Studio Berlin invests in DirectOut Solutions for new control rooms
Studio Berlin’s Hamburg department has recently undergone a transformation with the help of DirectOut Solutions, which has kitted out the control rooms with high-end audio equipment
Top image ARD/Morris Mac Matzen
DirectOut has extended its coverage at Studio Berlin to provide conversion and redundancy solutions for its brand-new control room in Hamburg. This upgrade involves replacing an OB truck with two permanently installed facilities.
The Hamburg studio is predominantly used for light entertainment broadcasting. As a facility famous for quiz shows, this studio constantly needs access to faultless microphones and IEMs for presenters and hosts. The solution from DirectOut guarantees a clean, direct signal where problems can be identified and fixed quickly.
Matthias Hitz, the technical manager and overseer of the entire project, explained, “Issues can come from any point in the signal path, so it’s important to be able to hear just the radio microphone, before any processing is added by the main console. The new system is very powerful and the technicians like it because it is completely intuitive; they see it once and they know what to do.”
The transformation provides robust and reliable network conversions between the main Ravenna network and other audio network protocols. Three Andiamo units convert analogue signals to digital and vice versa, while the two Prodigy.MP units enable all other conversions.
Using the Prodigy.MX to manage the audio matrix has significantly improved the studio’s wireless monitoring. This change has allowed the audio team to monitor their radio microphones and IEMs easily.
In addition to remote monitoring, technicians can also add equipment directly to the PA or camera intercom system with the DirectOut Breakout box. Loudspeakers can be re-patched as needed and the camera operators can switch positions easily with this solution.
Teamwork and technology have helped to complete this project in a limited time and on a budget. Hitz concluded, “DirectOut has delivered a strong system that offers so many options and possibilities, so we couldn’t be happier with the way our new control room is working.”
Learn about other important updates to Studio Berlin’s technology and their role in the Berlinale 2025 Film Festival.
Find out more about DirectOut at directout.eu
