RNZ Selects PAT To Supply Lawo mc² Consoles For Auckland And Wellington

Professional Audio & Television (PAT) is proud to announce that RNZ (Radio New Zealand) has chosen Lawo mc²36 MKII audio consoles, associated I/O devices and Arista switch fabric for its prestigious recording locations at Auckland’s Town Hall and Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre.

RNZ's decision to upgrade its broadcast technology was motivated by the need for a robust, future-proof system to support its role as a producer of high-quality recordings and live broadcasts. The replacement project’s primary goal was to identify a solution capable of delivering exceptional audio quality across the entire audio signal chain, from stage connectivity and preamplification to digital encoding, processing, and final recording for production.

The chosen Lawo setup includes a pair of 32-fader mc²36 MKII consoles, one for each location, equipped with Lawo A__stage64, A__mic8, and Lawo Power Core devices, which serve as I/O extensions. The Lawo Power Cores also serve as MADI and DANTE converters, providing RNZ with a versatile, high-performance networked audio infrastructure that supports the latest in AoIP technology. To enable these systems to scale with RNZ’s future requirements, PAT will also configure and install a set of Arista 710P compact, fanless, cognitive PoE switches into both locations. These Arista switches will be responsible for the transport of SMPTE 2110-30, low-latency audio on the red and blue ST2022-7 redundant media networks.

RNZ’s selection process focused on assessing each system’s audio fidelity, intuitive operation, and flexibility to adapt to the fast-paced demands of live recording environments. Lawo’s mc²36 MKII consoles were chosen not only for their stellar sound quality and robust build but also for their compatibility with cutting-edge technologies like AES67, MADI and DANTE, ensuring a seamless connection between legacy systems and new digital workflows.

The Lawo mc² series has gained a stellar reputation within the broadcast industry, with its state-of-the-art DSP engine, intuitive touchscreen control, and precision preamplification offering an unparalleled level of performance. The integration of Lawo’s A__line and Power Core technology provides RNZ with extensive routing and connectivity options, ideal for live recording and broadcast applications. 

You might also like...

Phil Rhodes Image Capture NAB 2025 Show Floor Report

Our resident image capture expert Phil Rhodes offers up his own personal impressions of the technology he encountered walking the halls at the 2025 NAB Show.

Microphones: Part 9 - The Science Of Stereo Capture & Reproduction

Here we look at the science of using a matched pair of microphones positioned as a coincident pair to capture stereo sound images.

Monitoring & Compliance In Broadcast: Monitoring Cloud Networks

Networks, by their very definition are dispersed. But some are more dispersed than others, especially when we look at the challenges multi-site and remote teams face.

Audio At NAB 2025

Key audio themes at NAB 2025 remain persistently familiar – remote workflows, distributed teams, and ultra-efficiency… and of course AI. These themes have been around for a long time now but the audio community always seems to find very new ways of del…

Production Control Room Tools At NAB 2025

We return to the high pressure world of the Production Control Room where Switchers, Replay and Graphics are always at the heart of the action. The 2025 NAB Show will bring a myriad of new feature releases and opportunities for hands-on…