Digital Audio Routing Systems

yvvvvv_broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004

Digital audio Understanding the AES3 standard

Routing systems Today's technology is more than just X -Y

A PRINIEDIA PUBLICATION The Bridge Router can hold all the electronics you'll need for a small console: I/O cards, mix engines, and DSP processors. Naturally it can also have automatic fail -over DSP and CPU cards to keep you on -air. You can expand the system with a simple cage -to - cage interconnect.

srq,

It's not just a Digital Console, IT'S AN ENTIRE AUDIO INFRASTRUCTURE You CAN START with a simple AES router with analog and digital inputs and outputs. From there you can add logic I/O cards and scheduling software; you can link multiple master bridge cages together to achieve thousands and thousands of I/O ports; you can create a custom system that includes multiple smaller remote satellite cages- with everything interconnected via CAT5 or fiberoptic links. BUT THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING: you can also add mix engine cards, interface to your automation system; you can choose from two different WHEATSTONE series control surfaces (0-5.1 or D-9) , each specially configured for production room, on - air or remote truck applications. We also provide a full complement of Ethernet protocol remote router control panels, as well as a complete family of plug-in modules that interface the routing system to existing Wheatstone digital and analog standalone consoles.

The D-9 is Compact yet Powerful: It can route, generate and monitor 5.1 surround signals and produce simultaneous 5.1 and stereo master signals for your dual broadcast chain. Wheatstone Knows Live Audio. The D-5.1 is loaded with The console also provides extensive, rapid communication MXMs, foldbacks, and clear easy -to -read displays. You'll have all paths throughout your entire Bridge system. Motorized the power you need when the news breaks! Its intuitive layout faders and control setting storage and recall make show - helps your operators work error -free, and it can handle and to -show transitions fast, easy and accurate. generate all the 5.1 content and simultaneous stereo capability any large or medium market station could need. the digital audio leaders 600 Industrial Drive, New Bern, North Carolina, USA 28562 vvvvvv_ wheatstc, e_corri tel 252-638-7000 / fax 252-635-4857 / [email protected] ==- Made in USA Copyright 0 2003 by Wheatstone Corporation Gone fishing? Not this Saturday morning. You're on the hook.

age_ Rather Be' WhereWould You

Remote, in-depth transmitter, transmitter facility and studio analysis and management...anywhere, anytime...from Harris!

Tired of the personal sacrifices you make every time something's not right at the transmitter? Tired eCDr, ReCon and HBM are three of watching your 50 -hour week turn into 80? separate packages that work great together We understand. And we've got the solution: Harris Remote Management. Now, take eCDT'- Transmitter Remote Management Transmitter status control and monitoring with advantage of a fully integrated suite of remote tools that offer complete studio monitoring and transmitter signal performance monitoring

control, transmitter monitoring, and transmitter facility monitoring. With an unmatched history as ReCon - Facilities Remote Management: the technology leader for broadcast facility management, Harris provides the ultimate IP-driven Remote control power and flexibility along with ease of installation and use. control and intelligence products, products you can integrate as separate components (with later HBM - Network Remote Management: upgrades) or as complete solution. You'll enjoy web -based monitoring available through wireless Consolidate expert manpower cut response laptop, cell phone, and PDA. You'll be able to solve problems with your counterparts dozens...or time and increase broadcast system availability thousands of miles away. Best of all, you'll work more efficiently...and get your life back. For more information about Harris Remote Management and ReCon, eCDi- and HBM, contact your local District Sales Manager or visit us online at www.broadcast.harris.com. www.broadcast.harris.com This is technology you can touch. BEcau AirSpeed'", a revolutionary new breed of broadcast video server, accelerates your I/O by providing immediate access to incoming feeds. Affordable, reliable AirSpeed systems scale easily and play to air within moments of editing the story - with an interface you already know how to use. Call your Avid broadcast sales manager today or visit wwwavid.com/airspeed.

Photo: Sogecable Javier Serrano. ©2004 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. AirSc of their respective owners. BE first. 5Eit's onlynEws oncE.

From ingest to playout, nothing stands in the way of a great story.

To be a leader, you have to stay on top of the news, the competition, and the

latest technology. That's why Avid has become a leading choice of news

organizations around the world for innovative editing, media asset

management, networking, storage, and newsroom systems. Integrated,

all -digital, end -to -end broadcast solutions from Avid continue to set the

pace in versatility, reliability, and price/performance, so broadcasters

can focus on today's news - and not worry about tomorrow's technology.

makE manage MOVE ImEdia-AVid. iid and make manage move I media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technot..i-gy, in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property SEPTEMBER 2004* VOLUME 46 NUMBER 9 AAA 111:111 l Oil

THE JOURNAL OF DIGITAL TELEVISIONEn0 ineerin FEATURES 60HD systems By John Luff HD takes some work, but it's well worth it. 72Moving toward a dual -infrastructure facility By Stan Moote, Steve Sulte, Todd Roth and Nabil Kanaan Instead of integrating baseband and compressed signals, why not work with them separately? 85Chain reaction: The revival of the HDTV transition By Michel Proulx Thanks to HD sports, among other things, the HDTV - .24 tems sr. Isa transition is in full swing. J nee sj 9, 3 in1:! or,. 94Rethinking workflow By Jack Verner Streamlining workflow is the key - for one channel or several.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES ON THE COVER: Comcast's new HD Download facility comes equipped with a Solid 16 Prime time for [H]DTV? State Logic C100 digital broadcast tr console to handle the 5.1 surround mixes of 22 Cable/satellite programming major sports events. Cover photo by Dave a la carte? King. Cover illustration by Robin Morsbach, DIGITAL HANDBOOK associate art director. Transition to Digital 24 The AES/EBU digital audio signal distribution standard

Computers and Networks 30Enterprise networks

38 Video over IP fornews acquisition (continued on page 8)

6 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 THE ONLY IOCP.I NEWS WORT VA \ NAT CiAING

Around the clock, around the block, news here happens in a minute. That's why NY1 News has taken Panasonic P2 to the streets, covering national events like the Republican National Convent on where reliability is paramount. P2 gets breaking news on -air faster by eliminating digitizing and providing seamless connection of camera original -quality DVCPRO data directly to laptop editors, servers and IT networks. With P2 and Pinnacle Edition non-linear editing, NY1 can cover New Yorks non- stop news with greater speed and efficiency. How about your city? To find out more about Panasonic P2 news solutions call 1-800-528-8601 or visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast SEPTEMBER 2004 VOLUME 46 NUMBER 9

THE JOURNAL OF DIGITAL Engineering SYSTEMS DESIGN tk INTEGRATION Systems Design Showcase 44 Comcast'snew studios do HD and surround

Transmission & DistrihutioP 55 The snows (and ice) cometh

Freezeframe NEW PRODUCTS BROaDCaST 8t REVIEWS spareeninG Applied Technologies 103 Hamlet tests the digitalage 104 Fiber management in broadcast networks

Field Report Submit your nominees for the 106 KVAL automates with MicroFirst most unusual, distinguished or confusing names for television - Technology in Transition related products. Unique examples provided by other read- 108 Routing switchers ers include: the "Space" products from Pluto, Chyron's New Products iNFiNiT! (note the combination of upper- and lowercase let- 110 Darim VS2000, ters), the Toaster or Scientific Atlanta's SCARLET. plus other new products Keep in mind this has nothing to do with the quality of the DEPARTMENTS product itself, just the unusu- alness of the product name. 12 Editorial The editors will select and print the winning entries in a later issue. Readers submitting 14 Reader Feedback winning entries will receive a Broadcast Engineering T-shirt. 112 Classifieds Enter by e-mail. Title your entry "Freezeframe-September" in 117 Advertisers Index the subject field and send it to: editor©primediabusiness.com. 118 EOM Entries must be received by Nov 1, 2004, to be eligible to win.

8 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 High Definition. Higher Standards. Highest Performance.

As hi-cef takes over the f eld, one media company is prepared to exceed your needs. At Maxell, we set a higher standard. Thus, each and every Maxell hi-def product, from D-5 to HDCAM, incorporates the most advanced technologies and manufacturing techniques to deliver the highest performance possible. Tc learn more about Maxell Professional Media, c 311 800-533-2836 or visit www.maxell.com.

11110111 D DSC:63U HDCAM maxellExpanding Memory & Mobility

Recordable Media Data Storage Portable Energy Technological Partnerships SUPPORTED BY: AVID, EVS, INCITE, LEITCH, OMNEON VIDEO NETWORKS,

2004 Sony Electronics Inc All rights reserved. Reproduction it whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Features and specifications are subject to changewithout notice. Sony, DVCAM, MPEG IMX, Professional Disc, Vegas, XDCAM, XPRI ass their respective logos are trademarks of Sony. 'Offer is subject to credit approval by Sony FinancialServices LLC. SONY®

THE XDCAM SYSTEM. AN INNOVATION THAT COMPLETELY REDEFINES THE WAY WE WORK.

After decades of recording on tape, professionals are discovering the sweeping significance of the XDCAM " Professional Disc- system.

XDCAM recording redefines "speed," with the ability to edit in the camcorder. Not to mention the power of the proxy. A frame -accurate low -resolution copy of your material, proxy AN is an incredible tool for browsing, editing and transferring your footage virtually anywhere. Across the studio or across the world. You can rush proxy into an editor at up to 50x real time. So your office staff can start editing even before the disc arrives!

The XDCAM system redefines "video" by recording your clips as MXF data files, inherently friendly to IT networks and IT storage. Use your PC to browse the contents of an XDCAM disc located on another continent. Then transfer just the clips you need across the data network. Your workflow efficiency goes way up. Your cost of ownership goes way down.

And XDCAM recording redefines "robust" with a laser transport that resists bumps, jolts, shocks, temperature swings and humidity. The laser transport is so robust, it's protected by Sony's 7 -year "Powertrain" warranty. (See actual warranty for details).

There's so much more to the story. You'll be amazed by the revolutionary, affordable, reusable Professional Disc media. You'll choose from DVCAM" or MPEG IMXW codecs, shooting in interlace, progressive or 24PsE You'll command multi -megabytes of metadata. And you'll leverage a world of compatible products from leading manufacturers.

You owe it to yourself to experience this powerful innovation. XDCAM. Here and Now.

FOR DETAILS, VISIT WWW.SONY.COM/XDCAM

Dollars Down

Percent Financing 0 Payments' Until January 2005 (on approved credit)."

OMNIBUS SYSTEMS LTD., PINNACLE SYSTEMS, QUANTEL, SGI, SWE-DISH, TELESTREAM, THOMSON / GVG, VEGAS, AND XPRI.

"To be eligible for the 0% program, purchase any XDCAM PDW-series model between March 1, 2004 and September 30, 2004. No interest charges assessed Ifamount is paid in lull by January 1, 2005. If payment in full is not received by then, the unpaid balance will be converted to a 24 -month principal and interest term loan. Etorial ALA 00:6:: 1111 Copps: The FCC'syappy dog Have you ever had a neighbor with one ofwinners are all known and most Americans don't want those little yappy dogs? You know, theto watch. Don't take my word for it, check out the rat- kind that bark all the time? They bark atings. The ratings for this year's DNC hoopla were nothing and everything. The wind blows, they bark.among the worst ever. The wind doesn't blow, they still bark. Sun up to sun Copps, Jonathan Adelstein and their brethren always down, there's that little yappy dog barking his headlament the perceived "media ownership" crisis in off. The constant barking must come from a complexbroadcasting. They never mention that 98 percent of about being so insignificantly small. American cities have only one major newspaper. In 1975, the FCC adopted its biennial review of broadcast ownership rules. At that time, there were 1700 daily newspapers, 7500 radio stations and fewer than 1000 TV stations. Three national commercial broadcast networks had a combined prime -time audience share of 95 percent. By 2001, the number of TV stations had increased to 1600 and radio stations to 12,000. Yet, the number of daily newspapers dropped by 12 percent to 1500. The number of broadcasters went up, the number of daily newspapers went down. Let's see....almost 14,000 broadcasters versus Where do you see diversity? You claim that Americans are not getting what they should from broadcasters and that stations should "step up to the plate and correct this deplorable mess." What deplorable mess, Mr. Copps? The only "deplorable mess" is the chaos you've created for this industry by yapping long enough that Congress Well, we have a yappy dog on the FCC: Commissionerbent to your tantrums and reversed the FCC's proper Michael Copps. actions. The inability to sell, buy and exchange proper- Commissioner Michael Copps is prone to incessantties has forced station owners to withdraw their check- tirades. And he's been a thorn in the side of broad- books for new investment. Your actions have brought an casters since his appointment to the commission byindustry rebound to a screeching halt. President Bush in May 2001. Stop it, Mr. Copps. You're acting like a yappy dog that's In one of his many tirades, this time about what hebeen allowed to misbehave for too long. It's time some- perceives as inadequate news coverage of his party'sone jerked your chain, and I'm only too happy to do it. convention, Copps criticized broadcasters - saying that they were "not fulfilling [their] role or pulling [their] weight?' He called upon broadcasters to "make a meaningful commitment to cover real issues." .0-z.a To quote your presidential candidate's wife, "Shove it." /441-er The political conventions are staged shows. There is editorial director no drama. There is no debate. There are no "candidates" anymore at these events. By the time the Re- publican and Democrat conventions take place, the

Send commentsto: editor©orimediabusiness.com www.broadcastengineering.com

1 2 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 IMAGESTORE INTUITION CHANNEL BRANDING GRAPHICS GENERATOR

10:34 ET 20° C

100 DAX .00 5,275.00 7% 0.39%

Dazzling branding, amazing control

Now you can combine fantastic branding graphics creativity with advanced automated and manual control.

Miranda's new Imagestore Intuition channel branding generator greatly extends the graphics capabilities of the Imagestore 2 branding processors to provide almost unlimited crawls, rolls and 'dynamic' static text, along with complex multi -layer animations.

All this creative power is readily harnessed using Miranda's proven Oxtel Series automation protocol, or manually using the PresStation multi -channel, branding and master control switching panel.

For the most complete branding and master control systems, contact Miranda.

Miranda Technologies tel.: 514.333.1772 - [email protected]

VW W.101 RANDA.CONI I IN i WTION R ad rF Aback

Chrommance phase easy recovery of theThe subcarriers are cancelled so the Mr. Robin, synchronizing infor-system transmits only the chromi- I am an intern working mation through anance sidebands. with the Naval Air War- process of removing To recover the B -Y and R -Y signals, fare Center. After read- (clipping) all positivethe receiver requires two demodula- ing your article entitled excursions. Difficul- tors: one for B -Y and the other for R - "Analog video synchro- ties with unstableY. The receiver must also regenerate nization" in the January vacuum -tube tech-the missing subcarrier. To this effect, 2003 issue, I have a few nologies of the late it uses the transmitted color -sync sig- questions. I understand the specifica-1940s made it difficult to maintain anal, a burst of about 10 cycles of tions for the chrominance amplitude stable black level (0V). Therefore, thesubcarrier phase and amplitude ref- phase and luminance pedestal for red, black level was shifted to a slightly posi- erence to control a crystal oscillator, green and blue fields. But, what exactly tive value, which was called "setup"whichfeedsproperlyphased does the chrominance phase refer to,(also called the "luminance pedestal"). subcarrier signals to the B -Y and R -Y and what is it referenced against? Also, Color television initially used threedetectors. The burst is the system can you explain how the chrominanceprimary colors: red, blue and green.phase reference, so any instantaneous amplitude affects color saturation? IEarly transmissions in 1950 used theor constant phase shift of the B -Y and always assumed the scale was from OV CBS sequential -color system, whichR -Y results in a change of signal shape, to 0.7V (as opposed to -313.33mV to transmitted the three primary colorswhich translates into a color change. 313.33mV), and OV would have im- sequentially. This system was incom- Existing (pre -color) monochrome plied no color; thus, the positive andpatible with the existing monochrometelevision signal distribution elements negative voltages have thrown me for transmitters and receivers and even-had difficulties carrying the compos- a loop. Finally, I'm confused as to what tually was abandoned. ite color video signals, so the signal exactly the luminance pedestal is. Any The NTSC color television system, amplitude was reduced from 1.4V p -p help you could provide would bewhich went on the air in 1954, wasto 1V p -p while maintaining the 1:4 much appreciated. fully compatible and still is being usedvideo -signal -to -sync -amplitude ratio. MEGAN C. today. Among the changes introducedThis resulted in the currently used sig- NAVAIR, LAKEHURST was a redefined composite video sig-nal with 714.3mV of video and nal. Now the composite video signal285.7mV of sync. BE Michael Robin responds: carried luminance information, Television is an evolving technology. chrominance information, scanning April Freezeframe: It is amazing how the 1941 -vintagesync and chrominance sync. NTSC television standard withstood The luminance information (Y) is Q. In 1992, Broadcast Engineering the test of time, while making way forthe equivalent of the brightness infor- judges for the first time selected a monochrome -compatible color trans-mation in monochrome, and it was handtool as a Pick Hit. While it was missions in 1954 - all this without al-obtained by adding red, green and the least expensive item ever selected as a Pick Hit, it remains a tering the vestigial sideband negative blue signals according to a well-known modulation transmission standard. and universally adopted mathemati- common item in almost every video Negative modulation means that thecal formula. The chrominance infor- engineer's tool box. What was it? instantaneous video transmitter powermation was carried by two "color -dif- A. Canare Cable, Coaxial cable is proportional to the black level of the ference " signals, namely blue -minus - stripper transmitted picture. So, early decisions Y (B -Y) and red -minus -Y (R -Y). adopted a composite video signal,These signals are bipolar (equal in Winner: which contained brightness informa-positive and negative excursions) and No correct answers were received tion as well as horizontal and verticalare reduced in amplitude to avoid scanning information. In the 1940s, the transmitter overmodulation. Test your knowledge! brightness information in video signals These signals amplitude -modulate See the Freezeframe question of the varied from black (OV) to white (+1V). two equal -frequency subcarriers month on page 8 and enter to win The synchronizing signal has a nega-(about 3.58MHz) in phase quadrature a Broadcast Engineering T-shirt. tive value of -400mV to allow for an(their phase is offset by 90 degrees). Send answers to bdick@ rimediabusiness.com

14 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 AFFORCABILITY THROUGH INNOVATION

Limitless possibilities.

