Archive for the ‘Systems Integration – Australia’ Category
FOUR NEW HD OB SUPERTRUCKS FROM GEARHOUSE BROADCAST
Friday, June 14th, 2013Gearhouse Broadcast has commissioned four new 30-camera HD OB supertrucks, two of which are delivered and in operation. The trucks, named HD5, HD6, HD7 and HD8 represent a multi-million dollar investment by the company.
Gearhouse Australia Sales and Marketing Director, Manny Papas, says the new trucks are very much in keeping with Gearhouse’s global philosophy, adding, “Gearhouse Broadcast’s owner John Newton recently relocated to Australia and his edict has always been quality and presentation are paramount. Anyone who sees these trucks will also see that edict has been followed to the letter.”
Four new trucks is a big investment by any company’s standards in today’s challenging marketplace, but Gearhouse has experienced significant year on year growth, which, according to Papas, was the driving force behind their commissioning.
He added, “HD5 and HD6 have just been finished and gone immediately into service. This demonstrates the demand in the market for this level of OB supertruck. HD7 and HD8 are both scheduled to be finished by the end of this year and there are already several large events planned for them to cover.”
Not only do the trucks meet the market demand and add significant capacity to Gearhouse’s ever-growing fleet, but they have been designed specifically with Australian broadcasting requirements and workflows in mind. The trucks also set the standard for efficient layouts providing a larger production space and more processing power than any other single truck in the market, with one of the new supertrucks now capable of doing the work that would previously have taken two standard OB trucks.
Aimed predominantly but not exclusively at live sport, Gearhouse recently saw four of its trucks, including HD5 and HD6, used simultaneously over a weekend at events that included AFL games, horse racing, and V8 Supercars. The trucks have also been used on live reality shows such as Celebrity Splash.
Each of the new supertrucks had its chassis built by world-renowned coachbuilders A. Smith of Great Bentley in the UK, a process taking six months per chassis before it is shipped for integration in Australia. The trucks also feature the latest in lighting, expanding sides, physical auto levelling and 90KW of water-cooled air conditioning as standard.
As the person responsible for translating the requirements of Gearhouse Australia’s internal team and those of its clients into the trucks’ design Head of Engineering Stephen Edwards believes it is Gearhouse’s comprehensive planning and fastidious attention to detail that makes the new supertrucks a cut above any others.
Edwards added, “My team work alongside our Chief Design Consultant John Fisher, a veteran of OB truck design with over 21 to his name to date. With John’s expertise and knowledge as the driving force behind the design we are able to oversee and turn concepts into reality in every area of the truck in order that they become truly incredible production environments.”
Gearhouse’s new HD supertrucks have a number of technology centrepieces. Using their considerable purchasing power the company has managed to create one of the most powerful replay environments ever built into an OB vehicle. Based around the NVISION NV8576 hybrid main vision router that embeds and de-embeds internally has a MADI I/O and an enormous amount of processing and cross conversion power, the true hybrid router offers extensive functionality to a high number of operators.
The trucks are particularly well equipped and finished to the highest levels. Standalone areas include an audio mixing and control room, replay area, production gallery, CCU and vision control and engineering space providing Gearhouse’s clients with everything they need from signal acquisition to finished programme transmission.
Some of the supertrucks’ main product highlights include the fact that they are all wired for 24 CCU and 6 POV cameras and seven 8-channel EVS XT3s, they all feature an 80 input, 36 output Sony MVS7400 mixer, have four VTRs, five replay transition devices, a 64 fader MC56 Lawo audio desk and Riedel Artist 192-port talkback system.
Manny Papas concluded, “The fact that Gearhouse has a major SI business building trucks and installations for clients all over the world is a huge bonus for our clients in Australia as all of these supertrucks are designed, built and integrated in-house by Gearhouse engineers. Nothing is outsourced which means the trucks are incredibly cost efficient. These cost efficiencies are then passed onto our customers.”
Gearhouse Broadcast Announces Its Successful Completion of Two HD OB Vans for TRT
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Systems Integrators Gearhouse Broadcast today announces its successful completion of the design and build of two new high definition outside broadcast vans for the Turkish state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, also known as TRT.
A competitive tender saw the London based Mobile Broadcasting solutions provider awarded the contract to supply two state-of the-art HD Outside Broadcast vans which are the most up to date and the largest HD OB units in Turkey.
The two custom built 13.95m long single expanding HD Outside Broadcast vans have the capacity for a production crew of sixteen and each climate controlled vehicle has a standalone 5.1 Audio Mixing Area, Production Gallery and Engineering Control Room.
