Newsletter from 06/03/2012
Australian Open - Red Bull Crashed Ice - Qatar National Day
MOBILE PRODUCTION
Broadcast Sports Inc. Expands its European Team for Live Event Coverage
BSI opened its UK office in August 2011 to springboard the company's expansion outside the USA. BSI provides its own, Point Of View (POV) cameras that range in size and functionality and can be positioned to capture dramatic sports action in full High Definition. For example, cameras may be moving at speed or they may be immersed in water. Several of the POV cameras also have 360 degree capability and remote controlled pan and tilt functions. BSI's camera systems are provided with a full engineering crew, and until very recently, were not available outside America. The company's UK office has already won some major contracts in Europe - for football and the Barclays ATP World Tour tennis - plus a string of successes with wireless POV cameras.
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SuperSport Relies on RTS/TELEX in New OB Truck
To meet not only the present but also the future expectations of its viewers, SuperSport recently invested in a new HD outside broadcast truck: the OB6HD, a high-end vehicle in every respect and one with exceptional capabilities, thanks to the lavish array of high-tech equipment on board, not least among which are its 28 high definition cameras. The design and implementation of the installation was the work of Sony PSE (Professional Solutions Europe) at their premises in Basingstoke (UK). SuperSport's new reference vehicle will be used primarily for the live transmission of sporting events. A decisive role in the fulfillment of this mission is played by its communications equipment, and here SuperSport's decision-makers, together with Sony South Africa, opted for a solution from RTS/TELEX.
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TVN-Ü2HD: Upgrade to HD/3D Production and Riedel MediorNet
At the heart of the TVN-Ü2HD installation are five MediorNet mainframes that act as pre-routers for up to 32 HD-SDI signals connecting to eight stage boxes that are used on the OB truck's productions. At the heart of the TVN-Ü2HD installation are five MediorNet mainframes copyrighted by liveProduction.tv At the heart of the TVN-Ü2HD installation are five MediorNet mainframes Those stage boxes are also based on MediorNet and provide bi-directional transport over a single fiber link of up to four 3G, eight HD or 30 SD video signals as well as audio, intercom, or control data such as TCP/IP or serial RS232/422 data. Since MediorNet is based on a real-time network with an arbitrary number of different topologies, signals can be routed not only between the stagebox and the OB truck, but also between individual stage boxes or from a single stagebox to multiple stage boxes.
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STUDIO PRODUCTION
PR Fixtures Light Doha TV Tented Studios for Qatar National Day
As theNational Day TV channel, Doha TV took up its makeshift studios in Darb-a-Saai whichwere used to broadcast a unique set of programmes, by hosting individuals whohad significant roles in Darb-a-Saai activities. Theyconstructed the high impact lighting rig around 22 x PR Lighting XL 1200 spots,20 x PR Lighting XL700’s, and 46 x PR XLED 590 (each head containing 90powerful LED’s). TechnoPro,one of the major suppliers for Qatar National Day, has been servicing the technicalneeds of the Qatar National Day Organising Committee for three consecutiveyears now. This includes professional LED screens, lighting equipment, audioequipment, truss structures and power distribution equipment in variouslocations during the celebration.
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NRK Adds Two More Studio Installations of Mosart®
An important feature of NRK's multi-gallery Mosart installation is the Mosart Multi-Studio, a client interface that was custom-designed for NRK and is now part of the Mosart multi-gallery feature set. Mosart Multi-Studio enables NRK engineers to dynamically allocate prime and backup video sources for all three studios, with an at-a-glance view into which ports are available, and which are in use by a certain program. Engineers can choose any combination of video sources from the Mosart playout system, the studio's Omneon media server, or even the previous, legacy automation system to build redundancy into the workflow. In addition, integration with the network's Snell Kahuna SD-HD multiformat switcher gives NRK engineers the option of accessing Mosart Multi-Studio and the video sources using the switcher, for even greater flexibility in the live news production.
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FEU Upgrades to HD Production
The Department of Communication at Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila, Philippines, recently renovated its video production facilities with a Granite™ 1000 Video Control Center. The new Broadcast Pix system is part of an upgrade to HD production for FEU’s television production classes. While Granite has been primarily used for class productions, there are plans to produce a live cable broadcast during the upcoming semester. According to Babsie Morabe, associate professor, FEU Department of Communication, students like the new system, which replaced an aging Videonics switcher. “The industry is moving toward HD production,” he noted, “and the students need to be armed so that when they apply for a production job, they are already well versed in HD.”
