Video Progetti was asked to provide a solution based on open standards (IP, AES67) and able to sustain the complexity of the RAI production, a challenge successfully implemented through the deployment of a full Clear-Com system based on Eclipse HX matrix and FreeSpeak II wireless system
Rai – Radiotelevisione Italiana, is the Italian state broadcaster. With its footprint based on 4 major production centres (Milan, Naples, Rome and Turin) and 23 regional stations, it is, by size, currently the 5th most important media company in Europe.
For the television part, RAI is managing 14 TV channels. There are also 23 regional feeds that complement the core offering of the broadcaster.
Challenge
RAI requested of Video Progetti an intercom solution able to cope with specific requirements. First of all the solution needs to be based on open standards (IP, AES67) and be able to sustain the complexity of the RAI production: on one hand capable to handle the various sizes of RAI productions, including major live events, and on the other hand, the selected solution needs to provide an integration mechanism between each sub-system so that the management of the Intercom solution could be centralized and seen as a single multi-studio environment.
The intercom terminals need to offer robust and reliable wireless operation.
Solution
Video Progetti has successfully proposed and deployed a full Clear-Com system based on Eclipse HX matrix and FreeSpeak II wireless system.
Each of 5 galleries (control rooms)has its own Eclipse matrix, but each Eclipse is then interconnected in a peer-to-peer fashion via IP using RAI’s standard IT network and forming a seamless integrated system together with a 6th matrix called “POOL” in RAI terminology, that manages all shared resources like wireless beltpacks and studio panels, indipendently from each gallery (Control Room). All these functionalities are embedded into the Eclipse matrix, without the need for additional middleware or orchestration.
In this way wireless FreeSpeak system can be shared across all galleries and studios when required.
Moreover, the use of 1.9GHz frequency allows for a robust and interference-free radio system. Clear-Com-optimized DECT technology used for wireless communication between transceivers and belt-packs offers the required interference-free wireless operation.
The ease of use of the solution is further enhanced via three additional features:
- The HCI API allows for control from third party automations systems .. This makes system reconfiguration quick and easy.
- The Clear-Com solution comes with its own configuration software (EHX) which, using a client-server topology, allows for multi user access with level of permissions determined on a single user basis.
EHX also reports to each user the full telemetry of the part of the system in use (such as RF signal statuses, battery levels and alerts) in order to achieve maximum reliability and confidence on the system. - Dynam-EC software (a Windows application) further provides an additional operational management layer using a fully and easily customizable graphical interface with drag-and-drop functionality for maximum ease of use.
All targets defined at the tender stage have been met.
Thanks to Video Progetti’s specialists, all use-case applications of the product have been shown to be supported both in mid-large scale studio facilities, where the Clear-Com solution allows for maximum scalability, flexibility and co-existence of same solution amongst different studios and galleries, and for the events connected with remote production for sports events and major OB productions.
For the latter, the compatibility of standardized radio frequency when working abroad is also important as is the ability to interconnect with other systems, something on which Clear-Com has a long tradition of openness and versatility.