Whether it's a handful of crosspoints or 10 million For mid -size applications, our Concerto- Series routing in a single installation, Grass Valley- routers deliver matrix offers peerless performance. By offering a wide the reliability, scalability, and multi -format capabilities range of board format types and sizes, as well as two that fit your facility best. This balanced approach different frames, it makes your digital transition as has made Thomson the undisputed market leader in smooth financially as it does technologically. router technology. When you need the largest, most compact, and most For instance, our new Grass Valley AcappellaT" utility easily serviceable routers available, our Trinif and router packs unmatched capabilities into a 1 RU frame. Apex matrices lead the industry. And we have a full With three levels-one video and two audio-its range of control systems for all our routers that are advanced control panel functions streamline your just as popular-and every bit as reliable. workflows. And its built-in redundant power supplies provide peace of mind without taking up any extra For a better sense of everything Grass Valley routers rack space. can do for you, visit www.thomsongrassvalley.com/routers.

Grass val ley A °THOMSON BRAND DIwoad "I 1111=1=1 I1 i Il Prime time for [H]DTV? BY CRAIG BIRKMAIER Historians tend to look for an ambitious plan to compete withis selling the receiver, manufactured in events that represent a cable and DBS by offering a package ofChina by Hisense, for $199 in markets turning point in the pre- 20 to 30 channels, delivered by local not currently served by USDTV. When vailing views of those affected by his- DTV broadcasters, for $19.95 per USDTV begins to serve those markets, toric changes. History is likely to look month. The Salt Lake City -based com- owners will be able to add the smart upon a succession of events that have pany is leasing "unused" portions of the card needed to activate the subscrip- unfolded since the beginning of 2004 DTV channels operated by broadcast - tion service. and conclude that we have reached the turning point in the slow -moving The cost for a receiver that meets all of the FCC transition to digital and high -definition television. mandates is beginning to decline. The year began with the revelation that consumers are beginning to em-ers in each market to deliver popular Currently, USDTV has about 8000 brace a new generation of display tech- networks offered by competing multi-subscribers in three beta test markets: nologies that may eventually relegate channel services, alongside the SD/HD Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Las Ve- the venerable CRT display to the scrap programming offered by the DTVgas. By the end of this year, they expect heap of history. Thin is in, whether itbroadcasters in each market served. to offer the service in 30 markets, along takes the form of an LCD or plasma Wal-Mart is working with USDTV towith an improved receiver that will use panel, or a slimmed -down big -screenpromote the service and sell thea fifth -generation ATSC receiver chip rear -projection system based on an HDTV -capable set -top box needed to developed by LG Electronics. LCD or DLP display engine. receive it. The set -top box costs $99 In early January, USDTV announcedwith a USDTV subscription. Wal-Mart Receiving DTV In July, the first of a series of FCC receiver mandates kicked in. Now a Studios and cor orations work to ether minimum of 50 percent of all receiv- dios of all types are helping businesses create presentations ers with screens 36 inches or larger are required to include an ATSC receiver. In the next few years, the mandates E 45% will require 100 percent of receivers 40%- (of all sizes) to include an ATSC receiver and support for the broadcast 35%- flag content protection system. 30%- The marketplace reality is that virtually all of the receivers that include 25%- an ATSC tuner also include a one-way, 20%- 19% cable -ready digital tuner and support for the broadcast flag. Another emerg- 15%- ing market reality is that the cost for a 10%- receiver that meets all of the FCC man- 5%- dates is beginning to decline. Also in July, one of the nation's larg- 0%- est and most outspoken station Video editing FX/animation Audio recording Indies and recording studios and mixing groups, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, studios studios announced that the fifth -generation Type of studio ATSC receiver developed by LG Elec- SOURCE:TrendWatch www.trendwatch.corn tronics has largely resolved the reception issues that have plagued the DTV

16 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 DRIVINFTHE FUTUIWO

ADDED mobility with thenewlMipiliZSJ.LJr.`ftallt PESA understands mobile video production. This is proven by our commitment to offer one of the most flexible routing switchers in the world. The Cheetah SD/HD multi -rate digital routing 448 512x llert,tasno switcher is the perfect solution for mobile truck applications. When size matters, the Cheetah is your answer. When flexibility is a concern, the Cheetah flexes. Features include an optional 10 -bit D to A output card capable of supporting legacy analog equipment and our new HD to SDI output conversion card providing the greatest cost and space -saving solution ever. When the road to success depends on the right equipment, Cheetah is your next right turn. 64x 128x 256x

35 Pinelawn Road Suite 99E Melville, NY 11747 USA Tel: +1(631) 845:5020 (800) 328-1008 Fax: +1(631) 845-5023

For More Information en These and Other Products Visit WWW.PESA.CON 77- ANALOG AND SD/HD DIGITAL VIDEO -SIZES FROM 64x64 UP TO 512x512

NEW ADVANCED 3500PRO CONTROL MESA -OPTIONAL 10 -BIT D TO A OUTPUT CARD S witching -OPTIONAL HD TO SDI CONVERSION OUTPUT CARD S ystems Diwilad

transition. Sinclair was the primarydemonstrate problems with 8-VSB re- 2004 also will be remembered as the advocate of changes to the FCC power ception due to multipath. The COFDM year affordable HDTV production rules that now allow stations to maxi- system handled the multipath issue farbecame a reality. Apple Computer and mize the power levels for UHF chan- better at that time. According toAvid Technologies demonstrated a nel assignments. Several years ago, Sinclair, recent evaluations of the fifth - range of HDTV production solutions Sinclair conducted a series of recep- generation LG receiver, at the same sites that leverage the tremendous increase tion tests in Baltimore, comparingused in the earlier tests, indicate thatin computer processing power driven the 8-VSB modulation system withthe multipath issue has now largelyby Moore's Law. In essence, the same the COFDM modulation system tobeen resolved. computer -based tools that dominate standard -definition video production are now scaling up to handle high - definition production. Equally important, most new computer designs have adequate processing power to store and display HDTV quality content, which is, in turn, enabling the deployment of a new generation of HD -capable displays for digital signage applications. The last remaining barrier to widespread adoption of HD production is the cost of HD cameras and professional recording systems. But this barrier is expected to crumble in the next few years. It's the content, stupid. Unquestionably, the most important development in 2004 is the growing availability of HDTV content, especially the coverage of live sporting events. The broadcast networks are getting on the HDTV bandwagon, with significant increases in the amount of prime -time HD programming. FOX and UPN will offer many of their prime -time programs in 720p. Also, FOX will offer six NFL games every week in 720p. NBC provided time -

Discover the Intelligent delayed coverage of many Olympic Video Networking (IVNT") events in HDTV and plans to offer end -to -end system concept more prime -time HD programming IVN YOUR WAY TO for digital video delivery over this season. ABC and its cable sibling VIDEO NETWORKING Cable. Now you can deliver ESPN-HD will cover all of their NFL optimized triple play services to become a true MSP. games in 720p. Best of all, IVN's distributed architecture ensures efficient content management. The system concept is based But a question remains: What are on Scopus products and technologies for: video routing, rate HD -enabled consumers really looking shaping & multiplexing, efficient encoding and professional for? The cable industry is moving rap- reception. Now's the time to head for idly to upgrade its premium subscribers to new digital and HD program tiers. HD is becoming synonymous with premium, as more HD cable net-

Amsterdam works and HD VOD offerings roll out. September 1044,2904 Stand 1.339 And both cable and DBS services are adding HD personal video recorders to their set -top box offerings.

18 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 www.quantel.com sCt arevolution in technology arevolution innews

Quantel sQ is the market -leading news system-worldwide

sOView at/Cut stl server sQEdit Paintbox

A Quantel sQ news system is as big or as small as you need. Journalists and editors love it. News directors value the freedom it brings. It gets late -breaking stories to air in record time. And best of all, it makes compelling financial sense. The Quantel sQ revolution is coming to a station near you. Get the latest news at www.quantel.com. sQ is newsTM' Quantel ICI A A IMIHTE:

U) It is less clear, however, that HD isgional telcos do well. And a high- Like many broadcasters, Sinclair lim- LU an adequate incentive for upscale con- speed "back channel" is likely to be ited its risks by operating its DTV sumers to drop their current multi-a critically important requirement ifchannels at low power levels. The sta- -J channel subscription service in favorbroadcasters hope to compete in ation group built out the transmission of an antenna to receive USDTV orworld where consumers have more facilities but did not put high-powered "free TV." One significant factor is the control over the content they watch, output amplifiers into many of their w growing demand for broadbandand where they have the desire to in-DTV transmitters. In preparation for Internet services by U.S. consumers.tegrate electronic commerce withthe new TV season, Sinclair is upgrad- I Cable currently enjoys a significanttheir traditional use of TV as an en- ing the facilities of most of its FOX - w advantage over DBS - bundlingtertainment medium. affiliated stations to pass through 720p I broadband, TV and often telephone signals from the FOX Network, and is F- services on a single bill. To combat the The power to compete upgrading transmitters to high power. cable advantage, the DBS providers are If this is indeed the turning point in Perhaps even more important, the O teaming up with the regional tele-the DTV transition, then broadcasters station group is about to do something phone companies to offer their ownneed to get on the bandwagon too. Do almost unheard of in the broadcast a service bundles. DISH Networks has broadcasters really care about reachingindustry: It is going to start promot- achieved significant subscriber growthan audience with antennas? In far tooing DTV through its legacy NTSC LLJ in markets where it has teamed up many cases, they have become comfort- broadcast channels. Sinclair has devel- CO with SBC to offer broadband, phoneable with the current reality that the oped a series of generic public-service and TV bundles. way to reach their audience is throughannouncements promoting the avail- This suggests that broadcastersthe wires or satellites of their multi-ability of free [H]DTV programming may be well advised to begin discus- channel competitors. with an antenna. The spots can be sions with the telephone companies But you can't place all of the blameviewed at a Web site created to pro- in their markets to offer serviceon the broadcaster, given the troubled mote DTV broadcasts (see "Web bundles. Broadcasters lack the infra- waters they have been navigating dur- links"). Sinclair will offer the PSAs to structure to deal with customer -ser-ing the DTV transition. Nat Ostroff, broadcasters across the country, who vice issues, something that the re -vice president of new technology forcan order a full -quality version for

the Sinclair Broadcast Group, bluntlytheir stations to adapt and air. BE lamented that broadcasters haven't been able to gain an audience for DTV Sinclair DTV Web site andPSA Craig Birkmaier is a technology consultant until fifth -generation receivers came at Pcube labs, and he hosts and moder- www.myfreehdtv.org ates the OpenDT V Forum, www.myfreehdtv.org/video.html along. Ostroff is optimistic that these receivers will enable broadcasters to Send questions and comments to: www.usdtv.c SEND promote free HDTV. [email protected]

111MINNOINF Aviguici-Wititiitiv 11D utici SD Gtopliic Solufium:

Real-time SD and/orHD CG

Layering mixer with SD output and upconverted HD output

20 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 CongrEtulatic is on your latest audic--)osi :reatior. f only the delivery wasn't so complicated.

You know lhe drill. Generate separate roultitrac- audio tapes. Hand ther o~ wits the videotapes. Then wait-for syr: hassles, editing- nduced at.iiartifacts, aid maybe evsn a one -of -the -tapes -is - miss; ,gc_U.Talk.Dicut audio -post- partum aridety.

Fortunate relief s at hand. Dolby E Delivery Dolby' E L=ts you c el ver up to eight Now Specified by charnels pi s Jpertr-sounding digital NBC audio on 1st two I -a:ks of a digital FOX videotape. Jsirg any standard frame rEte. eben 2tP PBS Bravo With Coilo! E. and End video Discovery Channel frames ars Derfed 4 aligned. That HBO means no sync prc 31ems. No pops or clicks ok es edit rig. No fretting Showtime

about sep rated tapes. Dolby E cEn Starz Encore also -oLie eight -charnel audio EchoStar's Dish Network across ste-eo tie-kin-plus save Astral Television you loads cf serve- aid storage Bell ExpressVU space. that for an elegant solutior? The Movie Network

SuperChannel Letting go of your creations might iN Demand never b? East!. But with Dolby E, at least y:u can let go of the worry. Cablevision

www. dadby. v/DolbyE Dolby Laboratories, Inc. too Potter° Avenue San Francisco, CA 9a1o34013 Telephone 05-558-0200

