The real benefit of using the Lawo VSM system is that – even though the technology under the hood is being used for the first time – the workflow for the operators in the OB Van is the same as that of a “standard” OB Van.

The OB Van—called “OBX” and already being used for live production of English Premier League football—is capable of producing and delivering live projects in SD, HD and UHD. UHD content can be produced in High Dynamic Range (HDR) concurrent with legacy feeds in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). A second, almost identical truck named OBY is also already in service, and has successfully been deployed. At the beginning of 2017, OBX and OBY will be joined by OBZ. All three vans will use VSM as their overall control system.

“VSM has already established a track record in complex broadcast control systems,” said Peter Love, Director Operations at Arena. “This, along with the ability to interface and quickly develop software with key manufacturers such as Grass Valley, was vital to Arena TV.”

Using the VSM platform, there is no A-to-B routing. Instead, all connections are bi-directional with plugs acting as inputs as well as outputs. To handle all the signals within the OB, all hardware subscribes to a virtual routing layer, and the VSM software handles all routing routines as a virtual router. Within the OB, VSM is the key control system taking care of the routing in the Cisco switch, the Grass Valley Node, the Grass Valley K-Frame vision mixer, Calrec audio mixing console, G&D KVM matrix, and Nevion data router for remote controller. Additionally, VSM acts as the master Tally and Label system for the Grass Valley multiviewer system.

The VSM can also be used to recall different multiviewer layouts for the monitor galleries, if required.

In the event of a system failure, or after a system reboot, the VSM system recalls the last active system status with all routing parameters. Since VSM is running on an IP backbone, working in a full IP environment is not an issue. If needed, an extensive range of proprietary protocols are included in the VSM system pool to interconnect with common hardware on the market.

For example, in order to control the Grass Valley Node with its IPG High Density SDI/IP gateway cards, a new API has been developed by the VSM team, giving full access to the GV Node and Densite systems. To trigger routing and Tally logic, eight VSM software panels and 41 hardware panels work in OBX.

The implementation of VSM across the entire Arena TV IP OB Van fleet proves its ability to provide the overall control system, regardless of the hardware used and the overall system design. And by its use of a virtual IP switching layer, the VSM system allows to setup a workflow in the new OB Vans that is familiar to users through their established workflows.