Creative Technology required four UHD portable production units (PPUs) to enhance and further expand the specialist AV services it provides to clients in the sports, corporate, exhibition and entertainment industries.

The UHD portable production units would need to incorporate cutting-edge UHD technology into a pair of compact 26U frames, to offer the portability and flexibility Creative Technology required so they could quickly and easily adapt the live production rig to changing client requirements.

ES Broadcast provided a full design and system integration service that fully met both the technical and scheduling requirements of the client, with the first two portable production units being delivered in under four weeks, to ensure they were available for use on a high-profile mobile phone product launch and global conference. We also provided detailed engineering training and remote support.

COLLABORATION AND FLEXIBILITY KEY

ES Broadcast’s collaborative and flexible approach to the project was key to winning a new customer ahead of two other system integrators.

Taking on board the client’s wish to retain the familiar system architecture of their existing portable production units, ES Broadcast’s solution mirrored the logic of the Grass Valley Kayak 1080i systems already in operation, but employed the latest technology for 1080p and UHD live production.

EXPANDING THE CLIENT’S LIVE PRODUCTION CAPABILITIES

As well as being UHD-ready, the new PPUs also needed to offer expanded audio capabilities. This was achieved using the Demux/Mux and Madi Core of the Ross Ultrix FR2 routing system.

UHD PORTABLE PRODUCTION UNITS THAT DELIVER THE PRECISE SOLUTION

ES Broadcast delivered the following PPUs:

• One UHD-capable dual-rack system, based on a Ross Carbonite vision mixer
• Two UHD-capable split-rack systems, based on a Grass Valley Korona vision mixer
• One HD 3G-capable spilt-rack system, based on a S-A-M Kahuna 360 vision mixer (existing system re-housed and upgraded to 3G)

All four PPU systems feature a Ross Ultrix FR2 UHD routing platform, with full Demux/Mux, frame-syncs, multiviewers and gearboxing. In each case, the Ultrix is controlled using a TSL Tallyman control system, with TSL hardware control panels.

ES Broadcast built fully custom rear panels for the racks, as well as fitting motorised production monitor racks and building production desks with comms, control and mixer surface.

Each rig can be fully supported remotely.

Creative Technology has been very happy with all elements of this project to deliver four PPUs – from systems design and equipment choice, to the training and support which ES Broadcast has provided.

The units have added additional UHD capabilities to CT’s AV live production offering, and have already been used for high-profile product launches, international exhibitions and UK music tours.

KEY EQUIPMENT

• 1x Ross Carbonite UHD-capable vision mixer
• 2x Grass Valley Korona UHD-capable vision mixer
• 1x Snell/S-A-M Kahuna 360 HD vision mixer
• Ross Ultrix FR-2 router system
• TSL Tallyman control system
• AJA FS4 UHD multi-processor toolbox
• IQ modular glue
• Riedel communications matrix (CFI)