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Meet ARET at IBC Amsterdam 2024 from 13th to 16th September: Revolutionizing Broadcast Workflows

 

We're breaking the mold by bringing the broadcast experience directly to you. Forget a traditional booth, we'll be showcasing a fully functional OB van, a testament to our ability to seamlessly integrate the latest broadcast technologies.  

This allows you to witness firsthand how we create customized solutions that optimize workflows and empower content creators. 

Experience ARET Engineering Live 

Join us at a designated location within the IBC Amsterdam in 0.A11 to: 

  • Tour our state-of-the-art OB van and witness demonstrations of our latest broadcast systems in action. 
  • Engage with our team of engineers and designers to discuss your specific broadcast needs. 
  • Learn about our comprehensive services, encompassing everything from initial concept to final integration and ongoing support. 

A Commitment to Innovation 

"IBC Amsterdam is the ideal platform for us to showcase the future of broadcast technology in a real-world setting," says Umberto Asti, President and CEO at ARET Engineering. "We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, and we're excited to connect with industry leaders and share how our solutions can help them bring their creative vision to life." 

Don't Miss ARET Engineering at IBC Amsterdam 

While we won't have a traditional booth, we encourage you to schedule a personalized tour of our OB van during IBC Amsterdam 2024. Experience firsthand how our expertise and innovative approach can transform your broadcast operations. 


ARET at FOMEX in Riyadh

ARET Video and Audio Engineering will participate for the first time in the upcoming Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) taking place at The Arena Exhibition and Events Centre, in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), from February 19th to 21st, 2024.

The second FOMEX event, which is part of the activities organized by the Saudi Media Forum, is scheduled to start on Feb. 19 and run for three days in Riyadh. The event will host more than 200 local and international media companies from around the world.

ARET will be present with a 18sqm dedicated space, visit us at booth B4.


The Broadcast Bridge - System Showcase: ARET 4K UHD OB For Alamiya Media

ARET is pleased to share the article written by Michael Grotticelli and published on The Broadcast Bridge regarding the 4K UHD OB for Alamiya Media.


We talk to the technical team at Systems Integrator & OB Vehicle builder ARET to delve into the design philosophy and technology selection, for the latest in a series of production vehicles delivered to Alamiya Media to service their sports production requirements.

While featuring a myriad of the latest technology and software-based systems, today’s OB Vans are being purpose built to suit individual client needs. For the most cost-effective results, some clients are shying away from the most complex technology and instead ordering production rigs with legacy baseband infrastructures that are immediately familiar to the crew.

Indeed, workflow has become equally as important as the tools that make them possible.

Systems Integrator and custom OB Van builder ARET, based in Milan Italy, has completed work on its latest full-size OB Van and delivered it to Saudi Arabian customer Alamiya Media for the 2024 football season. Now at 25 mobile units, Alamiya, with headquarters in Riyadh, maintains the largest fleet of outside broadcasting (OB) vans in the Middle East, which is used primarily for on-site live sports productions.

The goal with this truck, which is just the latest we have bult for Alamiya Media, was to give the team the best workflow and production power for UHD HDR production, streamlining easiness of operation through 12G SDI video technology and unifying the software interface throughout all the equipment,” said Renato Mancini CTO at ARET Video and Audio Engineering. “Due to its multiple software systems, the OB Van can be configured for different projects on site quickly. This was the most important focus on the technical workflow”.

Working closely with Alamiya’s engineering team, Mancini explained that the new 16-meter long mobile production unit, called OB20, includes a full baseband SDI infrastructure to manage all video signals in tandem with an IP Audio network that leverages the AES67 standard.

Mancini said that deploying a 12G video production system meant that wiring was reduced from four 3G lines to a single cable. This, and the smaller Ethernet cables for audio, kept the overall weight of the truck down while facilitating a smooth installation of the equipment on board.

