Live Production Tools - The Next Generation

Sony Professional Webinar – Turning a 3D Vision into OB Reality

Live 3D Outside Broadcast is, undoubtedly, a challenge – and ensuring crystal-clear quality, is of paramount importance. This was the challenge faced by the team producing Wimbledon in 3D earlier this year. On 30th September, that team, Mark Grinyer, Sony’s Head of Business Development 3D & Sports, Duncan Humphreys from Can Communicate, and Peter Angell from HBS, will be sharing live their experiences and knowledge on the processes needed to turn a 3D vision into reality and deliver quality output. Throughout the session you will be able to quiz them live and have your questions answered by the experts.

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3ality Technica Realigns Economics of 3D Broadcasting

IntelleCal™ automatically aligns the two cameras on a rig at the push of a button, which enables a super fast and precise set up without the intervention of a technician. It does this by profiling and matching lenses and performing alignment on five axes through the entire zoom range. IntelleCam™ automatically controls the convergence and the interaxial spacing of the cameras, without the need for a separate convergence puller at each rig, cutting the number of personnel needed by half or more – dramatically reducing costs.

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CAMERON | PACE Group Partners with Grass Valley

The alliance between CAMERON | PACE Group and Grass Valley is centered on bringing a better 3D workflow to the broadcast arena, developing new products for the market, and advancing and promoting more efficient and effective production solutions in the live 3D sports and entertainment broadcasting areas. The historic alliance will benefit all production and content creation companies involved in 3D. Grass Valley believes that, for 3D to be a commercial success in the broadcast industry, both 2D and 3D programming content must come from the same equipment and crew, and backs up the company perspective with 3D features and functionality as 'standard' equipment packages.

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Sony Professional announces PMW-TD300 availability

The addition of the PMW-TD300 to Sony’s already strong 3D line-up demonstrates that Sony has cameras for every type of 3D production. On top of these features Sony Professional has developed a complete new controller system for use in the 3D camcorder. By replacing the separate ring model in favour of an unique multi-control dial, operators can easily control the zoom, focus and convergence to create overall better quality 3D images. The PMW-TD300 is the worldwide first 3D shoulder camcorder which uses a 3.5” glassless 3D LCD for picture evaluation.

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ARRI ships first ALEXA M units to CAMERON | PACE Group

Based on cutting-edge RAW image transmission technologies, the ALEXA M features the same sensor, image processing, build quality, efficient workflows and exceptional image quality that have established ALEXA as the standard in high-end cinematic and broadcast capture. CPG Chairman James Cameron commented on the delivery of the first ALEXA M units, saying, "The ARRI team has been amazingly responsive to the needs of the 3D market by creating the ALEXA M. CAMERON | PACE Group worked closely with them on the development of this important new camera, and we are proud to be the exclusive global distributor of the ALEXA M in its Phase 1 rollout."

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CBS Sports, Panasonic and USTA Team Up To Present 2011 US Open in 3D

CBS Sports served as the host broadcaster producing the 3D coverage for the USTA and Panasonic.  It produced 3D versions of all Arthur Ashe Stadium matches that it broadcasts in High Definition both on Labor Day Weekend and on Finals Weekend, September 9-11. Last year’s 3D production of the 2010 US Open Tennis Championships – the first world-wide 3D broadcast of a tennis major – was honored with a 2010 Emmy Award for technical achievement (George Wensel TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD).

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EVS Introduces its First Live Ultra Motion Replay Solution at IBC 2011

Until now, slow motion action replay from an Ultra Motion camera (capturing more than 150 frames per second) was only possible by generating a video clip from a buffer located in the camera system. In the past, any live action happening during this process would have been lost. Recent developments of the XT series server allow a significant increase in its ingest and playout capacity. It is now possible to capture and record the entire output of the I-MOVIX Ultra Motion camera at frame rates of up to 250 frames per second as well as instantly generate ultra slow motion replays without losing any footage of the live action.

