Mobile Unit Snapshot: MU-18 UHD-HDR Mobile Production Truck

MU-18: A Versatile UHD-HDR Mobile Production Truck for Mid-to-Large-Scale Broadcasts

In today’s fast-paced world of live broadcasting, production teams are tasked with delivering pristine video, immersive audio, and seamless multi-camera workflows—often under tight timelines and in dynamic environments. That’s where the MU-18 from TNDV comes in. This 53-foot 3G single expando UHD-HDR production truck is purpose-built for broadcast professionals who need power, flexibility, and reliability in a compact yet fully featured platform.

As the demand for UHD and HDR content increases across sports, entertainment, streaming, and corporate sectors, the MU-18 stands out as a true workhorse. It delivers top-tier visuals, high-capacity replay, robust routing, and fully integrated audio and communications in a footprint that fits tight lots and fast turnarounds. Whether you’re producing a national sports event, a live music special, or a corporate townhall with remote uplinks, MU-18 offers a high-performance solution that scales with your production.

The MU-18 mobile unit measures 53 feet in road mode and expands to 49 feet by 5 feet, offering ample space for production crews, engineers, and talent. It supports a working length of 61 feet once fully deployed and operates on a 3-phase, 200-amp service at 190–280 volts, powered through a 200-foot feeder cable. With a gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds, it’s built for the road but operates like a full broadcast studio.

The production switcher at the heart of MU-18 is a Grass Valley K-Frame 3G system with a Kayenne 4-stripe, 35-button panel. Supporting 5 M/Es, 104 inputs, and 56 outputs, it provides all the power needed for multi-layered video productions. Key features include FlexiKey™, Double Take, full chroma keying, and a deep library of DPMs for video layering and graphics integration. The switcher also includes an integrated image store and is M/E View enabled, allowing operators to quickly customize their workflows. RGB color correction across M/Es ensures vibrant, true-to-life picture quality across UHD and HDR formats.

Replay capabilities are another defining strength of MU-18. It’s equipped with four EVS XT4K 12-channel LSM servers, plus an EVS XT3 6-channel spotbox with a Lance Controller, allowing for high-volume clip playout, ISO ingest, and live replay. With an EVS X-file3 and XNET Hub3 integrated into a 10G file network, the unit is wired for 72 total EVS channels, making it ideal for high-speed live sports or entertainment events that demand instant access to every camera angle.

Routing and terminal infrastructure inside MU-18 is anchored by an Evertz EQX 3G Video Router with a 436×472 matrix and 96×96 embedding/de-embedding. This is paired with an Evertz EMR Audio Router boasting 1152×1152 MADI, 96×96 AES digital, and 192×192 analog mono support. The unit supports a multiview layout of 320×38, providing clear visibility into all incoming and outgoing feeds, replay channels, and ISO records. Frame sync and color correction are managed by 48 Cobalt 9905-MPx HDR frame synchronizers with 3D LUT support, five standalone color correctors, and four TX processors for UDC conversions, making this truck an ideal choice for multiformat, multiplatform content delivery.

For acquisition, MU-18 comes with ten Sony HDC-4300 UHD/HDR cameras, six Sony HDLA-1505 large lens adaptors with OLED viewfinders, and a premium Fujinon lens kit including long throw and wide-angle optics. The setup includes four stabilized Fujinon 107×8 UHD lenses, three 99×8.4 UHD units, HD lenses, servo zooms, and wide-angle options to cover everything from tight field-of-play shots to expansive audience or stage coverage. Six Vinten Vector 750 heads with HDT2 tripods and four Vinten 100 ENG systems support flexible positioning, while wiring for 16 cameras ensures the truck is ready for complex, multi-angle live productions.

Audio operations are just as robust. The MU-18 includes a Calrec Artemis Beam digital audio console with 64 faders, 96×96 analog I/O, 64×64 AES digital I/O, and 512×512 MADI routing. Integrated Waves Broadcast Suite tools provide additional processing flexibility, and an Enco audio playout server handles automation for complex programming needs. Whether you’re producing immersive surround sound for a concert or ensuring audio precision for a network broadcast, the MU-18 delivers.

For communication, the truck features a RTS Adam Matrix Intercom system with a 288×288 core, 64 OMNEO IP channels, 32 RVON VoIP channels, and 64 MADI channels. With 12 powered partyline and IFB paths, plus belt packs, IFB receivers, headsets, and telephone interfaces, it ensures that everyone from camera ops to production leads stays connected and in sync, regardless of location or broadcast complexity.

The MU-18 also includes a comprehensive A/V support package. It features HMD26 headsets, Studio Tech boxes, Sennheiser MD46 stick mics, MKH416 shotguns, MKH870 long shotguns, MKH418 stereo microphones, and both 15” and 21” SDI monitors for confidence viewing in the field. Portable LED lighting kits are included for low-light or impromptu talent setups.

Its cabling infrastructure includes 7000 feet of SMPTE fiber, additional SMPTE multiplex runs, 3000 feet of DT12 audio multicore, audio snakes, 5000 feet of coaxial cable, and TAC fiber options for long-distance signal distribution. Whether you’re rigging a sprawling festival site or a compact studio footprint, MU-18’s cable setup adapts with precision and reliability.

What sets the MU-18 UHD HDR production truck apart is its ability to deliver studio-grade production quality in a more compact and flexible package. Designed for deployment in urban environments, regional sports stadiums, mobile festival setups, and corporate spaces, it balances capability and footprint without sacrificing professional-grade results.

If your production requires high-capacity EVS replay, UHD/HDR camera workflows, real-time routing and multiviewing, and integrated broadcast audio, MU-18 is ready to roll. It brings the power of a full broadcast control room into a mobile platform designed for today’s most challenging, creative, and high-expectation productions.

To book MU-18, please contact us at solutions@livemediagroup.com or 833-933-5483.