NASHVILLE—TNDV has announced a complete refresh of its Aspiration production truck’s video, audio and IT infrastructure that brings the truck directly into the 4K world from 720p/1080i HD.

When TNDV hit the road with its Aspiration production truck in 2011, the 40-foot vehicle was celebrated as the first truck in the Southeast US to support live multicamera 3D productions. While 3D has faded, Aspiration found new life as the main truck for small to mid-sized corporate and entertainment events, and as the secondary truck for large broadcast and in-venue productions.

With the video, audio and IT infrastructure upgrade that now offers a 12G ecosystem, HDR processing capabilities, and modern systems from Evertz, Studer and Sony and other vendors, Aspiration is now positioned for success over a wider set of production scenarios. That includes sports production, with Aspiration serving as the main production truck for a 12-camera Tennis Championship match broadcast on the SEC Network in late April.

Its first post-refresh event, The March Madness Music Fest in April, Aspiration joined forces with TNDV’s Vibration audio truck at Hance Park in Phoenix to produce live performances for the three-day music festival, which coincided with the NCAA Final Four. Aspiration’s updated technology infrastructure, which includes Sony HDC-4300L 4K cameras, an Evertz NEXX router, and a Studer Vista 5 audio console, helped TNDV elevate the in-house AV experience for attendees. TNDV also switched and fed live video and audio to a third-party broadcast truck that brought select performances to air on CBS affiliates nationwide.

TNDV President Rob Devlin noted that the company wanted to increase audio capacity for multitracking – at 128 inputs, the Studer Vista V doubles the previous amount – and ensure that Aspiration could accommodate 12G throughput from the camera to the truck output. Transitioning to 12G would also slim down the infrastructure on board.

“We wanted to keep the video and audio as pure as possible,” he said. “The NEXX router was an essential part of this strategy. We historically had five or six purpose-built components to handle specific processing tasks. The NEXX brings responsibilities such as multiviewing, frame sync and audio embedding and de-embedding into a compact 5RU frame that fits easily on our truck, and it manages signal traffic without employing any compression to maintain purity. The fact that all embedding and de-embedding is achieved on the router inputs and outputs allows us to deliver the best possible audio quality from our Studer Vista 5 for live music and television.”

Like TNDV’s flagship Exclamation truck, the Studer console connects to ProTools and Sound Devices Pix multitracking systems and provides support for more discrete audio feeds to the truck than the original Aspiration supported. TNDV has also added DirectOut’s Prodigy units across its fleet (including Aspiration) to support varied audio workflow needs, including MADI transport, audio conversions, monitoring and sample rate processing.  

TNDV Founder Nic Dugger said Aspiration was the first truck he built for the company and the second he brought into service. 

“Aspiration has remained relevant because it can navigate tight streets and comfortably fit into small spaces, and remained affordable thanks to its modest technical infrastructure,” said Dugger, who served as March Madness Fest’s director this year. “Acting as the director for the new and improved Aspiration’s first event reinforced how much TNDV has grown over 13 years. Our refresh balances the costs of premium core systems with a streamlined infrastructure that can operated by a small crew. We are seeing strong interest from clients seeking affordable, high-end 1080p and 4K shoots requiring eight or more cameras.”

HACKENSACK, N.J.—Designed to be used for live newsgathering operations, LiveU’s Global IP Service technology is now being outfitted with a new truck that will hit the road this fall to demonstrate its capabilities to major markets.

Global IP is a combination of LiveU’s hardware-based HEVC encoding technology with IP satellite service with the goal of offering guaranteed coverage at any location. It uses satellite only when needed; features non-contended, dedicated 2Mbps uplink/2Mbps return; requires no streaming reservation; and allows for the pooling of data across vehicle and satellite terminals.

LiveU will tour its truck featuring Global IP to 50 cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas and other major markets so stations can get a closer look at how it operates and possibly how they can install the technology onto an existing satellite vehicle.

More information is available at liveu.tv/satellite-solutions.

MONTREAL—NVP, an Italian video production company, has upgraded two of its outside broadcast vehicles with a wide range of live production equipment from Grass Valley to support demand for 4K UHD and HDR content, Grass Valley said today.

"Viewers have long judged video content by the quality of images on their screens, which is why we’re always pursuing the next breakthrough in technology, setting a benchmark for the highest quality live productions. Our customers know they can rely on us to meet shifting demands, like the rise of 4K UHD and HDR, and enable them to efficiently deliver the content their viewers want,” said NVP CEO Natalino Pintabona.

NVP’s OB4 and newly launched OB6 are equipped with Grass Valley 4K UHD and HDR-capable Kahuna 9600 production switchers, Kaleido multiviewers, Densite modular infrastructure, Sirius 640 routers and KudosPro converters. Each truck’s Kahuna production switcher and Sirius routing switcher are seamlessly integrated, providing NVP with a scalable path to all functions and formats.

With the upgrade, NVP has the ability to “meet the increasingly complex production needs for live sports and entertainment broadcasts,” said Pintabona.

NVP plans to roll out a third 4K UHD and HDR-enabled OB vehicle next year as it expands its operations.

Video Progetti was responsible for the project’s design, system integration and build.

More information is available on the Grass Valley website.

NASHVILLE, TENN.—TNDV has added an exclamation to its line on mobile production trucks, launching its first 53-foot, double-expando Class A truck to offer native 1080p broadcast and production capability, the Exclamation. The truck also offers 4K quad-link capabilities thanks to a Grass Valley Kayenne switcher, AJA KiPro recorders, and audio production and recording gear built around a Studer Vista X missing console from Harman.

The Exclamation can accommodate a crew of 30 throughout the truck, with 15 in production control alone. It offers full 1080p broadcast and production support with 24 fps capability. The installed GV Kayenne switcher offers up to 192 inputs and 96 outputs of native 1080p support, with the ability to support 4K productions upon request. The truck’s infrastructure supports up to 20 Hitachi SK-HD1300 cameras, with the option of using 4K cameras by plugging into Exclamation’s 4K backbone.

In addition, TNDV has installed new vendors into the Exclamation truck, including Cobalt Digital’s digital conversion and distribution gear; TSL Audio’s analog/digital/MADI audio monitoring and tally light control; and Flanders Scientific and Boland Communication’s multi-format video monitoring. TNDV also will continue to use AJA’s KiPro recorders, RTS’ ADAM intercom matrix, and Imagine Communications Platinum video router, which also integrates four Imagine HView modules and 12 QuadSplit cards.

TNDV says that the Exclamation truck has already been used for a large annual corporate event, and is scheduled to service an upcoming Baptist Convention in St. Louis, a music even in Nashville, and a special broadcast event in Los Angeles.

SYDNEY—Australian-based Technical Direction Company is hitting the road with what the company says is its first mobile outside broadcast vehicle offering full HD broadcast and production facilities. TDC’s HD01 is equipped with products from Sony, Imagine Communications, Riedel, Fujinon, Miller and Yamaha.

TDC HD01

Among the gear installed in the OB vehicle is Imagine’s 256x256 Platinum router with built-in multiviewers. Mixing is provided by Yamaha’s CL5, with the Yamaha QL1 serving as sub-mix and backup. Sony provided its 3ME MVS-6530 vision switcher, as well as OLED monitors throughout the truck. Fujinon lenses and Miller tripod support were added for TDC’s HDC-1700 cameras and 4K/Super Slomo HDC-4300 cameras. In addition, Riedel communications equipment was put in place and the truck is wired to support eight and 12 channel EVS systems.

TDC provides broadcast and video technology systems for TV shows, theater, concerts and outdoor events.