Specifications

Installed Products
M-400
S-4000S-3208 Digital Snake
Introduction
One of the final components in an extensive technical
refurbishment of the BBC's largest radio studio, the M-400
V-Mixing System from RSS by Roland has been installed in the
broadcaster's famous Radio Theatre in London's Broadcasting
As part of a larger building programme, the Radio Theatre has
been refurbished and fitted out for a wide range of audience
shows, primarily but not exclusively output to radio, including
light entertainment productions, comedy, Christmas specials and
one-off events. The venue for many historic recordings since the
1930s when it was known as the BBC Concert Hall, today the
theatre's 312-seat auditorium has been equipped with extensive
PA and lighting facilities, and includes an 80-track digital
recording facility.
The System
The RSS M-400 digital mixing system has the job of mixing the
two PA systems in the theatre, a d&b compact line array and a
distributed speech system. More than 100 mic inputs are sent
from stage via MADI to the main control console for the on-air
broadcast mix. From the stagebox, a smaller selection of 40
inputs is split to the RSS S-4000 Digital Snake stage unit,
travelling up CAT5E digital multicore to the M-400 console,
where these inputs are used for the front-of-house sound mix,
and providing up to 8 foldback mixes if required. The system
configuration permits the use of a second M-400 as a monitor
console, currently seconded from a BBC multimedia events
team.
cables.
Application
The Roland M-400 was chosen for its powerful features and
high quality mic pres, explains Peter Knowles of Total Audio
Solutions, who started his career at Broadcasting house some
25 years ago. Digital consoles of this type are ever-flexible tool
boxes that can recall complex setups in seconds. The Roland can
distribute its remote mic pres many times over.
With the M-400 halving the physical footprint of the previous
analogue console used in the Theatre, and the RSS Digital Snake
32x8 stage unit and 8x32 front-of-house unit fitting into a single
12U rack, the system is suitably compact and portable for an
environment that has limited space. If necessary, we can strike
the system really quickly, says Events Manager Mark Diamond.
With some Radio OB vehicles using the same Snakes and
M-400 consoles, we can turn up at very short notice and provide
broadcast splits fast.
A contributor to Roland's customer research on feature
upgrades, Diamond has recently loaded the new Version 1.5
software onto the M-400, and reports that the console is now
more flexible, notably with the ability to move 24 gates and
24 compressors more freely. The free software upgrade also
includes numerous user interface enhancements for accelerated
workflow and ease of use.
The M-400 is a 48-channel M-400 Mixing Console with 16 buses,
channel and bus DSP, 4 stereo FX processors, 4 graphic EQs,
built-in stereo recording and playback, and built in multi-channel
split port. It is supplied with configurable digital snakes using
high quality, remotely controlled mic preamps on stage, and low-
cost lightweight Cat5e distribution.
RSS M-400 DIGITAL MIXING SYSTEM PLAYS TO THE CROWD IN LEGENDARY RADIO STUDIO
Installation report ❶
Part6
BBC Radio Theatre
12