Dolby and the Coublt.E, srbol ary nistertd hadmarks of Dotri Laboratories. Me Im marks ,ernair tne DOLBY rowdy of their mspecive Doty .boratorles. Inc 54/15ooth534.6 Cable/satellite programmingala carte? BY HARRY C. MARTIN In response to a Congressional causes. In May, a bipartisan group ofleverage carriage of affiliated cable mandate, the FCC recently in-the House Commerce committeeprogramming networks. While not quired whether satellite andasked the FCC to review the feasibil-the initial focus of the a la carte op- cable TV operators should be requiredity of a la carte cable program pric-tion, the interplay of that opinion with to offer their programming on an a la ing. Senator John McCain, a longtimethe must -carry could raise important carte basis instead of in bundled form.critic of the cable TV industry, madeissues that might impact TV broad- The inquiry is not limited merely toa similar request. A la carte in this con- casters who may view the a la carte de- cable -originated programming ser- text would mean providing cable sub -bate as a limited skirmish between vices; it also includes broadcast channels carried pursuant to retransmission consent and must -carry. Most subscribers do not regularly watch Cable TV operators offer most of programming on the vast majority their programming in bundled packages, such as basic and enhanced -ba- of cable channels, sic tiers. These packages contain anywhere from 30 to 120 channels. Ofscribers the opportunity to pick andconsumers and cable operators. course, most subscribers do not regu-choose each individual channel of the The cable programmers oppose a la larly watch programming on the vastprogramming they receive, irrespec- carte out of fear that viewers will not majority of these channels, a fact thattive of any bundling the cable provider choose to subscribe to their channels. they are keenly aware of when con-might have offered before. Large cable operators also oppose a la templating rising cable TV rates. In addition to concerns over service carte pricing, stating that limited sub- Members of Congress state that is-costs to consumers, another issuescription to most individual channels sues involving television program-driving this inquiry is viewer resent-will require increased per -channel ming typically generate a large per-ment over the levels of sex and vio-charges, resulting in consumers get- centage of their constituent mail. lence on TV. Some consumers appar- ting fewer channels at a higher overall Thus, it is not surprising that, withently believe that one solution wouldcost. It should be noted that the ma- cable rates increased by an average ofbe to give viewers the ability to choose jor cable operators are also the own- five percent in the last year, Congressthe individual cable channels to ers of many major cable channels. In- would hold hearings looking into thewhich they subscribe. terestingly, some associations of small The FCC is seeking comments on acable operators support providing number of issues, including (1) con- subscribers the option to purchase tractual limitations on the ability ofprogramming on an a la carte basis, Oct. 1is the deadline for TV cable and satellite operators to offeralong with the option of purchasing stations in Florida, Puerto Rico and programming on an a la carte basis,the current packages. The Consumers the Virgin Islands to file their (2) the potential impact on rates forUnion has supported this approach. license renewal applications, individual channels and on diversityTelevision broadcasters do not appear ownership reports and EEO of programming, and(3)what set -top to have made major statements on the program reports. Oct. 1is also the box and system equipment is neces- issue. The FCC's report to Congress is date TV stations in Alabama and sary to move the industry to an a la due in mid -November. Georgia must begin broadcasting BE carte model. The commission also their pre -filing renewal announce- wants to know whether the must -carry ments. Oct. 10 is the date TV Harry C. Martin is president of the Federal rules would allow cable operators to Communications Bar Association and a stations should place their third- offer must -carry broadcast stations on member of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, quarter issues/programs lists and PLC, Arlington, VA. an a la carte basis, and the impact of children's program reports (FCC networks and affiliate groups using Send questions and comments to: Form 398) in their public files. SEND the retransmission consent process to [email protected]

22 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 NEW EDITIO N

The new DV 15 Fluid Head is the perfect combination with any digital ENG camcorder. is yet another example of Sachtler's proven quality being used to support the new generation of cameras. And with its central loc

www.sachtler.c

corporationsachtler of america 55, North Main Street Freeport, N.Y. 11520 Phone: (516) 867 4900 Fax: (516) 623 6844 email [email protected]

3316, West Victory Blvd., Burbank. CA. 91505 Phone: (818) 845-4446 Transition to II The AES/EBU digital audio signal distribution standard BY MICHAEL ROBIN he Audio Engineering Soci- ety (AES), together with the One frame 4 Sub frame A 4 Sub frame B EuropeanBroadcasting 4 32 bits 4 32 bits Union (EBU), developed a digital au- 4-4*-*4*.4 20 44*-4-44.*4-* 4 20 *44*

dio transmission standard known as Sync AUX Audio data V U C SyncAUX Audio data VUCP the AES/EBU standard as well as AES- C 1992, ANSI S.40-1992 or IEC-958. The ------.------transmission medium is wire, which (Sync word (Sync word ,/Sync word ; has a wide bandwidth capability and allows for the bit -serial transmission of the digital audio data. The interface is primarily designed to carry mono- phonic or stereophonic signals in a studio environment at a 48kHz sam- z Channel A Y Channel B x Channel A Channel B pling frequency and with a resolution of 20 or 24 bits per sample. The bit - parallel data words are serialized by sending the least significant bits (LSB) 4- Frame 0 4- Frame 1-*I 4-Frame 191-*4- Frame 0 One audio block first. Word clock data is added to the bit stream to identify the start of each Figure 1.The AES/EBU digital audio data structure sample in the decoding process. The bit -serial data stream uses the This means that a low voltage indicatesdicates binary one (1). NRZ results in non -return -to -zero (NRZ) coding. binary zero (0) and a high voltage in - the signal voltage remaining constant and not returning to zero between each data bit. As a consequence, information FRAME RA B ilk.intII about signal polarity needs to be trans- DTV ! row in ul ri:m n Eu an mitted to correctly interpret the mes- Half of Europe will have DIV in 2009 sage. Because a single NRZ serial data stream contains no information about the signal polarity, another coding for- 50% - mat is required. The format chosen is 45% the Bi-phase Mark Code (BPM). 40% 35% General structure of the 30% AES/EBU interface protocol 25% The AES/EBU digital audio interface 20% is designed to transmit two channels 15% of digital audio, each using between 16 10% and 24 bits per sample on an electrical 5% wire. The original AES/EBU standard 0% specified the use of a twisted/shielded 2004 2009 wire. A more recent version specifies Years the use of 7512 coaxial cable. The AES/EBU signal format has a SOURCE: Forrester www Forrestercom structure shown in Figure 1. The signal

24 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 signal integration solution.

General Features Supported Standards NTSC, PAL, PAL -N, PAL -M or any ATSC standards. 4801, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080sF Format Conversion INPUT:Composite, SVHS, Component, RGB, SDI, DV* to OUTPUT: Composite, SVHS, Component, RGB, SDI, DV' Genlock HD/SYNC High Definition Synchronizer REFERENCE: Composite Black Burst, or HD tri-level sync. The HD/SYNC is an ALL definition video synchronizer ideally suited Video Test Generator SIGNALS: Various patterns + zone plate + size chart with circle. for HD broadcasters and production facilities, or those planning to Optional 4 Channel Audio Delay make the transition to high definition. The HD/SYNC supports all world SIGNALS: SDI -Embedded audio.; Analog Audio (balanced) 25 F Dsub (Industry standard pinout); AES (unbalanced) standards from SD through HD in either analog or digital formats. Remote Control SERIAL: RS232 / RS422 (SONY pinout) Incorporating full 10 -bit processing, digital FIR filtering, a three- NETWORK: 10/100 ETHERNET dimensional adaptive COMB filter, motion adaptive noise reduction, GPIO: 2 Programmable BNC's for control inputs or outputs. Miscellaneous Features full proc amp controls, and color correction, the HD/SYNC provides TBC/Sync, Auto freeze/trouble slide, Hot switch, Auto Proc superior processing for analog to digital conversion. A built-in test adjust, Noise reduction, Color correction, Audio/Video test signal generator, VITS inserter, Audio embedder/de- signal generator, frame store with linear keyer, and an animated logo embedder, animated logo inserter, User presets, 64 Meg user frame/logo storage, Upload/download stills through inserter, are just some of the extra features that make the HD/SYNC the Ethernet to emulates still store with dissolve/clean cut. FLASH firmware/software upgradable. most versatile synchronizer in the industry. Designed to be future proof,

1 RU x 17 inches x 17 inches case. the HD/SYNC satisfies your needs today, and tomorrow. Power = 100 - 120/120 - 240 VAC 60/50 Hz Auto Switching 'DV (IEEE 1394) can be configured for input or output but not both simultaneously Tel (408) 867-6519

SPECIFICATIONS MAY CHANGE ernelin Fax (408) 926-5177 WITHOUT NOTICE wig.,mage www.primeimageinc.corn California Media Engineering Performance by definition. Tr tiI A A A 1 I

3.072Mb/s Channel status bit (C): The C bit Analog audio 6.144Mb/s channel A carries, in a fixed format, information AES associated with each audio channel word BPM BPM formatter encoder signal that is decodable by any interface user. Analog audio Examples of information to be carried channel B are length of audio sample words, pre - emphasis, sampling frequency and Sync and time codes. associated bits Parity bit (P): A parity bit is provided Figure 2. Conceptual block diagram of an AES/EBU channel encoder to permit the detection of an odd number of errors resulting from malfunc- is transmitted as a succession audio carry associated bits as follows: tions in the interface. The P bit is al- blocks. Each block is made up of 192 Validity bit (V): The V bit is set toways set to indicate an even parity. frames numbered 0 to 191. Each framezero if the audio sample word data are Figure 2 shows a conceptual block is made up of two subframes, subframe correct and suitable for D/A conver- diagram of an AES/EBU encoder. Fig- A and subframe B. Each of thesion. Otherwise, the receiving equip-ure 3 shows how the BPM-encoded subframes is divided into 32 time slots ment is instructed to mute its output signal waveform is obtained from an numbered 0 to 31 and combines sample during the presence of defectiveNRZ data stream. The NRZ is char- data from one audio source or channel,samples. This capability has not been acterized by "ones" having a deter- auxiliary data, sync data mined high value Bit cell and associated data. and "zeros" having a Time slots 0 to 3: determined low These time slots carry value. This means one of the sync words Signal that long strings of 0 0 0 0 1 1 00 0 0 0 0 denoted as X, Y or Z. data zeros and ones have Sync word Z: This bit no transitions and NRZ sequence indicates the encoding result in difficult start of the first frame clock recovery in the of an audio block. receiver. BPM allevi- Sync word X: This BPM ates this condition encoding bit sequence indicates by introducing tran- the start of all remain- Figure 3. Formation of a bi-phase mark encoded signal sitions in the middle ing frames. of each "one" bit in- Sync word Y: This bit sequence in- implemented by all manufacturers,terval. At a 48kHz sampling rate, the dicates the start of every B subframe. and some equipment may not gener-total data rate is 32 x 2 x 48000 = The sync words are not BPM en- ate or verify the sample word validity.3.072Mb/s. The BPM encoding coded. Their structure minimizes the User bit (U): The U bit in eachdoubles the data stream rate to DC component on the transmission subframe is sent to a memory array.6.144Mb/s. Figure 4 shows the re- line and facilitates clock recovery andThe AES18-1992 recommended prac-spective spectra. Figure 5 on page 28 subframe identification as they aretice specifies the format of the usershows a conceptual block diagram of unique in the data stream. data channel of the interface. an AES/EBU decoder. Time slots 4 to 7: These time slots can carry auxiliary information such as a low -quality auxiliary audio channel for producer talkback or studio -to - studio communication. Alternately, NRZ spectrum they can be used to augment the au- BPM spectrum dio word -length to 24 bits. Time slots 8 to 27: These time slots carry 20 bits of audio information starting with LSB and ending with MSB. If the source provides fewer than MHz

20 bits, the unused LSBs will be set to 3.072 6.144 9.216 12.288 15.36 18.432 21.504 24.576 the logical "0:' Time slots 28 to 31: These time slots Figure 4. Spectrum of an AES/EBU digital audio signal

26 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 TAKE THE "HIGH" ROAD

See VelocityHD in action in a city near you!

The "Take the High Road" Tour is ccming this fall to: Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Orlando, L.A., Vancouver, Dallas, Chicago For more info, or to register online, visit www.leitch.com/HighRoadTour

Take Your Editing Performance "Higher"

Discover the freedom to express your creativityinhigh definition without sacrificing productivity. VelocityHD makes HD editing fast and easy. bringing guaranteed, full -quality, Exceptional HD/SD Non -Linear Editing real-time non-linear editing performance to the HD domain. VelocityHD's HD/SD format flexibility offers the best of both Performance for Your Post Production worlds, while its remarkable affordability brings a new level Integrated Content Environment of HD power within your grasp. www.le tch.com/vhd

Winner of Six Awards

rut, r VelocityHD 4.(4000L- 40104,r'' riTEKEOT

Canada +1 poo) 3870233 USA East 2319673 eLEITCH. USA West +t (888)8437004 Latin Amerca +1 (305)5120045 www.leitch.com IrantlintiDi VT! A IrWil11:411.*II

Clock the output signal amplitude, which recovery 0 Analog aucio puts an additional stress on the re- Clock 20kHz channel A ceiver. The standard was revised and LPF AES/EBU Data reissued as AES3-1992. This second BPM signal 0 Data BPM serializer version specifies a receiver input im- slicer decoder nc d demux Analog aucio 20kHz channel B pedance of 11011 and warns against LPF the use of more than one receiver across the feeding cable. The AES3id- Figure 5. Conceptual block diagram of an AES/EBU/ decoder 1996 standard defines the unbalanced Interface characteristics parallel across the audio cable. How- 7511 impedance interface. This version Table I lists the characteristics of two recognizes the need to narrowly I.- ever, it gave no guidance on precau- types of interfaces: balanced and un-tions needed to be taken by the user specify impedance tolerances in terms balanced. The original AES3-1985 or systems integrator. This resulted in of "return loss" and transmitter output signal levels and, if properly 0 standard defined the distribution ofdifficulties with reflections and stand- AES/EBU signals through a twisted -ing waves, as the performance of the implemented, results in a more pre- dictable performance as it is based on AES3-1992 (Revision of AES3-1985) AES-3id-1996 well-known SDTV video signal dis- Transmitter Balanced output with XLR connector Unbalanced output with BNC connecter tribution concepts. However, most characteristics Source impedance: 110±20%0 Source impedance: 750 nominal Balance: <-30dB (to 6MHz) Return loss: >25dB 10.1-6MHz) digital audio equipment is equipped Output signal amplitude: 2 to 7 Vp-p Output signal amplitude: 1Vp-p±10% across 1100 load (balanced) across 7511 load with XLR connectors and conversion Rise and fall time: 5ns to 3Ons DC offset: 0.0 V±50mV to BNC connectors, including the use Jitter: S20ns p -p Rise and fall time: 3Ons to 44ns Jitter: S20ns p -p of 100114o-755/ balun transformers

Receiver Balanced input with XLR connector and signal amplitude normalizers, characteristics Input impedance: 110±20%0 Unbalanced input with BNC connector must be considered. BE Common mode rejection ratio: Up to Input impedance: 750 nominal 7Vp-p to20kHz Return loss: >25dB (0.1MHz to 6MHz) Maximum accepted signal level: 7Vp-p Minimum input level sensitivity: 100mV Michael Robin, a fellow of the SMPTE and Cable specification: Shielded twisted Cable equalization: Optional pair, 100 to 250m maximum former engineer with the Canadian Cable equalization: Optional Broadcasting Corp.'s engineering headquarters, is an independent broadcast Table 1. Interface electrical characteristics consultant located in Montreal, Canada. He is co-author of Digital Television pair shielded audio cable. It specifieddistribution link was unpredictable Fundamentals, published by McGraw-Hill a transmitter source impedance ofand depended on the wide variety of and translated into Chinese and Japanese. 11011 and a receiver input impedanceinstallation conditions encountered in

of 250(1, and it stipulated that up to practice. The unpredictability is com- Send questions and comments to: SEND four receivers could be connected inpounded by the loose specification of [email protected] EasilyConvert BNC to Fiber Digital Video Transport Over Fiber Mini Media Converters Ultra compact...fits anywhere Rugged design for tough environments Provides fiber links to 20km! Satellite Uplinks Field -proven 75ohm BNC to ST singlemode SMPTE HD/SD/SDTI & DVB-ASI Diagnostic interface and status LED 18 module rack available

0.11," ST R ATOS Stratos Lightwave LLC 7444 1N. Wilson Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60706 Telephone: 708-867-9600 Fax: 708-857-4140 www.stratoslightwave.com

28 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 DIGISUPER 25X5 PREMIUM (el)DIGISUPER 23xs STANDARD DIG SUPER 22xs COMPACT Canon's HD Compact Studio Lens. High Quality. Light Weight. Lighter Price.

About 1/3 the weight of standard studio lenses.

Portable HD cameras used in studio, now have a lens the highest possible specifications. This unique lens, they can call their own, Canon's DIGI SUPER 22xs. At which features a focal length of 7.3 - 161mm about 1/3 the weight (13.4 lbs.) of the big lenses, with (14.6 - 322mm with 2X Extender) and is equipped with studio performance features that surpass ENG, this Canon's new rotary encoder servo system, comes compact, economical HDxs lens (XJ22x7.3 BIE-D) is a complete with a Compact Supporter plus your choice of full featured studio tens that provides outstanding three levels of Digital Controls. The 22xs is part of the quality in HD and SD applications. The 22xs lens full line of HD Studio lenses which includes the incorporates Canon's Power Optical System to achieve DIGISUPER 25xs and new DIGISUPER 23xs.