Each of the vans were fully equipped with 9 x Sony HDC-1450R/U connected to 9 x Sony HDCU-1500/U CCU’s using HDFX-100/UF Triax Fibre Converters and 2 Sony HDC-3300R Super Slow Motion Cameras connected to 2 Sony HDCU-3300R CCU’s, 4 Canon HJ40X10B IASD-V 10-400mm HDTV Zoom Lens, 2 Canon HJ75xs EDFS Box Lens, 6 Canon HJ22EX7.6BIASE Lens, 3 HJ14x4.3BIASE HD Lens, 3 EVS XT2+ Broadcast Servers, 3 SRW-5800 Series HDCAM-SR VTR’s, Snell Kahuna 32 Button Compact, 64 Input, Multi-Format Video Switcher, Studer Vista 5 Digital Mixing Audio Console, Sony LCD Monitors, Harris Balanced AES Platinum Audio Router (192 x 160), Harris Platinum Video Router (176 x 256) and Harris Neo glue products.
Gearhouse Broadcast’s Systems Integration division provided TRT with broadcast systems expertise ranging from planning and project management through to design, engineering, installation, commissioning, training and ongoing aftercare and support.
Eamonn Dowdall, Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast said “We are delighted to have been selected by TRT to undertake the design and build of two new outside broadcast vans. This is a key project for our Systems Integration division and I believe we were selected for this project because of our proven and demonstrable experience in the provision of HD outside broadcast installations”.
A Kelly Clarkson Sunrise
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
On Labor Day, Gearhouse facilitated an early-morning performance from inaugural American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson for Seven’s Sunrise. The Sunrisemini-concert at Martin Place is a classic OB for Gearhouse Broadcast. In the past we have helped cover concerts from artists like the BlackEyed Peas, Pink and Evermore. Sunrise crosses to the performance site regularly during the show, with the hosts often stepping outside the studio to introduce the performers in person.
Gearhouse Broadcast has been working on some interesting projects with the Broadcast Express vehicles. They’re perfect for smaller, quick-deploy, four-to-six camera productions in confined areas: minimum presence, maximum impact.
Watch Kelly belting it out.
Telstra Wave Of Colour
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
What a way to launch 4G. Chief Entertainment and Telstra came to Gearhouse Broadcast with a unique project: a 1500-strong flash mob stripping their way through the colours of Telstra’s new corporate branding. The result? A two-minute online video destined to go viral. Two Broadcast Express vehicles were taken to Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair for a six-camera shoot, two on jibs and one in a helicopter. US Director Charlie Todd arrived in Sydney with a highly detailed shot list that accounted for every second of the 2-minute final product.
Chief was keen to edit the piece immediately, so speed was of the essence. Gearhouse Broadcast integrated Chief’s MacBook Pro into the EVS system, delivering files straight into Final Cut Pro in real time.
Please check out the Telstra’s Wave of Colour here.
Switching Codes
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
This time of year marks a change of football codes for Gearhouse Broadcast, from Seven’s AFL coverage to Fox Sports’ A-League telecast.
Fox Sports broadcasts over 120 A-League games, utilising 11 cameras. On-field and studio hosting positions and (regularly) on-camera commentary makes for a dynamic broadcast. Fox Sports adds colour to the coverage with point-of-view cameras in the locker rooms, and in the nets. The locker room cameras are remotely controlled HD cameras that provide crystal clear, fly-on-the-wall vision of the teams as they go through their preparation. Gearhouse uses Sony BRC-700 and Camera Corps Q-Ball models.
Bigger games feature cameras in the nets, and Gearhouse employs the Toshiba IK-HD1. These cameras are especially handy when putting together replay packages, providing an interesting perspective as the goalkeeper lunges for the ball.
Fox Sports’ telecast brings the A-League to viewers with world-class production values, and Gearhouse Broadcast is pleased to be a part of it.
From broadcast to post: workflow integration from EVS to Avid and Final Cut Pro
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
Recently, clients have been coming to Gearhouse Broadcast attracted, in part, to its experience and offerings in the area of workflow integration from the broadcast truck to the edit suit. In the past, file compatibility and transfer speed rendered live broadcast and post-production very separate entities. Not any more.
Through its close relationship with EVS and recruiting experts with particular skills in data management, Gearhouse Broadcast has developed fast, agile and seamless workflow solutions- whether you’re dealing with two camera channels or 20.
Gearhouse Broadcast tailors ingest to your specific file types and codecs, and utilises EVS’ XFile, XHub and XStream products to plug in to your Avid or FCP suite.