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NAC Image Technology Expands its Sports Broadcast Business Unit

NAC is dedicated to the prospect of expanding its presence in the Television and Entertainment market, a presence which began well over 50 years ago with the production of motion picture equipment.  The addition of Andy Hayford as International Sales Manager for Hi-Motion products will allow NAC to give more focus to each of its camera market segments.  Since 1958 NAC has pioneered new uses of image technology in a number of industries and applications. 

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At IBC 2011, The Awards Go To… The Grass Valley Karrera Video Production Center

The new Karrera is a lower-cost, high-definition switcher platform that makes sophisticated production capabilities readily available to more applications and more users. Karrera is a fully digital 10-bit, 4:2:2 video switcher with up to 96 inputs and 48 outputs. It features HD/SD SDI signal support with (optional) up/down/cross converters on selected inputs and outputs, and six keyers in every full M/E—four full-function keyers plus two linear/ luminance keyers. Each full-function keyer has two pages (frames) of video and key storage to free up Image Store outputs and reduce the number of external graphics sources.

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Sony Professional Demonstrates its Leadership in Sports Entertainment

Sony Professional’s latest innovation in sports production technology, launched at IBC this year, is Data Augmented Video. This solution combines picture stitching with live statistical analysis. Three camera feeds, positioned close to each other on the pitch but recording separate spaces, are "sewn" together forming a wide HD view of the pitch. Video content is enhanced by graphical information sourced from sports data tools, enabling production and coaches to use this information to highlight specific events or characteristics of a game. This leads ultimately to an improved fan experience by adding on a layer of context and background to any game.

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Snell Announces Vega™ — The New Flexible Port, Fiber, and Coax Router

"Video routing switches are used in virtually all broadcast media installations, and very few of these installations require exactly the same number of router inputs and outputs," said Kim Francis, product manager at Snell. "Traditionally, broadcast and media companies have obtained the additional inputs or outputs they require by purchasing a larger router. This model is wasteful in terms of unused ports, added cost, and the greater amount of space required. Vega eliminates this waste by allowing users to configure any unused inputs as additional outputs, or vice versa, as the application demands, and its plug-in fiber modules keep the cost and complexity of fiber routing to a minimum. Quite simply, Vega changes the rules of the game."

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Integrated Audio Metering for STAGETEC Consoles

STAGETEC integrates this metering unit invisibly into the console’s chassis from where it picks up the metering values from the NEXUS audio matrix just as the current stand-alone version does. In contrast to the stand-alone version all values are displayed on AURUS’ or CRESCENDO’s central TFT at the push of a button, thus rendering the external monitor redundant. Configuration is undertaken via the graphics tablet (AURUS) or keyboard and mouse (CRESCENDO). Touch operation as with the stand-alone is not applicable.

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SSL Announces Key Sales of C100 Consoles for Euro Media France

Euro Media France, a part of the largest European audiovisual and technical services provider, Euro Media Group, is refurbishing its OB van, Road Runner 1, to be the largest capacity truck offered by Euro Media France for HDTV programs including sports events such as Football and Rugby’s Premier League for Canal+, and for the TV live music/talk-show programs X-Factor, Sing Off and Ti Lascio. The van’s new designation is XL1. Euro Media France chose an SSL C100 HDS with 64 faders controlling 512 channels of DSP for the job with MORSE Router to handle the high microphone count needed for events and Dialogue Automix and 5.1 Upmix options.

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Replacing Satellite Links with Riedel RiLink Global Fiber Service

RiLink is a new way of transporting live broadcast signals from remote event locations to the studio or to connect foreign studios with their home studio, thus reducing costs and simplifying set-ups. Based on Riedel's own global MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) backbone, the RiLink Global Fiber Service provides bidirectional links between distant locations, allowing not only the transport of 3G/HD/SDSDI broadcast signals, but also return video feeds, full-duplex communications, VoIP telephony and IP data. The Riedel RiLink is a full-service end-to-end solution. The customer chooses the locations and the signals that need to be transported and Riedel provides a plug and play installation.

