Posts Tagged ‘gearhouse’
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.
Gearhouse Broadcast Provide HD Camera Solutions For Nation’s Favourite Sports Broadcast
Monday, September 6th, 2010
It seems that no sooner was the World Cup over than the English Premier League was back on our screens and with it the national institution that is football.
The BBC’s football programmes are among the most famous programmes in sports broadcasting, and the fact that all games are now broadcast in full HD is thanks in part to the HD broadcast cameras and infrastructure supplied by the Rental Division of Gearhouse Broadcast.
The BBC’s outside broadcast contractors SISLive are charged with arranging comprehensive HD coverage of matches taking place across the country, and Gearhouse Broadcast are the natural partners for anyone looking for that kind of volume of HD camera rental and HD broadcast infrastructure rental. (more…)
World Cup Used Broadcast Equipment For Sale
Monday, September 6th, 2010
This summer’s football World Cup finals was one the most challenging and complex projects Gearhouse Broadcast has been involved in to date, and now broadcast equipment sent out to South Africa, much of it bought in especially for the event, is up for sale.
Demand and enquiries for the ex-World Cup used broadcast equipment has been constant ever since it arrived back in the UK from South Africa.
Amongst the stock of ex-World Cup kit that is available are a wide range of Harris Dual 1×4 and single 1×8 Distribution Amplifiers, Harris Up/Down/Cross Converters, Harris Signal processing equipment, Evertz HD/SD Duel Multiviewers and state of the art Tektronix Multi-Format Waveform Monitors.
The World Cup was responsible for a big surge of activity in the broadcast services sector, with huge demands placed on manufacturers and broadcast system solutions specialists like Gearhouse Broadcast to provide the most up-to-date equipment and technology, including broadcast system cameras and Audio Video test equipment.
The sheer volume of equipment required to meet demand, ensure that the projects ran smoothly and to deadline, involved Gearhouse Broadcast making significant investments in Canon HD Lenses, Sennheiser Microphones, Sony HD Monitors, Sony HD Cameras and Sony HD Camcorders. Added to this were Pro-Bel SD/HD Routers, Tektronix Test Equipment, Evertz VIP Multi Viewers, Harris Distribution and Glue products and 14 EVS XT2+ servers to compliment an existing inventory of 32, all just in order to service the demand for the product at the World Cup.
It was not just Gearhouse Broadcast’s equipment that was in demand. Given the size of South Africa, the sheer logistics of the operation around the whole tournament meant the technical infrastructure behind the scenes had to be spot on, and Gearhouse Broadcast’s project solution and systems integration expertise had a major part to play.
For more information on ex-World Cup used broadcast equipment you can download a full list at www.gearhousebroadcast.com/i/worldcup-equipment.pdf or call the Gearhouse Broadcast Sales Team on 0845 820 0000.
Let Gearhouse Broadcast Handle Your HD Upgrade
Monday, September 6th, 2010
The broadcast industry is in the midst of a revolution sparked by the steady introduction of ever more sophisticated and affordable High Definition, or HD, technology.
Although Standard Definition (SD) broadcasting is still alive and kicking, the onus is increasingly on broadcast professionals to produce high quality HD tapeless workflows for studios and Outside Broadcast facilities. In short if you are not already part of the HD revolution, you probably should be.
Broadcast Systems Integration Services
The good news is that with help from Gearhouse Broadcast’s Broadcast Systems Integration Services it does not have to be a case of ripping it all up and starting again. Our specialist Broadcast Systems Integration team can help and advise anyone who wants or needs to upgrade and convert their existing SD Outside Broadcast facilities, OB trucks or studios to HD.
As authorised dealers for many of the major players in the HD broadcasting market, Gearhouse can supply its customers with all their HD needs, whether for sale, rental or as part of an overall HD upgrade project.
As a multi-tiered broadcast company, Gearhouse Broadcast has a wealth of experience in the sales, rental installation and integration of HD products and equipment across all its divisions.
“Manufacturers are simply not producing SD equipment now and there is a significant rise in demand for our integration services around the world,” says Gearhouse Broadcast’s senior Systems Engineer Dave Gill.
We can maximise the potential of existing HD capable equipment, install new HD equipment and then help in managing the transition between the two formats.”