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SPORTS
Grass Valley HD Production Technologies at the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships
The unique Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship features competitors on hockey skates racing down a challenging ice-covered course. The action is fast and furious, with very little room for error. A team of four Americans was picked from the St. Paul event and they will now represent the US in the World Championships. LYON Video set up its MU10 truck on location, complete with 20 Grass Valley LDK 8000 HD cameras, two LDK 8300 Super SloMo camera systems, a Grass Valley Kalypso™ Video Production Center and a Trinix™ NXT multiformat router with multiviewer. The cameras were fed into a fiber network using the new Grass Valley 3G Transmission system to accommodate the long distances from the various venues back to LYON Video's production truck.
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Grand Slam Success for Gearhouse Broadcast
The Australian Open is one of the largest and most complex annual events that Gearhouse Broadcast covers. Drawing on previous ATP Tennis Masters Series experience, the Gearhouse Broadcast technical set-up has been expanded to accommodate the size and magnitude of the event. This year the tournament was bigger than ever before with Gearhouse Broadcast providing Channel 7 with a comprehensive package of technical facilities and crewing across the entire event. The Broadcast Centre was built into a large double story temporary building that housed all the technical facilities including the Production Control, Audio Control, Logging & Archiving, Edit suites and production offices.
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Olympic Games 2012: Gymnastics - Rhythmic
Rhythmic gymnastics took a while to gain traction as a respected sport. That said, the seeds were planted hundreds of years ago. The basis of the idea back then is similar to what it is today, which was that someone should be able to express themselves through movement, and that movement should be recognized and appreciated as sport. During the London 2012 Olympic Games, grace and beauty will be on show throughout the four days of Rhythmic Gymnastics competition at Wembley Arena. As with synchronised swimming, it is open only to women and has been part of the Olympic programme since the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Competitive rhythmic gymnastics, with all its grace and elegance, first started in the Soviet Union during the 1940s. Unsurprisingly then, the Russians are the dominate force in the sport having won gold in the last three games.
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SHOWS
Clay Paky Lights Up Madonna’s Stage at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
Madonna may have headlined Super Bowl XLVI’s Halftime Show, but Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures made a name for themselves too, helping to light up the stage for the Material Girl at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Lighting designer Al Gurdon, of UK-based Incandescent Design, utilized 204 Sharpys supplied by PRG after being impressed with their performance on FOX’s “X Factor.” For the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Bruce Rodgers of Tribe Inc. was once again the production designer, All Access Staging built the set and PRG and Full Flood provided the lighting services. As a result he created “a cleaner look this year” that was careful to preserve all the video projection mapping taking place on stage where Madonna was joined by M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, Jamie King, Cirque du Soleil and Moment Factory.
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Sennheiser Rocks (and Rolls in the Deep) with Big Grammy Winners
Adele, the big winner of the evening, tied the record, set two years ago by Beyoncé, for the most awards won by a female artist in one year. The 23-year-old pop-soul singer won the night’s most prestigious awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 21, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video for the single “Rolling in the Deep,” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone Like You.” The most highly anticipated performance of the evening finally arrived when Adele took the stage to perform “Rolling in the Deep.” Her favorite nickel-finish Sennheiser SKM 2000-XP wireless handheld transmitter with MMK 965-1 capsule conveyed her beautiful voice to the adoring crowd. Dave McDonald, Adele’s front-of-house engineer, said, “It’s a great microphone. We started using it just after the Brit Awards in February of last year, and she’s loved it ever since.” He adds, “Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the equipment we use is Sennheiser – and the point-one percent is Neumann.” Her performance brought the Grammy audience to its feet for the longest standing ovation of the evening.