In 12G systems you have one wire for everything from SD to HDR, so the production infrastructure is so easy to install and maintain,” said Mancini. “IP networks are a bit tricky to get right, but handling audio as packet-based signals made the most sense.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Elbow Room To Work

The onboard 12G UHD workflow includes HDR processing for up to 24 Sony HDC 3500U HD cameras with Canon lenses. In total, the rig carries five high-frame-rate cameras capable of 8x speed. There are also two UHD RF cameras and eight EVS XT VIA UHD SloMo servers.

The production control room area is segmented into Slow-Motion and Production zones while the audio complement is located inside a noise-isolated audio room separated from the other work areas. The engineering room includes a Shading area plus a double workstation area for engineering activities while all the equipment racks are located in closed different areas.

The trailer features an expandable side for the production area. Opened up fully, the truck’s production space offers nearly 56 sq. meters (14 meters long by 4 meters wide), enough room for about 15 crew members to work comfortably.

The space is like having a nice apartment in the center of Milan,” Mancini joked.

In a nod to the company it was built for, the OB Van is designed to operate in high-temperature environments, with a generous amount of A/C cooling throughout the truck and special insulation used for the external walls to protect against outside climate conditions.

With more than 45 years of experience, ARET Engineering, together with ARET Coachworx (the sister company dedicated to coachwork and mechanical works), takes the lead on the OB Van design and installation processes. This includes consultancy, mechanical design, coachwork and internal fitting, A/C and hydraulics, electric and power supply, as well as system integration implementation, configuration, commissioning and training.

A Familiar Baseband Core With An IP Audio Complement
A core component of the system design is the Ross Video Ultrix FR12 with a series of Acuity software-defined production engine blades, that adds to the system “a powerful vision switcher of 4 M/E UHD with no resource limitation or differences moving from base interlaced HD 1080i to full UHD-HDR configuration,” said Mancini. New features and functionality can be easily added via software licenses.

These task-specific blades are housed in a single space-saving 12 RU chassis that includes routing (216x216 UHD), video switching (4 UHD MEs), audio shuffling, a multiviewer with more than 40 heads and a huge number of PIPs. Each one includes frame syncs and audio embedders/de-embedders. The main production room is equipped with an Acuity A3 panel, a control surface with 32 cross-point buttons, that is used to operate the video production switcher. This allows precise control of all video switching operations while ensuring efficient video source management. There’s also a healthy amount of Ross OpenGear Gator UHD processing core with 12G-SDI interfaces, several Carbonite Ultra processing engines as platform converters, and a variety of networking equipment.

The audio control room is equipped with a Lawo mc256 audio production console, which provides native support for SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA, Dante (via a Power Core gateway), MADI and Ember+. Local I/Os include 16 Lawo Mic/Line inputs, eight AS3 inputs and outputs, eight GPI/IOs, and a local MADI port (SFP).

The concept that we used for our SMPTE 2110 audio system design was to switch from an old system with multicore cables to just one Ethernet cable for distributing 64 IP channels, packet by packet,” said Felice Filippini, Senior System engineer at ARET, who designed and handled the audio networking and equipment configuration. “So for us the networking was adjusted to have a single core where audio signals are routed from one device to another without delay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Weight And Power Reduction

Among the key factors in an OB Van design is adequate space, power consumption, and air conditioning. Looking to significantly reduce physical weight and power requirements onboard the truck, products like the Ultrix switcher and Lawo’s A_UHD Core audio engine for the mc2 audio console were designated as the “best choice” by the team.

The OB Van’s monitor walls are made up of Sony PVM-X1800 4K reference monitors (for camera shading), and six 50-inch Sony professional flat screen displays for the PCR area of the truck. The Multiview display is handled by the Ross Ultrix system—which allows you to switch resolutions as desired. A Vizrt graphics system is also on board for real-time 4K graphics production. There’s also the optional possibility to add a Ross Expression engine on board for generating special effects for the video switcher when required.

Serving as the heart of the entire audio/video infrastructure is Lawo’s Virtual Studio Manager (VSM) broadcast control system, which enables IP control capabilities throughout the production truck. The complex yet easy to use software layer is seamlessly integrated with the Ross Video Ultrix system, including its internal router, the Lawo audio consoles and Riedel intercom systems.

