AV Technology - January 2009 - (Page 39)

circuit board/module that usually consists of 64 or 256 pixels, each pixel module snaps in and out individually. This eliminates the typical “tile” effect that results when a large 16 x 16-pixel replacement module stands out from the surrounding modules because it doesn’t match the existing display’s brightness, due to variations in the degradation rate of the original modules versus the replacement module. Inside each pixel, there is an individual circuit controlling each LED lamp. With Optec’s advanced controller system, a technician can control brightness/color shadings down to each LED lamp level. The result is better color mix, contrast, higher virtual resolution, and longer LED life. Dual outputs from the Broadcast Pix Slate feed the video to PremierViewProHD-LED video scalers from Calibre UK for image re-sizing. The images are transported as DVI signals over fiber to the appropriate display screens. “That scaler, when we run composite cameras during the day, modifies the signal and looks great. You have a beautiful high def signal overall,” says Caudillo. Production contractors produce the video and audio during games as in the past, but without the lengthy set-up and breakdown times associated with bringing in external equipment. The production team can also log in to Slate remotely to integrate clips and other elements into the integrated server to set up a show, and then preview the show from an external location or inside the venue later after arriving at the stadium. USC football games use a full production team, including four live camera operators and three control room operators; one director to operate the switcher and monitor the production, one technician to trigger clips and graphics, and one replay specialist working with external video sources. On the audio end of the upgrade, Caudillo sounds equally enthusiastic about what has been brought in. “The old audio was very unsatisfactory. We had some old horns and subwoofers that were lacking in maintenance. There were bird droppings everywhere. And it was costing us $25,000 a game for equipment rental and labor just to do sound.” That’s when Meyer Sound came in to supply the new stadium-wide sound system, which is operated from a separate Midas Venice 320 mixing board located in the same control room for USC football games. The showcase piece of the new system is the Meyer SB-3F, a self-powered loudspeaker incorporating a multichannel, highpower, class AB/H power amplifier and sophisticated control circuitry — all housed within the loudspeaker’s cabinet, which dramatically simplifies setup and installation. The new system, which was budgeted at a total of roughly $725,000, is tied into the Slate HD for integrated audio control during smaller events, such as international soccer games. A single operator can control the entire Slate HD system for smaller events, using robotic cameras for image acquisition and Broadcast Pix’s Audio Follow Video feature to control the Meyer Sound system. BROADCAST PIX: www.broadcastpix.com CALIBRE: www.calibreuk.com MEYER SOUND: www.meyersound.com MIDAS: www.midasconsoles.com OPTEC DISPLAYS: www.optecdisplays.com Matt Wunsch is a freelance writer and studio musician in Wakefield, RI. Got a comment? Contact us at AVT@nbmedia.com, and type the title of this article into the subject header. INFO http://www.broadcastpix.com http://www.calibreuk.com http://www.meyersound.com http://www.midasconsoles.com http://www.optecdisplays.com http://www.spcontrols.com http://www.spcontrols.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - January 2009

AV Technology - January 2009 Contents Precedent Corporate: Hunkering Down Government: The Great Unifier Education: Technological Self-Sufficiency Integrating Communications into Your Business Process DVI/HDMI Signals over Twisted-Pair Cable AV Helps Explain the Unexplainable AV Enhancements at the Coliseum Product Forum Tech Horizons Product Spotlight New Products Ad Index AV MO

AV Technology - January 2009

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