This means post-production can begin the moment the on-air light goes out.
Gearhouse Broadcast – Broadcast System Integration For Existing Sports Stadia
Tuesday, September 20th, 2011Gearhouse Broadcast and associate company AV Tech were awarded the contract to upgrade the technical infrastructure at four football stadia in Doha, Qatar – Al Gharaffa, Al Rayyan, Al Sadd Sports Club and the Qatar Sports Club.
As the preferred supplier to the Qatar National Olympic Committee, Gearhouse Broadcast and AV Tech have previously completed a number of broadcast cabling and audio visual contracts at various sports arenas including; the Aspire Tower and Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre, Qatar Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club, Al Khor Sports Club and the Al Wakrah Sports Club.
The stadia were all being upgraded from SD to HD and the new installation consisted of installing new cabling, wall boxes and technical equipment. The installation was spread across four stadia and the upgrade consisted of 115 wall boxes, SMPTE hybrid fibre, HD video and audio and network cable.
The equipment racks used for the upgrade were assembled in the UK prior to the installation phase and shipped to site pre-wired to all the local termination panels. This meant that only the wall box connectivity will need to be terminated on-site thus speeding up the installation process. Harris distribution and conversion equipment was used, along with Tektronix video test equipment, Bel audio test equipment and Belden and Draka audio and network cable.
To complete the installation Gearhouse Broadcast provided a supervisory management team of 12 Wireman, 16 riggers, a Project Engineer and a Project Manager. Each venue had a dedicated installation team headed up by a Site Supervisor, who oversaw the pulling in of all cables from the TV Rooms to the correct locations. The HD upgrade took two months to complete and was ready for the start of the Asian Football Cup which Qatar hosted in January 2011.
Gearhouse Broadcast upgrade Mediahouse/IMG’s HQ Facilities
Friday, September 16th, 2011
Mediahouse, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, selected Gearhouse Broadcast’s Systems Integration division to deliver two new London-based high-definition studios which are used by the BBC’s The Football League Show and ESPN’s Premier League matches. This build brings the total number of HD studios at Mediahouse to four.
The studios were built to fulfil a commitment to broadcast top-flight English football to rights-holders worldwide. The service is offered to broadcasters 24 hours a day and includes a mix of studio-based output; including wrap around up to six live football matches a week, regular news shows and additional magazine programming.
The new installation consisted of installing new cabling, technical equipment and bespoke studio furniture. Gearhouse Broadcast built two HD/ 3D capable galleries to support three studio floors which are now 3G ready for 1080-50P productions.
The project involved a two week planning period followed by four weeks of onsite installation and commissioning. The equipment selected to carry out the upgrade included Axon glue equipment, Vutrix Quad Splitt Monitors, Sony MVS-8000X Switchers and Miranda 8500 Hybrid Routers. Six Sony HXC100 HD cameras were added to bring the existing complement to ten.
Shane Warden, General Manager at Mediahouse, said: “Our decision to use Gearhouse Broadcast was based on a number of factors; they are one of the few broadcast companies in the UK who can source and work with such a wide range of equipment. They have excellent in-house product knowledge through their technical divisions and their systems integration track record demonstrates successful studio installations delivered for Astro and Al Jazeera. The installations went smoothly and we are very happy with the new facilities”
Kevin Moorhouse, Chief Operating Officer at Gearhouse Broadcast added: “We are delighted to have been selected by IMG Media to undertake the systems upgrade at their studios in London”
“Following the original brief from Mediahouse, Gearhouse Broadcast provided consultancy and project management throughout the contract and carried out the systems integration on site. Technical support is available to Mediahouse post installation in the form of GearhouseBroadcast’s after sale support service”.
The changes were done in the close season and were completed in time for ESPN’s first live HD Premier League match, which transmitted on Saturday 13 August 2011.
Gearhouse Broadcast to Deliver Malaysia’s First HD Studio Facility for Astro
Friday, June 24th, 2011After competing in a fully competitive tendering process, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Systems Integration division was awarded the contract to upgrade Astro’s studio facilities in Kuala Lumpur to accommodate HD productions. The studios are used by both Astro and Arena to produce a wide range of shows including singing and dancing competitions, live music performances, game shows, talk shows and sport highlights.
The state-of the-art HD digital broadcast facilities will be the first of their type in Malaysia for market leader Astro.
The project will include upgrading 4 Studios Floors, 3 Production Control Rooms and a Central Equipment Area. The project will be carried out in two phases. Phase one will be the technical upgrade and refurbishment of studios 1 & 2, incorporating their associated Production Control Room and Audio Control Room areas. Phase two will involve the technical upgrade and refurbishment to studios 3, 4, 5/6, 7 and their associated Control Rooms.