HD upgrade case studies
M-Net
When South African broadcaster M-NET needed an HD integrated outside broadcast truck they turned to Gearhouse Broadcast as proven integration specialists.
In the past, Gearhouse Broadcast supplied M-NET with multi-camera flyaway solutions and, based on the service they received on that occasion, they looked to Gearhouse Broadcast again to provide this large, custom-built multi-format trailer.
Doordeshan India
India’s state broadcaster Doordarshan chose Gearhouse Broadcast’s proven HD integration expertise when it came to commissioning their first custom-built HD outside broadcast truck.
The newly built vehicle is part of a major investment programme in HD technology by Doordarshan, and much of the actual system building and integration work was carried out at Gearhouse Broadcast’s Watford headquarters.
A TATA chassis was shipped to the UK to be adapted before Gearhouse Broadcast’s team of specialist technicians and engineers got to work fitting the outside broadcast van with specialist HD broadcasting equipment.
Gearhouse Broadcast Support SIS LIVE and Help Serve Up HD Treat at Wimbledon Championships
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
As an equipment supplier to SIS LIVE, broadcast solutions company Gearhouse Broadcast ensured that every serve and volley at this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championships could be seen around the world in outstanding high definition for the second year running.
SIS LIVE, Europe’s largest outside broadcast and uplink supplier and providers of all technical facilities at this year’s Wimbledon, brought in Gearhouse Broadcast to provide a large variety of the HD equipment for this summer’s tournament, including five Sony HDC 3300 slow motion cameras.
Broadcast technology also supplied by Gearhouse included; 264 x 264 3GB Cyprus video router, vision mixer, four Sony MFS2000 Multi Format Production Switchers, nine HD EVS systems, HD and SD distribution and audio embedding equipment, along with distribution amplifiers and the infrastructure, or ‘glue’ as it is known in the industry, to tie it all together.
Broadcast solutions
Prior to the event, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Rental Division and engineering staff worked closely with SIS LIVE’s engineers to ensure that all the equipment supplied met their technical solution requirements.
Once identified, all the kit was thoroughly tested and configured by Gearhouse Broadcast engineers in workshops at their Watford Head Office before being delivered to site.
Broadcast integration
During the set up week prior to the event, Gearhouse appointed a Project Engineer to assist SIS LIVE’s engineers with the integration of the equipment, as well as providing 24/7 technical back up.
Alan Wright, SIS LIVE Engineering Manager, said: “The Wimbledon Championships are one of the biggest and most complex annual events that we cover and Gearhouse Broadcast supplied a variety of equipment to ensure this year’s coverage was successful.”
What did you make of the HD broadcast coverage of this year’s Wimbledon? We’re always interested in your views, so please let us know.
Gearhouse Broadcast to deliver Systems Integration Solutions at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
International Systems Integrator, Gearhouse Broadcast and associate company AV Tech have been awarded the contract to expand the existing broadcast services at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre in Doha, Qatar.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation and governed by the Qatar National Olympic Committee.
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, Al Wakrah Sports Club and the Al Saad Sports Club.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex consists of 2 indoor training and practice courts with a 130 seating capacity, 14 outdoor training and practice courts, 2 competition courts with a capacity of 600 people on each and a Centre Court with a capacity of 4,250 spectators.
The Gearhouse Broadcast’s previous project at the complex included installing a broadcast infrastructure which covered every area of the club including the field areas, commentator rooms, the stand areas, press rooms and practice courts.
The new installation will consist of installing wall boxes in 2 new courts, upgrading the existing TV rooms SD system to HD, fibre linking all wall boxes and removing the existing TV room equipment, making them safe during building works then reinstalling them in a new complex when building work has been completed.
To complete the installation Gearhouse Broadcast will be providing a crew of 3 Riggers/Wiremen and a Project Manager/Engineer.
Eamonn Dowdall, Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast said, “We are highly skilled in the provision of broadcast infrastructure installations, and in particular, the area of venue cabling having carried out numerous installations in the region previously at prestigious arenas such as the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, the Aspire Tower and the previous installation at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre.”
“This installation will be challenging because we need to remove all the existing cables and re-terminate them during the re-install. Meticulous planning and flexibility will also be required to deal with the changing client requirements.”
