Mediacorp chose Lawo’s IP broadcast systems to set up their BBTC Broadcast Centre as a testbed for full IP redundancy as the network prepares to migrate towards IP infrastructure.
Mediacorp is Singapore’s national media network and a major content creator, operating a range of television channels, radio stations and digital platforms. The network has begun migrating towards IP-based infrastructure, and is using its alternative Bukit Batok Transmission Centre (BBTC) as a testbed for full IP redundancy. The project is part of a strategic upgrade of its main campus at the one-north R&D precinct in Singapore.
Mediacorp chose Lawo’s IP broadcast systems for the BBTC, working with local supplier/integrator BCI who served as consultant and oversaw the implementation and configuration of the new system.
Inside the Mediacorp Testbed
Lawo’s equipment stood out for its robust, redundant IP-based media network design, which links four studios to the master control room (MCR). The MCR is powered by two redundant Lawo Power Core units used for routing and DSP (digital signal processing) capabilities. Each Power Core engine is connected via fibre to AIOX (Audio I/O Extender) units, which serve as high-capacity audio I/O across the network.
The Power Core’s capabilities are software-defined. With multiple high-density RAVENNA/AES67 and MADI interfaces as standard, ten 10 modular mic, line, AES3, GPIO and DANTE interfaces are included for customisation. It is a good choice for broadcasters migrating from baseband to IP because it also supports SMPTE 2022-7, enabling two separate transmission paths to deliver identical packet streams to prevent uninterruptions to network connection. The ST2110-30 standard, facilitating audio interchange in combined radio / TV facilities, is also implemented.
Talent training on the console
The redundant nature of this network is especially important to Mediacorp because it ensures continuous operations with automatic failover protection, and means they can come closer to eliminating downtime.
Scalable, Flexible and IP-Native
In the studio setup, each of the four studios is equipped with a 12-fader diamond broadcast console. Designed for scalability up to 60 physical faders, the diamond console is modular, supporting custom set-ups of fader panels. It is also IP native, compatible with RAVENNA / AES67 and ST2110-30 standards. It uses the DSP functionality of its associated Power Core engine for audio routing and processing.
The direct IP connectivity between the studios and the MCR gives Mediacorp’s operators a straightforward, networked workflow, as well as efficiency and flexibility through its all-IP interface. diamond makes flexible options possible for installing and maintaining equipment. As well as placing the Power Core in the studio and connect it directly to the console, it can be located remotely in a rack room, a data centre or in a separate facility. Connected via LAN or WAN, as many as four independent studios can share the resources of one Power Core.
Centralised Control
VisTool at the MCR
For centralised control, the studios are connected via Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) with the Power Cores in the MCR. LACP combines numerous physical Ethernet links into one logical link to help with load balancing. VisTool, Lawo’s virtual radio studio control environment, gives engineers visibility and control over the whole system from a single interface. VisTool is designed for real-time monitoring and management of the Power Core units, and puts routing, DSP and other key functions under the broadcaster’s control in complex multi-studio environments.
The AIOX extenders help reduce the footprint and power consumption of the installation. Each 1RU AIOX unit supports up to 64 channels of audio I/O, making a high-density system available that can consolidate a large number of I/O connections into a compact space, which may also be a chance to optimize cost.
The fully redundant media network at the BBTC is a way for Mediacorp to guarantee operational reliability, and their use of the scalable, modular Lawo hardware prepares the BBTC for future expansion. This installation not only supports Mediacorp’s current operational requirements but will also make future deployments at their main campus more straightforward. www.lawo.com
