InBroadcast - May 2023 - 30

30
www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 13 - Issue 5 | May 2023
InStudio
FOR-A Partners with Alfalite, EZtrack, and ClassX
to offer complete Virtual Production Solutions
F
OR-A, a leading video broadcast
technology
50 years of experience, has recently
announced
partnerships
with
Alfalite, EZtrack, and ClassX to
provide complete virtual production
solutions. These partnerships aim
to deliver affordable and practical
solutions for broadcasters, corporate
users, and others who are keen to
develop their virtual and augmented
reality production capabilities.
The EZtrack camera tracking system
takes a unique approach to camera
tracking. It provides a small hub unit
that can interface multiple sensor
configurations,
from LED
infrared
company with over
sources to Mocap cameras and PTZ/
mechanical heads.
This allows for
practically instant setup with no need
for long installation times, while still
providing precision tracking in six
degrees of freedom.
ClassX, a graphics specialist, offers
an XR system called Elitium. The two
companies
communicate over the
standard FreeD protocol, providing a
fast, stable, and cost-effective way to
set up virtual studios and augmented/
mixed
reality. A single Elitium
workstation can handle ten video
inputs with their associated tracking
inputs, supporting multi-camera realtime
virtual productions. This solution
is ideal for green screen studios and
can also be used with LED walls and
volumes.
FOR-A has
also partnered with
Alfalite, the Spanish developer of
high-resolution LED panels. Alfalite
has unique technologies that allow
it
to produce 1.9mm pixel panels
with 175˚ horizontal and vertical
viewing angles, very high brightness,
and color fidelity. These panels can
be built into any size of LED wall or
volume, creating virtual production
and
augmented
Virtual Production studio featuring LED volume and EZtrack camera tracking system
reality
spaces
ideal for broadcast, corporate, and
Virtual Production technologies
from FOR-A partnerships with
Alfalite, ClassX and EZtrack
educational applications.
The partnerships between FOR-A
and these companies offer a turnkey,
fully integrated package with precise
tracking, high-resolution virtual
graphics, and
LED
volumes
to
match FOR-A's HD and 4k cameras,
switchers, and signal
processing.
Offering a glimpse into the future
of virtual production, the complete
solution now available from FOR-A
provides an affordable and practical
option for those interested in virtual
and augmented reality production.
https://www.for-a.com
ICC Women's T20 World Cup broadcast reaches
179 territories thanks to RTS intercoms
A
full RTS intercom solution
ensured the successful broadcast
of the recent ICC Women's T20 World
Cup cricket
tournament in South
Africa.
With 23 matches played at three
venues over 15 days, there was
plenty for the broadcast
teams to
cope with. Thanks to the flexibility of
the ADAM-M digital intercom matrix
and KP-Series keypanels combined
with the connectivity
of OMNEO
networking, clear communication
was
ensured
for the
Stadium in Cape
various
broadcast teams.
Matches took place at Newlands
Town, Boland
Park Cricket Stadium in Paarl in the
Western Cape and St George's Park
in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in the
Eastern Cape.
The tournament had two production
crews and two-and-a-half technical
crews. NEP Singapore was the facility
provider for both Cape Town and
Gqeberha, and an OB van was sub
hired for the Paarl stadium with NEP
providing all the technical
assistance to the OB van
crew.
The
comms
system
intercom combined
and edge detection, and a
graphics
supplemented by
for
each venue comprised an
ADAM-M mid-sized modular
matrix
with a mix of KP-5032, KP4016
and legacy keypanels.
This saw 40 panels being
utilised
for the
system that was
in-depth
cricket data analytics. This
level of complexity
production team highlighted
the importance of a strong
intercom system to ensure
these various elements
could be brought together to
across multiple positions
in the compound and commentary
areas. The IFBs and Walkie Talkie
base stations were integrated into
the matrix along with all
audio
feeds to and from the audio console
using the 32 channel
MADI-2
card. Each of the 18 KP-4016 and
four KP-5032 panels were used in full
OMNEO IP configuration with both
OMNEO channels used on numerous
panels.
" Stability over the distance to 12
of the positions is why I chose to
use OMNEO on the furthest panels, "
explains Michael Southgate, Comms/
Audio Engineer who was Crew B
Comms Engineer for the tournament.
" I utilised a Cisco managed switch
on both ends with a single mode
fibre connecting these switches.
Then I connected most panels in a
star network configuration to ensure
stability, with some areas using the
installed OMNEO keypanel interface
cards to connect panels in the same
room and close together. "
Every match in the tournament
benefitted from a high production
value with at least a 24-camera
setup complimented by a variety of
analytical and visual enhancements,
including player tracking and the
immersive Field 360°, ball
tracking
enhance the broadcast experience.
With Australia defeating the host
nation in the final to claim the World
Champions title for a sixth time in
front of a sold-out crowd at Newlands
in a match that was broadcast
to
over 179 territories, it was vital that
the broadcast progressed smoothly.
Thankfully, the RTS comms system
ensured this was the case for every
match.
" All projects are important and by
using RTS intercoms, the broadcasts
run smoothly with
very
no issues once all
little to
is setup and
working, " concludes Southgate.
https://rtsintercoms.com
http://www.inbroadcast.com https://inbroadcast.com/news/for-a-partners-with-alfalite https://inbroadcast.com/news/for-a-partners-with-alfalite https://www.for-a.com https://inbroadcast.com/news/icc-womens-t20-world-cup-broadcast-reaches-179-territories-thanks-to-rts-intercoms https://www.rtsintercoms.com
InBroadcast - May 2023

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