By controlling everything with a VSM software-based, broadcast control layer, we are able to recall any preferred configuration in one click,” said Mancini.

Robust Centralized Conversion
When camera feeds come into the truck as SDI, and the audio is on an IP network, combining the two is handled inside the Ross Video Ultrix system.

We combine all the layers in Ultrix,” said Mancini. “Everything from the audio console is delivered to the Ultrix as MADI. The Ultrix system embeds all of the audio signals with the video based on preset parameters established by the client. So it really becomes a centralized conversion system".

We have a lot of experience with this combination of signal paths,” he said, adding that if the video switcher falls, there’s redundancy on the router itself. “We’ve designed a couple of levels of redundancy into the system so that if something goes wrong, we have backup for disaster recovery that is independent from the other path. So all of the layers of production tools on the network are reliable when they are needed most.”

A Legacy Workflow
Both Mancini and Filippini said that although there’s a lot of talk about IP networking in the industry right now, and ARET has designed and built several successful IP projects, most of the engineers are still figuring out how to install it so that every device can communicate with others on board the OB Van. It’s not an easy task.

The new world of IP is not easy for all broadcast engineers and, at the end, we need to deliver to a customer the best overall solution for him,” said Mancini. “In this case, and often in an OB Van, the complexity introduced by today’s 2110 technology is not paid back by the advantages offered.”

“I think our industry needs to have more time to experiment and learn about the complexities of this new transport system. We know that SDI is very robust,” he said. “It has existed for many years. And the cost of the equipment is lower, which is as well important to our clients.”

IP Audio networking onboard is based on a fully redundant “Red and Blue” 2110 network, for full redundancy. All audio signals are transferred over a 1 GB pipeline.

We had some challenges in setting up the whole systems as we desired, due to some specific protocol implementation of some vendors which were not compatible with others, but at the end we could interface the vendors and achieve exactly the desired workflow,” said Mancini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons Learned
The new OB20 mobile unit is a near clone to a series of production trucks ARET has built for Italian national broadcaster RAI, using the same SDI video/IP Audio system design. And they are very happy with the outcome.

We did a lot of experimentation on this type of combined production system last year and learned a lot of valuable lessons that we used in the new truck for Alamiya Media,” said Mancini. “Clients want hybrid systems, not all-IP everywhere, which can be difficult to operate and manage.

In the end Mancini said that Alamiya Media’s new OB20 is one of the most flexible and technically sound trucks ARET has ever built. The company builds about ten new OB Vans of different sizes each year.

Flexible means that you can easily adapt to the workplaces and production requirements at hand,” he said. “The truck can handle any signal it receives and convert it to whatever other signal you need. That’s our philosophy for every OB Van we build. Clients want a return on their investment so the truck has to be able to work with whatever the crew needs at any given time during a live sports production.

It’s also important that the crew feel comfortable working in the truck, so we make sure we discuss with the client their specific workflows and how they like to produce a telecast,” Mancini said.

Therefore we always like to collect information from the users and collaborate with their engineering teams in order to improve the systems and capabilities our clients request.

The new Alamiya Media OB Van will hit the road in Saudi Arabia and begin its first productions in January.

 


Season's greetings

As the holiday season unfolds, ARET would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our valued clients and partners. Your unwavering support and collaboration have been instrumental in making this year a success.

May this holiday season bring you happiness, warmth, and countless moments of joy with your loved ones.

We look forward to continuing our journey together and reaching new heights of success in the coming year.

From all of us at ARET, thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Wishing you a festive season filled with laughter, love, and prosperity!


RAI UHD-04S

The broadcasting industry is evolving rapidly, and the demand for high-quality live productions is at an all-time high. To meet these demands, ARET video and audio engineering developed, through the high value guidance of RAI Direzione Tecnologie, a powerful and compact broadcast OB-truck for RAI.

Part of a 3-units miniserie, this innovative mobile production unit is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite high-end equipment and network delivery transmission facilities.
With the goal of ensuring the highest resolution and image quality for users, RAI UHD-04S includes a 12G video workflow and it boasts sound facilities networked in AES67, equipped with software-defined high-end hardware platforms, offering flexibility and control over video and audio routing, processing, and mixing.

