WORCESTER, England—Timecode Systems now falls under the Atomos banner with the news of Atomos’ acquisition of the wireless sync technology developer. A key part of this new partnership will be the development of integrated multicamera workflows of on-set recording devices.

Atomos founder and CEO Jeromy Young believes that Timecode Systems’ RF protocol will be the “bulletproof link” to help solve the disconnect between recording devices they see holding back multicamera content creation. “To truly shoot collaboratively, everything needs to work in perfect, frame-accurate sync—there has to be a robust wireless connection,” said Young.

The Timecode Systems wireless sync standard will now be featured across new editions of Atomos’ entire product range, as well as be packaged as a free SDK for third-party manufacturers. Among the first Atomos products to integrate Timecode Systems technology will be the AtomX Sync module for the Ninja V and the Neon series of monitors.

“Both companies have a history of executing successful collaborations with best-of-breed technology partners; this just takes it to a whole new level,” said Paul Scurrell, CEO and co-founder of Timecode Systems. “The impact is going be industry-changing.”

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – May 29, 2019 – TVU Networks, the global technology and innovation leader in live IP solutions, has partnered with Singular.live, providers of an advanced digital overlay platform, to give users of TVU Network’s TVU Producer, a cloud-based live production tool, access to Singular’s template-based graphic overlays directly from the TVU Producer interface.

“By incorporating Singular’s platform on TVU Producer, our customers have greater options and ease of use to create the most dynamic live programming possible,” said Paul Shen, CEO, TVU Networks. “Singular has an incredible selection of overlays for all types of applications – sports, news, entertainment. Users never have to leave the TVU Producer interface to work with a Singular overlay. This is part of our commitment to making live video production seamless and effective for all content creators.”

With TVU Producer, video producers can create multi-camera live events for social media and web streaming platforms without expensive hardware, software or training. The requirement is internet access and a standard web browser. TVU Producer is a cloud-based, multi-camera remote production solution with a WYSIWYG user interface and game-changing features, such as graphics and slow-motion video replay. Requiring no extensive hardware or software, any organization can produce multi-camera live events from any location, with perfectly synchronized switching.

The cloud-based Singular platform provides a full suite of dynamic overlays created by industry professionals with a full authoring environment allowing any user to recreate their own design to match their brand. Singular’s REST API enables users to manage live data, trigger animations of live overlays and more and show producers can manipulate overlays remotely from any location. Singular overlays can be used everywhere from web-friendly production tools to any web-enabled device.

“TVU and Singular are taking cloud production to the next level” commented Andrew Heimbold, CEO, Singular.live “The combination of TVU Producer and our dynamic Singular overlays delivers a ground-breaking solution that is easy to use with zero compromise on quality. This partnership leverages complementary, best-in-class technology to provide even more capabilities to benefit both TVU and Singular users. Together we enable anyone doing cloud production to raise the quality of their production, leading to increased viewer engagement and revenue opportunities. We're excited to see the next generation of content created using TVU and Singular.”

About TVU Networks®

TVU Networks has over 2,500 customers in more than 85 countries. The TVU Networks family of IP transmission and live production solutions gives broadcasters and organizations a powerful and reliable workflow to distribute live video content to broadcast, online and mobile platforms. TVU has become a critical part of the operations of many major media companies. The TVU Networks suite of solutions has been used to acquire, transmit, produce, manage and distribute professional-quality live IP HD footage as an integral part of news, sports and major global events. For more information about TVU Networks solutions, please visit www.tvunetworks.com.

Social Media Links:
TVU Networks on Twitter

TVU Networks on InstagramTVU Networks on Facebook

TVU Networks on LinkedInTVU Networks on YouTube

About Singular.live

Singular is the world’s most advanced digital overlay platform and empowers anyone to make their video content more dynamic and engaging. Developed by multi-award winning industry experts, Singular provides the tools for creating live animating overlays quickly and easily from a web browser. No additional hardware, software or downloads required. Singular overlays can be delivered On Stream, On Device or On Demand enabling interactivity and localization. Sign up for a free account at Singular.live

Social Media Links:

Singular on Twitter

Singular on Instagram

Singular on Facebook

Singular on Linkedin

Singular on YouTube

BRUNSWICK, OHIO—The BEAT (Brunswick Educational Access Television) is an award-winning program run almost entirely by middle and high school students. Since 2000, more than 500 students grades 6–12 have written news stories, conducted on-camera interviews, edited, shot, and directed more than 2,000 programs that air on Educational Access Channel 22. In 2011, the students began to take over management of the station.

