Whipflash2 disk recorder

By Oleg Bondarev

Leitch is one of the leading corporations on the broadcast technologies market. Few years ago it acquired DPS company well known for its video capture cards. It is enough recalling so successful products such PAR, PVR and Reality/Velocity widely adopted in the world. Now all DPS products are produced under Leitch trade mark but they are still perfect. Earlier DPS Company has produced just capture and NLE cards providing users with installation and tuning but just before acquisition the company made the product fully ready for use — Whiplash. It was typical disk recorder assembled on the base of PVR video capture card. But it didn’t have sufficient commercial success. Leitch Company redesigned this product and changed its elementary base and named it as Whipflash2 (precise name of this model is SLO 3150).

Keeping in mind all above it is clear that the device is the computer (PC) with built-in video capture card and hard disk set for video recording (one 36 GB hard disk in basic configuration). Such architecture allows easy expansion of device with new modules because these are just PCI-cards. For example the optional accessories range contains SDI input option. Here are brief list of Whipflash2 features:

• operation system — Windows 2000;
• video inputs/outputs — Y/C, Composite, Component, SDI (option);
• audio inputs/outputs — balanced XLR, unbalanced RCA, AES/EBU (option);
• compression — M-JPEG;
• min. compression rate — 1,3:1;
• standards supported — PAL/NTSC;
• number of channels — 2;
• LTC time code input;
• synch input (BNC connector);
• slave/master modes control via RS-422 (Sony) interface;
• dimensions — 19"x2RU.

In basic configuration the device is supplied by especial cable-splitter only which is used for external connection but it is inconvenient due to short length. But it is possible to purchase external breakout box for rack installation which simplifies all connections. Whipflash2 can record on first channel and playback on the second one simultaneously.

Most interesting thing in this disk recorder is its unique software specially developed for sports event production. Approximate scheme of its work is given on the figure. As it is seen several devices can be controlled from single workplace. Besides computer it can be controlled by standard RS-422 controllers such JL Cooper MCS3 or MCS3000. These controllers are not included into base bundle and can be delivered additionally. Maximum number of controllable channels is five for recording and five for playback. Operational algorithm is near as follows: Whipflash2 operator looks after sports event progress, for instance, on the football field and upon goal momentum appearance places the mark on the clip which is being recorded. Should it necessary repeat this momentum operator immediately goes back to the mark and starts replay adjusting the speed by SloMo T-bar. If it is necessary he can connect different recorders to the output showing goal momentum from different points. Note that recording doesn’t stop during this process.

But when speed becomes too slow stroboscopic effect appears which can be well seen at the point of change from one frame to the next one. Avoiding this effect helps another optional module DVE which can be installed into the computer. It performs interframe mixing of neighbor frames in real time which provides smooth motion even with very slow playback speed.

Besides base model there is Lite version which differs by absence of options and hard disk with less space (18 GB).

By Tivionica Broadcast Systems