Mini mobile television stations by “AudioVideo Technologies” Company

By Vladimir Skvortsov, Roman Stepanov

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)

Designing and manufacturing of mobile television stations (MTSs), including small 19“-case-based mobile systems, are one of the main activity directions of ‚AudioVideo Technologies‘ Company. For the last three years the company has manufactured dozens of systems that are operating successfully on the territory of CIS. As practice shows, case-based mini MTS’s are most popular.

During the last years there appeared on the market of professional equipment quite a bit suggestions of supply and installation of MTSs, both of domestic and foreign manufacture. Spectrum of the variants being offered is also wide enough: from powerful trailer-based stations to simple case-based shooting systems. Here range of tasks for these systems and stations is quite narrow — it lies in out multi-camera shootings.

Let us discuss the criteria one should consider when choosing this or that variant of MTS.

First of all, our attention must be paid on compatibility options of MTS and its capability to accomplish problems put by. Any out multi-camera shooting depends on availability of equipment delivery to shooting area. Here mini MTS based on transport cases has some advantage over chassis-based MTS for case-based stations are not tied with any vehicle and may be installed directly in shooting area. Power source is enough for MTS to run. Besides, MTS must provide safe and quick commutation of audio/video signal sources and receivers, monitoring of all input and output signals, reliable communication of operating personnel. It is also important that camera cables are of maximum length.

OB Case section

Cost makes next selection criterion. Small TV companies must hardly purchase trailer-based MTS. There is a number of financial reasons in favor of case-based MTS: lower cost of purchase, exploitation, and support as well as absence of dead time of equipment forming the station. Practice shows that large TV companies also prefer mini case-based MTSs because of the same financial reasons.

Reliability of station and its simple service are also important when selecting this or that type of MTS. Chassis-based station’s operability depends also on technical state of the vehicle equipment is mounted on.

Our company has considered all stated above and designed O.B. case mini MTS, based on transport case. Idea of O.B. case mini MTS bases on creation of simple, reliable, handy in operation, and inexpensive mobile stations, available for any TV company. We design our stations using highly reliable equipment that provides optimal cost/quality.

To low cost of stations the company has started manufacturing various components necessary for installation of modern MTSs. Here first come monitor sets based on LC panels. Now monitor sets employ third-generation digital panels with increased resolution capability and reduced power consumption. The sets employ rotary bodies for changing vertical viewing angle. The following sets are available: 3×5,6‚, 2×6,4‘, 2×8‚, and 10,4‘ monitors in 3U or 4U bodies. The model with 10,4” monitor (M110AV) employs built-in loudspeakers and sensitive stereo volume indicator. This model is recommended for sound producers. All suggested monitors have display menu for picture parameters adjustment with the use of buttons on the front panel or remote control station. Besides, the company manufactures wide range of high-quality cable products, various switchboard panels, and power supply units. All this allows sufficient reducing of stations’ cost and quickening of installation and warranty service process.

Monitor section

However simple it may seem, installation of O.B. case mini MTS is a complex technological process. During designing and installment of stations there occur various problems, such as: providing interaction of equipment of different manufacturers, inner signal switching, temperature condition control, design philosophy, synchronization and power supply questions, etc. We pay much attention to ergonomics of mini MTS in order to provide comfort operation and support. Thus, some latest O.B. case models are designed with oblique mount of camera channels controllers and glareshields under monitor sections. All equipment that forms the station is interconnected during installation phase. Outer panel contains only joints necessary in exploitation (input and output signals, synchronization joint, key signal input, interblock and power joints, etc.). Thus, to run the station one must connect only cameras and external devices, which increases speed of MTS’s start, cuts out switching errors, and extends service life of the station.

O.B. case mini MTS, designed in transport case-stands, are finished and ready system with all necessary additional equipment.

Functionally, mini MTSs have model scheme that initially provides base configuration and options set by a customer depending on his/her tasks and abilities.

Options may include installation of control-measuring equipment, sound section, additional CRT monitors, titling system, and video tape recorders.