Maximize Your Camera's Performance. Find out more at canonbroadcast.corn

1 -800 -321 -HDTV (Canada: 905-795-2012) KNOW HOW

Canon r iradernarks of Canon Inc in the United Stares (52004 Canon ash.. Mc. Canon a ist Canon Know ern and may also be =_, nd trademarks or trademarks in other countries. omt r N tw rk Enterprise networks BY BRAD GILMER Enterprise networks are usu- scalability. Typically, a server cluster clustering makes good sense in the pro- ally large computer net- costs less than a single -server equiva-duction environment. 4 works that connect many di- lent. Additionally, many implementa- Another way that enterprise net- visions of a large company. The termtions provide increased reliabilityworks grow is to use dedicated serv- may also be applied to hardware andthrough redundancy. Should oneers to provide specific services. When software configurations that are tai- server fail, the others in the cluster au-a network engineer first designs a O lored for large applications spread overtomatically pick up the load. Finally, it small facility, she may choose to de- many sites. As production profession- ploy a single larger server to handle als, we might not consider that our ap- e-mail, file sharing, Web services and plications fall into the enterprise cat- FTP. While some may disagree with egory unless we work for a large media this as a starting point, it's important company. But we can apply many of to recognize that the network engineer the techniques used to support enter- frequently does not have all the money prise applications on our networks. she would like at startup. Combining Even for those who do not work at a services on a single server is a way to large company, it may be useful to have save money while still providing re- an overview of some of the techniques quired functionality. As the organiza- used to support large operations. Figure 1. Server clusters appear as tion grows, it is common to begin to one server to network users. provide dedicated servers for each ser- When one is not enough is possible to build large clusters em-vice. For example, e-mail may be As operations become larger, addi- ploying tens or hundreds of individualmoved to its own server. A dedicated tional traffic strains server capabilities.servers. It may be technically impos- e-mail server allows the network en- More people want to connect to the sible to create the equivalent in a single gineer to add centralized virus and server, and applications running on the monolithic server. For our industry, thespam scanning software - both of server become more complex. For ex-benefits of lower cost, redundancy and which are processor -intensive appli- ample, companies may begin to deployscalability directly apply. Clusters arecations - without affecting other ser- advanced database applications that inherently more complex than a singlevices on the network. Similarly, file perform processing on the server, tax- server. But, beyond a certain size,sharing may start out on a centralized ing network resources. The simple so- server, but later it may lution is to buy a bigger server. These move to servers that are larger servers typically have multiple dedicated to sharing on processors, large amounts of memory a departmental or re- and storage, and multiple network con- gional basis. Enterprise - nections. But what happens when even level Web servers at orga- the largest servers start to become nizations such as FOX, heavily loaded? One solution is to de- CNN, Warner Bros. and ploy multiple servers in a cluster. Fig- others almost universally ure 1 shows a typical server cluster - deploy multiple servers. several smaller servers working together as one. Special software enables Distributing the the cluster to divide the workload load with proxy among different pieces of hardware. To servers the user, the multiple servers appear as Figure 2. A single Web server may run out of One area where broad- resources when demand is high. Production ap- one unit. Benefits of a server clusterplications can use a proxy server to share thecasters are definitely in include reduced cost, redundancy and load between multiple Web servers. the enterprise realm is

30 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 SONY HD Anycam.

Welcome to the HD goalpost cam. HD weather cam. HD :hurch cam. Or HD machine vision cam. Welcome to the Sony HDC-X300, so small and affordable, it boldly goes where no high definition camera has gone before. Switch instantly among60,, 5G, -t-,, 'Por 21P signals via flexible HD -SDI, R/G/B or Y/Pb/Pr outputs. Marvel at Sony's all -new 1/2 -inch 1.5-megapixel CCDs. And benefit from tally, trigger and Slow Shutter. There's even with the matching, digitally -controlled 19x zoom lens. And you can systematize with Sony's LUMAC HD monitors and HDCAM° portable VTR. The Sony HDC-X300 is the definitive high definition camera for anytime... anywhere... anyone. VisitWWW.SONY.COM/HDCX300

LIKE NO OTHER -

2004 Sony Electronics Inc All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Features and specifications subs, to change without notice. Sony, HDCAM, Like No Other, and LUMA are trademarks of Sony Nitwork

Web sites. CNN.com is typically one more than 100 million page views. Anyto this problem usually involve proof the most viewed sites on the Web. way you slice it, that's a lot of traffic.prietary, internally developed software Accordingto www. alexa. com, On the local level, broadcasters mayand hardware. But a practical solution CNN.com was ranked number 40 over find their Web servers taxed beyondexists for smaller facilities. the last week, out of approximatelytheir limits. For instance, a local tele- When someone types in a uniform 44,000 Web sites on the Internet. Invision station in the Southeast mayresource locator (URL) such as November of 2000 (the most recent find that its Web traffic increases sev-www.broadcastengineering.com, he ini- time for which I was able to verify the eral orders of magnitude during andtiate a process called domain -name statistics), CNN's Web sites supportedafter a hurricane. Enterprise solutions resolution. The early architects of the Internet knew that humans would be much happier typing in a domain name than a hard -to -remember set of numbers, such as 207.241.152.157. The domain -name resolution process starts by asking a local domain -name server (DNS) if it knows the IP address for www.broadcastengineering.com. If the local DNS does not know, it passes the question to a higher -level server. The answer to the question ultimately comes from the DNS that is responsible for the broadcastengineering.com domain, controlled by an administrator at Primedia, the publisher for Broadcast Engineering magazine. Once the Web browser knows the IP address, it initiates a conversation with that IP address on port 80, a well-known port for Web servers. Typically, a Web server with that IP address is listening on port 80 and replies, beginning the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session. If many people try to initiate a session with the same server, the server quickly runs out of resources and the Web site becomes unavailable. One way to handle this is to set up a proxy server to listen on port 80 (see MKH Series High Definition Microphones Figure 2). This software then distrib- Bernie Krause knows. In fact, he's a pioneer in nvironmental sound recording and manages utes HTTP session requests to several one of the largest archives of nature recordings identical internal Web servers, based on the planet. His microphones of choice? MKH, of course. Not only for their flat frequency upon various algorithms. Typical al- response, low noise, and true-to-life sound, gorithms include random and round- but Bernie also knows that the MKH series uses unique technology to ensure that robin. The random algorithm assigns environmental extremes are taken in stride. incoming HTTP sessions to servers at He's taken them to the Sahara desert and the deepest jungles, and even retrieved them from random. The round-robin algorithm bears and panthers - still working! When you assigns sessions in order based upon stake your career on getting the right sound, every time, choose Sennheiser MKH. a list of available servers.

Senn). eiser Electronic Corporation 1 Enterprise Drive, Old Lyme, CT 06371 USA Mesh vs. switch Tel: 86c-434-5190 Fax: 860-434-1759 Latin America: TE I: 52 55 5638-1020 Fax: 52 55 5639-9482 Another area where production Cinara-. "!4 47r, c14 1?F, professionals can employ enterprise

Be sure to check out Wild Soundscapes by Bernie Krause. This comprehensive solutions is in the proper selection of book/CD guide :o listening and recording in the wild utilizes Sennheiser's MKH network topologies. One such topol- mics. le hear a !ample andlor order, visit www.wildsanctuary.com ogy is the mesh. Figure 3 shows a mesh

32 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 We Don't Just Think About the Future of Broadcasting, We Are the Future of Broadcasting.

For almost 20 years, Inscriber has been a driving force in the television broadcasting industry and has established a worldwide customer base of over 200,000 installations. Inscriber's longstanding reputation for providing high quality, innovative products with exceptional service and the ability to adapt to a changing market have been the power behind Inscriber's success.

inscriber is the future of broadcasting. Our Inca products for broadcast and post production have set a new standard in on -air graphics capabilities. Based on breakthrough character generators technology developed by Inscriber, multi -layer graphics, effects and video playback are achieved on a single channel. This is why innovative broadcasters like CBC/Radio-Canada newsroom automation have selected Inscriber as their national supplier of character generator equipment. digital signage InfoCaster, the digital signage solution for the next -generation of broadcasting, combines HDTV solutions the same quality graphics and ease of use as our traditional broadcast products with the advanced network management needs of this dynamic field. master control branding With these and other groundbreaking products, it is easy to see why customers like ABC, video servers NBC, CNN, CBC, BBC and Rogers Sportsnet trust Inscriber for their broadcast graphics real-time 2D/3D graphics solutions.

See the future of broadcasting at www.inscriber.com, www.infocaster.tv

Me. South Anwican Solet-16 Peppier Street, Waterloo. Ontario, fa.. NII 3C4 TolTirein +1.600.363.3400 Tel. +1 319.3/0.9111 rani a1.519.510.9140 Kum,. falin-Didaraut 70. 1431E3 Aunt., in*Netherlands Teli +31 391 380930 floc +31.397.330939 nahnisetific Selw-level t, 014 691101, 1.1-3 kilarunotwin, Chiyo0a-Iin Tokyo 100-0003,1apan Ten 81.3.3166.3437 Far +01.3.3213.5353 Inwribor Is a reel...1.44.A end Inca and InfeCaster are trademarks of Inscriber TechnologyCorporation. Mlles product namesmentioned/nay 06 ragIstered trademarks or trademarks of heir respect. cornea.s. Specifications subject to change without notice : :Nitwork A A A II

Render farm 1 Render farm 2 Server Server Server Server Server Server users, we should educate ourselves about 0 1 2 3 1 2 3 what is available from these enterprise 0 storage vendors. 0:1 0 Switch Switch Do you need an enterprise 1 2 solution? This is the ultimate question: Do you I 1047ft\ need an enterprise solution? Typically, Switch Switch Switch Switch an enterprise solution means paying 1 2 3 4 a lot more for the technology. In some cases, the marketing surpasses the re- I- User 1 User 2 User n ality, and what a proposes as an enter- 0 prise solution is really just a way to Figure 3. Mesh networks provide high bandwidth, automatic fault recovery move you up to a more expensive sys- and fastest path routing for demanding production applications such astem. But, in many cases, production rendering. professionals require the bandwidth, network with connections to multiplemanufacturers' implementations ofspeed, reliability and fault tolerance of switches. Not only does a mesh provide mesh networks. enterprise technology. As a technolo- higher bandwidth than a simple gist, the decision may fall to you. Start switched topology; it allows the creation External storage by evaluating whether the increased of a self -healing network. If one switch External storage is one last area where cost of a particular technology is in the mesh fails, traffic is re-routed au- enterprise technology can benefit pro-worth the benefit. Understanding en- tomatically across the mesh. Further-duction professionals. It is common forterprise solutions can help you make more, a mesh automatically looks for the enterprise -server solutions to employ the call. BE fastest path between any two points. large external disk- and tape -storage sys- Mesh networks are powerful tools fortems. Of course, IT -based production Brad Gilmer is executive director of the creating high -bandwidth, fault -toleranthas required this sort of storage for quite AAF Association, executive director of the networks. But network engineers shouldsome time, so this will not be anything Video Services forum, editor in chief of the "File Interchange Handbook," and be aware of design limitations when cre- new. But storage costs continue to fall, president of Gilmer & Associates. ating large networks. All implementa- and it is becoming more feasible for pro- tions of mesh networks limit the maxi- duction professionals to store all of their Send questions and comments to: SEND mum number of switches that can be content online. Companies such as EMC [email protected] contained in a mesh, as well as the maxi- and Hitachi have made a business out mum number of hops between mesh of fine-tuning hardware and microcode ATTENTION R RS! ingress and egress points. These limits in disk subsystems to deliver large Sign up now for are only a problem for the largest mesh amounts of data simultaneously to large BroadcastEngineerinh

networks. Network engineers alsoserver systems. Traditional broadcast Strate

"Omneon is the one server that fits our tight budget, meets all our requirements today Its not just and supports us as our needs change." what you serve. Helge Blucher Vice President Detroit Public Television Its who.

With Omneon SPECTRUM'"" media servers, Detroit Public N implemented a solution that works across their entire operation, was configured precisely to their needs, and can expand in smart, manageable increments-all without replacing the original system and in many cases, without taking the system off-line.

To learn more about the unique advantages of an Omneon UMNEON SPECTRUM media server system visit VI DEONETWORKS News Travels Fast With the Capsat Messenger on-highyou in datathe off can-quality move! .-m-files, sent words pictires,gand ilto multimediareceive and and video even iim.at4, OM Ull - ial 4r, 1 IN -111 it- - 11111 a Now there is rip excuse for * - * inready notanyonethe forworldbeing businessin youravailabletti_r Drganizationmay wherever be.and Transmitting thefrom latest the news work's hot spots is as easy as making a phone call.

sdk/landmobile satellitequality,If you ars lastcommnication, looking and reliable for high - Denma:ii:Thraneisthe your Capsat' ultimate& Thrane Messenger choice. AIS Thrane &Thrane [email protected] 39 53& 88Thrane, CC We bring satellite communication down to earth USAVirginiaSuites509 Viking K 3eacl-L & Drive , VA 23452

.4.

VideooverIP for news acquisition BY MARK BROWN Most news producers quality codecs such as MPEG-4The elements today will say(H.264) and Windows Media 9 The proposed VPNG system is that the way to win (WM9/VC-9) have enabled Very Por- predicated on three major elements: the broadcast news game is to get more table (laptop -based) Newsgatheringthe VidLink Mobile Transmit Unit stories to air faster. Although this ob- (VPNG) systems. In addition, as faster, (VMTU), the VidLink Mobile Re- jective seems simple enough, it is of-more powerful computing platformsceive Unit (VMRU) and the VidLink ten hampered by a lack of necessary are coupling with new IP-based trans-Transceiver System (VTS). equipment and resources required toport and transmission platforms, it A VMTU, which addresses field ac- make it happen. Could advancedseems the industry is poised to takequisition, is a simple, cost-effective codecs and IT -based technologies pro- another step forward. and portable reporter package. Based vide an answer to this quandary? More than a year and a half ago,on commodity platforms, it basically consists of a DV -based camcorder, a laptop computer, and refined but 1) ate simple software compression and Transport Reporter metadata tools. The package allows package reporters in the field to acquire, pre- IP SAT 44i110 Laptop SAT phone Resident station pare and transmit file -based and live VTMU 41111??/11 A content over common, low-costIP Reporter SDI/NT SC Automate networks. It allows them to send con- package Wireless IP File transfer news sery tent not only to an associated station Laptop TCP/IP Content brows but to any station within their group. VTMU Dial -up, ISDN, DSL, T1/E1, etc. The same approach can be integrated Reporter into rack -mount PCs for fixed or ve- package TX station (VMTU): Receive station (VMRU): hicle -mounted applications. -Ingest -FTP server Laptop -Light editing - SQL database The transmit unit allows direct in- VTMU -Metadata attachment - Local viewing station gest of DV -based content through an -Compression - Browser -FTP client IEEE 1394/firewire interface. The DV format provides good perfor- Figure 1.TheVPNG architecture shown here allows for live as well as store -mance, has a low component cost and -forward file -based news coverage. and is well -established in the news IT -based technologies can serve effec-SignaSys began investigating ap- industry. Because non -DV -based tively in areas ranging from contentproaches to IT -based news acquisi- material may also need to be in- production to editing and transmission tion and sharing. One of the fruits ofgested,thesystemsupports applications. But, could these technolo- this investigation is the systemic ar-baseband audio and video. gies also serve reliably and practicallychitecture shown in Figure 1. This Beyond ingest, the system supports in acquiring and sharing both file - VPNG architecture allows for live andlight editing, metadata generation based material and live content? store -and -forward file -based newsand attachment (i.e. script informa- coverage from any reporter armedtion, thumbnail creation, etc.), trans- The IT vision with a camera, laptop and an IP trans-port compression, and transmission Over the past 25 years, videoport link. Upon investigation, addi- of content to the VMRU located at the newsgathering has migrated from ana- tional capabilities emerged, including station or studio. The transmit unit log SNG and microwave -based ENGinterfacility content sharing through can use various communication to digital newsgathering (DNG),streaming live and file -based media modes: satellite phones, Wi-Fi, cell MPEG-2-based compressed systemstransfer applications - a featurephone (GSM/CDMA) IP satellite, and portable systems that includevaluable to station groups. This ar-dial -up, DSL or ISDN. The network videophone technologies. Over the lastticle focuses on the acquisition ca-transport interface uses TCP/IP and two years, the advent of efficient, high-pabilities of such a system. well -developed FTP protocols, so

38broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 LUMA SONY. Sony Prole.lonol LCD Monitor

32". LUMA monitor withmuli-format engine unit. Installsat lengths up to 10m.

