IBC Printed Guide - September 2014 - 34

www.inbroadcast.com PRODUCT GUIDE | Sept 12 - 16, 2014

Automation Remains Central
To Broadcast Pix Solutions

The Broadcast Pix enhanced product line new models, new features and new optional
standalone 3D graphic and slow motion systems.

One of the many ways Broadcast Pix has
separated itself from other manufacturers that offer
video production switchers is its automation...
By:
Steve Ellis,
CEO

F

34

rom file-based macros that
trigger complicated switcher
effects with one button press to
integrated robotic camera and
external device control, Broadcast
Pix products have been built to
make it easy for one operator
to produce high-quality video
productions.
The latest version of Fluent Rapid
CG, an optional advanced tool for
creating data-intensive graphics,
features dual-channel connectivity
to local and cloud-based content
databases, news automation, and
scoreboards. With cloud-based
databases becoming common
for sports, elections, and other
applications, Rapid CG allows
sports scores in league databases
to automatically flow into on-air
graphics. It also allows content
from Twitter and other cloud-based
data sources to flow directly to air
or be pre-screened with a built-in
management system.
Last month, the company
introduced PixPlay, a new software
option that allows any Broadcast
Pix Flint, Mica, or Granite system
to provide slow motion control to
a Blackmagic Design HyperDeck
or AJA Video Systems Ki Pro disk
recorder. VTR control is ported
to the production switcher along
with six preset replay speeds and
users can "scrub" or single step
through a scene for better control
and functionality. Plus, PixPlay
includes an unlimited number of
"in" points as part of a playback
EDL, which instantly cues the
proper scenes.
Standalone Slo-Mo
And Graphics
Automation is also prominent in
Broadcast Pix's new standalone
products. ReVue is an affordable
HD
slo-mo
replay
system
developed in collaboration with
strategic
partner
EditShare.
Available in two and fourchannel configurations, ReVue
features a built-in multi-view, SDI

connectivity, and up to eight tracks
of embedded audio, with optional
1080p recording and playback.
A compact controller includes
a jog/shuttle wheel for reviewing
footage, with dedicated buttons
for marking in and out points for
playback. All video sources play
back in sync, so it is easy to cut
between cameras and find the
best replay angle. Playback speed
is controlled manually with the
fader bar, but three preset buttons
allow users to assign specific
speeds for more consistent slomo results. Other intuitive controls
allow easy navigation between
cameras, clips, and servers.
FX3D is a real-time 3D graphics
system for building dynamic
graphic content for live events,
sports, broadcast news, or
channel branding. Designed as a
standalone graphics system for
existing broadcast infrastructures
or as an addition to Granite or Mica
integrated production switchers,
FX3D makes it easy to create and
playout high-end graphics.
Three software modules create
a simplified end-to-end graphics
workflow. FX3D Creator software
provides an intuitive interface
to design and create graphic
content, complete with a built-in
3D modeler. FX3D API allows the
system to be controlled through
Broadcast Pix switchers, and also
allows integration with third-party
products, such as broadcast news
systems.
FX3D Playout is a templatebased rundown controller that
brings completed graphics to air
and includes a variety of asset
search parameters. FX3D Playout
also allows manual or automatic
graphic content updates via
external resources, including RSS
feeds or XML files, and supports
multi-resolution output.
Visual Radio Revolution
Arguably one of the company's
greatest
automation
success

stories is the continued dominance
of its VOX voice-automated
production option for visual radio,
which is a growing production
trend among radio broadcasters.
Stations around the world are
providing live video feeds of their
radio programming via the Internet
in an effort to turn listeners into
viewers, and Broadcast Pix has
more than 100 installations across
EMEA.
When paired with any Broadcast
Pix system, VOX automatically
detects which microphone is being
used and produces video-followaudio productions without an
operator. Since it was introduced
in 2011, it has been used for visual
radio, as well as government and
corporate meetings for television,
Internet, and in-house projection.
For example, Outre-Mer 1re (1st
Overseas Network), a network
of television and radio stations
operated by public national
broadcaster France Télévisions
in France's overseas territories,
recently selected Broadcast Pix
VOX as the heart of its visual radio
solution for 10 stations. According
to Paris-based systems integrator
SAV, VOX (paired with a Broadcast
Pix Mica) met the technical
requirements of the project by
providing transparent operation
for the radio team and producing
high-quality images that can be
shared between media outlets.

Broadcast Pix Slo-Mo Control option for
Blackmagic Design HyperDeck or AJA
Video Systems Ki Pro disk recorder.

While VOX can be used
for simple video-follow-audio
switching, it can create far more
creative productions. Using the
power of Broadcast Pix's builtin Fluent Macros, VOX can also
add or remove graphics, roll clips
and animations, execute complex
picture-in-picture compositions,
and incorporate information from
external data sources like Twitter
to create an appealing visual
experience. Multiple macros can
be assigned to each microphone
- and selection criteria can be
established - to create varied
shot selection and graphics, as
if a technical director was at the
controls.
Microphone inputs can also be
prioritised, so a host, for example,
can be given priority over guests.
Plus, a host can control VOX to roll
a video clip or even override the
automated VOX control to bring up
a specific shot.
VOX includes a 1 RU breakout
box hardware interface with eight
microphone inputs, and multiple
VOX boxes can be cascaded to
support up to 104 microphones.
Earlier this year, Broadcast Pix
announced VOX Lite, a smallscale version with support for four
microphones that provides a visual
radio option for radio stations
with limited resources. Both
versions include control software
for Panasonic and Sony robotic
cameras.

Qmusic uses VOX to turn its audio
programming into online entertainment
for its Web-based audience.
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IBC Printed Guide - September 2014

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