Get ready to hear about an incredible project that is sure to blow your mind! In a world where media is everything, staying ahead of the curve is critical, and Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) understands this better than anyone. To achieve their goals, they recently acquired their very first HD mobile studio, and they turned to none other than Britt Broadcast to make it happen.

The journey began in June of 2022 when the MCI team first expressed their dream of having a media van inside a 2011 Mitsubishi Coaster. Many were skeptical about whether this could be achieved, especially on this side of the Sahara, but we had just completed our first turnkey project for Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation, and we were ready for the challenge.

Design stages were extensive, with a series of meetings and contract negotiations taking place from June to December of 2022. Finally, on Christmas Day, the contract was signed, and the van arrived at the Britt Broadcast workshop days earlier.

The team at Britt Broadcast had their work cut out for them, beginning by stripping and removing the seats and internal cabin body to create a clean, bare metal space to work on. The client wanted a maximum amount of soundproofed space but also travel seats for their crew, which was a bit of a juggle to find the best compromise.

During the first two weeks, the team assembled the solar panel rack and soundproofed the studio walling. The MCI team agreed to have two windows and surface-mount the cable raceways during the first inspection. By week three, the team was ready to start working on the finishings, such as laying the wall and floor carpet and adding beautification elements.

By the fifth week, the team was ready for a second inspection with the MCI team, and they could already see the excitement building. Plans for a public launch were now in discussion, but first, the HVAC system, solar panels and battery bank, and audio-visual equipment needed to be fit-tested and commissioned before launch.

The team delved into the equipment integration stage, which was their bread and butter, and it was done with ease. By the seventh week, everything was ready for testing and commissioning.

However, the world is at a stage where prices and logistics for raw materials and semiconductor chips have been a nightmare since Covid. While the industry is still recovering, some parts took a couple of days longer to arrive at the workshop. Some equipment didn’t arrive until the eve of the designated installation date, while others arrived a few days late. Nevertheless, the team at Britt Broadcast mitigated the delays in the best way they could.

Key highlights of the project included the fact that the HVAC system worked well with the battery system during sun hours without draining the batteries. The initial design was to have the microphones mounted from the roof of the van, but a redesign to use O.C White Ultima Gen2 mic arms not only gave a better look and feel but was also very functional for the sitting position in the studio area.

The solar system designed was able to run the studio equipment, less the HVAC system, through the night. As an alternative, the vehicle’s inbuilt HVAC system could be used at night. The Shure dynamic mics have great sound and could cancel the ambient and engine noise, giving a clean noise-free sound on the recording.

Overall, this was a truly groundbreaking project, and the MCI team couldn’t be happier with the results. Thanks to Britt Broadcast’s expertise, they now have a state-of-the-art mobile studio that is sure to take their media game to the next level. With technology like this, it’s clear that the sky is the limit, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for MCI and its HD mobile studio.

Are you ready to take your media game to the next level? Look no further than the Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) and their brand new HD mobile studio, designed and built by the experts at Britt Broadcast.

So if you’re ready to revolutionize your media production, consider investing in a custom-built mobile studio from Britt Broadcast. With our expertise and commitment to excellence, you can be sure that you’ll receive a product that exceeds your expectations and takes your media game to the next level.