“AudioVideo Technologies” company has developed several model stations for various tasks and of different costs.

First of all, this is station of O.B. case 29A series based on “JVC” equipment, which are designed for attaching 2…8 cameras. This station employs fully component video channel. Camera channel length may run up to 300 m. All mini MTSs of this series are capable of service communication, “tally” function, attaching additional (including non-synchronous) signal sources. There are separate work places for director, video engineer, and sound producer. Each work place is equipped with necessary number of monitors (depending on amount of camera channels). Sound producer’s area is equipped with M110AV monitor with built-in loudspeakers and sensitive stereo volume indicator. Program uses such output signals as: composite; S-Video; component YUV, digital SDI and component; composite camera for channels outputs. MTS may operate with the help of both own synchronizing generator and external synchronization source. Constructively MTS is designed in three cases. Interblock commutation is realized with the help of multicore cables. All commutating joints are situated on the back panel. Mini MTS of this series is completed with cameras in cases, cables on reels, stands, intercom fittings, set of cables for attaching external devices.

Next step in development of O.B. case mini MTS was digital variant of the system. Since main manufacturers of video equipment did not have any standard solution of digital camera channel realization, the company has worked out its own camera adapter that allowed transmitting SDI signal directly from camera head. Such solution allowed getting rid of cable-length-noise, typical for analog signals. Adapter employs standard Anton Bauer fastener for its installation onto camera. Next there appeared a question of distance possible for transmitting digital signal from camera to camera channel controller. Standard cable, employed in MTS, provided transmitting a signal at a distance of up to 100m, which lowered the station’s operational abilities. A special cable was manufactured by a Spanish company “PerCon” to solve the problem. The cable is capable of digital core retaining compliance with specification of standard camera channel cable. Employment of new cable allowed increasing distance of transmitting digital signal to 200 m.

Now “AudioVideo Technologies” company has begun manufacturing digital mini MTSs based on standard digital “Sony” camera channel (CCU-D50, CA-D50, and DXC-D35). If used with CCZ-D cable by “PerCon”, camera channel length runs up to 250 m instead of 75 m declared by “Sony”.

A kind of six-camera OB Case

Digital mini MTS employs Thomson mixers, while simple station employs DIP mixers. The stations may attach 2…8 cameras.

Digital MTSs, as well as analog ones, have camera control, director-operator communication, and “tally” functions. The station uses the following output signals: composite; S-Video; component YUV, digital SDI for program output and composite; component YUV and digital SDI for channel outputs.

Economical series of mini MTS that is designed for low-budget TV companies is a separate point. The series includes O.B. case Light, O.B. case SuperLight, and O.B. case System variants. These systems are equipped with video cameras capable of switching to camera channel via 26-pin connector. In spite of considerably low cost, mini MTS of this series have practically the same functional capabilities as other systems. In economical mini MTS series channel of video channel is a fully component YUV signal. Base set employs component commutator for program composition, but set with mixer is also available. Mini MTS of economical series are designed for adjusting 3-4 cameras, but there are eight-camera variants. Besides, there is a possibility of adjusting additional non-synchronous camera (e. g. Canon XL-1).

One of the latest OB Case of AVT Company — six-camera system

O.B. case System mini MTS is worth being marked out. This system does not contain cameras in its delivery set for it is manufactured for existing customer’s camera inventory. This variant allowed reducing cost of mini MTS to minimum and making it available for wide circle of users. O.B. case System allows using practically all cameras that can be adjustable via 26-pin connector. Popular Sony DSR-300 may be considered such camera as well. Small update made it possible to enable the camera’s 26-pin connector and receive component signal from its output.

Now any company having DSR-300 in its inventory must just purchase O.B. case System block to make multi-camera shooting.

Mini MTS of economical series is also equipped with camera cable on reels, Intercom fittings, stands and cameras (except O.B. case System), set of switching cables for adjusting additional devices.

Now mini MTS of O.B. case series is used for shooting various talk shows, soap operas, sports competitions, concerts, and festal events.

“AudioVideo Technologies” company