Variety is the Spice of Life for RTE
The world’s longest running chat show has gone digital with Calrec Audio. Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE is using an Alpha with Bluefin console to broadcast the record-breaking Late Late Show.
Installed in Studio 4 in Dublin, the 80 fader console provides audio for the weekly two and a half hour live show as well a host of other live. Studio 4 is also the base for RTE’s election coverage and any big one-off event programming.
The Alpha is RTE’s fourth Calrec digital console in as many years. RTE also operate three 32 fader Sigma’s; one in studio 3, one in studio 6 and one in studio 8.
“Having used three Sigma consoles over the last four years, we knew how well Calrec desks worked on current affairs, news and sports programming,” says RTE’s Senior Sound Supervisor Ian Pike. “The desk setup, mix-minus and GPIO interfaces have all proved particularly useful in day to day operation.
”The purchase of our first Alpha with Bluefin last August was our first opportunity to go digital on variety programmes. A very tight installation schedule meant we had to hit the ground running for the new season of the Late Late Show and Tubridy Live.
“The sound of the console, as you would except from Calrec, is excellent. But the free configurability of the Bluefin channel inputs makes life much simpler in that there are just so many. Features like the memory setups, VCA grouping and having the TFT screens configured to see every single input and output has made our jobs so much easier.”
The Late Late Show is now in its 45th year. Currently presented by Pat Kenny it is the most watched programme in Ireland and commands over 60 % of the available audience. It is a mix of variety and current affairs, and has a complex set up with the audience making contributions to many of the aired subjects.