New Faithful. For years, an entire industry has been faithful to Sony PVM monitors. But now there's something better. Sony LUMA" series LCD monitors are dramatically more space efficient. More energy efficient. More flexible. Impervious to flicker and less vulnerable to ambient light. LUMA monitors have the faithful pictures, brightness, contrast, color depth and viewing angle you expect from Sony. Plus Multi -Format Signal Support, Area Markers, Blue -Only and other production features that video professionals require. And Sony offers a choice of 32, 23 and 17 -inch widescreen or 21 -inch" 4:3 sizes. Sony LUMA" monitors. The all -new way to keep the faith. VISIT WWW.SONY.COM/LUMA

Protect your investment with a Sony SupportNET'' Service Contract. Call 1-800-304-7533.

LIKE NO OTHER" Product' is A A ID ID 2 41

interfacing to the various communi-works), FTP permits the download towas selected as the transmission-com- cation modes is straightforward. resume at the point of interruptionpression algorithm for both live and Transport protocols Efficient tools to browse forwarded field content FTP is the preferred way to transport store -and -forward video clipsMIME are key to a streamlined workflow. and associated metadata files because,instead of requiring the retransmis- file -based material. VC -9 professional if the file download process is inter-sion of the complete file. The Win-uses encoding algorithms similar to rupted (as it often is on public net-dows Media 9 (WM9/VC-9) codecthat of MPEG-4 (H.264) to provide a bit -rate savings two to three times that of MPEG-2. In support of live applications, the system would employ VC -9 over User Datagram Protocol (UDP). In news NEXUS applications, UDP is tolerant of network disruptions, degrades gracefully (dropping frames instead of experi- encing system lockups) and requires less protocol overhead. During system testing of live transmission, packet buffering was modi-

,.. ii fied to support total system delays of

less than 500ms instead of the six to weak 44.40 10 seconds common in VC -9 and 40 z other advanced video codecs. This allows reporters or anchors to use the I system for interviews or conversa- 01,I _00 tions. In certain compression modes, lip sync issues can be a problem. The II. ',trio solution is to modify the audio codec i 6 0 to allow audio packetization and

transport to take place prior to the video packetization and transport. This affords the decoder sufficient time to properly decode the audio packets and reference them to associ- Digital Audio Routing System ated video frames. File access NEXUS is the integrated solution for digital audio routing: At the station, easy retrieval and in- each 19" base device is a router, format converter and audio processor in one compact unit. Connected via glass fibre, they gest of video and audio and metadata, form decentralized networks of any desired size - with mini- is important. Efficient tools to browse mum cabling and maximum reliability. A unique concept that Industriegebtet See 0-96155 Buttenheim forwarded field content, as well as file has won over users in hundreds of installations throughout Phone +49 9545 440-0 the world. Fax: +49 9545 440 -333 and metadata compatibility with ex- [email protected] www.stagetec.com isting automated news production en- Large routing capacity and dynamic signal path circuit Delay -free signal processing vironments, are key to a streamlined Excellent audio quality through 28 -bit TrueMatch converter workflow. As previously noted, the Numerous special DPS functions receiver located at the station acquires Modules for all common audio formats available / Programmable GPI contacts for signalization and external control SALZBRIENNER, information from the field through STAG ETEC Compact, light and extremely reliable in operation MEDIAGROUP the FTP client/server interface. Once the system acquires the file -based content, assigned journalists can browse it and check it for integrity at their work- stations, or the system can play it directly to air. If required, the video and audio

40 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Advertisement

Ross Video Introduces 10 New Multi -Definition Synergy Switchers \Cr K / SYNERGY MD/MD-X 1", r7BroadcastEmineeringt: MULTI -DEFINITION PRODUCTION SWITCHERS The Synergy MD and MD -X series Using the absolute latest technolo- offers models ranging from thegy, these switchers are full of stan- compact and powerful Synergy 100dard features at a price point that ,i14.711441I.V. MD single ME switcher to the extraputs a multi -definition switcher large, hyper powerful Synergy 4within reach of a typical mid -market OVERDRIVE PRODUCTION MD -X 4 ME switcher. Synergy MD customer. CONTROL SYSTEM and MD -X support all popular for- www.rossvideo.com/synergy/ mats of HD and SD out of the box. switchers.html OverDrive is a powerful production control system that enables touch screen control over devices used in productions such as news, sports or live events.OverDrive integrates with the Synergy SD and MDX series of production switchers, ROSS leveraging powerful control interfaces over video servers, VTRs, DDRs, audio mixers, robotic cameras, routers, still stores and more. Cool Practical Technology www.rossvideo.com/overdrive/ overdriveoverview.html

NEW! Synergy MD/MD-X Multi -Definition Production Switchers

1=11110 Synergy SD TALIA NK ROUTING The NK Series is a new line of Digital Production Switchers compact and cost effective routing switchers. NK routers are available Ross RVS Series in sizes of 16x16 or 32x32 and in a Analog Production Switchers full range of signal formats includ- ingserial digital, analog video, AES/EBU, analog audio and data NEW! OverDrive routing. NK ships with a powerful web browser based configuration Production Control System system and is available immediately. Tai aRouting Systems www.rossvideo.com/talia/nk/ nk overview.html NKCompact Routing Systems GEARLITE MD GearLite Mll is a line of Multi - Definition (High Definition & RossGear StandardDefinition)products. Terrr inal Equipment TheseincludetheDAC-9213 Multi -Definition Digital to Analog Converter, the SRA-9201 Multi - GearLite Definition Reclocking DA, and the COMDact Terminal Equipment SEA -9203 Multi - Definition Serial Equalizing NEW! GearLite MD Amplifier. Compact Multi -Definition A -PVM version of Terminal Equipmment the DAC-9213 is used specifically www.rossvideo.com for Sony PVM/BVM monitors. tel. (613)652-4886fax: (613)652-4425email: soitit orisrossvicleo.com Sony, PVM and BVM are trademarks of Sony ( http://www.rossvideo.com/gearlite/ gearlite.html Pr duction VIM 141141: 112 ii

can be translated automatically (orCompression tools onstrated similar strengths and weak- manually) to a file format compatible All compression and metadata soft- nesses. In each case, the system proved with a station's newsroom production ware tools for supporting both store -to be much quicker to deploy and get system. This includes file formats com- and -forward and live modes must beinformation back to the station than patible with Avid (OMFI) and Pinnacleeasy to use yet flexible enough to ac-the standard approach. The system (DV25). The baseband digital and ana- count for the varying transport linkwas fairly easy to operate, but requires log outputs allow for decompressedand quality requirements that maysome training. transfer and record as well as quality arise in the field. Thus, the system uses Each trial has shown the system to checks or real-time play -to -air. Received compression profiles to simplify op-be reliable if configured properly. Full metadata is accessed through an SQLerator compression settings. This al-system integration has proven to be database query or extracted directlylows operators to preset compression moderately difficult, and it will require from the browser through standard cut parameters and to select compressionRF- and IT -savvy individuals to get a and paste techniques. profiles based on familiar terms suchfull system up and running. Image as fast motion or talking heads. If needquality from these systems has been Decoders be, operators and individuals that are very good but, for live feeds, the qual- Live content received at the studiomore familiar with compression tech-ity is bandwidth -dependent. Overall is handled by tightly coupled decod- nology have easy access to create orcost-effectiveness of the system has ers integrated into the IP-addressablemodify compression profiles. been exceptional. This type of IP- receivers. These VC -9 decoders are based store -and -forward ENG system responsible for decoding incomingSummary could represent the future of TV live streams to digital or analog SignaSys put together a system, newsgathering. BE baseband, allowing for interface intoperformed various factory trials and the plant infrastructure. The streamsdeployed it for field tests. Although Mark Brown is the executive vice can then be recorded or staged for air. each trial was unique, they all dem- president and CTO of SignaSys.

Whether your application is video or audio broadcast, Pomona. home entertainment cr multi -purpose systems, ELECTRONICS Pomona parts deliver outstanding quality and value.

Clean signals. No sweat.

Never worry about signal purity again with Pomona 75 ,(_2 connectors. = lIn

75 a Digital BNC Panel Adapter # 6705

To request a brochure, go to www.pomonaelectronics.com/75ohm or call 1-800-490-2361

When everything is riding on your your connections, choose Pomona.

42 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 f416.1 04:t ;14444 -

.carno I ,t%4 r I rw.n.<1 elmex4a +set* Oa a3.0 SI 146,4,4411

40/.144 134.4* 1114.441,4111 P0404.04

14.

VTM-420HD/SD US Patents 6,069,607and 6,532,024 UK Patent 2.330,475 Other US and International Patents Pending

Videotek Continues to Dominate On Screen Test and Measurement

Building on a 30 -year commitment to the televisionindustry and Emmy winning technology, Videotek's VTM-400HD series of test and measurement instruments are innovatively designed as complete system solutions for HD, SD and composite formats. The 400 Series conquers high definition needs with features such as an intuitive gamut display, pixel zoom, HD and SD data analysis, eye pattern, 708 closed caption display, lip -sync and loudness monitoring, Metadata display and alarms, plus Dolby® surround decoding and display. Get in the game-call one of our product specialists today!

Dolby' is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.

00I14f r VIDEO P FREEST VIDEOTEK YEAR WARRANTY A ZERO DEFECTS COMPANY

Toll Free: 800-800-5719 Direct: 610-327-2292 www.videotek.com newstudios do HD and surround By Bob Ayars n April 12, 2004, theunusual thing about this event is thatshared with the Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Philliesthe Wachovia Center is several cityMid -Atlantic network, which serves Major League Baseballblocks away from the actual stadium.Washington, DC, Baltimore and the team0 took the field for their inaugu- The 24 -hour regional sports net- surrounding areas. The two networks ral home game against the Cincin-work has broadcast HD video withwanted to maximize the number of nati Reds at Citizens Bank Park, with5.1 audio for a selection of gamesHD events each carried, so they de- simultaneous HD and SD broadcastsince 2003 from an HD mobile unitveloped a plan to send the mobile production taking place in Comcast Comcast's event -control room includes two Sony 24 -inch HD monitors and SportsNet's (CSN) newly refur- KRK monitors equipped with 5.1 surround -sound monitoring. Photos by bished Wachovia Center facility. The Dave King. Photo illustration by Robin Morsbach, associate art director.

44 broadcastengineering.cori SEPTEMBER 2004 Inter BEE 2004 International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition 2004 November 17-19, 2004Makuhari Messe(Nippon Convention Center)

ea lonaroadcast Equipment Exhibition 4

ELuielL15111154.. 511 110454 0341:11S5W1 1145. 2a,11513 IPMn^ft.

sm gavels 5 11911--.11, SEII 125I

i.$)CAST The Crystal Ball of Broadcasting

What will you be watching and hearing in the future? If you're interested in the Inter BEE ,I changing outlook of broadcast, video, and audio technology, join the experts at this year's International Broadcast Equipment Exhibition (Inter BEE 2004). Exhibition Categories This important event promises to draw more than 600 exhibitors showcasing cutting - *Audio Equipment*Cameras and Related Equipment edge systems and 30,000 visitors, many from the industry and related fields around the *Recording Equipment world. It's a chance to attend symposiums and seminars led by hardware and software *Editing and Production Equipment producers and developers, as well as broadcasters, and share insights with industry *Electronic Displays*System Conversion Equipment leaders. *Output Systems*Relay Systems *Transmission Systems*Lighting Equipment See how new broadcast technology may affect your future - come to Inter BEE 2004. *Measuring Equipment*Transmission Cables *Electric Power Units *HDTV Systems For more information on Inter BEE 2004, contact: *Satellite Broadcasting Systems*Virtual Systems Japan Electronics Show Association ECG Production Systems ODVD Systems Sumitomo Shibadaimon Bldg. 2 Gokan, 1-12-16, Shibadaimon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0012, Japan *Multimedia Systems*Software Fax.: +81-3-5402-7605E-mail: [email protected]: http://bee.jesa.or.jp/ *Multiplex Broadcasting Systems*Others TECHNOLOGY!

Wachorla center Every PowerCharger, Audio Control 0100 Every HyTRON 120, Console Netaridge Cats 56 faders IR gateway Ethernet TCP/IP file ProPac, and Trimpac transter & diagnostics Battery are 150 control Covered by Our sables 'Three Year Redundant power 96 AES 10 C-58 MaxxTM Warranty. Stagebox 144 line 50 'phones cutout 60 GPI I/0 12 line outputs 36 sec inputs 48 nec inputs 36 split cutouts 5.200 redundant single -mode fibers 48 Split outputs

Wachoyie Center Machine Room Redundant down Redundantpower Citizens Bank Park

Figure 1. Location and interconnection of the digital audio console components, showing power and signal redundancy. Long-distance fiber and CAT5 connections provide remote signal acquisition and diagnostics, respectively. Diagram by Andrew Clark/SSL unit to Mid -Atlantic full-time and re- 12 line outputs and a headphone jack place it with a permanent facility infor local confidence monitoring. An- Philadelphia. nouncer mics, camera/field mics and Maxx PA feeds currently occupy two-thirds The process of these inputs. In November 2003, the network Maxx stripped its original SD productionSports in 5.1 suite bare and the design team began In addition to controlling the C-SB Maxx installating the new HD facility. To I/O unit, the SSL audio console pro- cover all three sports from a single vides facilities for fast and accurate 5.1 production facility, the ballpark mi-audio production. Mixing in 5.1 can Maxx crophones had to be connected to thebe a daunting prospect for engineers audio mixing booth through a serieswho have not experimented with the of conduits more than a mile long.possibilities of the format, but Mike Maxx Bexel BBS Fiber laid a 72 -strand,Giacalone, lead audio mixer for single -mode fiber to connect the vari- Comcast, has developed his own rules It's all part of the standard. ous audio devices between the two of thumb to anchor the mix to the pic- sites, as shown in Figure 1. A Solidture, while still using some artistic li- State Logic C-SB remote mic stagebox cense to bring home the excitement under remote control by the SSL C100 of being there. digital audio console handles the re- To do this for baseball, Giacalone mote capture of mic signals and se- places the crowd ambience only into lected cue feeds back to the ballpark. the rear of the mix, using a mixture The new facility uses Telecast Fiberof Crown and Shure stereo mics The worldwide standard °" Systems' Adder 161 and Adder 8821 slung above the fans in left -center units for intercom and IFB. outfield to pick up the excitement and For information contact Anton/Bauer The mic stagebox uses multimode reaction of the crowd without high- or any Anton/Bauer dealer fiber for runs up to 1800 feet. But, forlighting individual fans. He blends or distributor worldwide. the Comcast installation, Solid Statefront effects and a few home -plate Logic developed a single -mode fibershotgun mics sparingly into the rear Anton/Bauer, Inc. 14 Progress Drive, option that could transport audio sig- as well to give a fuller sound. The Shelton, Connecticut 06484 USA nals up to 15 miles. The option has Sennheiser shotgun mics on the low - (203) 929-1100 Fax (203) 925-4988 redundant fiber and power supplies, www antonbauer.com angle cameras also go partly to the supporting 48 analog mic preamps, rear, although not hard panned, to

46broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 HE4000: HD AND SD Encoder RadI'lltr Con 11.4'11,1,1111 (.011107,11 AdvancedHDFront and Panel SD"PUREPEG" EncodingMonitor Technology SimultaneouslyEnhanced Low IBit Rate Performarce San Diego: 858-458-1800hoenix: 602-437-9620 TIERNAN Satellite1 MB/s to and 160 Terrestrial MB/s InterfacesAbsclute Finest Picture Quality www.tiernan.comwww.radn.comAmerica:3eijing:Singapore:UK: 44-1420-540233 858-458-180086-1C-65831975 65-6225-4016 cr c....kc',_ - NetkCO avoid mismatching the so 4,17 41 audio and picture when the director chooses one of those cameras. Announce mics are locked into the center channel. In addition, the three spot mics pointing toward the plate from the catcher and baselines are panned as they appear, except that the center mic uses the console's divergence control to place it in "phantom center:' feeding signal equally to left and right buses. The audio mixer uses the music, effects and PA sources to create each broadcast's LFE signal. In a typical production, there may be six different mixes for the various network feeds, including simultaneous 5.1 mixes for HD, international, NBA and MLB feeds, and surround -effects stem, plus stereo for analog TV. Multichannel replay Another major audio challenge in any HDTV environment is the replay of 5.1 An SSL C100 digital broadcast console generates 5.1 surround, stereo and mono mixes for production and distribution to Comcast SportsNet's two sources, such as effects, music or evenstadium locations: the Wachovia Center basketball/hockey arena and Citi- the action replays. The facility uses azens Bank Park baseball stadium. 360 Systems' Digicart with Dolby E encode/decode units wrapped aroundchannel operation and uses them forboard device or, more often, in the SSL them to allow 5.1 audio through their dual format, simultaneous 5.1 and ste- console. two -channel interfaces. The facility has reo. Other stereo sources are synthe- With the flexibility of its new produc- upgraded three EVS servers for eight -sized to surround either with an out- tion facility, Comcast SportsNet is able

Flexiscope...

