Press Release

 

September 2006

IPE Ltd successfully completes BBC West One project –
Phase 1 Radio Studio delivery

IPE Ltd, UK based radio and audio systems specialists are extremely proud to have been a major contributor to the success of the BBC West One Project - Phase 1 radio studio delivery.  IPE provided systems integration services for 67 technical areas in the redeveloped buildings of Broadcasting House and Western House in London.

BBC Broadcasting House
BBC Broadcasting House

The redevelopment of Broadcasting House is the BBC’s single largest capital project ever. When complete, this 80,000 square meter structure will provide state of the art production and broadcast facilities, and be the hub of the BBC’s national and international live output.

The IPE System Integration included the following facilities:

  • general purpose (GP) cubicles
  • studios
  • workshops
  • digital production (DP) suites
  • call handling areas
  • voice booths
  • working offices (Woffices)
  • associated local apparatus rooms (LARs).  

The project included integration and interfacing to the following equipment:

  • Studer Vista and DHD4200 & 2200 - audio mixing
  • Colledia (formerly BNCS)  - remote control and monitoring
  • Lawo  – main audio routing
  • Delec – communications system
  • Phone Box – phone in system
  • VCS Dira! -  play servers (play out system)
  • VCS Medianet - editing and scheduling
  • SADiE v5 - multlitrack digital audio editor.

General Purpose (GP) cubicles

General Purpose (GP) Cubicles
GP Cubicle


  

The GP cubicles perform a variety of production processes using a wide variety of audio material.  This can be talk shows, features, drama, live performed music and phone–in programmes. 

The Larger GPs incorporated Studer Vista 6 and On-air 3000 mixers.  The On-Air 3000 was used for routing, processing and recording of local and outside sources independently of the main mixer operation. The smaller GPs incorporated DHD 4200 series audio mixing desks.

Workshops

Workshops
Workshops


  

The Workshops are mainly used for voice recording, face to face interviews, interviews via an outside source, listening, editing etc. but also have full facilities to go live to air if required.

The Workshops used DHD 4200 series audio mixing desks.

 

Digital Production Suites (DPs)

Digital Production Suite
Digital Production Suite


   

The DPs areas are used for sophisticated quality improvement, dubbing, audio manipulation and management. The DPs areas used DHD 2200 series audio mixing desks.

Working Office (Woffice)

Working Office
Working Office


  

These are stand alone editing areas for pre- and post production located in office standard acoustically treated rooms. They required a variety of devices such as multitrack digial editors (SADiE), VCS Medianet (digital editors) and Intellimix mixers.

 

Graham Pearl, IPE’s West One Project Manager, said "The project was a real challenge for IPE, with resources simultaneously spread across a number of buildings, floors and areas. On-going building and construction works were a big factor in the project timescales. At the beginning of the on-site period the new technical areas in BH where literally cut off from the outside world by the surrounding building works which made the logistics in particular a big challenge.

"To minimise the time spent on-site it was necessary to make extensive use of our off-site prefabrication facilities.  

"Once the building work and technical infrastructure were finished it was a terrific team effort to get all the areas completed and commissioned on time".

IPE's production facilities
IPE's production facilities

For further information contact: Graham Pearl, Project Manager.

Additional images can be found at the BBC Radio Resources website:
Studio 80A Gallery
Studio 70A Gallery

 

 

  

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