"A lot of things about the Overture switcher impressed me, but the major selling point was its ability to perform upconversion and crossconversion internally," said David Hopkins, director of the Broadcast Center. "Many people I work with on campus asked how, in our new HD environment, we were going to support all the SD sources we inevitably deal with. It was great to be able to tell them we have a piece of equipment that makes that easy. Another challenge for us was limited space in the control room, but because the Echolab switcher is so compact, it fits perfectly. For something its size, it is amazing what it can do."
The Princeton Broadcast Center relies on a professional staff of five, supported by freelancers and students, to create programming including public lectures and commencement, as well as faculty and student projects. A typical faculty-initiated project was the studio's inaugural production, shot in December. The project consisted of a series of three interviews focused on how engineers can help repair and develop the economy. Student projects, often more production-intensive, will take full advantage of the Overture1 switcher's arsenal of transitions and effects. The Overture series was designed to be easy to use, which makes it particularly well-suited to a facility like Princeton's where some operators will be rookies.
"With its reputation for excellence, Princeton University naturally wanted top-quality and state-of-the-art features, but like all responsible educational institutions, this one had to consider the bottom line," said Nigel Spratling, Echolab president. "Innovative technology enables our Overture1 to offer versatility and functionality at the right price."
Echolab's Overture1 was built on the company's award-winning System on Chip (SoC) technology, the Overture MD extends that technology to allow the system to not only accept and deliver both digital and analog signals but to accept them in both SD and HD formats without external format conversion. Because the Overture1 accommodates sources like DVD players, satellite, remote studios, and microwave links without genlocked sources and external A-to-D converters, it is easier to install and more cost effective than other systems with comparable features.
More information about the Overture series of production switchers and other Echolab products is available at www.echolab.com.
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About the Princeton University Broadcast Center
Princeton University's state-of-the-art HD video studio and a professional audio recording studio opened in the fall of 2008. The studios are located in the new Lewis Science Library building and provide video production for major events on campus such as public lectures, opening exercises, and commencement. Lecture recordings, podcasts, and rich media content are managed by the Broadcast Center.
About Echolab, Inc.
Echolab, Inc. is a leading provider of video production switchers and related tools that offer flexibility and on-air reliability for the production and distribution of digital media in a variety of formats. With products including its flagship Overture1™ and Overture2™ video production systems, Echolab delivers the robust functionality, reliability, and ease-of-use critical to professional-quality productions. Since its founding in 1974, the company has delivered more than 6,000 production solutions to a global client base including major broadcast networks and stations, corporations, educational institutions, houses of worship, sports arenas, entertainment venues, and military facilities. www.echolab.com
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