Within the television industry, the fields that most drive and demand the development of new resources and technologies to make more efficient and spectacular production routines and the final product that the viewer receives are, without a doubt, those of sports and news production.
These areas of television production are at the forefront in the application of technologies such as: portable editing systems, virtual scenarios, sophisticated graphics equipment, automation systems, etc. All of them have the permanent support of high-capacity video recorders and servers.
In addition to this, we find new developments in repetition systems (Replay Systems), which have become essential tools for large sports productions for their innovative proposal and for the possibilities they have managed to demonstrate for this specific application.
A company from Belgium, EVS Broadcast Equipment, has developed its extensive line of products for specific applications in the production of live sporting events and a set of solutions for the television industry, based on disc recording systems. These products have some variations, depending on the application, which allow to have a considerable spectrum of possibilities designed for this type of television programming.
What is a disc burner?
Mr. Eric LeChat, General Manager of EVS, explains it as follows: "The production of these events has changed thanks to the revolutionary advantages of the L.S.M. (Live Slow Motion). Simultaneous recording and repetition of this system puts an end to the distractions and worries produced by conventional tape recorders (VTRs). If you ever missed a play or a replay because the VTR was positioned or rewinding, you will immediately understand the importance of this technology. Just think that you can now position a shot for repetition... while the action is happening! The problems and worries of producing a live event are over. Now, you can focus on what you really want: the best video, available instantly."
Applications
Application possibilities for this class of systems include, in addition to the production of sports programs, insertion of advertising and commercial advertisements, storage and digital transmission, and live production control.
Multi-channel disc recording systems are designed for sports applications specifically. It is a solution that combines software and hardware elements with custom design features and an easy-to-operate remote control panel. The system allows the search of sequences or images during the recording process. This avoids the need to wait until the action is over.
The repetition sequence can be repositioned at the same moment in which the beginning of a sequence that has this potential is noticed. This is called a clip, a common name by which sequences are called in nonlinear editing systems today.
The management or administration of content allows to play simultaneously up to 32 thousand sequences prepared for repetition. The selection process is carried out through an intuitive database or from the remote control panel that has a function for it.
Tools
The repetition system has non-linear editing tools. From the production center you can make transmissions of the event from the moment in which it has ended. That is, during the event, editing decisions can be made and lists containing the information of these records can be prepared without interrupting the recording process at any time. Once this process has been completed, it is possible to send a signal to the air that presents a summary of the best actions that occurred during the sporting event. The system also allows to add or eliminate sequences according to the requirements and nature of the sporting event, which allows the necessary flexibility to adjust to the times and schemes of live sports production.
The EVS system presents interesting resources such as screen splitting, a tool that allows the presentation of two synchronized sequences. This means that by applying this function, viewers can be presented, simultaneously and perfectly synchronized, with actions that occur in two different places of the event. For example: the reactions of the technicians of each team or the close competition of two athletes when they approach the goal. This resource offers commentators and the public the possibility to analyze and compare the most important actions, and the producer, the ability to show details of sports events that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Another useful tool for sports production is called Telestrator. It is a grapher that allows you to draw and mark images. A move can be analyzed with the use of a wide variety of graphic elements such as circles, arrows and lines. These resources are used to establish trajectories, indicate strategies, anticipate plays, etc., by incorporating a contact screen or a digitization table.
Finally, this system has the function of tracking objectives through the use of circles, highlights or a magnifying glass. It is a simple system of monitoring athletes or actions, based on reference tables. This allows you to closely follow events on screen. The electronic magnifying glass allows you to analyze important actions, dubious plays, fouls against players and other possible applications depending on the sport being covered. For example, an offline play in tennis, the scoring of a baseball career or an offside in a basketball game.
Among the configuration options offered by this system are the following products: Live Slow Motion which is a 4 or 6 channel disc recording system for multiple cameras and Super Live Slow Motion, designed for Super Motion or high-speed cameras.
These systems allow searching and "rewinding" during recording because they have independent channels for each purpose. 720 sequences can be instantly accessed and up to 20 repetition lists can be made with the respective indications of dissolves, sweeps, audio mixes and track for commentary. In any of its configurations, the Live Slow Motion (LMS) multi-camera system continues to record source signals while transmitting the repeat sequences.
On the other hand, the Super Live Slow Motion (SLMS) system allows the recording of signals generated by Super Motion cameras that reach up to three times more frame record per second than conventional video cameras. This model allows immediate access to 180 stored sequences and 128 positioning points.
Currently, the EVS system for Super Live Slow Motion (SMLS) supports work with the Philips LDK23 HS camera models, a digital camera developed in conjunction with EVS for the coverage of the France 98 World Cup. It is a camera that provides 150 fields (PAL) and 180 fields (NTSC) per second, thanks to three SDI (Serial Digital Interface) outputs connected directly to the main frame of the system. This camera also features standard frequency video output (50 or 60 fields per second) and can be used as an online camera or as a Super Motion camera.
It can also be installed with the Panasonic AQ-2000 (NTSC) camera that has a digital processing that provides 180 fields per second through SDI outputs. By adding an optional EVS switch, it is possible to switch between three different cameras selectable from the remote controller.
In addition to this, the system can be configured for the Sony BVP-9000 camera (PAL/NTSC) that offers 150 or 180 fields per second using a Y/CTDM output that connects to the EVS splitter (1U Rack of 19"). The splitter incorporates a 2x1 switch to connect two cameras controlled by the EVS remote panel.
Super Split
Among the image options offered by this system, those that allow multiple divisions of the screen stand out. Super Split and Digiquad are the tools offered by EVI Broadcast Equipment for this application.
Super Split can display up to 64 unsynchronized video sources, in real time, using a single monitor by employing custom distribution patterns. It also offers the ability to automatically and continuously switch up to a maximum of 9 pages to see more video sources in sequence.
Digiquad is another electronic product that shows, in real time, 4 unsynchronized video signals on the same screen (2x2 matrix). The unit includes a frame synchronization system for each channel and permanently generates a stable signal. It employs a vertical and horizontal filtering system to reduce the size and present high-quality images, free of artefacts (alterations). The output image includes color separation bands that allow images to be distinguished from each other, as well as a titling system to identify video sources. This equipment is compact in size designed for applications that have small spaces such as mobile units and small control rooms. It also allows connections with EVS video servers and Live Slow Motion (LSM) systems.
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