KBS Modernises HDTV-4 OB Van With Lawo's IP Audio Solutions

The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), South Korea's leading public broadcaster, has upgraded its HDTV-4 outside broadcast (OB) van with Lawo's advanced IP-based audio solutions.

This modernisation enhances the van's flexibility, performance, and efficiency in live production, ensuring top-quality coverage of major events.

The HDTV-4, KBS's largest OB vehicle, is designed for high-end productions with its 16-camera setup and meticulously planned workspace. To meet the growing demands of live broadcasting, KBS completely renewed the van's audio infrastructure, replacing legacy equipment with a Lawo mc²56 Audio Production Console, an A__UHD Core audio engine, a Power Core Gateway, and an A__stage64 stagebox. System integrator Dongyang Digital (DYD) executed the overhaul, ensuring seamless integration with the existing infrastructure.

Live broadcasting is highly dynamic, requiring adaptable setups within OB vans. Choelho Park, responsible for the overall management and the sound mix of the KBS HDTV-4, explained: "The OB van can become a production stage anywhere outdoors, so every event requires a complete reconfiguration from scratch. From the signals exchanged with the production site to fader strip layouts, routing, and production techniques—everything varies depending on the program, making flexibility crucial."

The mc²56 console, designed for fast-paced, high-pressure environments, provides extensive DSP power, a user-friendly interface, and customisable workflows. With support for SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, and RAVENNA, the console integrates seamlessly into KBS's IP-based infrastructure.

KBS covers a wide range of productions, from sports and concerts to entertainment shows. Lawo's equipment is designed to manage a diverse array of audio signals from multiple sources. Park stated: "During sports broadcasts, the OB van system receives individual microphone and commentary signals to create immersive sound. For music programs, we collaborate with external sound production companies, managing various signals (Analog, AES3, AES10) for program production. The mc²56 console accommodates these external signals, as well as internal signals from file players, graphic equipment, CD players, and reverb units, ensuring seamless mixing and high-quality audio output."

The integration of Lawo's Power Core Gateway and A__stage64 stagebox enhances connectivity and signal transport, providing robust and scalable audio networking.

Several key factors influenced KBS’s decision to choose Lawo for this upgrade. Park explained: "We needed a system that could reliably process various program signals as part of the primary/backup setup and seamlessly integrate with the OB van's VSM control system. Additionally, the equipment had to fit precisely into the limited rack space without hardware issues during OB van expansion or reduction."

Lawo's reputation for stability, high audio quality, and cost-effectiveness made it the preferred choice. "With our transition to an IP-based infrastructure, we needed a solution that guaranteed reliability," Park continued. "Lawo's excellent system stability, combined with outstanding sound characteristics, was a decisive factor."

Jung-Yeoul Lee, Technical Sales Division at DYD, highlighted the broader impact of the installation: "KBS now has a cutting-edge, future-proof audio setup that allows them to produce top-tier content with complete creative freedom. Seeing this system come to life is truly rewarding."

Before this upgrade, KBS relied on an aging mixing console that had reached the end of its lifecycle. The transition to Lawo's scalable IP-based infrastructure ensures long-term reliability and adaptability to future technological advancements.

As South Korea's leading public broadcaster, KBS continues to push the boundaries of live production. With its newly equipped HDTV-4 OB van powered by Lawo's state-of-the-art IP technology, KBS is well-prepared to deliver outstanding broadcasts for years to come.

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