What is in this article?:
X-Link and VIP-X technology from Evertz is used for multiviewer-based monitoring in the control room of ABC’s new syndicated show, “The Katie Show.”
Columbus Avenue facility
A pre/post-production facility is co-located with the show’s Columbus Avenue production offices. This facility is integrated with the main production facility via network and baseband video via fiber. Its primary use is to produce pre-recorded show elements, which are then transferred as files to the EVS in the media center for playout. Commercial ingest and transfer to EVS for playout is also managed in this space.
The file-transfer-based workflow allows show elements to be transferred at 3X- to 4X-real time from the ISIS to EVS for playout. The Avid edit capabilities include a Symphony suite, four Media Composer suites, two Media Composer workstations and 12 Avid Assist kiosk workstations.
The edit suites run under Interplay and are networked to a 64TB ISIS on-line storage system and an HP 144TB near-line NAS storage system.
Graphics are composed on three graphics workstations running Cinema 4D and Adobe CS Master Suite. The network that links this facility to the production complex also allows file-based transfer of content from the graphics machines to the Chyron and Ross and Abekas servers, which in turn become sources to the on-set displays.
A Pro Tools AudioSuite can provide sweetening for edited pieces and also provides audio clips, via network, to the ENCO audio system in the control room.
Up and running
“Katie” premiered on Sept. 10, 2012, and as the production staff has “exercised” the facility, the flexibility that was one of the design goals of the project has allowed BO&E to quickly respond to requests for adjustments in routing, monitoring and studio-floor feeds.
As the show has developed, the use of the file-based Avid-EVS interface has increased. Working with Avid and EVS, the workflow has been refined to improve file-transfer speed and clip management.
Design team
- ABC-Daytime/Times Square Studios: Dominick Nuzzi, Sr. VP, production and administration
- “The Katie Show”: James Tomlinson, Executive in Charge of Production; Bob Peterson, Creative Director; Joe Terry, Director
- ABC (BO&E): Todd Donovan, Sr. VP, (BO&E); Kenneth Michel, VP Engineering; William Rego, GM, Live Production and Special Events; Ellen Zalk, Director, Client Services; David Linick, Manager, Broadcast Engineering; Robin Thomas, Group Director of Engineering; Chris Bauer, Director of Engineering; Phil Durante, Director, Technical Construction; Jay Katowitz, Manager, Technical Construction; Mike Zdyrko, General Manager, Media Systems
- On-set displays: Videofilm Systems
- Custom touch screen: Controlled Entropy
- Systems Integration — production complex: The Systems Group, Hoboken, NJ
- Columbus Avenue post facility: Bexel Broadcast Services
Technology at work
- Abekas: Mira servers
- Avid: Symphony, Media Composer, Interplay media management, ISIS online storage, Pro Tools AudioSuite
- Bosch: RTS ADAM intercom
- Canon: 60X and 25X studio lenses, 17X handheld lenses, Telescopic Techno-Jib 24
- Chyron: HyperX on-air graphics system
- Cisco: Networking equipment
- Cobalt Digital: Color corrector
- DNF: Device control ENCO: DAD TV networked audio record/playback system
- Evertz: DVT display-wall processor, VIP-X multiviewer, EQX router, coax/fiber
- EVS: XS servers, IP Edit, IP Director
- HP: Near-line storage
- Ikegami: HDK-725 and 725P cameras, camera monitors
- NEC: Multiviewer monitors
- Penta: Line/preview monitors
- Riedel: RockNet mic/IFB distribution system
- Ross: SMS server
- Sony: MVS-7000X production switcher
- Soundcraft: Compact 32 music mixer, Vi4 FOH mixer
- Studer: Vista 9 audio console
—David Linick is manager, broadcast engineering for ABC broadcast operations and engineering.
