August 2017 DISTRIBUTION 27
Clear-Com connects Auxiliary Channel ’ s production truck
Broadcast Solutions has delivered a new HD OB van to Slovakian TV network Televízia Markíza .
Televízia Markíza completes transition to HD with new OB van
To mark its full transition to HD , Slovakian TV network Televízia Markíza commissioned its new HD outside broadcast ( OB ) van in May this year .
Based on Broadcast Solutions ’ Alphaline A12 model , the new OB van can work in productions with up to 16 cameras . Alphaline is a variant of Broadcast Solutions ’ family of Streamline OB vans , of which more than 40 units are operating globally .
Working with Slovakian systems integrator Elektonika , Broadcast Solutions provided Televízia Markíza with a universal OB van equipped with a number of technical solutions from Grass Valley , Riedel , Canon , Lawo and Tektronix , among others .
Describing the OB van as “ being able to handle a large variety of productions ”, Broadcast Solutions also highlighted how Riedel ’ s Medior Net system is being used as
Inaugurated last August , Sneaky Big Studios is a US-based , 15,000sqf faci lity featuring a number of “ technologically advanced ” production and post-production studios .
Designed from the ground up as a fully integrated facility , Sneaky Big Studios ’ production workflow was designed by systems integrator and software developer DigitalGlue around a network of Barnfind Technologies ’ fibre-signal transport solutions . All video equipment is connected with fibre for faster processing , and all signals coming in or out of a specific room can be a decentralised signal routing and communications backbone .
Matthias Settele , general director at Televízia Markíza , said : “ The OB van was the missing link to complete our conversion to HD and is a major step to increase our viewer base — for instance , with our own productions such as Let ’ s Dance .
“ The OB van also gives us the flexibility to produce different kinds of events , which makes the company more independent .”
The new OB van can be used in productions of varying sizes — from large 16-camera set-ups to smaller productions , and also works as a backup and disaster recovery solution for Televízia Markíza ’ s studios .
Calling the OB van “ the best solution on the market ”, Zdenko Ryšavý , technical director , Televízia Markíza , concluded : “ Our main goals [ with the OB van ] are to have a tool for disaster recovery and to use it for double productions .”
Auxiliary Channel ’ s production truck is equipped with Clear-Com intercom solutions as the media production company continues to create compelling skateboarding content for ETN Live .
boarding theme . ETN Live also covers skateboarding events around the globe — either by dispatching the Auxiliary Channel truck , or pulling production elements from the truck and sending them with camera teams on the road .
With the high-quality video required for paid , streamed content , an intercom system that keeps everyone connected at all times is crucial , suggested Brian Reardon , owner and founder of Auxiliary Channel , whose production truck went live in mid-2016 .
He continued : “ I wish that all the equipment we employ was as reliable and consistent to work with as our Eclipse HX-Delta intercom system . We can count on hearing our people wherever they may be
DigitalGlue builds production workflow for Sneaky Big Studios
multiplexed and sent over a single fibre strand to the central equipment room .
From there , a built-in 288 x 576 capable router sends the signals
Having leashed its 28-inch broadcast-grade trailer to over-the-top ( OTT ) subscription skateboarding network ETN Live , media production company Auxiliary Channel decided to equip it with intercoms solutions from Clear-Com .
The multi-camera production truck is equipped with a Clear- Com Eclipse HX-Delta 32-port with four available frame card slots for extending the matrix ’ s intercom capabilities . The HX-Delta is loaded with a 64-channel E-MADI ( Multiple Audio Digital Interface ) card , an E-QUE-HX card for integrating FreeSpeak II 1.9GHz wireless beltpacks , and up to a dozen V-Series user interface panels to access and switch between the HX-Delta ’ s intercom channels .
Auxiliary Channel also purchased four FreeSpeak II antenna transceiver modules and 10 Free- Speak II wireless beltpacks for use with the HX-Delta system .
Said to be the world ’ s “ first paid skateboarding OTT network ”, ETN Live offers a wide range of quality skateboarding-themed programming to a youth-focused audience . Some of its content is shot at the company ’ s own indoor skateboarding park or outside on its property . This includes not only competitive and extreme boarding shows , but also reality , gaming and comedy programmes , all tied to the skate-
to their destination , providing an addi tional measure of workflow flexibility . The future-proof platform allows each room in the facility to be customised according
Sneaky Big Studios ’ production workflow was designed by systems integrator and software developer DigitalGlue around a network of Barnfind Technologies ’ fibresignal transport solutions .
to its current needs , and upgraded as technology evolves by simply swapping out SFPs .
A 4,000sqf production stage , designed for multi-camera and live TV shots , commercial production , as well as music and training videos , features virtual reality ( VR ) capabilities and immersive graphics via a VIZRT Virtual Studio . 4K / Ultra HD ( UHD ) cameras from Sony during a production .
“ The 64-channel E-MADI card has so much capacity that it serves as the backbone for our truck ’ s audio system . Virtually everything we need is carried through the E-MADI card to the audio console and the router .”
Reardon also cited the Free- Speak II beltpacks ’ 18-hour rechargeable battery life , and the system ’ s ability to support up to five programmable channels per beltpack ( each labelled with its own 10 LCD character label ) as being “ very useful ” features .
“ Overall , the Clear-Com intercom system has been a very good investment , and it helps us deliver the calibre of skateboarding content that ETN Live wants ,” he concluded .
and Canon support both studio and field work , while Sony F55 4K / UHD cameras are supported on Vinten robotic pedestals for live production .
An eight-operator production control room outfitted with a 4K / UHD full monitor wall , Grass Valley Karrera 4M / E K-Frame video production centre switcher and Grass Valley NVision 8280 router also allow Sneaky Big Studios to work in large-scale , multi-camera live productions . Connections to mobile or satellite trucks are also available for extra capabilities .
Kiel Week Regatta sets sails with Vislink solutions for live stream broadcast
An annual sailing event , Kiel Week Regatta , brings together close to 5,000 sailors , 2,000 ships and approximately three million visitors to Kiel , the capital of Schleswig- Holstein , Germany .
For this year ’ s edition , which ran from June 17-25 , xG Technology ’ s Vislink business provided wireless camera transmission capabilities to support the live stream broadcast of the event .
The project called for the deployment of a new watercraft-based wireless transmission system to feed into the live stream broadcast . Thus , Sales Cube , Vislink ’ s official reseller in Germany , worked with the latter to specify an equipment list that would enable reliable ship-to-shore live transmission of footage while minimising power consumption and payload .
Among the Vislink equipment deployed was a next-generation , highly customisable wireless camera transmission system capable of supporting the dynamic action of live sporting events , as well as a suite of diversity receivers and decoders targeted at compact wireless camera and microwave link use .
George Schmitt , executive chairman and CEO of xG Technology , concluded : “ IMT and Vislink solutions remain the trusted choice of broadcast professionals for capturing unique views and transmitting action from iconic events and locations . High-profile events like the Kiel Week demand the performance , range , reliability and flexibility that our systems provide .”