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The Canon DIGISUPER 95 - Today’s Widest Angle Long Zoom HD Field Lens

The XJ95x’s incomparable optical performance is based on Canon’s 50 years of advanced R&D and extensive broadcast lens development experience. By utilising the company’s proprietary large-diameter aspherical lens technology and exotic glass materials, the particular optical challenges of large focal-length ranges have been effectively countered. These include lateral chromatic aberration, monochromatic aberrations and geometric distortion. Canon’s now even more advanced Image Stabilization System comes standard in the XJ95x. Its improved optical shift-type stabiliser incorporates a sensor inside the lens that detects vibration. Compensating optics are then engaged at high speed to cancel out any effect on the image.

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Small, Smaller, microHD Camera System

Lux Media Plan is always good for a surprise, and even more so at IBC 2011: With its brand-new microHD system, the German specialist for mini cameras and digital image processing is presenting a new remote camera which puts the concept of its ultra-compact predecessor model HD1200 on an even higher – or rather “smaller” – level. The microHD camera head measures a mere 26 x 26 x 22 mm – just a fourth of the dimensions of the LMP bestseller HD1200. The midget’s performance is also well worth looking at: Its 1/3” CMOS sensor generates a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 24/25/30/50/60 fps in HDSDI up to 3Gbit/s.

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Grass Valley Revolutionizes Outside Broadcasts with 3G Camera Connectivity System

The first element of the new 3G Transmission system was unveiled at NAB earlier this year. 3G Fiber and 3G Triax put all the functionality that users have come to expect from fiber – including 1080p50/60 transmission and two digital HD video return paths – on both cable-types without compromises or limitations. Adding to Grass Valley’s uniquely powerful camera control system and diagnostics, it is already transforming operations for some of the world’s leading outside broadcast companies, and not just because 3G Triax extends the range of conventional triax by 25%, up to 1,500 meters (4,921 feet). Now Grass Valley is completing the revolution with three more complementary products. Key to the transformation is the 3G Twin Base Station, which supports both 3G Triax and single-mode (dark) fiber connections. If the operator needs to use triax connectivity, the camera cables plug directly into the base station and the full functionality of 3G Triax is unleashed.

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Sony Professional Highlights Strength in Live Production with new HD System Camera

Building on 30 years of technical advancement in live production, the HDC-2500 is equipped with the world’s first carbon graphite style body for a professional camera making it stronger than plastic and even magnesium. This improvement benefits not only the environment, due to the sustainability of the carbon graphite material, but also the camera operator, especially for field shooting usage. The camera utilises advanced HD digital signal processing with 16 bit A/D converters. It also boasts newly developed CCD sensors and DSP which are incredibly sensitive and enable operators to produce a picture quality unlike any other system camera in the market.

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Vizrt and LiberoVision to Demonstrate Fastest Sports Analysis Tool to Date at IBC 2011

Depending upon setup, in-game analysis can go live, on-air in as little as 30 seconds. LiberoVision’s powerful 3D annotations work in the same way as Libero Highlight, seamlessly combining live camera feeds. All major annotations are included, such as arrows, areas, player marks, etc. ”Instead of a typical replay, Libero Playbook provides its users with the option of telling the viewer at home exactly why a player’s movement disrupted his team’s entire offensive – or why a tiny movement of the ball prevented his defense from conceeding,”  said Stephan Würmling Stadler, CEO at LiberoVision. “The product is our direct response to a huge demand in the market. We feel confident that both new and existing customers will appreciate the extra dimension it adds to in-game analysis.”

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Broadcast Solutions GmbH showed Mediatec HD10 at IBC

Broadcast Solutions and Mediatec signed a frame contract about 10 or more OB-trailers. This contract was finalized during IBC 2010 and introduces a new unique middle class HD OB production vehicle to the market. At IBC 2011 the Mediatec HD10 was on show. Stefan Breder, CEO of Broadcast Solutions GmbH, points out: „This frame contract is the result of years of hard work establishing Broadcast Solutions as reliable and flexible system integrator on the international market and we are pleased to be working with Mediatec for the years to come“.

