Advanced Optocore Networks Transmit Papal Masses in Glasgow and Birmingham

14 October 2010 10:55 BST

SSE and Wigwam choose optical fibre control for site wide distribution

Advanced Optocore systems were used for site wide signal distribution by both SSE Audio Group and Wigwam Hire when Pope Benedict XVI visited the UK recently.

While SSE were entrusted with providing the full audio design and implementation for the two-and-a-half-hour mass at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow — as well as the full programme of pre- and post-service entertainment — Wigwam did likewise at Cofton Park in Birmingham.

The solution provided for SSE project manager Dan Bennett, had far-reaching consequences. The bespoke fibre system, configured and supported by Optocore (from both Germany and the UK), was designed to enable them to tunnel Ethernet through their optical fibre system, enabling L’Acoustics’ new Network Manager Remote Control Software to reside on the network.

Bennett realised that Optocore would give them the combined benefit of sufficient bandwidth, L’Acoustics system support and the extensive coverage required between the mixing position and the stage. This included nearly measured 500m distance from front to back.

In total SSE used 21 x 150m fibres over more than a 2km ring. Fed by Dolby Lake processors, all the distribution was handled by Optocore’s workhorse DD32E.

Bennett explained, “WIth 100-plus LA-8’s feeding 20 hangs of L’Acoustics K1, VDOSC, KUDO and KIVA, we needed to be able to individually call up and healthcheck the amps remotely. To be able to do this via Optocore’s 100Mbit/sec Ethernet tunnel was amazing — that was the real selling point for us.”

Optocore supplied 18 of Optocore’s flexible V3R FX devices — configured eight Line Out — for converting the analogue signals to AES-EBU at the amp rack locations.

This allowed Dan Bennett and his system tech Nick Pain, to send 24 AES and eight analogue signals from the Dolby Lake drive rack down the same fibre from the house position.

Providing tie lines and comms between FOH and stage were two Optocore X6R-FX converters (configured 8 Mic In, 8 Line Out).

“This is the biggest system I have designed — and fibre is the only thing that will run over those distances,” Dan Bennett confirmed. “The Optocore system was rock solid and provided a fantastic solution.”
 
And FOH sound engineer Craig Pryde agreed, “The Optocore fibre backbone was a perfect solution for signal distribution — it worked flawlessly.”

In Birmingham Wigwam Hire were faced with a different challenge, needing to integrate their Avid VENUE mixing console into the network, and enable control of the d&b audiotechnic proprietary remote network.

Wigwam’s Rob Priddle, who specified the system under the direction of Chris Hill, designed the solution. And thanks to the new firmware developed for Optocore’s DD4ME MADI network device — enabling the BNC ports to function not as MADI, but as Digidesign VENUE’s proprietary coaxial digital snake — this could be achieved.

Four of the software-modified DD4ME’s were used as stand alone devices — two each in the Stage and FOH racks. While the main FOH console was a 56-channel Midas XL4 this was supported by a 96-channel Avid VENUE D-Show, which handled the vast number of choir inputs, and the Optocore fibre covered the 150m distance to the 112-channel Digico SD7 desk at the stage (supported by a PM5D).
 
Wigwam digital specialist, Alex Hadjigeorgiou, explained that this had enabled them to construct three separate distribution networks — all on fully-redundant rings — fed from a Yamaha DME-64 mix engine, which handled the matrix and delays.

“The distance to the delay towers would have been over 500 metres,” reasoned Hadjigeorgiou. “We have to work in absolutes, and in view of the network size we knew the only way we could do this was with Optocore.”

The largest delay ring carried audio to the delay towers and Radio 4 stage. Wigwam also created a screen based (R1) virtual control surface and provided Optocore network control to the five d&b R70 (Ethernet to CAN) and two R60 (USB to CAN) interfaces on d&b’s remote network. This enabled Wigwam to healthcheck the system.

“I had tested the Optocore to see whether it had the capacity to run the seven R60/R70 devices — and the network capabilities were more than adequate to cope with the requirements of the d&b software,” continued the Wigwam man.

The second point to point Optocore system carried the tielines from FOH to stage and the third ran the four DD4ME devices.

Rob Priddle and Alex Hadjigeorgiou confirmed that having been sufficiently confident to design this massive project around Optocore architecture, everyone had been delighted with the way it had performed.

“Our DD4ME’s came straight off Florence & The Machine, and with the new firmware worked perfectly, and provided really clean routing. It made the desk look really good — but if we had tried to do this with the BNC multicore, and the cable run had needed to be 20 metres longer, we would have had problems.

“My biggest concern now is, judging from the number of PA and system techs who commented on how clean the sound was, that more and more will start requesting DD4ME’s to run their Avid desks.”

Wigwam sound engineers on duty were: Steve Levitt (XL4) and Jonathan Digby (VENUE) at FOH, Andy ‘Baggy’ Robinson (SD7) and Ant Carr (PM5D) on monitors.