In Broadcast - September 2014 - 72

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 35 - SEPTEMBER 2014

N E W S

InSTUDIO

Automation Remains Central
To Broadcast Pix Solutions
Broadcast Pix explains how automation plays a key role in modern video production...
By Steve Ellis
CEO, Broadcast Pix

ne of the many ways Broadcast
Pix has separated itself from
other manufacturers that offer
video production switchers is
its automation. From ﬁle-based
macros that trigger complicated
switcher effects with one button
press to integrated robotic camera
and external device control, its
products have been built to make
it easy for one operator to produce
high quality video productions.
For example, the latest version
of Fluent Rapid CG, an optional
advanced tool for creating dataintensive graphics, features dualchannel 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.

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
four-channel 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 slo-mo 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
p r o v i d e s
an intuitive
interface to
design and
create graphic
c o n t e n t ,
complete with
a built-in 3D
modeler. FX3D
API
allows
the system to
be controlled
Broadcast Pix Slo-Mo Control Option For Blackmagic Design t h r o u g h
HyperDeck or AJA Video Systems Ki Pro disk recorder
Broadcast

Broadcast Pix will showcase new models, new features and new optional
standalone 3D graphic and slow motion systems

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 multiresolution 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 Europe, the
Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
When paired with any Broadcast
Pix system, VOX automatically
detects which microphone is
being used and produces videofollow-audio 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 ten 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 highquality images that can be shared
between media outlets.
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
built-in 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.

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In Broadcast - September 2014

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