The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow has been fitted with an Optocore and BroaMan multi-node fibre transmission system by integrators S-Pro Systems and Broadcast Solutions. The 81,000-seat stadium has been selected as the venue for the World Cup final and will also be used as a heritage venue after the tournament.
At the heart of the new network broadcast transmission are 57 Optocore and BroaMan fibre interfaces, designed in a fibre ‘star’ out of the ring topology, and supplied by Moscow-based distributor Audio Solutions.
According to Igor Kovalev, who manages Audio Solutions’ pro audio department, “Optocore and BroaMan create a perfect synergy, providing an extremely robust optical network system for audio transport and auto routing functionality.
“Optocore I/O modules also have a wide working temperature range, which was one of the important criteria for choosing equipment for this project.”
The team responsible for the audio design comprised Andrey Matveev (S-Pro), Evgeniy Stepanenko (Broadcast Solution), Pavel Pyshkin (S-Pro) and Ivan Khizhnyak (S-Pro). S-Pro’s project managers were Sergey Manserov and Grigory Yurov.
The Optocore system was designed around two main nodes: (1) Stadium patch panel room in OB Van area for multi-signal conversion to MADI. Various Optocore X6R-FX, X6R-TP V3R-FX and V3R-FX-TP converters were mainly fitted with MI (Mic-In) and LO (Line Out) cards, while an Optocore M8-BNC allows OB Van MADI connection with additional feature of Emulation Mode to control on-site Optocore mic preamps directly from the Van’s console. (2) Media control room, with a Yamaha 02R96 digital console equipped with an Optocore Y3R-TP Yamaha card – enabling it to work with Optocore’s proprietary SANE protocol.
Igor Kovalev said the system had needed to meet a number of objectives: To uplink the environmental bowl sound (the stadium crowd noise), with the Optocore modules bundled in the technical racks positioned around the playing field perimeter; to integrate with the intercom systems of the technical personnel (achieved by using Optocore’s dedicated V3R-FX-INTERCOM); to integrate with the stadium’s sound reinforcement system; to integrate with the stadium’s patch panel room; to integrate with the stadium’s media room, which comprises all the multi-media signals, and finally to integrate with the commentator’s communication system.
To expedite broadcast requirements Audio Solutions turned to Optocore’s associate company BroaMan, which in turn harnesses the power of Optocore. Two of the new Route66 AutoRouters are stacked, with each fibre node connected independently through the Route66. “The combination of redundancy and ability to close the Optocore loop automatically when active devices are added or disconnected, are the main advantages of the BroaMan Route66 AutoRouters,” stated Kovalev.
The installation also takes advantage of economies, for example the Optocore TP devices are separated and placed up to 50m above the main FX devices – resulting in the need for fewer FX devices and less fibre cabling.