HD and SD waveform, vector and audio, measurement and monitoring using Patented all digital processing - ALL in the CA PALM of your hand! to IT'S ALL YOU EVER WANTED! Covers ALL HD, SD, SDI standards, plus CAV, Composite, YC and DV with plug in options.

Yov cao Exceed your Expectation

TEL: (949) 916-1070 TOLLFREE: 866 -4 -HAMLETE -Mail: [email protected] Web the: www.hamlet.us.com HAMLET UK Tel: .44 (0) 1494 729 728Freephone (UK): 0500 625 525E -Mall: [email protected] EXCELLENCE IN VISION Web site: www.hamlet.co.uk

48broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Botag keen Service .1111A

SCREEN SERVICE 11ALIA Sri Via G Vittorio, 17 - 25125 Brescia - Italy Tel.+39 030 3582225 Fax -39 030 3582226 digitaltfa ,aio_ wwwsuvenit e- mail: [email protected]

A single equipment allows transmitting digital (DVB-T or ATSC) or analogue signals digitally generated and of extreme high quality. The commutation between analogue and digital mode can be Iccal or by any remote control system or by a command inserted into the Transport Stream. iN511:10Cib ((NB - DH I OW (ATSC)

t.r ti,r,

1111.1.1111'1 poi 111 I 3i. I Dual ASI input with i'..,I1188110111111 statistical analysis 11011. and automatic switching - PCR re -stamping - Control of the crest factor - Integrated SFN adaptor - Management of

11 II IN the "null packets" 1ff - Integrated test modes

111111111111111111111111111111100 - Integrated offset at steps of 1 Hz D - I!II -. 4.cp II S 44,0 to produce home games 6000feet away, to operators in the new AF Associates: 4;10 for all three teams from aWachovia Center, it feels like it is lo- Graham Bentley single live -event -control room. cated next door. The new facility allows Randy Silvermanr, lead engineer Although the baseball stadium isthe network to deliver exciting and re- Comcast SportENet: alistic major sporting events to its view- Bob Ayars, vice president of ers, while raising the bar for modern technical operat ons Equipment Dave Finocchiaro, assistant sports production. BE list director of engineering Solid State Logic Bob Ayars is vice president of technical Mike Giacalone, lead audio mixer operations for Comcast SportsNet. Dick Miller, direc:or of engineering C100 audio console C-SB stagebox Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun mics ME67 mics Shure VP88 stereo mics Crown PCC 160 mics KRK V8 loudspeakers Alesis Monitor One loudspeakers Telecast Fiber Systems Adder 161 and Adder 8821 interfaces Wohler audio monitors EVS HD-LSM servers 360 Systems Digicart/E rec/rep machines Dolby 571, 572 and 569 encode/ decoders Sony HD -CAM 2000 VTRs Digital audio router Processing and distribution HD cameras MV8000 switcher RTS Adam system The Wachovia Center machine room connects the console with the stagebox at Citizens Bank Park via 5200 feet of redundant single -mode fibers.

flward-winning multi-format router with built-in Signal Processing Technology"' (SPT)

Xenon's plug-in SPT modules let you bring additional hardware functions into the router, saving money and rack space while simplifying system design

II rI es Ielude: Channel Branding Master Control Quad Split Embedded AudicP

Get your IIROCHUlti erne NOVI,

50 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2034 Be Sure with Euphonix Digital Broadcast Consoles

...beyond the studio into space Euphonix System 5 Launches into Space

Going up? The Euphonix System 5 all -digital audio console will be. Broadcasting major shows on Earth like the royal wedding of the century in Spain, the New Zealand Golf Open and the Australian Tennis Open is not enough, Euphonix has a new mission in front of it-outer space.

NASA's Johnson Space Center now has a System 5 audio mixing The console will be used for 24 -hour coverage of Space Shuttle console. The 64 fader console with 130 channels of processing missions, press conferences, in-house productions, live media will be based in the Houston Audio Control Room at JSC to interviews with the Space Shuttle and International Space transmit audio between all NASA centers around the country, Station, and live interactive events from Russia and other partner partner space agencies around the world, the International countries. The System 5 will also serve as primary backup Space Station orbiting the Earth and the Space Shuttle upon equipment to the Space Shuttle Air -to -Ground system during its Return to Flight mission planned for next year. Space Shuttle flights.

Euphonix Max Air Goes Remote with Another PBSStation- Milwaukee Public Television

Euphonix is becoming increasingly popular with public broadcast stations across the nation. The audio manufacturing company has done installs coast to coast for PBS from KCET in Los Angeles, CA to WEDU in Tampa, Florida. Milwaukee Public Television is just the latest. A newly purchased, 48 -channel Max Air digital audio console is being installed in Milwaukee Public Television's new high -definition remote unit.

Senior Engineer, Brian McArthur, commented, "We were very impressed by the console's versatility, dependability and power. The console ranked high above the others. Being able to change the channel layout to suit the situation makes this board one of the more flexible mixing desks around. By having a Max Air digital audio console in our new HD truck, our audio engineers can feel comfortable getting through high-pressure situations in a remote environment."

SYSTEN15B Max Air

Max Air is a compact and cost effective on -air digital audio mixing solution. is Euphonix's Max Air has 96 channels, top of the line 32 mix busses, 12 aux sends digital audio broadcast and 24 mix minus/clean feeds plus a dedicated mix minus bus mixing system designed with N-1 feeds from each channel. Each channel strip includes for larger installations. 4 knobs, with a central assignable Superchannel. Max Air has System 5-B has 8 knobs per been designed to be fast, easy to learn and use, with a highly channel, hi-res stereo meters intuitive touch screen display for master functions. next to each fader and a color TFT screen at the top of each channel Both systems make use of the same rugged routing, DSP and I/O showing routing, metering and panning graphs. The system can hardware, and both have comprehensive redundancy packages be expanded with over 300 channels and can be fitted with full designed for reliable on -air operation. Each console is fully dynamic automation for live/post applications. 5.1 surround capable. Top Rated NBC Affiliate, Euphonix System 5 WTMJ to Broadcast with at KNBC in Los an All -Digital Euphonix Angeles-one of five Euphonix Max Air Audio Console consoles on the NBC Burbank lot. Wisconsin's television leader, an NBC affiliate which has been broadcasting to viewers for over 55 years, has just recently installed a Euphonix Max Air all -digital audio console. The 96 channel 40 fader console went on -air in August without a hitch.

WTMJ Chief Engineer, Tony Lucas commented, "The Euphonix Max Air offered all the quality and expertise that we were looking for. We are very pleased with our decision." Euphonix Max Air Digital Euphonix Enters One Mixing Console of Latin America's Most Ca ptures Important TV Markets Royal Wedding

It should come as of the Century no surprise that the most highly regarded broadcast television Roya,s from across Europe gathered in Madrid to celebrate the channel in the Argentina wedding of Prince Felipe this year. The event was noted as the market, Canal 13 in 'wedding of the century' and TVE was able to capture it all with Buenos Aires, will be the help of the Euphonix Max Air digital mixing console. installing an all digital audioconsole. The television station has selected the Euphonix The audio program feed for the royal wedding was mixed on a 32 - Max Air digital audio mixing console for their studio. The 32 -fader fader, 96 -channel Max Air broadcast console, supplied by Eumovil. console will be used for popular Latin American shows such as In front of the console were TVE's operators Alfonso M. Arahuetes, Caiga Quien Caiga, Pulsaciones, Ftitbol de Primera and Telenoche Gabriel Solsona and Javier Llorente, who commented afterwards, Investiga along with various dramas, game shows and talk shows. "The Max Air mixing console worked exceptionally well for this important event. The console has an analogue like control surface Technical Manager of Canal 13, Eduardo Bayo commented on and great EQ which we really enjoyed using. Most importantly, it was the decision to purchase Max Air, "The Euphonix Max Air was extremely reliable and easy to learn and use." All three operators the most user friendly and flexible console we could find on the began learning how to use the console just a few days prior to the market. We were looking for a product to fit our present needs event. The continuous six hours of programming was sucessfully and leave room for future expansions; the Max Air does it all." transmitted to an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide.

IIIIIIIngrgnncntlijilrrjliPNIRN3PngFrirrIPSIWI Learn More At:

Max Air Training System 5-B & Max Air & Overview DVD Guided Tour Booklets

ttal Audio for Broadcast Check out the latest DVD Two recently cot"'"'d""'I"°'"' from Euphonix. The Max Air published MaxAir 5.157"A311 36 page Guided Tour Tour DVD takes a close look Guidedlour at the Max Air all -digital high -esolution broadcast console. It includes pdf documents a 15 minute video guided take an in-depth tour of the Max Air system look at these covering all the main features. popular and Also included is an operational powerful on -air tutorial, which can be used audio mixing as a hands-on introduction to systems. Go to the working with Max Air, as well broadcast section of as a reference for those already the Euphonix Web site familiar with the console. and then to the Max Air or System 5-B pages. Max Air Broadcast Tour Heads to Europe Following two years of demonstrations in over 100 cities in the USA, the Max Air Broadcast Tour crosses the Atlantic for a four month tour of Europe passing through 11 countries in the EU. The European tour will kick off at the IBC convention European Max Air Broadcast Tour Dates in Amsterdam. 2004 - 2005 This specially -commissioned truck is outfitted with a 96 -channel Max Air The Max Air Tour will be passing through the following mixing system and is set-up to simulate a local TV station countries in Europe: digital audio control room. The truck can come directly Netherlands - Euphonix Europe +4410) 20 7267 1226 to your station so that operators, technicians, and management Poland - Polsound +48 (22) 751-84-87 can get a hands-on demonstration of the Max Air digital audio mixing console. Czech Republic - Mediatronik Professional sro +420 224 310 929 Hungary - Euphonix Europe +44 (0)20 7267 1226 If your station is located in one of the cities and you would like Austria - Euphonix Europe +44 (0)2072671226 the Tour to stop by your facility, please contact our Euphonix Europe Administrator, Jenny Langridge, at +44 (0) 20 7267 1226 Croatia - Euphonix Europe +44 (0)2072671226 [jlanzidgeOeuphonix.com] or contact your local Euphonix Slovenia - AVC group d.o.o +386(0) 1 53078 70 distributor. Italy - Feel Communications +39)0149 8701075 France - 44.1, +33 1 4246 0186

About Euphonix Spain - Telco Electronics S.A. +34 91 531 7101 Euphonix is a leading manufacturer of large format digital Portugal - Euphonix Europe +44 (0)20 7267 1226 audio mixing consoles, converters and routers for live United Kingdom - Euphonix Europe +44(0120 7267 1226 broadcast applications. This year Euphonix Ireland - Euphonix Europe +44 (0(20 7267 1226 celebrates 16 years of success and innovation in the professional Visit the Max Air Tour at the following exhibitions in Europe: audio industry. Founded in 1988 in the Silicon Valley, Euphonix has Fri Sep 10 - Wed Sep 15, IBC - Netherlands satisfied more large format digital Wed Oct 13 - Sat Oct 16, IBTS - Italy console users worldwide than any other manufacturer. For tour dates and the most up-to-date tour news and international listings, please see our Web site at: www.euphonix.com/tour The Euphonix broadcast product line includes the all -digital System 5-B and System 5 -BP mixing consoles, and the powerful new Max Air mixing system The companies listed below have provided audio and video designed to make the transition to digital affordable for equipment that interfaces with Max Air to help create a realistic all stations. Euphonix maintains direct sales and service state-of-the-art digital broadcast environment, facilities around the world together with an extensive Miranda - Kaleido-K2 Monitor Wall Processor network of distributors. Pioneer - PDP-433CMX 43- plasma display

360 SystemsClear-Com DK-Audio America With over 150 audio mixing systems installed in on -air TV Dolby LaboratoriesGenelecNVISION TC Electronic TerraSonde Wohler Technologies broadcast facilities, Euphonix has a strong and loyal client base including ABC & Seven Network Australia, Canal + France, CCTV China, CBC Canada, NHK Japan, Television New Zealand, and in the US, NASA, CNN, Harpo (Oprah), Lakewood Headquarters: Church, KCBS, KNBC, National Mobile Television, NBC Network Palo Alto, CA, USA (650) 855-0400 News, NBC (Tonight Show), Paramount Pictures, Telemundo, (Pacrim Sales Distribution, Tech Support, Manufacturing, and R&D) Tribune Broadcasting, TUTV Puerto Rico, WCPO (ABC), KQED (PBS), and WELD (Fox). Local Sales & Support Centers: West USA & S. America - Los Angeles, CA, USA (818) 766-1666 South & Central USA - Nashville, TN, USA 1615) 327-2933 North East USA - New York, NY, USA (212) 889-6869 Europe - London, UK +44 (0)20 7267-1226 llifilifix Japan - Tokyo, Japan +81 (013 3288-4423 www.etiphonix.com

CD2004 Euphonix, Inc All rIghts reserved. Max Au, System 5, System 5-8, and System 5 -BP are trademarks of Euphonix Inc 220 Portage Avenue Palo Alto. CA 94306 Phone. (6501855-0400 Fax. 16501 855-0410 11.asa www.broadcastanginsenng.com

iJi

Thesnows U)

(and ice) cometh m BY DON MARKLEY Winter is approaching and a 1500 -foot tower east of Urbana, time. Both usually don't occur at the rapidly, and stations IL. The 1800 -foot tower fell only due same time. But when they do, it rains in many states must to the weight of ice involved. Pieces ofsteel. A good tower will stand a lot of O m deal with its perils. That includes wind, ice more than a foot thick were fallingice or a lot of wind. But when a freak snow, ice, freezing rain and cold that off the tower before the legs simplystorm with both wind and ice hits, it makes tower work miserable. collapsed. The legs seemed to telescope can quickly exceed the tower's design L") To prepare for this annual onslaught, for about 200 feet near the top beforespecifications. Look at it this way: stations must inspect the tower, pay-guy wires failed and the tower col-When an 80mph wind hits a 2 -inch - ing careful attention to the lightinglapsed. The other two big Illinois tow- diameter tower leg, the wind load on system and transmission line hard- ers that fell in that storm came downthe leg is about 18.5 pounds per ware. Smaller hardware items experience more trouble in cold weather. Ice tends to build, creating higher wind It's far better to get everything fixed during the loads, more vibration and higher - than -normal component failure. And summer when working conditions are easier. repairs to this hardware are likely to cost significantly more during thewhen the ice built up to a really sig-square foot or 3.1 pounds per foot of winter. It takes more time to get thenificant depth and then the winds ar- element length. Add a 2 -inch thick O work done, weather delays are more rived. In 1977, the same problem re-coating of ice and that load increases likely, and the hourly rate for climb- peated in the same area, bringingto 9.3 pounds per foot of element ers may go up. It's far better to get ev-down several towers including a talllength. This is based on the force be- erything fixed during the summer television tower in Decatur, IL. ing equal to 0.0044 x V2 x 0.67 when working conditions are easier. When dealing with calculations forpounds per square foot, where the The presence of ice changes thingswind load on towers, stations in somevalue 0.0044 is an empirically derived in a really big way. First, and perhaps colder areas routinely take ice into ac- constant, V is the velocity of the wind least consequential, is that it makes count. They assume that either thickin miles per hour, and the 0.67 term working on the tower virtually im-ice or wind will occur at any givenconverts the load on a flat surface to possible. When ladders and tower members become covered with ice, A - no matter how thin, it is extremely North Americans lu in dangerous for tower workers. Prob- Big leap in the number of networked homes expected by 2009 lems that occur during those conditions will probably stay unfixed until nature decides otherwise. A second and much more serious problem is simply the weight associated with a heavy ice buildup. There are areas where significant ice becomes a problem, and those areas aren't necessarily where one would expect. For example, there seems to be a belt across northern Missouri, central Illinois and central Indiana that calls to the ice gods. In 1964, a storm across that belt caused towers to fall, including an 1800 -foot stick in Illinois, SOURCE: Consumer Electronics Association www.ce.org a 500 -foot tower in Champaign, IL,

