Lawo rolls out fully IP-based OB truck at Women’s Winter Classics
The Women’s ice hockey Winter Classics in Gstaad last December saw the live debut of S12, a new outside broadcast (OB) truck operated by Swiss broadcast service provider Brutal Güet. The event also marked the inaugural live deployment of the vehicle’s fully IP-based Lawo audio infrastructure.
At the heart of the audio control room is a Lawo mc256 MkIII console with 48 faders, paired with a redundant A_UHD Core and an audio-over-IP (AoIP) environment built on SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, and Ravenna.
Set against the alpine backdrop of Gstaad village, the outdoor Winter Classics presented unique challenges due without conventional stadium infrastructure, offering Brutal Güet the perfect opportunity to test its new OB van under real-world conditions.
Multi-lingual operation is a cornerstone of Swiss broadcasting. Although only one language feed was used in Gstaad, the audio setup was preconfigured for tri-lingual operation. “Production in Switzerland is inherently more complex,” explained Maier. “That’s why I structured the setup so that all three languages are prepared — not only for this production, but for all future ones as well.”
The mc2 series’ advanced digital signal processing (DSP) capabilities streamline workflows, allowing engineers to store and recall EQs, compressors, and presets, while selectively allocating processing power to optimise audio quality.
Maier noted, “Not every output requires full processing. If a signal path is mainly used for information delivery, I can reduce processing there and allocate resources where they deliver the greatest sonic benefit.”
Speed and clarity are also crucial in live broadcasts. “I can customise the console to suit my workflow in every detail, but I don’t have to. I can also pragmatically route a signal from A to B quickly and easily — and it still works,” said Maier. “If a camera operator reports they can’t hear anything, I can immediately check a second or third meter to see whether the signal is leaving my system. That tells me right away where to look — or where not to look.”
Open-air conditions also presented acoustic challenges. Without typical ice hockey reflections and with variable crowd sizes, the team used directional shotgun microphones to capture on-ice action while minimising extraneous noise.
Precise latency management was another critical factor, with wireless cameras, remote feeds, and distributed IP signal paths requiring carefully aligned delays. “With Lawo, delays can be applied exactly where they make sense — at the input stage, within groups or on direct outputs. This level of clarity and flexibility remains a key advantage, especially in hybrid UP and remote production environments,” Maier said.
Built by Broadcast Solutions on the Streamline concept, the S12 truck is designed for a wide range of productions, from sports and cultural events to festivals and live entertainment. “Our goal was not to focus exclusively on traditional sports productions,” Maier concluded. “If we produce an opera, we need this surface structure and channel capability as well.
“The concept is to use the OB van as a fully equipped mobile control room and minimise on-site setups.”
