EVS systems of slow motion and reply

By Marcel Groos

Review contents:

Slowly and smoothly… Abekas 6000 MultiFlex server from Accom BLT Video Server: Tools for Sports Controllers from DNF Controls Systems of the slow motion on the basis of disk recorders by Doremi Labs EVS systems of slow motion and reply Geevs V4 Sports II Controllers from Hi Tech Systems Multichannel system of replies TimeNRunner of company JC System Integration Whiplash2 video repliy system from Leitch

History of development

The sport events occur very quickly, therefore spectators frequently miss the major details of dynamical development of sport competitions. In this connection the increasing number of TV producers makes their way towards to the concept of Slow Motion Replays, using opportunities of application of different speeds in VTRs which are not bad coped with this task. However linear editing of materials in VTRs imposes some restrictions: such device may either record or reproduce. It means, that if during a hockey matches the puck flies to a gate the spectator while look through close up game by highly lifted stick, will miss this goal for ever. And again it is required to rewind the tape before the playback begins.

EVS Broadcast Equipment company has found the decision for the industry of translations of sport competitions: — the server of slow motion LSM (Live Slow Motion). Presentation of the most important moments of a match right after its finishing or in a break between times allows compelling the TV viewer attention. If all fine frames are on tape of different reels, the probability is great, that the director simply not will have time to prepare them for the air transmission in time. Now sports events are shot by many cameras, from every possible angle of a view. The more foreshortenings will be recorded for slow motion, is the better. But how they can be combined for the further editing?

This article opens the concept of the integrated system of the production which are not using tape materials. Developments of EVS are not limited to decisions for area of sports translations, servers are applied also to studio production of editing materials and for the organization of the automated digital broadcasting.

Introduction

LSM video server in operation

Presently editing of sport news demands the highest quality as never. Producers attach a high importance to the processing speed of materials and its efficiency. The recording method on hard disks became a general practice under editing: some operators can simultaneously get access to content. Playback or editing functions are never crossed with recording and do not limit it, any information can not be lost. Realization of slow motion of the recorded material now is possible and in standard High Definition which level does not allow to use a general tape. That began with disk recorders, now represents servers, incorporated in a network. Functions of nonlinear editing, automatic duplication and archiving allow to create essentially a new system for preparation of TV programs.

XT-servers

AirBox server interface

These networked servers work in standards SD or HD (the switched mode is available). HD versions work also as their “normal” SD-prototypes. It is possible to configure the XT-servers according to the certain requirements, using some versions of the software. Certainly, the configuration LSM (Live Slow Motion) with typical panels of remote control is most known,. The few, however, know, that this configuration assumes also an opportunity of effective editing of materials by means of the playlist. The same distinctive function is stipulated in server AirBox with the OS Windows interface. Except for an additional opportunity of automatic playback, AirBox allows to operate by the XT-server channels from the remote workstations. AirBox supports sharing of the software of other applications for rational use of server resources (and stored pictures). Any XT-channel may control by means of such external devices, as video-mixers, under standard protocols. Thus application SpotBox allows to control the whole server, using the elementary method of control, like control of videorecorder, through the VGA-monitor. maXS can be considered as the compact and favourable by its price the version of SpotBox-XT, completely compatible with all XT and SportNet devices.

SportNet

High network throughput (540 Mbit/sec) allows to connect up to 31 XT-servers and to support up to 10 synchronous SD-streams in real time or 3 in HD standard. The protocol includes the control of a bandwidth during playback of the off-the-air materials demanding higher quality. The physical interface corresponds to the SDTI standard, i.e. the general coaxial cables 75 Ohm with connectors BNC are used. NetGuard is the network SDTI concentrator expanding opportunities of a network and providing it control. One NetGuard supports 7 transitions. The disconnected element automatically is blocked in a network. Similar situations are displayed by indicators on the front panel.

Structure diagram of SportNet

Archiving and data exchange

XFile is a block of automatic archiving and duplications of the data. It finds out the new clips created in SportNet environment, connects to it and in a background mode records the copies of mediadata and the metadata on two removable IDE-disks. Process of copying possess by lower priority in relation to transmission of materials at playback in the air. Duplication of the data is made without recoding, with keeping of an initial format through all stages of recording. XFile allows to look through archived content, and also can function as router for an exchange of materials with external devices, for example with editors of special effects. Network Gigabit Ethernet port and protocols of an exchange on base MXF are accessible.

Server SportNet and company CBS at championship Super Bowl

XT servers at Super Bowl broadcasting

Network XT-servers became a reliable support for company CDS broadcasting the match Super Bowl XXXVIII. The architecture of server SportNet was configured in such manner that some network elements were separately responsible for preliminary editing of the match, for broadcasting, including display of the slow motion replies, and for editing during game. For optimization of streams and bandwidth the network was divided in three independent zones. In separate networks were used servers SpotBox-XT for editing of graphic materials before and after game and as well two servers HD LSM-XT incorporated for recording of the whole game, with an opportunity of editing of the shooting material during a break between times and after the match finishing. Additionally these cameras of the slow motion reply were connected to separate SD-network. Animation graphics was reproduced from servers HD SpotBox-XT which were controlled by video-mixers. From additional servers SpotBox-XT in the air the million dollars commercial was transmitted. Flexibility of SpotBox configuration allowed to operate by server in several ways by means of AirBox interface. Two servers HD LSM-XT were used for gathering of the frames broadcasting in slow motion reply mode. It was occurred simultaneously with editing of clips and replies by operators. Necessary materials were copied from servers, and copying has not any reflection in data stream. And together with all it some XFile blocks automatically kept the materials which were shot both as in HD format, and in SD format for the subsequent slow motion replies.

Conclusion

Picture created by means of SportNet during UEFA Championship game

The concept of editing of materials in real time with use of network technologies has put the end to reasons for the benefit of tape recording through field preparation of sport event broadcasting. The new technology unites the best of two videorecording worlds: the processing speed guaranteed by disk recorders, is correspond to the mobility of content, always accessible in a network. The system is completely guided the stream of editing materials — from fixation of the frame by the camera and transmission of these data for nonlinear editing and playback to archiving. This impressing work of SpotNet technology was demonstrated on Super Bowl match, it also was an example during translation of League of Champions UEFA. But modularity of this system allows to build any different configurations for translations of the less scale. It is the concept for everyone.

Material provided by Elogar Company