Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre, Australia

The Opportunity

Equip Australia’s largest convention and exhibition venue with a robust, self-sufficient, future-proof AV network solution to upgrade its digital signal processing capabilities and minimize audio issues.

As Australia’s largest convention and exhibition venue, MCEC features exhibition spaces, large concert halls, meeting rooms, corporate boardrooms and more over an area of more than 650,000 square feet. The expansive venue hosts more than 1,000 events each year, making its AV infrastructure a critical asset.

The Solution

After researching several network protocol options, MCEC selected the BSS by HARMAN platform for its adaptability and capacity to incorporate multiple network streams of different types while simultaneously carrying all audio signals. BSS’s redundant BLU link protocol consists of two cables and automatically switches if one of the network legs fail, ensuring zero interruptions on the local audio network. The Dante-enabled BSS solution provides MCEC with a global network, allowing them to support their customers on a single platform and route any audio signal from any source to any destination throughout the facility.

The Impact

“MCEC approached us to support them in the development of a robust, self-sufficient solution that would upgrade its digital signal processing capabilities and minimize audio issues during events,” said Graham Barrett, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation, avt. “After evaluating their requirements, we recommended HARMAN’s networked AV solutions to compose a system that would provide the necessary flexibility and allow them to easily expand the platform in the future.”

“We’ve invested in AMX control systems since our beginning to manage the operations of all our networked devices,” said Michael Walker, Infrastructure and Equipment Manager, MCEC. “We needed to switch from our outdated copper network due to its inherent weakness, and we wanted a system with the strength of a modern network protocol. It had to be capable of supporting a live production environment without a single point of failure. We’re pleased to say that since installing the HARMAN system, we haven’t had a single incident of network failure or dropout without the redundant link automatically solving the problem, and our customers haven’t faced any audio issues in their event spaces.”

“It’s an honor to be associated with MCEC and deliver customized, multifaceted solutions through a unified platform,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP & GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “We thank avt for their exceptional AV services and for collaborating with MCEC in creating an immersive space that heightens the audience experience while encouraging greater participation.”