Gearhouse Broadcast provides Systems Integration, Project Solutions, Broadcast Equipment Sales and Rental. With an HQ in the UK the company has regional offices in Doha and Dubai.
Gearhouse Broadcast Heading For IBC Amsterdam Industry Showcase Event
Friday, July 30th, 2010
International broadcast solutions specialist Gearhouse Broadcast will be showcasing some of their latest work for clients around the globe at the IBC (International Broadcast Convention) in Amsterdam next month.
IBC is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide.
It brings together the leading broadcast companies, brands and investors under one roof at the RAI Centre in Amsterdam, attracting almost 50,000 attendees from more than 140 countries.
As well as exhibiting the latest cutting-edge technology in the rapidly evolving electronic media industry, IBC features a series of conference events led by leading figures within the broadcasting industry and a wealth of networking opportunities.
This year, Gearhouse Broadcast will be represented by its System Integration and Broadcast Sales Divisions.
Visitors to the Gearhouse Broadcast stand, situated at 10.C41, will be able to learn all about the latest broadcast systems integration projects the company has been involved in for international clients such as Al Jazeera and South African broadcaster M-NET.
The Systems Integration Division has carried out HD installations for studios, outside broadcast facilities and venues across the globe, and has a wealth of experience in providing solutions for studios and outside broadcast facilities covering everything from transmission and automation, tapeless workflow, master control rooms and broadcast cabling.
Over recent years Systems Integration has completed numerous HD outside broadcast (OB) truck builds for the UK and international markets.
As the UK’s leading international reseller of professional broadcast equipment, our Broadcast Sales Division specialise in sourcing and selling both new and used broadcast equipment.
Gearhouse’s extensive stock list of used broadcast equipment covers SD and HD camera channels, SD and HD camcorders, camera accessories, camera lenses, VTRs, monitors, vision mixers, audio video test equipment and audio video measurement equipment.
We are authorised dealers for a number of leading manufactures including Sony, Evertz, Harris, Snell, JVC and Tektronix, and to mark the occasion will be offering ex-World Cup kit broadcast equipment at very special IBC rates.
This year’s IBC is an excellent time to visit us at stand 10.C41 to discuss your next broadcast project or acquiring broadcast equipment at very competitive prices.
To register for FREE log on to www.ibc.org/registration and enter Gearhouse Broadcast’s password 10138.
Gearhouse Broadcast gives Red Bull Air Race Coverage Wings
Monday, July 26th, 2010
The Red Bull Air Race World Championships has brought another dimension to the world of motorsport, and broadcast solution specialists Gearhouse Broadcast are helping ensure the very best of the amazing aerial action reaches its growing legion of fans around the globe.
The races are a breathtaking combination of speed and aerial agility featuring the world’s most skilful race pilots, and are set against the backdrop of some of the world’s most spectacular cities, including New York, Lisbon, Abu Dhabi and Rio De Janiero.
Gearhouse Broadcast’s has a proven track record in broadcast solutions and system integration for some of the biggest sporting events on the calendar, including this summer’s football World Cup in South Africa, the Winter Olympics and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, to name but a few.
So when it came to finding a broadcast specialist able to help capture such a spectacular and fast-moving visual experience, SIVision – the production company of the Red Bull Air Race – turned to Gearhouse Broadcast for their broadcasting requirements.
Central to the broadcast solution supplied by Gearhouse are flyaways – essentially portable production units which contain everything you need to create a broadcast on location and outside.
The flyaways have the advantage of being highly adaptable, vital when it comes to capturing the full spectacle of race planes reaching speeds of 230mph and negotiating a series of air gates just 10 to 13 metres wide.
The flyaways built by Gearhouse Broadcast for the championships consist of audio, video routing, 12 cameras, large router and a large sound system. This is all backed by a crew of technicians and engineers, 24/7 technical resource and support and full operational logistics management across the series’ eight venues around the globe.
With three races remaining – Lausitz in Germany and Budapest in August and the finale in Lisbon in September – Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, also the defending champion, tops the rankings after winning the first ever New York Race over the city harbour with spectacular views over Manhattan.