In addition to the core contact, Gearhouse Broadcast are providing Consultancy and Project Management Services to Astro including time line management, location and design requirements, awarding supplier contracts, design of the Production Control Rooms and lighting systems for Studio 1 and Studio 2, managing upgrade and renovation works to the studio floor spaces, broadcast systems design and looking at Astro’s current and future production requirements so that their new systems meet all their future needs.
Central to Astro’s broadcast requirements was that their new broadcast system was designed around the ability for part of the system to be taken off site and used in a flyaway mode, the Production Control Room to be able to control any studio floor space and interface with Astro’s pool of OB trucks, flexibility in sharing of central resources e.g. camera channels, replay service and VizRT graphic engines, additional production needs designed around tapeless workflow, allowing rushes recorded in the studio to be transferred directly to Astro’s Post Production Facility and an interface with Astro’s Playout Centre for live productions.
In order to provide a full integrated bespoke solution, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Project Managers and Systems Engineers needed to gain a full understanding of Astro’s production requirements, including how every department operated. A significant period of time was spent time on site observing how productions were made and meeting with individual areas and Heads of Departments e.g. Sound Team, Directors, to ascertain their exact production requirements.
In terms of the equipment chosen for the project, Gearhouse Broadcast selected Snell Routers and Glue products, Harris Quads and Yamaha PM5D 64 Channel Analogue Consoles. The Snell range of routers are renowned the world over for quality and reliability. Coupled with extremely flexible control operations, they cater for all sizes and operations from simple edit suites to outside broadcast trucks. Snell were also able to provide Astro and Gearhouse Broadcast with 24/7 customer support within the Asia region ensuring rapid diagnosis and resolution of any issues that might have arisen.
Eamonn Dowdall Business Development Director at Gearhouse Broadcast said, “We were awarded the contract by Astro based on our proven track record for delivering broadcast solutions for major international studio facilities. We are highly skilled in the provision of broadcast infrastructure installations, and in particular, the area of studios systems integration having carried out numerous installations for studios and venues such as the Qatar State Mosque and Al Jazeera studios in Qatar”.
Helping Astro Launch Malaysian SD to HD Revolution
Monday, September 6th, 2010As the shift from SD broadcast technology to HD broadcast Equipment gathers ever greater momentum around the world, so does demand for the specialist services of the Systems Integration Division at Gearhouse Broadcast.
The latest leading satellite television company to call on the expertise and experience of the Gearhouse Broadcast Systems Integration’s team of engineers and technicians as it looks to upgrade its broadcast facilities from SD to HD is Asian giant Astro.
The Malaysia-based satellite television company, the country’s equivalent to SKY in the UK in terms of output and subscribers, currently offers 125 channels, including eight HD channels, but their capacity to broadcast in HD is now being significantly increased as part of Astro’s stated aim of ‘placing Malaysia in the forefront of multimedia technology.’
SD TO HD EXPERTISE
The team from Gearhouse Broadcast has a proven track record in helping broadcasters make the transition from SD to HD broadcast equipment and technology smoothly and efficiently.
Recent projects have included delivering SD to HD solutions to the prestigious Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre in Qatar and the building of India state broadcaster Doordarshan’s first outside broadcast HD truck.
Astro produce much of their own programming from a network of six studio facilities and are keen to upgrade most, if not all, from aging SD broadcast equipment to the latest HD technology.
EXPERTS ON SD TO HD STUDIO CONVERSION
The UK-based Gearhouse Broadcast team, with some additional input from their colleagues at the company’s Sydney offices, has been called in to advise and oversee the upgrading of four studio floors and associated control rooms, with the potential to eventually help convert all six studios in the Astro stable.
Dave Gill, Senior Systems Engineer at Gearhouse Broadcast, said: “It is becoming increasingly recognised across the broadcast industry that when it comes to upgrading from SD to HD broadcasting, the level of HD experience that we have across all divisions of the company is a very valuable commodity.
“We’ve successful built up a reputation for enabling conversions from SD to HD because we not only own our own HD equipment but we also install it, operate it and sell it.
“It’s that proven day-to-day, hands on experience of HD broadcast Equipment and the technical expertise that comes with it that our clients value so highly.”
With a total floor area of 350,000 square feet, the Astro All Asia Broadcast Centre (ABC) in Kuala Lumpar is one of the world’s largest and most advanced all-digital broadcast and production complexes.