What started out as primarily a video program—with students working solely behind the camera—has become a training ground to learn about every aspect of production. Our students must be proficient behind the camera, be good storytellers and write/produce stories, and be comfortable in front of the camera. In return, they get real-world experience before they leave high school.

Since The BEAT is sponsor-supported and receives no funds from the city or school district, we work hard to build relationships. That’s why our partnership with The Vitec Group and its brands is so special. In fact, Vitec brand Vinten was one of the companies that helped us get started years ago by donating a tripod—and the donations have kept coming. Our entire studio and all on-location gear came from our relationship with Vinten, and to this day we only use Vinten and Sachtler tripods—seven in total.

The Vinten tripods are a perfect fit for our studio cameras—JVC ProHD 750s with On-Q accessories—because they can handle the extra weight. Meanwhile, we use Sachtler tripods with a variety of cameras for multicamera sports production, concerts, single-camera shoots to gather news and footage, you name it. With Sachtler and Vinten tripods, we have gear that’s very flexible in any location. We can easily drop the tripod down, set up very quickly, and start panning, tilting, and zooming to grab quick camera shots. With lesser equipment, we would have to compensate for the pans, tilts, and movements, something I don’t want our students to have to do. Thanks to Sachtler and Vinten, we’re not only training students to shoot good video, but we’re giving them gear that supports them as they learn.

I’m amazed at how durable the Vinten and Sachtler tripods are—they’ve been through years of use with no breaks. The durability and reliability have really paid off in the form of no repair or replacement costs. Furthermore, knowing how to use and care for high-end, industry-standard equipment looks great on students’ resumes.

We’re drawn to The Vitec Group and look to them first before we purchase any gear. They are tomorrow’s video professionals, after all, and the Vitec Group always has their backs.

John Wasylko is video program advisor for Channel 22, Brunswick Educational Access Television (The BEAT). He may be contacted atjwasylko@bcsoh.org.

For more information please visitwww.vitecgroup.com.

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The Blackmagic Design Studio Camera 4K provides a groundbreaking option for creating a 4K multicamera studio setup. What makes it newsworthy is the list of features it possesses in relation to the low cost of the camera. It contains a full Ultra HD sensor with a resolution of 3840x2160 and a 10-inch viewfinder with a resolution of 1920x1200. Numerous 4K studio cameras can be connected to a switcher via SDI, or optical fiber cable when greater distance is required. The Blackmagic ATEM switcher provides CCU control, color correction and other features. Altogether, one can build a fully broadcast-capable studio for a fraction of the cost of traditional studio configurations.

Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K has a 10-inch LCD viewfinder with HD resolution
FEATURES
The first thing one notices about the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is that it has the world’s largest viewfinder for a studio camera: a 10-inch LCD screen with an HD resolution of 1920x1200. The logic being that in a 4K world, the camera operator needs a robust image to do an accurate job. It is also worth noting that this camera is very portable. At less than eight pounds, one can take three of these on location, along with an ATEM switcher and a laptop, and cover any event. The camera also contains an internal battery that can run for up to four hours.

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K includes a long list of professional features that one would expect only in more expensive studio cameras. In addition to having a native resolution of 3840x2160, the camera can capture in frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 fps. It also offers 1080i and 1080p resolutions at frame rates of 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, and 60 fps. The output is 10-bit 4:2:2 video over SDI— for shorter cable distances—or optical fiber for distances that can cover a football field. The bidirectional optical fiber carries HD or Ultra HD video with embedded audio, talkback, tally and camera remote control.

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K has a native Micro Four-Thirds lens mount, which accepts a wide range of lenses. The range of lenses can be extended by employing adapters for B4 mounts and more. The built-in talkback connection accommodates general aviation headsets, allowing bidirectional communication over SDI or optical fiber, so no additional cables or wireless transmitters are required. Two XLR microphone inputs enable direct audio capture that is fed to the switcher. The camera also has its own built-in microphones.

While the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is designed to connect to a multicamera setup, one can record a camera signal separately by connecting the SDI out to an external recorder, such as the Blackmagic HyperDeck Studio Pro.