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 55 a curved surface. And, before the shone on one side of the towers morenormally plan on ice thickness of a 0 e-mail starts to arrive, no, the calcu- than the other. As the ice started melt- foot or more. lation isn't exact, but it's closeing on the sunny side, the load on the The last problem that ice presents is enough for the point of this article.towers became progressively lessthat ice falling all by itself, unaccom- The tower that was designed to with-symmetrical. Finally, the unbalancedpanied by the tower, can pose a dan- CC stand that 80mph wind with noload caused a leg to blow out, bring-ger to people and property. Falling ice problem now presents a significantly L1.1 ing the tower down like a gut -shot cat. is always one of the points raised in

I- larger surface and has to stand theThe staff from stations at the firstzoning battles concerning towers. The subsequent load increase. failed tower called the other site andpersons who bring up the point about In the absence of wind, an extremesuggested that they might want tofalling ice usually support their argu- buildup of ice can simply weigh aleave the immediate area of the towerment with an article from a 1936 copy tower down to the point that the legs base. Shortly after everyone was clear, of Mechanics Illustrated or some other can't possibly support the load. Thatthe second tower joined its brotherhigh-level text. was the problem with the 1800 -footon the ground. Several years ago, a careful study of to tower in Illinois in 1964. Also, sev- The problem in those failures wasn'tfalling ice was made for a zoning eral years ago, a really freak ice stormwind at all. In fact, those failures allhearing in Iowa. It determined sev- 0 loaded two 2000 -foot towers at Ra-occurred during conditions of littleeral things that seem to be well sup- leigh, NC. They were first-class tow-wind. Moreover, they were conditions ported by discussions with operators In ers from Kline that were built to sup- for which you can't reasonably design. of several high towers. First, the report multiple antennas. That is to say, The load conditions were far beyond ally heavy stuff will almost always fall they were mammoth structures builtthe terms of any version of RS -222 -within the inner guy points. Second, to strict standards. They survived thethey were freaks. Just as one does notfalling ice reaches its terminal veloc- in ice buildup until the next day. Then,normally design for the wind loadsity after about 100 feet. The horizon- - the sun was so inconsiderate that itinvolved in tornados, designs don'ttal distance the ice travels away from (I)

Signal Acquisition Solution SERIES efeeds, ingest areas and remote trucks

Video Processing Frame Syncs: A 7500 - HD SDI I/OA 8400 - SD SDI I/O A 8500 - SD SDI and Analog I/O

New Express Control Panel

The Signal Acquisition Solution series works for you in SD and }{D, supporting digital and analog signals. Signal And for handling embedded audio, Integration AES or analog audio, there are System options for 4 channel or 8 channel audio processing. MBLE These modules cleanly accept hot switched digital inputs and if there is a loss of input, the module will freeze or mute to black. DESIGNS The new Express Panel gives you control over all module parameters and Tel +1 530.478.1830 A Fax +1 530.478.1832 has dedicated knobs for proc adjustments. www.ensembledesigns.com A [email protected] PO Box 993Grass Valley CA 95945 USA

56 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 BasketEall, Hockey and Baseball

SSL (100 Digital Console brings Jnprecedented level of flexiglity to Philadelphia sports broadcaster

With an SSL C100 Digital Broidcast Conszle instal ed at the Wachovic Center, and a remote stage box at Citizens Bank Park, local sports broadcaster Co-nost Sportsfut produ.es ground-breakiril 5.1 (average of the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) ant Philadelphia Phi lies (Major league Baeball) from a single HigF Definition control room.

Main picture: (100 delivers 'Next Generation' Digita Broadcast Features SSL CI OD SportsNet's Digital Broalzast High Definition Console in Secure operation with Self -Healing and Redundant hardware Future -proof investment (surround -equipped for HDTV) Director of control room. Cemrast Engineering; Standing left. Asst. Director standing tight. Dirk Miller, Dedicated broadcast design that is simple and powerful of Engineering; Dove FinOCCIVOLO, Consulting seated:Mike C Cost-effective, scalable design to fit a wide range of budgets Engineer. Giazalone. of Major Above: Citizens %dal Audio League Baseball's Eank Park, Philadelphia the all-new home Phillies.

See us at Solid State Logic Hall 8 Stand #381 _13120ADCAST AUDIO TECHNOLOGY)

Begbrcke, Oxford OX5 18(1 England. Tel: 444 (011865 842300 Fax: +44 (0)186i 842118 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ssl-broadrast ram

NEW YORK LOS ANGELES TOKYO PARIS MILAN Tel: +1 (11212 315 1111 Tel +1 (11323 463 4444 Tel +81 (013 54:4 1144 Tel: +23 (011 3' 60 4666 Tel: +39 039 2328 094 Rao sion II,

the tower depends on a number ofto sacrifice to the energy of the falling protect these with ice guards. The fa- things, including the geometry of theice. When the ice hits the blocks, the cility should also have a protected piece of ice and the wind speed. Thinforce is spread out over a relativelyparking area for staff cars. It's terri- ice sheets can sail out beyond the guylarge area of the roof. The force maybly hard to keep staff when they pe- points. But the mass of such ice is sowell shatter the paver, but the cost ofriodically find that a portion of their slight that it poses little or no dangerthe repair is minor and the waterproofcar roof, holding enough ice for a to persons or property. part of the roof is undamaged. Thissummer picnic, has collapsed into So, what can the station do to pro- same concept applies to thick rubbertheir front seat. tect itself. Stations have done lots ofslabs. You don't need to replace rub- So, for falling ice, avoid costly dam- neat things to shield buildings,ber slabs as often, but they are consid- ages by using protective structures to di transmission lines, etc. from theerably more expensive. deflect the ice or absorb the energy. force of falling ice. An excellent pro- Your author has seen stations thatIt will also help to keep the local idi- tective device is a heavy grade of ex- have constructed a steel frame over the ots off the site when ice chunks - with 0 panded metal grating supported byentire building and covered the frame or without steel in them - are falling. a frame over the transmitter build-with a layer of used railroad ties. The For massive ice buildups or for ex- ing, outside heat exchangers or air ties are relatively inexpensive, they last tremely heavy ice accompanied by a handlers, etc. This works great buta long time and they protect the build-very high wind, get a really good in- it is expensive. ing well. The only two drawbacks aresurance policy. BE A less expensive technique involvesthe cost of a strong steel frame to sup- covering a flat roof with concrete pav- port the heavy ties and the fact that Don Markley is president of D.L. Markley ers. You can purchase the pavers at dis- the ties are butt ugly. and Associates, Peoria, IL. count home -supply stores and easily But you need to protect not only

replace them if and when they break.the building but any microwave Send questions and comments to: SEND This gives the building some materialdishes on the tower as well. You can [email protected] NEW HD from Marshall Electronics for The World's Most Affordable Portable HD Monitor

HD/SD/Analog/Digital Included Introducing the world's most affordable portable 6.5 -inch Wide Screen HD monffor. The V -R65 -HD is compact and lightweight, can be camera mounted and accepts HD/SD Screen Formats Signal Formats any type of HDSDVSDI or Analog HD/SD signal. 1080-60/50i HDSDI (Digital) Operates on 12-17 Volt D.C. 720P-24/25/30/60 SDI (Digital) Bright -380 nit High Resolution Display PAL or NTSC Y-Pb-Pr (Analog) 6 Frame marker overlays 480P-24/25/30/60 RGB/RGBHV (Analog) Zoom for focus function. Monochrome function

1080 30/24/25P Composite (Analog) Direct access for all adjustments XGA Three LED tally 110-220V power supply included Optional Battery Pack

We offer over 50 models of LCD monitors designed to meet virtually any application The World's Lightest Wide Screen 17" HD Monitor

Occupying only 6 SRU and weighing just 12 pounds, the V-R171P-HD features a 17" High Resolution LCD Display and includes our universal input configuration.

Accepts all HDSDI/SDI & ND/SD Screen Formats Signal Formals analog HD/SD signals -(NTSC)59.941, 601 HDSDI (Digital) Direct access for all adjustments 625 (PAL) 50i, SDI (Digital) CRT style 170° viewing angles 640 x 480-59.94i, 60i, Y-Pb-Pr (Analog) XGA with automatic scaling 30P 29.97P 59.94P, 60P RGB/RGBHV (Analog) 6 Frame marker overlays 640 x 575-50i, 25P, 50P Composite (Analog) Three LED tally. Zoom for focus function 1280 x 720-23.97P 24P 25F! Y/C-S-Video (Analog) Rackmount or Desktop Configurations 29.97P 30P 59.96P 60P XGA 1920 x 1080 - 23.97P Monochrome function 24P 25P 29.97P 30P, 110-220V power supply included 50i, 59.94i, 60i Tel.: 800-800-6608 Fax: 310-333-0688 See us at IBC > Booth 9.550LCDRacks.com

58broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 by design.

As non-linear editing systems and video s:orage servers expand in your facility, so does the need for high-performance Ethernet and fiber infrastructure products.

WO IN. (48.3 CM) Broadcasters depend on their systems to work flawlessly all day every day, and cannot afford to lose valuable time because of "network problems." ADC 0.46 IN (1.44 CM) knows how to apply Ethernet and fiber in broadcast networks better than anyone. In fact, ADC's Cat 6 Ethernet jacks were tie firs- products on the market to be independently certified for Cat 6 performance.

Our decades of manufacturing and systems integra-ion experience are reflected in tie quelity and unique designs of our products. Whether it is AES audio, digital video, HD, RS422, Cat 5E/Cat 6, multi - mode or single mode fiber, ADC has the leading products to meet your needs.

MMMMM ----MM

Cat 6 24 -Port Patch Panel ADC's patented left angle/right angle termination design relieves cable tension.

Find a distributor at www.adc.com and call today for fast delivery

For a free copy of ADC's 12th editiol broadcast product catalog, call 1.300.366.3891 ext. 20000. Or visit adc.com/broadcast. Facilities like those at ESPN and Turne Entertainment employ HD infrastructures and offer HD production values similar o those restricted to SD producers just a year or two ago. Photo by Andy W shnik courtesyThomson Grass Valley.

THE BIG PICTUREIN SP

Broadcasters have been in-But implementation was elusive. And, sure to follow this lead. HDTV broad- fatuated with HDTV sinceeven just a few years ago, HDTV pro- casts are widely available and often the '70s. In 1987, they asked duction and broadcast systems were compelling. Facilities like those at the FCC to carve out spectrum forexotic and expensive. Cameras andESPN and Turner Entertainment of- HDTV. But, back then, practical hard- lenses cost upwards of $250,000, andfer no -holds -barred production and ware just did not exist. Nevertheless, an hour of videotape cost the equiva- transmission in HD, with production SMPTE slowly and methodicallylent of several house payments. values similar to those available to pro- plugged away at creating standards that How far we have come since then. ducers in standard definition just a would eventually allow manufacturersThis year, Sony introduced an indus- year or two ago. to create compatible, interconnectible trial camera for less than the cost of systems. By the time the FCC createdmany electronic field productionCatalysts for change its Advisory Committee (ACATS), (EFP) lenses. JVC is offering HD Several catalysts prodded the change. SMPTE had published key scanningcamcorders for consumer applica-A handful of manufacturers deserve and hardware -interconnect standards. tions. Other camera manufacturers are significant credit for their dogged

60 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 SNOLLVAONNI NI 0.ACIIA puu oicinv ADO1ONHOI /111078-10fMMM/R111111

rtrapo II 4of dip* Am; 9IIAN 1111 XPBO, IUS 10801 V-210,1 s! "aiati4 'dOZL lew10.1-atiVAaigeb-dtZ

OS/OH 81811118111HW sonpaid fin-aull

RAW oaP!A A01131PlaS bunnoil Jagoi1ms IMINVII 0111-Sli seRS .411111.111t: won pedalo:, Ind la/ burum.u,eui at sappmd pue anerien 4141111111& tip aiciepuedap 4cacia, 01.1.109 ',Ai:XI-MOW' jO Ntm 3in -pout leu6p bonoj J0iJoddns -OH ICS Jo -`. 10 1119 mau f IOVNVH eJejp OMI las caw peseq "swalsAs filISE:2 1041100 di sadly p loauclo siaued 0011Joy pue spa bulincu sdrips pue smi.10101$ ein nd-s8 suoiteoridde saues apwa, toltuoD spun

Japele43 Jegezauao stotel MOE aweil,'AaN einpou,.10ZUOJI.plIAS Jul OH If 01 ue v.? pe-ouo\ IFME/Allf) [email protected] 01 aciecieu I0J eLp -onuAs /Of .loyeJau'Jfi III1M IiR cuois ApviEdeo uu!ieep Jo) -OH 10S 30 109 .sleutip -ueAuuo auo zramos nw asn sem DiduJi papaw Ape! olu!Pollelsu! 014 0001.100 Hdn saLum Aq fiuqdope 10ued0 7:15oloui.po; ou!puudep uu 019 urapAs stuatuiPinba,

lenmuognios ownis "os rrfTrfr ,i7r171 ,r7.57rtr75-

uuoisifilp (-Er1 [TIT ulop otoetudowep V-ElOd Pue JO ;000fin00, )0100 01r:11,1,./00000l0 1-0;[1,)0 amp 'elpawilinvi Si appduicx, -,10-17f..1,31,1,:ril-," 17.47:1, Furr,E, -JED/ apim adua, p leriptA solprzts pue N000 1uo 1)1100310 1-,1010 010 4000 0; awu ooifdw.laindwus I000(J'1 '0i05 001,41.j, 0 0 iiIiIFti fliv;npv,is,rn.

*smug, 7777F 717 :77.-77 - . .

