C2S Systems Announces 16-Camera OB Truck Build for Video Europe

Video Europe has undertaken the £1.25m project as part of an on-going expansion of the services they provide to existing OB and production clients, enabling them to offer top-class facilities for scalable events coverage. With delivery scheduled for May 2014, the truck will be available for dry-hire for all types of live events.

Steve Green, Video Europe’s Managing Director, said: “We wanted a support vehicle that offers the next step up in facilities and which OB companies can trust. It adds to our busy fleet and will help our existing clients go after bigger jobs.”

The truck’s high-spec interior and flexible, open-plan layout will provide a unique work environment with optimal functionality and usability for both small and large live production teams.

And the design also means it can accommodate a wide range of equipment from Video Europe’s hire catalogue – which includes 40 brand new camera channels and EVS machines.

Outlining some of the challenges of the project, Jonathan Lyth, Systems Manager for C2S, said: “The main challenge is to accommodate the high level of equipment in a small double-expanding OB footprint whilst providing operational comfort. Because this unit will need to work around London, it can operate with only one of its sides expanded if ground space is restricted.

“Access to equipment is critical, because key items such as EVS and cameras will be rigged per job, rather than permanently installed – so the layout incorporates safe, easy access to the three main racks from a hydraulic sliding platform.

“This is a complete ‘chassis-up’ build from C2S, with coachwork, furniture, interiors, system design, equipment supply and installation all carried out in our Leeds facility. This in-house approach means C2S are well-equipped to consult and deliver on design, finish and functionality of the highest quality, which are of paramount importance in Video Europe’s project.”

The project will see C2S equip the truck with Sony HDC-2500 camera channels, an MVS-7000X vision mixer and OLED monitors. The truck will also have a 3G Miranda NVISION 8500 Series Hybrid Router populated to 171x216 HD-SDI and 5x3 TDM interfaces for connecting external Madi, AES and analogue capabilities to support both direct connections to a Calrec Omega digital audio console and peripheral equipment.

As well as traditional routing capabilities, the NVISION provides 24 paths of onboard de-embedding, along with eight paths of de-embedding synchronizers on the input stage and 48 paths of embedding to the output stages – all alongside external audio interfaces within a large TDM cross point infrastructure.

This configuration reduces the external modular equipment required, improves flexibility around VT and EVS audio and allows for complex pre-configured setups to be handled as simple button presses.

The completed truck will also incorporate Miranda 3G digital glue and a Kaleido modular multi-viewer, as well as Tektronix waveform vector-scopes.

Underlining how the truck will meet the needs of Video Europe’s clients, Ben Murphy, Sales Director for WTS Group, said: “We are excited to be working with Video Europe to produce this truck. It is a prestigious project which is very much in tune with the current UK OB requirements.”

Once built, the 26-tonne Mercedes Benz Axor truck and 18-tonne support vehicle will augment Video Europe’s existing fleet of two eight-to-ten-camera OB units, which they hire out for events, OB productions and as auxiliary OB units. The new vehicles will be unmarked to allow clients to use them with their existing fleet.

C2S Systems is the Systems Integration business of WTS Group, providing bespoke integration solutions for broadcasters and content producers globally. Specialists in broadcast television & media technology, C2S Systems delivers projects of any size, from studio installations and outside broadcast units, to transmission centres and post production facilities.  C2S Systems also provides independent services including consulting, design, installation and custom fabrication.