Grass Valley’s 3D Workflow
posted:
In addition, some television content creators and distributors have begun to examine 3D as a new way to entice and retain audiences. While it is too early to say whether consumers will want 3D in the home, with the need to wear glasses and avoid the temptation of real-world 3D objects, it is clear that there will be many opportunities to become involved in trial productions in the near future.
Rather than invest heavily in new, 3D-specific technologies, it is clear that many existing products are easily adapted to 3D operation with minimal modifications. Thus production companies can, without significant capital expenditure, develop practical skills and experience which will enrich and empower them as the market for 3D evolves in the coming months and years.
LDK 8000 Elite
Broadcasting in 3D since 2008, the Grass Valley LDK 8000 Elite Multi-format HD Camera is quickly becoming the acquisition tool of choice by leading broadcasters from around the world. Here are just a few examples:
advertisment
• In 2008, Boat Trip became the first European short subject movie shot using two LDK 8000 Elite cameras. The cameras were mounted in a mirror rig on a fast moving boat. The movie premiered at the Dutch National Film Festival.
• The "Buma Harpen Gala 2010," the prestigious Dutch music award gala produced by DutchView. This high-profile event marked the first live 3D broadcast in the Netherlands. DutchView employed their Grass Valley LDK 8000 Elite WorldCam cameras and a specially developed 3D Operational Control Panel (OCP), allowing DutchView to use their existing Grass Valley cameras and infrastructure to produce a spectacular 3D event.
• At The Diamond League Athletics Final in Brussels, the “Memorial van Damme” was produced by OB Van operator Outside Broadcast using two 3D mirror rigs equipped with LDK 8000 Elite cameras. The cameras where controlled via dedicated 3D Operational Control panels, allowing simultaneous control of shading and matching.
LDK 8000 Elite 3D-Ready Features include
• The LDK 8000 Elite Multi-format HD Camera is 1080p 3D-ready today.
• The LDK 8000 Elite Multi-format HD Camera offers a dockable, compact EFP HD adapter for small footprint applications.
• C2IP panel with Dual-Camera Control for simultaneous ganged and individual camera control including offsets for proper tracking.
• Selectable H+V mirror modes in the camera head for mirror rigs—no latency and no M/E on the switcher or external conversion required!
Kayenne
Broadcasting in 3D since 2008, Grass Valley, Kayenne, Kalypso, and Kayak Switchers have been and continues to be at the forefront of 3D production. Here are just a few examples
advertisment
• 2008 – Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers National Football League game
• 2009 – BCS Championship College Football game & National Basketball Association All-Star game
• 2010 – GRAMMY Awards Show - Michael Jackson segment
• 2010 – CBS Sports delivers NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and Final Game in 3D to theaters.
Kayenne 3D-Ready Features include
• Key Chaining
When keys are chained, selecting a keyer automatically brings up two keyers for the left/right eye keys together for simplified dual-channel management.Keys may be adjusted separately for accurate convergence and settings are remembered each time key is enabled.
• Multiple Bus Linking
Allows linking of busses for simultaneous source selection between M/Es or DoubleTake M/E partitions so that a single button press selects both left/right eye sources.
• DoubleTake Split M/E Mode
Splits each M/E into primary and secondary partitions for switching both right-eye and left-eye output streams from a single M/E. Used in conjunction with bus linking and KeyChaining.
• Source Rules
Each background source on an M/E can have rules associated that either include keyers automatically, or exclude keyers, when the source is selected.
K2 Summit
UK-based Telegenic have been commissioned by BSkyB to build its first outside broadcast truck specifically for stereoscopic 3D production. The truck will be used to produce live and recorded coverage of sport and entertainment events for a dedicated 3D channel launched by Sky TV in April 2010. Telegenic used theK2 Summit for the pilot phase and it performed flawlessly. They plan to use K2 servers in their 3D trucks going forward.
advertisment
At NAB this year, Grass Valley is launching a brand new concept for servers to give the K2 platform game-changing power and flexibility. ChannelFlex - for K2 Summit and K2 Solo — is a simple software upgrade that expands the number of video streams that a channel can process from one to two... or even three!
Not only does ChannelFlex create new options for multicam, video + key and super slomo (SSM), but it's great news for 3D applications too. For example, one channel can record left eye and right eye and save it as one asset with two video tracks and common timecode and ANC data. This 3D asset can then be loaded on one channel and played out as two synchronized video streams.
K2 Summit 3D-Ready Features Include
• Synchronized dual-link recording of left/right eye on a single channel to one file.
• Record up to three 3D camera inputs with one playout channel per system.
• Synchronized dual-link playback of left/right eye on a single channel.
• Fully compatible with K2 Dyno Replay System.
Trinix NXT
Trinix NXT & Concerto Routers, Jupiter & Encore Router Control Systems and GeckoFlex Modular are all 3D-ready today!
advertisment
• Trinix NXT supports 3Gb/s SMPTE 425M Level B for uncompressed 3D HD signals on a single wire.
• Encore, Jupiter and Prelude routing control systems all support linking of left/right eye inputs and outputs for simultaneous source selection on Trinix, Concerto and Acappella matrices.
• Geckoflex Modular products support synchronization and distribution of 3D HD signals.
T2 iDDR
The T2 iDDR is a complete and self-contained SD and HD audio/video playout center. The front-panel transport controls are designed to look and feel very much like those of traditional VTRs and its two output channels support standard- or high-definition content.
advertisment
The crisp, clear LCD front panel can display high-quality images and is complemented by a software application suite for managing and selecting media clips, clip editing and trimming, and playout - including playlist creation.
Two synchronized channel playback is perfect for key/fill rolls, edge blend displays, multi-screen and, of course, 3D applications!
T2 3D-Ready Features Include
• Synchronized playback of left/right channels.
• Full HD resolution for each eye.
• Compatible with external 3D encoders.
• Automated or manual playback control.
3D Production and Broadcasting
We’re well past the time when 3D was considered science fiction, but is the new dawn of 3D production and broadcasting a horror story in the making? Everyone is talking about it. Grass Valley is doing it.
advertisment