But connecting multiple cameras through the Blackmagic Design ATEM Production Switcher is the way to create a fully capable, multicamera studio or mobile outfit. The basic ATEM production switcher offers remote control of each camera’s focus, iris, gain, and zoom, with compatible lenses. The ATEM camera control employs advanced color correction by incorporating the primary color corrector from DaVinci Resolve.

The on-camera controls on the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K allow for full control of essential image functions and audio, allowing the option of controlling the camera from the switcher or the camera itself.

Because SDI cables have a fairly short range in 4K, Blackmagic offers an inexpensive optical fiber to SDI converter, which allows you to connect cameras to the switcher via optical fiber, effectively extending the range up to 28 miles.

IN USE
The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is fully equipped with all of the essential professional features, such as Zebra for exposure setting, adjustable color temperature, and XLR audio inputs. And for picture quality, you can incorporate DaVinci color control.

The menu that guides the camera operator is graphically simple and easy to use. The camera sub menu offers easy control of video format, gain, white balance, and shutter speed. The essential audio controls are also easy to access. You can select either the built-in microphones or the XLR inputs and set the audio levels. However, there is no visible audio level meter on the camera, so levels have to be monitored at the switcher.

The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is quite inexpensive, and one should evaluate the camera with some cost-benefit analysis in mind. It has some limitations, but it would be unreasonable to expect it to mirror the features of a $50,000 camera.

Many of the limitations I encountered are linked to the lens choice, so that is a primary and vital decision to make when considering a studio configuration based on the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K. There are many possibilities, but not all lenses will respond to the on-camera or switcher control functions, such as iris, focus and zoom.

I tested a camera outfitted with an Olympus Pen Micro Four-Thirds mount 12 to 50mm zoom lens. This lens is equivalent to a 24 to 100mm lens on a 35mm camera.

With the Olympus Pen lens, there are no readable f-stops, and you have to rely on an automatic button on the back of the camera to set the aperture. You can use a manual control option, but that changes the aperture in pre-set increments, and you still don’t know the f-stop. Focus also employs an automatic control, or you can turn the focus ring on the lens. But the lens has no distance markers, so you can’t perform anything with great precision, such as pulling focus on action. A more expensive ENG lens would provide different options.

I found the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K to have relatively low light sensitivity, and using a slow lens can exacerbate this. While the light sensitivity of the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is more than adequate, you definitely will need good lighting capability for the studio. In ordinary room light with sun coming in through the windows, I had to boost the gain up to 12dB. The Olympus Pen lens I was using was not very fast, and it gets noticeably slower when you zoom in. To maintain proper exposure when zoomed in, I had to boost the gain all the way to 18dB.

The camera’s image quality is quite good as long as the light level is sufficient; again, factor in the price. The lack of light sensitivity and need to employ gain can result in some noticeable noise in the darker areas of the image. The noise level at 18dB is quite noticeable in dark areas, acceptable at 12dB, and fi ne at 6dB and zero dB.

The large monitor is sharp and has good color fidelity. However, it does not swivel up or down. So if you ever need to raise or lower the camera significantly for dramatic shots, you can’t tilt the monitor for better viewing. The monitor does however, have a very wide viewing angle.

The audio features are first class, and the headset connection is a vital component that is built into the camera, removing the need to buy an additional wireless headset system for each camera operator.

SUMMARY
One needs to evaluate the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K camera from a cost-benefit perspective. The camera without the lens is under $2,500. Now consider what it offers. You can capture resolutions from 1080p to 4K in all frame rates. It provides a large HD viewing monitor, XLR audio, SDI-out offering full multicamera switching control, bidirectional headset linkage, and even an optical link option for long distance cabling.

While there are some limitations in comparison to more expensive studio cameras, this should be expected. The bottom line is that the Blackmagic Studio 4K cameras and switcher make it possible to create a high-quality, professional 4K studio system within a budget that almost any organization can afford. It is a victory for democracy.

For anyone who works within an organization that needs to produce quality studio programming on a limited budget, this is a system well worth investigating.

Geoff Poister, Ph.D., is a member of the Film and Television faculty at Boston University and a regular contributor toTV Technology. He can be contacted atgpoister@icloud.com.

➤ FAST FACTS

APPLICATION
4K multicamera studio setup on a limited budget

KEY FEATURES
UHD sensor, 10-inch viewfinder, color correction, Micro Four-Third Lens Mount, XLR microphones, connection to BlackMagic ATEM switcher

PRICE
$2,495

CONTACT
Blackmagic Design
408-954-0500
www.blackmagicdesign.com