Model offers a high degree of compatibility and interconnectivity in the development of seamless audio workflows across the entire production chain.
With the project for NEP Germany and Dyn, DirectOut ventured into entirely fresh territory on this scale, gaining many new insights and know-how regarding workflows, software, and the further development of its solutions, especially challenging given the short realization time of eight months.
Michael Lindermeir, Head of Audio at NEP Germany GmbH, comments, “The successful implementation was made possible by the excellent cooperation of all companies involved. Their experience, coupled with a great deal of enthusiasm and high motivation, made it possible to achieve the seemingly impossible by the DYN launch date, leading this project to success.
In our conceptual approach, the decision for the PRODIGY series was made due to its alignment with our requirements: integrating several decentralized mixing consoles with freely configurable DSP functions within an ST2110 audio network; configuring and controlling all existing audio devices from multiple workstations using common software. The fact that several of the currently available control protocols are integrated into the PRODIGY devices also contributed to achieving all our workflow goals. Simultaneously, we were able to independently develop and program the standalone advancement of the cross-manufacturer control of all devices in the installation.”
The heart of the installation is a central hub at NEP in Munich with a central equipment room, two control rooms, and the NOC. The other part of the technology is located at DYN in Cologne, with four control rooms and commentator positions. The seamless integration of the venues is achieved via an MPLS connection from Riedel to Munich and Cologne. DYN in Cologne has access to all resources in Munich and can remotely control them. Technicians and editors can also access the technology in the Venue Kits.
A total of 33 PRODIGY units are integrated into the project to handle the audio signals. In each of the six Venue Kits, 2x PRODIGY.MP and 2x PRODIGY.MC are in operation. In Munich, there are 7x PRODIGY.MP and 1x PRODIGY.MX, and in Cologne, 1x PRODIGY.MP is in use. These devices act as audio crosspoints for the streams and as gateways between the networks, realizing the complete audio workflow, including I/O, processing, and audio mixing. The PRODIGY units handle the audio signals to and from the venues, the intercom signals, and the commentator audio.
The entire DYN infrastructure of NEP Germany is based on SMPTE ST2110 and relies heavily on the automation of production workflows. The AutoMix function of the PRODIGYs allows engineers to call up various Automixes depending on the sport, focusing on maximum simplicity in handling. The control software GlobCon enables easy configuration of the PRODIGY units while the production teams work with the HCONTROL.16 hardware controllers developed explicitly for this project. Switching in the PRODIGYs is also possible via Stream Deck units at the workstations. The audio supervisor can monitor several games from one workstation. The finished PGM audio signals follow the PGM video signals. From the Venue Kit to the PCRs and the audio workstations, the audio streams are discretely routed. NEP’s control system, TFC, manages the workflow. Any production can be driven from any workstation in Cologne or Munich.
Since the complete installation is based on ST2110, the audio signals from the venues are converted into ST2110-30 / AES 67 streams via Ravenna cards in the PRODIGY.MPs on site. The Ravenna modules in all PRODIGYs have sufficient buffer to compensate for fluctuations in the WAN and transport the overall 30 audio signals between the venue and Munich. Mirror Mode with a second PRODIGY also ensures sufficient redundancy. Another safety tool is the Input Manager of the PRODIGY.MX, which automatically switches to a backup signal upon receiving a stream without audio content.
With Dyn Media’s remote production infrastructure, all companies involved have ventured into new paths and workflows. DirectOut demonstrates how flexible and powerful its solutions are from the interplay of PRODIGY units with external hardware and software, ensuring the management of such a complex and never-before-implemented production infrastructure.
For inquiries about PRODIGY products and other audio solutions from DirectOut, please visit www.directout.eu.