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Broadcast Networks Delivers 3D Capability to Norway’s OB-Team

At 13.6 meters long, this new vehicle will be one of the largest OB trucks on the road. It features a single expanding side that expands a full 1.87 meters thanks to the clever use of fold-out walls and even a fold-out equipment rack. Tom Haye, managing director of Broadcast Networks, says: ”OB-Team operates in Scandinavia, which has notoriously harsh winter weather conditions. Given the size of this vehicle it was vital that we considered its construction, as well as its performance as a high-end 3D production facility. The swedish coachbuilder Groth made sure it could cope with icy conditions by building in various traction improvement systems as well as providing extreme temperature insulation systems and featuring heated floor and roof to ensure the vehicle stays warm and doesn’t get large amounts of snow building up on the roof.”

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Grass Valley Helps DutchView Go "Green"

DutchView is working with Grass Valley on two new "green" outside broadcast trucks as part of DutchView's broader plan to develop a sustainable broadcast infrastructure. This green initiative is the latest stage in a long relationship between DutchView and Grass Valley, and establishes a plan for the future. The new trucks will be equipped with the latest Grass Valley 3G Transmission system, which allows DutchView to use their existing inventory of triax cables, which not only protects its investment, but minimizes waste. The trucks themselves will produce reduced emissions by up to 40%, the truck body is made from sustainable materials that reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling by 30%, and all of the furnishings in the truck are made only from sustainable and recycled materials.

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Euro Media Gets Equipped with Sony for its 3D Solutions

Over the last year Euro Media has witnessed a surge in 3D projects and this deal with Sony will enable the company to further strengthen its 3D solutions and offer its customers unrivalled performance in sport, cinema production/fiction and events. Sony Professional and Euro Media have a long relationship working together. Sony has also collaborated with Euro Media's partner, Microfilms, which supplied the 3D RIGs - Total Rig Control II - bringing a powerful solution to the market. Julien Schneider, Head of New Technologies at Euro Group Media, explained: "The Microfilms 3D RIGs we have at Euro Media interface perfectly with the Sony solutions as they use microprocessors that recover real-time information straight from the 3D Box of the MPE-200".

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SIS LIVE Deliver New Bespoke OB for ESPN America

After securing a multi million pound three year deal with ESPN in July 2010, SIS LIVE has delivered a full season of football to an exceptionally high standard. Part of this commitment to ESPN was to innovate and offer new ways of covering and delivering the football to ESPN customers globally. SIS 65 has been designed specifically for the requirements of ESPN America. The SIS 65 build was commissioned by ESPN to provide coverage of English Premier League (EPL) games for the US market by adding on to selected matches already broadcast in the UK. The programmes will be presented by Ian Darke and Steve McManaman with pitch side reports coming, in the main part, from Darrell Currie.

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ANO Sports Broadcasting Selects AXON to Supply Glue for Nine OBVans

The fleet will be used as part of a massive new broadcast infrastructure project being built to enable millions of viewers in Russia to watch the XXII Winter Games and the XI Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014, as well as the XXVII World Summer University Games in Kazan in 2013. AXON modular processors will be used in a broad range of applications with the OB vehicles, including the up-conversion, down-conversion and cross conversion of 3G signals. AXON modules will support the distribution of video and audio signals throughout the vehicles as well as the embedding and de-embedding of audio signals. Also, AXON miniaturized technology will control the synchronizing, legalizing and keying operations within the fleet. Finally, AXON’s SynView will form the standard multi-viewing platform on the vehicles.

