In Broadcast - August 2015 - 58

www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 5 - Issue 8 | August 2015

InTech

Panavision: Hollywood
Mainstay Upgrades To Cobalt
Panavision deploys Cobalt Digital's openGear signal-processing and distribution
equipment to deliver functionality...
The Challenge
Panavision,
the
entertainment
industry's most respected designer,
manufacturer, and rental provider of
high-precision camera systems, has a
reputation not only for supplying topof-the-line production equipment and
systems, but for continual innovation
that adds value to its customers'
production workflows. The company
has a large following of top-tier
production companies in the dynamic
world of multicamera sitcom television
production, and its customers have
high expectations.
Panavision wanted a new system
that could handle today's advanced
production workflows - and easily
adapt to tomorrow's. That meant it
had to be flexible enough to expand
well into the future in order to
keep up with the rapidly evolving
technological landscape. From a
functional standpoint, the system had
to be able to pass embedded data
and audio and process elements such
as metadata and 3G video signals. It
needed an expandable multiviewer to
replace its quad-split setup. And it all
had to fit into the space constraints of
a multicamera sitcom production.
The Solution
After conducting extensive and
rigorous lab trials to prove that Cobalt
Digital's engineering group could
deliver the required functionality in
the space available, Panavision chose
Cobalt Digital's openGear signalprocessing and distribution equipment.
The new setup handles HD frame-rate
conversion, multiviewing, and signal
duplication and extension around the
studio for Panavision's customers.
Critically, the entire system fit into the
available space in the racks that roll
onto the stage and sit in tight places,
such as under the audience bleachers.
Specifically, Panavision installed
Cobalt Digital's 9902-UDX 3G Format
Converters to process each camera's
video
output.
In
Panavision's
application, the 9902-UDX receives
1080 23.98PsF camera signals and
converts them to standard 1080i 59.94
for on-set monitoring purposes, with

support for additional
formats as needed.
The 9902-UDX card
ensures the lowest
possible delay for
23.98
PsF-to-1080i
59.94
frame-rate
conversion,
which
minimises
the
amount of delay that
directors, producers,
audio engineers, and
audiences see and
hear, in relation to
real-time sound on
Cobalt HPF-9000
the set. All embedded
openGear frames
signals
from
the
camera pass through the card for rear I/O modules. The high-power,
conversion,
including
embedded high-density frame is perfect for
audio, timecode, and metadata (such Panavision's technically demanding,
as SDI Record Flag messages) that the space-constrained work, and users can
camera inserts when in record mode.
control and monitor the cards from an
Panavision also installed the Cobalt intuitive user interface.
Digital 9970-QS 3G/HD/SD-SDI/CVBS
Cobalt Digital packs a lot of
Quint-Split Multi-Image Expandable functionality into one openGear
Display Processor, a card that card, and several cards into the highintegrates five discrete 3G/HD/SD-SDI performance frame Panavision chose.
or CVBS inputs onto a single SDI and/ That density and versatility means
or HDMI quint-split output, with each Panavision can offer its customers
input image being flexibly inserted into multiple advanced functions in a small
the output image display. The 9970- space, with plenty of room to expand
QS gave Panavision the multiviewer as they think of new functions to add.
capabilities it needed, with the lowest
possible delay when directing images The Outcome
from multiple cameras to a single
Today Panavision's new videodisplay so that the director can see processing system is in use on
shot composition. A single 9970-QS concurrent multicam productions.
card can display up to five images and Panavision can now offer its customers
can be combined with additional 9970- the next-generation video-processing
QS cards to increase the amount of capabilities they need, including the
images on screen if needed. The 9970- ability to process 3G signals, a flexible
QS will also detect the SDI Record Flag multiviewer
system,
all-around
packet that the cameras insert into the metadata pass-through, individual
video stream when they are rolling, cross-conversion outputs, embed/
which gives directors confidence that de-embed analogue and AES audio,
all camera operators are recording and the ability to display critical
before they say "action."
information, such as on-screen
Both Cobalt cards fit into the Cobalt graticules that aid in-shot composition.
Digital HPF-9000 2-RU high-density
In terms of cost savings, Panavision's
openGear-compatible modular frame. investment in Cobalt means it can easThe HPF-9000 gives Panavision's ily build on its infrastructure, and imcustomers 360 watts of available plement new ideas without necessarily
power in a high-capacity 20-slot having to buy more hardware. Instead,
format, with familiar openGear Panavision can rely on its relationship
DashBoard remote control and with the Cobalt team to ensure it gets
support for all openGear cards and the best possible solution.

What's Next?
Panavision
and
Cobalt
are
actively collaborating on additional
components and ideas that will
continue to expand Panavision's
multicam video-processing system - so
that Panavision can continue to meet
its customers' demands.

Cobalt Delivers...
Panavision needed to upgrade
its video-processing system to
handle today's advanced digital
production workflows. They had
multiple requirements, including
the need to pass embedded data
and audio, and process elements,
such as metadata and 3G video
signals; replace a quad-split set up
with an expandable multiviewer;
and fit into the space constraints
of a multicam sitcom production.
Panavision also needed the
flexibility to expand upon it well
into the future.
Panavision chose Cobalt Digital's
openGear signal-processing and
distribution equipment to handle
HD video frame-rate conversion,
multiviewing,
and
signal
distribution and extension around
the studio for its customers.
Because the system is based on
Cobalt's openGear high-density
frame and card modules, the entire
system is compact enough to fit
into racks that roll onto the stage
and fit in tight spaces, with plenty
of room for future expansion.

http://www.inbroadcast.com http://www.cobaltdigital.com/products/43/hpf-9000

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