Sony South Africa Broadcast & Professional Division was awarded the contract to supply SuperSport Outside Broadcast Division with a new 28-camera HD OB van, similar to its flagship OB6 HD.
The new OB van – OB4 HD – features the latest in high definition technology and was recently launched at SuperSport’s OB City premises in Strydom Park, Johannesburg.
Similar in design to OB6, the new van features fully expandable sides allowing for more interior space.
“The new arrival will be a replacement van for our ageing OB4, an SD van,’ says Johan van Tonder, technical operations manager, SuperSport Outside Broadcast Division. “Not only will it replace a van with older technology, but it is also in keeping with our quest to keep abreast, if not ahead, of technology internationally and to ensure that our offering is comparable to the best the world has to offer.’
At the heart of the production area in OB4 HD is the Sony MVS-8000X multi format switcher. With 200 input connectors, 164 primary inputs, 100 output connectors and 68 assignable outputs, the MVS-8000X’s new processing engine means more M/Es, more keyers and more format converters without having to tie-in external devices.
The MVS-8000X’s processing unit is completely redesigned, with a new internal architecture, more I/O and extensive configurability. From a production perspective it is very similar to the other OB van switchers, but packs more punch with greater features.
The latest Sony 42-inch production monitors on the multiviewer network provide the crew with accurate picture quality throughout the van, from engineering through production to audio. OB4 HD is equipped with 16 HD cameras and four Slomo cameras.
Sony’s latest HDC2400 cameras have colour viewfinders and the newly designed 2/3-inch CCDs and improved digital signal processing provide incomparable picture quality, improved signal to noise ratio, better low light and highlights handling enabling more realistic rendering of sport events.
The super slow motion cameras are Sony HDC3300R models, also new on the market offering enhanced quality of slow motion playback. A variety of Canon lenses; 100x, 86x, 40x, 22x and 14×4.6 complement the cameras — all rest on Sachtler tripod systems.
The van has also been equipped with the flexible 8-channel EVS XT3 slow motion playback server. Based on its unique loop recording technology and powerful networking capabilities, the XT3 offers the SuperSport EVS operators complete media control from ingest to playout; including live editing, slow motion replays, multi-channel playback and transfer to third-party systems.
Brains
The brain of the van is the Snell Sirius 840 router which enables video as well as embedded and discrete audio routing through high-performance cross point modules, with multi-format video cards that can handle 3Gbps as well as SD, HD, and ASI audio over 24 input and output channels.
Sirius provides 576×576 video in a space-efficient 27RU chassis. The router was sourced at IBC last year and was one of the first off the UK head office production line. From an engineering perspective, small things like Snell’s illuminated connector technology, which allows the engineers to see the status and format of all input and output signals on the rear of the router, have made OB lives a little easier when out on shoots in difficult and often trying conditions.
Audio
The core of the audio production chain in an OB unit is obviously the audio mixer and the SuperSport engineering team chose to continue doing business with award winning UK based Calrec Audio Ltd.
Space is always an issue in an OB van so the Artemis Beam was chosen over the bigger Apollo module but without compromising on the requirements needed for today’s multi channel broadcasts. Artemis is equipped with an enormous routing and processing capacity which certainly belies its mid-size footprint.
Genelec are the preferred suppliers for audio monitoring with 5.1 being standard both in the audio and production areas. The use of CD players and mini discs for music, jingle and effects playback in the OB vans has been replaced by hard drive playback systems using South African designed software solution called QuickFire™.
For communications SuperSport opted for a solution from RTS/TELEX. The nerve-centre of the installation is a 144 x 144 Advanced Digital Audio Matrix (ADAM) from RTS linked to numerous key panels, microphones and headsets securing communications both inside the control rooms and out. This system is fully compatible with OB6 and can be cascaded allowing inter-communications between the two vans at larger sporting events.
The glue holding the production chain together is the VSM – Virtual Studio Manager. VSM seamlessly integrates the video routers, video switchers, audio routers, audio consoles, multi-viewers, intercoms and other modular equipment.
OB4 HD is an engineer’s and production crew’s dream and rapidly changing new technology certainly helps to make it the perfect platform for live broadcasts.
By Ian Dormer
Screen Africa magazine – August 2012