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On Stage - The Christie Roadster HD10K-M
The story of L’illuminé is set in April 1788, just a few months before the French revolution; but it’s another revolution – the industrial revolution, still in its infancy but not to be denied – that has locked the chevalier de Casignac up in the dungeon of the Comtesse de Leauvive. Rousseau is dead, and a revolutionary invention, the “steam engine”, is driving human life at a pace far beyond its natural breathing rhythm. The chevalier’s instinct urges that these contraptions, whose mechanisms burst the constraints of human effort, must never be allowed to proliferate. Guided by his intuitions he harangues his peers with feverish tirades which they find eccentric and hard to understand; but they are visionary none the less, for to us they merely describe our everyday technology.
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PRODUCTS
ProLight + Sound: Production, Broadcast and Recording Go Public
The technical possibilities in the fields of production, broadcasting and recording are arousing interest across an ever larger circle of users. High-quality computers, software and hardware (consoles, microphones, recording equipment, cameras etc.) are becoming easier and easier to use, simpler to transport and, depending on individual requirements, relatively affordable. At the same time, production tools and channels of publication on the internet – via Youtube, Facebook and MySpace, for example – are becoming accessible for more and more people. The products and services in the areas of Production, Broadcast and Recording, which were once the preserve of professionals, are now being employed by semi-professional users and non-specialists.
Exhibitor search and quick-finder make it easy to find what you are looking for at ProLight + Sound
NAB Preview
Every industry employs audio and video to communicate, educate and entertain. They all come together at the NAB Show® for creative inspiration and next-generation technologies to help breathe new life into their content. No matter where you are in the Content Lifecycle – from creation to consumption, the NAB Show is a must-attend event if you want to future-proof your career and your business. Explore the tools and techniques that foster the collaboration of art and technology, and bring your content to life. Find all you need regarding capture, digital artistry, filmmaking, production, post-production, sound, Web design, and more. Our first preview indroduces new products from
Boxx TV - EVS - Grass Valley - Jünger Audio - Ross Video - Snell
CUNIMA NANO Adds Up to WIGE MEDIA‘s Successful Micro HD Camera Series
Weighting only 150 grams, this new super light camera with its small body - 36,5 x 36,5 x 60 - can be used in all situations where traditional cameras just can’t compete due to their size. The CUNIMA NANO also captures quality 1080p50/60 FullHD video for all future live-broadcast and film productions. WIGE Media have developed a specific aluminum case for the CUNIMA NANO and an ultra-compact board design which makes the camera sturdy and imperishable against vibrations and acceleration impacts. Therefore, it is ideal for even the most extreme filming situations, such as onboard shootings for motocross races. This new innovation combined with the 640 ASA light sensitivity is designed for professional broadcasts and proves to be extremely efficient for its recommended retail value of € 8000,00.
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Zee News Chooses Harris to Upgrade its News Production Facility
Zee News already uses a comprehensive range of Harris workflow solutions, including ADC™ playout automation integrated with a Harris® NewsForce™ solution for news editing and production to enhance speed to air. Key new components include multiple NEXIO AMP® servers and NEXIO Farad™ high-performance online storage systems to improve bandwidth and storage capabilities across Zee News’ demanding production workflow. With content stored in a single location, NEXIO Farad storage will provide real-time access to material, allowing journalists to quickly and easily create and edit content “on the fly” as material is ingested. The additional bandwidth of the combined NEXIO® solution also will allow Zee News to fulfill the language needs of its regional audiences across India by quickly and effectively repurposing content with different audio tracks.
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3D ARISING
3D Fiction & 3D EFP Solutions
Currently EMG-3D is involved in a series of 6 documentaries in 3D on the greatest forests in the world: the ones in France’s overseas territories. The series is produced by Lithium Productions and hosted by Olivier Chiabodo. After the expedition to Guiana, EMG-3D now offers the chance to discover the forests of Réunion, in 52 minutes of 3D. The first episode on French Guiana has been aired on October 15th. The second shoot on La Réunion island is now in post-production and will be broadcast on March 20 in France on France Ô in 2D and Orange in 3D.
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PRINT PUBLICATIONS
"that's LIVE" #3 will be published this Month
The new edition of "that's LIVE" will focus on support providers for rights-holding and non-rights-holding broadcasters in and around London during the Olympics in July and August. Other features are the Javanotti concert, the DR Byen production complex, the Swiss elections covered by SRG, Vangelis Live in Doha and the Mobile Studio of Woods TV.