One of the standout features of RAI UHD-04S is its ability to host 6 UHD system cameras, including 1 RF UHD camera, for dynamic and immersive shots, 2 UHD video server slots, and UHD Satellite uplink.
Additionally, it provides two different and flexible areas designed specifically to separate and isolate the sound rooms during live production.


A Remarkable Journey from IBC 2023

The curtains have fallen on IBC 2023, leaving ARET video and audio engineering with a sense of achievement and immense gratitude.
The Alamiya Media OB-20 XL Semi-Trailer, proudly displayed at the exhibition, has now embarked on the final leg of its voyage to Italy before the official handover to our client.

With more than 43,065 attendees from over 170 countries and over 1,250 exhibitors, IBC 2023 was an international spectacle, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.

We’ve seen a fantastic turnout from the entire industry at IBC2023. The quality of visitors has been outstanding. There’s been a real sense of purpose at the show as media leaders and tech pioneers come together to help our industry navigate change and build a better future” said Michael Crimp, IBC Chief Executive Officer.

Being at IBC means celebration of innovation, collaboration, and reconnecting with partners from across the globe. It was incredible to reunite with people who share the same passion for cutting-edge broadcasting technology.

As the Alamiya Media OB trailer begins its final journey to completion, ARET video and audio engineering is excited to share more updates and insights with you in the coming days, remaining committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the broadcasting technology sphere.

               

 

 


IBC 2023: Alamiya OB-20 XL Semi-Trailer

ARET video and audio engineering gears up for one of the most anticipated events in the media and broadcasting industry. We're delighted to share that our showcased masterpiece projected for Alamiya Media is already en route to Amsterdam.

The XL Semi-Trailer for Alamiya Media represents a pinnacle of hyperconverged technology solutions. This cutting-edge configuration boasts UHD-HDR video workflow at 12G and AES67 audio networking.
Purpose-built to accommodate 24 UHD system cameras, including 5 high-frame-rate (HFR) cameras capable of 8x speed. Adding to its prowess are 2 UHD RF cameras and 8 UHD Slomo-Server slots. High-end micro-cameras elevate its capabilities further.
The PCR room is segmented into Slow-Motion and Production zones. A standout feature is the noise-isolated Audio room, thoughtfully separated from operational areas and housing local equipment racks with independent cooling systems.
The engineering room includes the Shading area plus a single and flexible working space dedicated to lead engineering operations.
The C.A.R. ensures the complete isolation of the broadcast facilities with redundant cooling facilities in addition to a wide external connection tailboard.
Notably, this special coach design thrives in high-temperature climates, showcasing the OB-trailer’s adaptability.

In terms of products, a vital component of the Alamiya OB20 trailer is the Ultrix FR12 with Acuity Blades, an advanced solution that combines routing (216x216 UHD), video switchers (4ME UHD), audio mixing, MultiViewers, trays of frame syncs, and audio embedders/disembedders into a single 12RU chassis. This powerful platform consolidates multiple functions into a compact unit, optimizing efficiency, space, and resources.
The main production room within the truck is equipped with Acuity A3 Panel, a control surface with 32 crosspoint buttons designed to operate the Ultrix-Acuity switcher. This intuitive interface allows precise control of switching operations, ensuring efficient video resource management.

The system is completed with a powerful 12G-SDI Ross Video Opengear Gator, Carbonite Ultra engines as platform converters, and all the needed networking equipment. Onboard the trailer, it will be possible to explore a selection of Ross equipment, including the MIRA replay server and Xpression Graphics Platform, the most advanced real-time graphics and video enrichment technology stack on the market.

The audio control room within the truck is equipped with Lawo’s mc²56 audio production console. The Lawo mc²56 features compact size, flexibility, and versatile design for applications as diverse as broadcast trucks and studios, live performance and recording. It is optimized for today’s IP-video production environments, designed for networking in complex production infrastructures, with full native support for SMPTE 2110, AES67/RAVENNA, DANTE (via a Power Core gateway), MADI and Ember+. Local I/Os include 16 Lawo-grade MIC/Line inputs, 16 Line outputs, eight AES3 inputs and outputs, eight GPI/Os, and a local MADI port (SFP).