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MTV's 2011 Video Music Awards Mixed on Lawo mc²66 Console

Outside—adjacent to the Nokia Theater—MTV Networks’ Remote Unit 8 mobile recording truck was at the heart of this year’s VMA show from an audio production perspective. Remote Unit 8 is equipped with not one, but two, Lawo mc²66 digital productions consoles. Handling the main music mix on the show, the larger of the two desks has 48 main faders plus 8 additional faders for the master section and is stocked with 8 DSP cards in the system’s core. Additionally, the console is setup for use with Lawo’s Plug-in Server. Designed as a dedicated environment for VST-type audio processing plug-ins, the server facilitates seamless integration with the mc²66 while providing greater flexibility in the use and routing of processed signals—all while freeing the host recording platform from the system overhead typically associated with numerous plug-in processors.

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ATEM Production Switcher at Oxegen Festival

Since its opening in 2004, Oxegen festival has hosted a variety of top international performances, including The Who’s first appearance in Ireland in more than 35 years. This year’s event saw Beyonce, Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and Foo Fighters take the main stage, along with hundreds of other artists from around the globe. Setanta Screens’ AV Manager, John Moriarty, supplier of LED screen technology and audio visual production services to leading event organizers and promoters throughout Europe, purchased the ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher specifically for Oxegen Festival 2011 in order to broadcast and mix the live stage performance feeds during the three day event. A Blackmagic Design DVI Extender was  also used to convert computer generated graphics from DVI to SDI, and Blackmagic Design’s UpDownCross Mini Converters were used to up convert standard definition material to HD SDI.

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RTS/TELEX Secures Broadcast of the Legendary Le Mans 24-Hour Race

It's an event with enormous pulling power, as attested by this year's race, which ran from June 11-12 and saw some 250,000 spectators from all over Europe lining the winding 13.5-kilometre track to follow the action close up. To guarantee flawless communication between all those participating in the broadcast, and to help maximize the efficiency of their efforts, MM Communications technicians Christian Drost and Jan Heering opted for a variety of solutions from RTS/TELEX. These included two Advanced Digital Audio Matrices (ADAMs) linked by Tribus cards and a TELEX BTR-800 intercom system used with numerous TR 825 beltpacks. 20 RTS KP-16 CLD, six RTS KP-12 CLD, and two RTS KP-32 CLD colour display panels graced the front end, with headsets including TELEX PH44 andTELEX PH88 models also deployed.

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IAAF Daegu 2011: 8-Hours Live Feed from KBS 16-Camera HDOBVan built by Broadcast Solutions

At the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu/South Korea, KBS is producing currently up to eight hours daily for the creation of the integrated host feeds with the 16-camera HD OB truck, "HDTV-4" made by Broadcast Solutions GmbH. On August 27th 2011 the international TV transmission started with the "Daegu IAAF 2011 Opening Ceremony", transmitted to 200 countries around the world, more than ever before at a World Athletics Championship. Right after the opening the first discipline was the 400m run of the women which required extensive conversion of the configuration of the vehicle which could now be implemented with a push of a button with the already prepared VSM.

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SIS LIVE provides stunning coverage of the inaugural America World Cup series in Portugal

The opening race of the regatta series began on the 6th August in the port city of Cascais, Portugal, a location world-renowned for its magnificent sailing conditions. By the end of the week-long competition, which featured the AC45 wing-sailed catamaran in it’s first-ever competition, the Emirates Team from New Zealand were ahead, having completed the course in an impressive 37m41secs. In taxing conditions, SIS LIVE delivered a resoundingly successful service, utilising 36 newly developed, agile robotic cameras and 7 control units across the 7 live and 3 backup yachts.

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French Horse Racing Migrates to HD with EVS Technology

France Galop and Le Cheval Français have decided to invest in three new mobile units for the coverage of live horse racing, which will be broadcast on a series of French television channels including France 3 and Equidia, as well as the production and archiving of video content used by the horse racing commission. When the decision was made to produce in HD, France Galop and Le Cheval Français required a fast and reliable platform that could guarantee workflow efficiency and instant replays with maximum precision. EVS had previously worked with France Galop when it installed a full tapeless SD solution in its two OB Vans built in 2001, which helped EVS to design a new HD workflow based on the company’s production requirements and ensures minimal training for a smooth transition.

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