Mobile television station of JC-Sport manufacture

By Alexey Pavin

Review contents:

I want OB van Mini mobile television stations by “AudioVideo Technologies” Company “Veresk” Mobile television stations by “Figaro” company “Pultex” mobile multi-camera station Mobile multi-camera TV station by “Era” company is a new series of finished decisions Mobile TV stations by A&T Trade company Mobile television stations by Elvia (Czech Republic) Mobile television stations by I.S.P.A.-Engineering Mobile television station of JC-Sport manufacture Proline multi camera mobile station Mobile television station by Protec company Digital mobile TV stations of Qualitron manufacture Mobile television station of Sat-Comm manufacture If you can not afford mobile television station (instead of afterword)

In modern Russian society, where there are appearing evident tendencies of mass sports physical culture progress, there is a growing necessity in specialized mobile stations designed for full review of sports and other mass performances. Translations from World Football Championship from Japan and South Korea last year in summer demonstrated high-quality level of sports broadcasting to Russian TV audience. May it be football or hockey, box or tennis, interesting and diversified program broadcasting requires well organized work of the following professionals groups: operators, directors, announcers, as well as availability of corresponding broadcasting TV and computer equipment. With no humiliating of video tape recorders as main devices for operating with video material, one may notice that computer systems of record, slow motion, and video/audio edit become more and more popular in TV production field. Now it is the time to apply all collected knowledge and experience in mobile television stations.

JC System Integration company offers its own variant of specialized mobile stations — JC-Sport. It is a mobile broadcasting station for transmitting mass and sports performances and similar programs.

Our company offers most simple and, thus, most popular three-camera MTS. The customer may select the chassis it will be based on. It may be Iveco platform or the variant based on Mercedes vehicle. Iveco VAN 50C-11 elongated base allowed construction of most comfortable “wheeled house” for TV production designed for four persons. Equipment inside the vehicle is balanced by its weight. It was achieved with the help of right arrangement of main commutation stand-blocks of special design located at back side of the vehicle, which are balanced by video tape recorders/video servers and commutation sound panels installed at other part of the cabin. Correct equipment arrangement inside the vehicle allowed using practically each centimeter of its area. From the outside of cargo section there is a control panel for monitoring and commutation of all MTS’s main devices. For instance, opening special panels provide access to sections with installed camera channel blocks. Here, in case of feeding three-phase generator fails, it is possible to use lighting from emergency battery. Special section on backside of the vehicle is designed for storing and transportation in hard cases of three digital Ikegami video cameras, 20-multiple objective lens, Sachtler stands, reels with triaxial and audio cable.

Camera preparation. The important shooting ahead!

All video paths of MTS are designed with the use of SDI, which allows reducing number of cables as compared with classic component topology, provides full absence of signal transformation between various system components and prevents from noise generation ensuring receiving stable high-quality signal.

Sony DVS-2000 video mixer with a set of additional options is a heart of the system. All necessary video signal commutation inside the station is realized by digital Probel 16×16 matrix with binding from Cenare panels of commutating digital video and audio signals. The panels are installed in central part of racks opposite to video mixer for quick checkup in case of breakdown or usual re-commutation of equipment. MTS employs SDI character generator and Courtyard titling system.

Three Ikegami HL-DV5 video cameras are sources of input signal. Being equipped with 20-multiple objective lens, large viewfinders of 5" and Sachtler stands with middle stretching, they allow operators to work easily at various shooting conditions. The selection of camera type is not casual. Reliability and image quality of Ikegami cameras are well known among all professional operators. Besides, HL-DV5 may adjust either adapter for multicore cable or, as in given variant, triaxial adapter. DVCAM tape recorders blocks on each camera will perform constant record of all events onto videotape with single preset time code. This will provide reserve shooting material from all cameras on videotape, which is advisable, for instance, for post edit of program containing topics that were no used during on-air, or for archives.

Triaxial cables connecting cameras and blocks of camera channels may be of 1800 m and even 2900 m length, which is much better than 300 m when using multicore connection. It allows broadcasting events taking place at large territories of sports areas, arenas, and stadiums.

Inside of JC-Sport MTS: director and TimeRunner operator working areas

Video mixer and commutation matrix, employed in MTS, allow increasing number of input channels up to five and using, for instance, cameras with remote-controlled heads. It will allow installing the cameras at out-of-the-way places and shooting with non-standard perspectives, which provides director with possibility of better realization of his creative ideas. For high camera angle there is a possibility of placing up to two operators on the fortified MTS’s roof. For safe operating the roof employs special fence.

Single- or multi-channel TimeRunner system of JCSI manufacture is the most remarkable element of MTS. The system is based on PlayBox VS-4000 server and designed for multi-channel video signal record from corresponding camera number and further slow motion of all necessary reviews in series. Operator of TimeRunner sets slow motion ratio in advance or changes it dynamically during playback of this or that topic. During reviews playback the topic record goes on. TimeRunner has indisputable advantages over video tape recorders (one system channel may stand for two expensive video tape recorders with slow motion function) and over other server record systems (topics are presented by pictures, and not by just text with time code). Employing SDI- and analog inputs/outputs, the system may easily integrate into any video path of MTS.

Special attention must be paid to DriveBox disc block allowing record of video information with variable MJPEG 2,5:1 compression for any number of input camera channels. Having RAID-5-level-type design, this block prevents the Time Runner system from breaks during important shooting or on-air broadcasting.

When the record is finished or paused director receives immediately selection of the most interesting game episodes, which he may show to the TV audience. When the broadcasting is finished, ready report may be sent onto video tape recorder or saved for further edit. Any signal sent onto MTS or formed in it, together with record onto server, may be recorded onto installed DSR-1800P video tape recorder of DVCAM format or video tape recorder of any other digital format.

Input camera signals as well as intermediate video signals, are controlled by Marshall LC-monitors with SDI-inputs. Preview and Program monitors are high-resolution PVM-14L4 Sony displays. Each monitor employs special programmable sum-monitor displays indicating signal source. Technical control of signal quality is done by engineer with the help of wave-shaped monitor and vector display of Videotek manufacture.

Flat LC-panels are used as video monitors of TimeRunner system, titling station, etc.

All devices of MTS are synchronized by Courtyard master generator. It is worth mentioning about high-quality service communication between operators, program director, sound producer and commentator. Equipment of Kaison Studiotechnik manufacture allows exact coordination of all participants of shooting process including director in TV center.

Last group of equipment of the MTS is concentrated at sound producer working area. Audio sub-system bases on 16-channel professional Mackie audio mixer. CD player, cassette deck and DAT tape recorder may serve as signal sources along with large inventory of applied microphones. DAT tape recorder is used also for record reduced master signal. In order to ensure high-quality operating with microphone sources and processing sound signals there was employed powerful dbx processor. Ambient sound listening is realized with the help of special directed stand Wohler monitors.

N conclusion, it is necessary to mention that there is available a special variant of MTS called JC-Cinema. It is designed for shooting soap operas and feature films. Here, HDCAM CineAlta cameras of Sony manufacture may be employed. This MTS is equipped with SerialCam system designed for multi-channel shooting both on-air and draft materials with output edit decision list for further high-quality edit in HDT format.

JC System Integration