Lawo’s VSM (Virtual Studio Manager) broadcast control system, serving as the nerve center of the Alamiya OB truck, is unparalleled in its powerful and flexible IP-based control capabilities. Its seamless integration with a wide array of broadcast equipment, including video routers, audio consoles, and intercoms, makes it an ideal choice for managing resources efficiently. It also keeps evolving as ever more lighthouse projects require increasingly refined control and flexibility options. With its intuitive touch-enabled interface, Lawo’s VSM empowers producers with fast and accurate control over remote, distributed, and facility-wide resources and OB production trucks for exacting streamlined operations.

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to experience the Alamiya OB-20 XL Semi-Trailer capabilities firsthand by joining ARET Booth (0.A07).

The countdown to IBC2023 has officially begun. Amsterdam, here we come!


ARET at IBC 2023

The IBC – International Broadcasting Convention is a unique opportunity that brings together professionals, innovators and broadcast industry leaders from around the world.

Each year, this extraordinary event takes place at RAI Amsterdam, and it is a major showcase for the latest technologies, solutions and trends that are shaping the future of broadcasting.

ARET video and audio engineering, as globally active broadcast systems integrator with extensive experience in providing sophisticated broadcast projects, will once again take part in the event this year.

Participating at the #IBC2023 represents a double opportunity for ARET: on the one hand, the chance to demonstrate the high precision in systems integration and the quality in the creation and design of OB Vans for outside broadcast, joining efforts with ARET coachworx. On the other hand, the IBC is a meeting point for industry professionals, and it offers spaces for networking and continuous learning with key players of the broadcast industry.

Register now using the code 𝐈𝐁𝐂𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟐 and join us at #IBC2023!

 


IBC 2022

Join ARET in Amsterdam at IBC Show 2022


ARET at IBC Show 2022
Date:  September 9 – 12, 2022
Venue: RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre

For this 2022 edition, ARET is presenting a brand new OB Vans in the outside exhibit area.

ARET will introduce the brand new “box-over-box expansion” and other great innovations in the OB Trailer market.
Designed by ARET video and audio engineering together with ARET Coachworx (the ARET Group Coachwork Company),  this trailer is really innovative, both on mechanical and technical side.

This is the perfect time to schedule your meeting with the ARET team in Amsterdam.

Join us for a personalized tour of this amazing OB trailer, and don’t forget to find out more about all the latest projects.

As always, our stand is located in the Outside Exhibit Area, booth 0.A05
We look forward to seeing you at IBC 2022!

The ARET Team

Reserve a meeting



    CABSAT 2022

    Join ARET in Dubai for CABSAT 2022: stand A5-30


    ARET at CABSAT 2022
    Booth: A5-30
    Date:  May 17 – 19, 2022 | Tue – Fri
    Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

    ARET is exhibiting at CABSAT 2022 in Dubai at the Wolrd Trade Centre from May, 17-19.  Come and join us at stand A5-30 to know all about our latest projects and to learn about the new products and solutions available.

    Recently, we brought to life our products in an effective way to engage the visitor’s attention. Our stand will feature large video monitors where we are presenting all the videos of our latest projects with stunning quality. Every project is illustrated from technical and design points of view: with 4K video quality and on-screen graphics, the video guides the viewer from the very beginning, providing essential information to appreciate even more the product.

    This guided experience allows the viewer to perceive even the smallest details of the OB Vans and Studios that otherwise are only visible in person.  Also, it is possible to notice the different lighting setups and production configuration that can be created inside the various production areas of the OB Vans.

    To find out more about the exhibition, visit the company’s official space on the exhibition website: CABSAT I 17 – 19 MAY 2022 I DUBAI
    Waiting for the upcoming 2022 edition, see what happened in the past editions.

    Reserve a meeting