Do you design and produce content for network, broadcast or corporate training? HB offers tools and applications that will help you bring together moving images, sound, animation and special effects for film, video and multimedia.
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The finishing touches are so important
The finishing process for any film, video, animation or digital content project is becoming an increasingly large portion of a project's overall budget. Visual imagery, sound design, animation, visual effects and logos all are operations that fall under the category of post production. To learn more about our systems integration work for Post Production Suites/Television Studios, click on a case study below.
Quinnipiac University - Hamden, Connecticut
HB Communications was recently selected to upgrade Quinnipiac University's analog television studio to a high definition digital plant. The school wanted to be able to produce high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) programming from the same cutting edge facility. HB was brought on board to design a comprehensive solution that would integrate analog, digital and high definition into a single, seamless operation.
Sony HDC910 high definition studio cameras with Fujinon’s HDTV series studio lenses and standard definition outputs were chosen for the facility. A multi-format production switcher, capable of interfacing both standard and high definition, was incorporated as well. Recording options in the new studio include using tape or a high definition video server (tape is handled by a Sony HDCAM HDWS-2000 while the video server is a SD/HD XP PVS3034 from Thomson Grass Valley).
Since the facility offers dual operation (HD & SD), a virtual monitor was integrated by utilizing Miranda’s “Glass Cockpit” Kaliedo QC and a 61” plasma display. An Evertz 7000 series provides HD up-conversions, down-conversions and Tri-level sync. Grass Valley terminal gear was incorporated for aspect ratio conversions, distribution, A/D and D/A conversions (controlled by a NetConfig system). Pinnacle Cinewave 4RT and Apple Final Cut Pro software is used for all HD editing. A 4th studio camera uses a Sony HDW730S high definition camcorder and Fujinon HA series lens.
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Connecticut Network - Hartford, Connecticut
HB Communications designed a system ready for tomorrow's digital broadcasting. All switching and distribution is compatible with serial digital signals and will work with 4:3 and 16:9 (HDTV) formats.
The system currently consists of ten Sony DXCD30WSL cameras and ten Crestron CPC-CAMI units that can be remotely controlled. One of the most important pieces of equipment is the video server. For this, HB chose tapeless technology to ensure that CTN can produce a state-of-the-art viewing experience.
The Tektronix PDR324D digital profile recorder player MPEG-2 with 72GB of storage and 2 channels of output allows for the freedom to broadcast live, or with a tape delay (for playback later). Two identical systems have been put in place, making it possible for control panels to allow the server to broadcast one session while recording another.
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House of Representatives - Hartford, Connecticut
Three cameras were installed in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate. These cameras were mounted in a large hearing room in the Legislative Office Building. The cameras are broadcast quality and incorporate helpful features such as skin detail correction and automatic tracing white balance (ATW). ATW will compensate for changing light conditions throughout the day. The cameras are also switchable between 16:9 and 4:3 formats.
Currently, nine more hearing rooms are being wired to support the portable Sony DNV-5 Betacam SX digital docking recorder. All the cameras sit on robotic devices and are operated from a central location in the Legislative Office building that is equipped with two control panels. They are controlled by the Crestron CPC-2000, which has dual joystick controls for pan-tilt and lens control with preset positions and touch screen control. This eliminates the need of a camera operator in the room making filming less intrusive.
In the future, Triax cable can be added to provide access to more sophisticated camera operations and setup. For recording and archival purposes, HB Communications selected three Sony DNW-75 BetacamSX broadcast digital videotape recorders. Each recorder is capable of recording 188 minutes without changing videocassettes.
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