Gearhouse Broadcast Chosen to Serve up Broadcast Solutions at Qatar Tennis Centre
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010A reputation for precision and flexibility helped Gearhouse Broadcast secure the contract to expand existing broadcast services at the prestigious Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre in Doha, Qatar, with associates AV Tech.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation and governed by the Qatar National Olympic Committee, who made Gearhouse Broadcast, which has offices in both Doha and Dubai, and AV Tech preferred providers after the success of a number of previous joint projects.
These have included broadcast cabling and audio visual solutions contracts at the Khalifa and various other national sports arenas including; the Aspire Tower and Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Qatar Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club, Al Khor Sports Club, Al Wakrah Sports Club and the Al Saad Sports Club.
Systems integration project management
Eamonn Dowdall, Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast, said: “We are highly skilled in the provision of broadcast infrastructure installations, and in particular, the area of venue cabling having carried out numerous installations in the region previously at prestigious arenas such as the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, the Aspire Tower and the previous installation at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre.
“This installation will be challenging because we need to remove all the existing cables and re-terminate them during the re-install. Meticulous planning and flexibility will also be required to deal with the changing client requirements.”
http://www.gearhousebroadcast.com/uk/project-solutions/cable–distribution/
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex consists of a Centre Court with a capacity of 4,250 spectators, two competition courts with a capacity of 600 people on each, two indoor training and practice courts with a 130 seating capacity plus14 outdoor training and practice courts..
Gearhouse Broadcast’s previous project at the complex included installing a broadcast infrastructure that covered every area of the club, including the field areas, commentator rooms, the stand areas, press rooms and practice courts.
HD upgrade
The new installation will consist of installing wall boxes in two new courts, upgrading the existing TV rooms systems from SD to HD, fibre linking all wall boxes as well as removing the existing TV room equipment, making it safe during building works and then reinstalling it in a new complex.
To complete the installation, Gearhouse Broadcast will be providing a crew of three Riggers/Wiremen and a Project Manager/Engineer.
Gearhouse Has Talent when it comes to live audio broadcast
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010With audiences regularly topping 10 million, the annual Britain’s Got Talent show has become something of a national institution.
Presented by the nation’s favourite hosts Ant and Dec, the show has made household names of the likes of judge Simon Cowell and contestants such as Diversity, Susan Boyle and this years winner Spellbound.
Audio broadcast solutions
With the acts and judges performing live in front of an audience it is essential that the audio broadcast technology and solutions within the studio are of the highest possible quality.
For the fourth year running Gearhouse Broadcast were awarded the contract to supply radio microphone equipment for the judges, hosts and contestants for the ITV live studio show of Britain’s Got Talent.
Gearhouse also provide Radio Frequency (RF) solutions for ITV’s other huge talent show hit, ‘X Factor’ as well as the Britain’s Got Talent spin off, ‘Britain’s Got More Talent’.
Jakki Hewitt, Gearhouse Broadcast’s Rental Manager, said: “With our history of successfully undertaking RF projects such as Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, we have consistently proven that we can provide our clients flexible and reliable solutions to the very highest standards.”
Planning of the show began with a detailed frequency blueprint produced by Gearhouse Broadcast’s audio specialists, and in the end no fewer than 50 channels of radio microphones were in operation.
Broadcast integration and support
Dawn Gray, Britain’s Got Talent, Line Producer for talkbackTHAMES said, “We have worked with Gearhouse Broadcast on many projects before. Highly recommended, Gearhouse proved that their audio department could tailor their service to suit any needs and any schedule that we could throw at them.”
Gearhouse Broadcast audio also managed all stages from planning, kit preparation and delivery to onsite installation. Continual on-site and off-site support is also vital to provide seamless integration of wireless radio microphones given the size of the studio and the unpredictable and spontaneous nature of the programme.
Among the very latest state-of-the-art equipment supplied to meet the very specific needs of the programme were:
- 40 Sennheiser SK5012s
- a new SK5212 bodypack transmitter
- Six SKM 5200 handheld transmitters
- Two SKP 30 plug on transmitters, which when plugged into the microphone connector instantly converts to wireless operation
- Sennheiser’s MKE Platinum clip-on lavalier microphones were used for all presenters and contestants
- A purpose built Titan ProSplit antenna combiner/splitter which fed multiple zones of RF coverage to seven racks of Sennheiser EM1046 receiver cards
What did you think of Britain’s Got Talent 2010? Did the quality of the sound increase your enjoyment of the show? Let us know.