T1i (-N -r117,',11.16,/,:,1.',1] 17001.1r4

e,J0 c,Ju

r,,,ppm., 00 ;In 0:00t110/0.;in eT; 0 ;-;)011.11 pup -wow

V-ElOd Auedwoo PeoH/Pellwrl :90140 -c -g L 'nsq3 obioi 00-09 'EL ueder :lel 49+ 9£6E-917VE-Ef0) :xed L9+ OL174-9tte-E(0) v-Eiodtvsn uoilwodJo0 JD :EOLIOWV 1.41. 9Z 40u)1 eny `ssaidA0 VO `0£906 VSfl :lei 4+ 41.99169-1741 :xe3 4+ 66£91.69-1711 V-80d/VCIVNVOI uolialocfio0 40 :E'PeuE'0 9Zt, ueen0 'A/\19 `OLZ# `0/ealoi oueie() Agn `9VZ epeue0 l+ CbCO-LL6-94w :xed L+ L990-LL6-9117 pursuit of the market. In 1981,all the flack the committee has takencomplicate HDTV implementation. Ikegami showed the first HD camera for 8-VSB, the arrival of the fifth -gen-All of the standards establish scan- at an NHK presentation during aeration set -top boxes now seems toning and interconnection for both SMPTE winter Television Conference have vindicated its belief that HDTV60Hz and 59.94Hz. Conveniently, or in San Francisco. At that conference,can work. inconveniently, they are related by the HDTV production was a technologi- divisor 1.001. If both rates coexist in cal oddity. Twenty years later, the tools Making it work the production and transmission have matured and made video record- But, for any technology to work, there worlds, that 0.1 percent difference in ing of motion picture production notmust be a fundamentally simple andframe and line rates has pernicious only possible but highly desirable. affordable approach to systemization,effects on systemization. For example, While manufacturers have done aand HDTV is no exception. SMPTEa production might incorporate 720p wonderful job of creating the tools ofand ATSC have provided the hardware cameras at both rates, since pixel counts in the image format are the same. But the time domains don't For any technology to work, there must be amatch, so one of the signals must be fundamentally simple and affordableconverted - much like standards conversion - before the two signals approach to systemization.can be combined. Thus, in SMPTE's early internal - the new industry, the members oftheand software interoperability to make committee discussions, especially in a production community who faith-DTV - and especially HDTV - workcommittee called the Working Party fully pursued the Holy Grail may de- in the real world. SMPTE 292M-1998 on Advanced Television Production, serve the most credit. In the earlydefines the serial digital interconnec- members strongly recommended that years, they demonstrated creative use tion that applies universally for allall HDTV signals be generated using of a rough and immature technology. HDTV standards. As one might expect, a clock locked to the NTSC subcarrier. The productions they created made due to HDTV's high bit rate of 1.485This helps upconvert525 -line signals viewers lust for the Source format parameters depth and clarity of the images they produced, Reference 260M 295M 274M 296M despite severe limita- SMPTEstandard tions of the early hard- Format AB C D E F G H I J K L M ware. Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas Lines per frame 11251125112511251725112511251125112511251125750 750 and other high -profile Words per active line directors worked their (each channel Y CB/CR) 192019201920192019201920192019201920192019201280 1280 craft at financial peril, when editing rooms Total active lines 10351035108010801080108010801080108010801080720 720 were barely capable of Words per total line dissolves and DVE was (each channel Y CB/CR) 220022002376220022002640220022002640275027501650 1650 only a wistful wish. The FCC also deserves Frame rate (Hz) 30 30/M25 30 30/M25 30 30/M25 24 24/M60 60/M credit for nudging, ca- Fields per frame 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 joling and finally man- dating fundamental Data rate divisor 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 M change. It is true that, in 1987, more than 50 Table 1. SMPTE standards and the HDTV formats they define broadcast entities initiated the firstGb/s, 292M is usable on copper onlyfor HDTV productions, and helps push for HDTV by requesting spec-to about 100 meters, though the stan- downconvert HDTV material for trum for it. But it was not until thedard also established an optical NTSC systems. Neglecting this would FCC finally granted their wish nearlyinterface that should be usable more result in two signals deviating in time a decade later that broadcasters beganthan two kilometers. by an amount that is precisely the same to realize the unprecedented and fun- Table 1 shows the SMPTE standards as drop -frame time code (108 frames damental change it would bring to and the HDTV formats they define.per hour; refer to SMPTE 12M sec- television. Behind the scenes in theThe table contains a data -ratetion 4.2.2). Clearly, this is not just a FCC, the ATSC took action. Despitedivisor that may substantiallyframe -sync issue.

62 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 SOLUTIONS YOU CAN TRUST Whether it's a transmifter, translator, antenna or complete RF system, you can count on DIVIT USA to provide solutions tailored to your needs. Our broad range of products, customer care philosophy and professional staff give clients the options to make educated decisions.

BROADCAST Analog and Digital TV Transmitters Analog and Digital TV Translators DAB Transmitters FM Transmitters STL Systems Broadcast Antennas Remote Monitoring Systems Passive Components

SYSTEM INTEGRATION Develop Design Install Train Support MIZI11=11111PIC Third Party and OEM Products Turnkey Projects 3 3 3 3 AUTOMATION 3 3 Integrated Supervisory Systems IL 3 Multi standard Playout Systems I ] I 3 3 TELECOMMUNICATIONS 3 Microwave Links Radio Base Systems 3

SPECIAL PROJECTS Military RF Applications Scientific Applications

1224 Forest Parkway, Unit 140 West Deptford, NJ 08066 +856.423.0010 tel, +856.432.7002 fax [email protected], www.dmtonline.us subsidiary of the DMT GROUP Of formats and bit budgets 720p60 format has 88.9 percent astors cannot yet display all 1920x1080 Everyone knows that modern HD ismany active pixels per second as pixels. This may be true, but it also may generally produced in one of two for- 1080i30. You can say that 720p60 puts be irrelevant. The fact is that MPEG-2 mats: 1080i30 or 720p60. The debatemore energy into accurately display- satellite broadcasts (and most terres- over which one is better may be as ir- ing temporal samples (twice the num- trial broadcasts) throw away detail that relevant as the debate over how manyber of frames per second), while viewers cannot perceive, and they rep- angels can dance on the head of a pin. 1080i30 has more static spatial reso- licate temporal sampling using mo- The truth is that neither format islution. The most specious contentiontion -estimation techniques. H.264 clearly superior in all respects. The in this debate is that consumer moni- and WM9 may, at equivalent data rates, significantly improve the de- AIM coded picture quality. But broadcasters will almost certainly use the extra WE CAN TAKE YOU TO THE FUTURE-TODAY bit budget to gain coding efficiency to .A111111111111111111.1111111Www` decrease the bits per pixel instead of

H.264 and WM9 may significantly improve decoded picture quality. raising picture quality. In our industry, digital has allowed increased capacity, and that is what programmers are asking of technology. Make no or THE EVOLUTION OF AUTOMATION mistake; quality goes up as coding be- ' comes better. But the drive to reduce Swan", 41K1 X8( WW1. v bit rates will win over increased qual- SAN AAA 1. Waco S 1513 27 CM 411WAW' CO CO C V 't e ity for the same cost. 15U57 .a AR ALBUMTALNI 000070[AC OAFAn01,020 sudo Want 15 13 47 OS 00.010[ 02011 :°A 00003050 Aspect ratio issues ado,. AA, I IS ta 2, 'A 0000119 lempo, HDTV is much more than esoteric numbers. It's about wider aspect ratio, better sound quality, improved color accuracy and wider gamut. The most obvious of these improvements is probably the wider aspect ratio. Here also, technology must deal with Multi -channel playout a world in transition. Nearly all legacy material coming from 525 and 625 Scalable and flexible achitecture production continues to retain the 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio that evolved Real-time, frame precise control in the transition from film to electronic production. The 16:9 (1.77:1) Complex event support with MediaBall ratio is a better match to modern film technology than 1.33:1. But, with filmmakers shooting in aspect ratios as high as MXF compliant 2.35:1, HDTV can only claim to be a more modern match to today's film productions. Remember that, about .151 a decade and a half ago, SMPTE de- w.pro-bel.com bated 16:9 production. The result was an extra standard -definition format 0)1 45 18 39 80 Asia - 852 2850 8383 and data rate that was intended to

64 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 JJJ

MAC -low provides the most diverse product line for flantis 100 & EXOS lightweight portable systems, whether satellite lir,KE,portable systems or outside broadcast, or wirelesscame -a systems. For setellte, Mantis 100 is the lightest 1 Meterrrul-i-band anterna available - weighing only 38 lbs. includi-gantenna and tanjt case. The carbon fiber transitcase s o -es the anterna and is easily pulled on integrated wheet. The EXOS is a modular, weatherproof, multi -function sEtellite terming giving you the ultimate flexibility to choceebetween traditor a MPEG-2 and/or IP based satellite transmission schemes For p:rajle, airborne, or mobile applications, STRATA provides s broad range of options for analog FMo digital MPEG « 2,0FDM applications. STRATA isnow E_va 'able in addittra frequencies for both transmitter and rexiver. STRATA REPORTER by MRC now can be equipped with popular mourtirg adapters from IDX and Anton Bauer, lettingyou quicky swap out batteries to keep your fieldcar -era operatirgNeed to carry extra batteries for a or:longed

shoot? An auxiliary adapter attaches to the REP DRTERin place of tie battery, letting you power thecamera rpm a battery pelt or vest.

In add tipri, MRC offers the widest variety of MPE-G4COFDM recei\kir-s, from the field proven CodeRunner 4, t: tie QuilAue Hand Held Receiver, the STRATA PortazleReceiver or the new RXL Receiver.

It's ey tp see why MRC's innovation and desig-rrovides the best solutions for your portable systems. REPORTER

Microwave Red. Communications and Advent Communications are part ofillasJishnk Gror p

Micronove Radio Communications - 101 Billerim Ave. Bldg 6 - Norh Billalca, MA USA C1:362-1256+1 -97B -E;1-570) increase the quality of recorded and transmitted pictures. SMPTE 259M includes both 270Mb/s and 360Mb/s data rates. The intent was that 360Mb/s using 18MHz sampling would permit widescreen production with the same quality as the 270Mb/s rate using the13.5MHz sampling with which we have grown quite comfortable. But, after some Left -justified Left -justified real -world tests using images captured both ways, the in- graphic graphic dustry decided that the difference in quality was not worth the resulting complication. Keep in mind that, back then, 4:3 screen 16:9 screen Figure 1. When a left -justified graphic created for a 4:3 image is displayed on a 16:9 screen with side panels, it appears near the middle The of the picture. memory costs were higher, processors slower, and the cost of digital record- Azden 1000 ers much higher. We can only wonder what would happen if the same con- Integrated sideration took place today. In any case, the result of that decision is that, for standard -definition imag- Receiver... ery, the aspect ratio issue remains in the optical domain. Equipment compliant now in withSMPTE 259Moptically (anamorphically) converts 16:9 images to work in 720 horizontal samples. 2 flavors! Gold Mount 1000URX/AB Here, hardware that is aspect aware (production switchers, DVEs, Whether you use the Anton -Bauer® Gold Mount° graphics processors) process the im- or a V -Mount battery, there's an Azden 1000 that's ages. Finally, the display equipment been designed to snap right onto your battery, converts the images back to 16:9. For- and to give you maximum performance with no tunately, HDTV has been designed ex- additional batteries needed in the receiver. Using clusively to be a widescreen environ- the latest production techniques and the highest ment.The imagesarenative IDX "V" Mount quality components, we've made a bullet-proof 100OUDXNM widescreen throughout processing and receiver which is ideal for broadcast cameras. distribution. Only at the boundaries where legacy material is incorporated .121 UHFchannels (723-735MHz) user -selectable, with LCD readout into or cut from an HDTV image do True diversity system with 2 complete front -ends and high -gain antennas we face the inevitable technical and Proprietary DLC (Diversity Logic Control) circuitry for reduced dropouts production issues. Formatting graph- State-of-the-art dielectric filters throughout, for improved image rejection and superior diversity isolation High 5th order filters for improved S/N ics often presents the most thorny problems. For example, a left -justified ratio Multi -function LCD shows channel number and frequency, battery info, AF level, and diversity operation Ultra small, lightweight, switchable, graphic created for a 4:3 image, when Earphone -out w/level control displayed on a 16:9 screen with side panels, appears near the middle of the Note: Order cables picture (see Figure 1). And a lower - specifically for your camera Bodypack transmitter (1000BT) with reduced current -drain for improved battery third graphic created for a 4:3 image, if and battery configuration. life, is available with Azden EX -503H, displayed with the left and right sides Sony ECM -44H. justified to the edges of the frame, dis- Plug-in XLR transmitter (1000XT) works with appears on a 16:9 screen. dynamic mics. One solution in dual -format produc- zAZDENI tions is to mix graphics after reformat- ting for display. Productions created in PO Box 10, Franklin Square, NY 11010 (516) 328-7500 FAX: (516) 328-7506 E -Mail: [email protected] Web site: www.azden.com 16:9 HDTV might have a "center cut" drawn out and then graphics overlaid.

66 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 MMIIIIII1 11111/110M11111/1/1///111 11 I I iii I WWI WM1111111111111/11/Millillifillililli I I I I M1111111111E11111111 I II I HI lil I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIiill III I I I/1 I 111 I 1 1 1 1 1 1III 1 1 II 111111111 11111111111/11"" r " a 111111111110 mutItiv I'I Ill'' A

111111111:1111"1I' ! I i II 0 i I 11,11.1.1.1. 1 The UTAH -400 High -Density l..lalti,til 111111111111 I '111111111111111111111111

tt already the world's most a ' 1111 now offers even more:

Automatic crosspoint re a I matrix s muti.400 The UTAH -400 allows you to protect your critical signal paths against interruption with 4UTOMATK internal redundancy.

Three Frame Sizes--64x64, 144x144, and 288x288 You can use the UTAH -400 for. any digital router application from the smallest utility router to the largest central matrix.

In any size, all UTAH -400 systems offer the same set of world -class features--and the industry's lowest prices:

Full time Input / Output Signal Monitoring

Reduced Power Consumption and Rack Space Requirements

SD/HD Compatibility vs1SLIP7TIFIC New Directions in Digital Switching 4750 Wiley Post WaySuite 150. Salt Lake City. UT 84116 USA

Ph: 801.575 8801 Fax801.537.3099 Email: sales@utahscientific com This type of production will likely con- temporal conversions. (For a detailedLogic II and Dolby Surround decod- tinue for years, perhaps decades, so weexplanation of these issues, seeers. That does not necessarily mean will just have to get used to either for-Poynton, "Technical Introduction tothat these households have full sur- matting graphics that are pleasing inDigital Video" and "Digital Video and round -sound speaker setups. Nor both displays (not likely), or spend the HDTV; Algorithms and Interfaces.") does it mean that television receiv- capital to switch and mix twice. One ers, or even DVD players, were con- might envision a future video switcherAudio issues nected to them. Nonetheless, this designed to handle exactly this prob- As for audio, HDTV does not always number constitutes a significant por- lem by sending crosspoint outputs toinvolve surround sound, althoughtion of the market. Jupiter Research two mixers, one or both of which con- many people assume that it does. Afound that 24 percent of U.S. online tain aspect ratio converters and sepa- surprising number of homes arehouseholds now have digital sur- rate keyers to handle the two formats. Cover the gamut Twenty-four percent of U.S. online households Gamut and color primaries are system issues only at the interface points. now have digital surround -sound systems. Like aspect ratio, color standards for HDTV were designed to be consistent equipped with surround -soundround -sound systems. The research worldwide (well, almost anyway) at the equipment. Dolby estimates that, byfirm says that extremely low-priced time the standards were established.the end of 2001, over nine million home -theater -in -a -box systems have Image processors, like upconvertersU.S. households had surround -sound expanded the market and made sur- and downconverters, usually can con- receivers. The company says that, round -sound systems broadly afford- vert between the different color spaces, worldwide, over 100 million house-able (although not necessarily prof- in addition to performing spatial andholds are equipped with Dolby Proitable for manufacturers). As a result,

Holds color in captivity.

Introducing the new 8.4" diagonal ERG HDM-EV8OD HD monitor with extremely accurate color. Its HD innovations include four inputs and one output, which allow it to be used with multiple cameras. The monitor's DC output and cost effectiveness make it ideal for rack mounting while its compact, rugged design and low power consumption make it perfect for location shooting. No matter how you use it, the mon tor will capture your imagination. Experience the new HDM-EV8OD at Government Video Expo, Booth #1215. erg-vEntures.com,[email protected], U.S.: +1-949-263-1630, Japan: +81-3-3760-8161 HD Monitors

68 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Radio and TV broadcast systems made simple.

EASY TO ASSEMBLE Ibr etfAineers of ALL ages!

Dielectric has all the essential pieces to make your TV or radio project anything but puzzling. From design and site surveying, to excavation and construction, rigging and maintenance - we'll connect you with everything you need from the transmitter output, including:

Towers Rigid or flexible transmission Imes Lighting Antennas Combiners RF Systems

The warranty you want. The capability you need. The experience you demand.

Put Dielectric to work on your next project and watch everything seamlessly come together in picture perfect fashion. Dae-c-tric ,DOMMUNICATIONS Engineering Excellence from Base to Beacon'

1 -866 -DIELECTRIC www.dielectric.com L I N1K

many program producers have opted to provide full 5.1 - LIVE channel surround service. BAGHDAD This home market penetration has had a dramatic effect on audio systems in production and broadcast plants. The most obvious effect is the need to establish calibrated 5.1 - channel monitoring for quality control and mixing for air. Dolby offers white papers to guide and assist designers in planning the mixing environment and is happy to support implementation as well (because that sells hardware and increases the penetration of licensed decoders). Dis- crete 5.1 -channel sound can be easily transported on three AES pairs (one pair, if AC -3 encoded). Keep in mind that anything you do to one channel you must also do to all channels because of material that overlaps single channels. A minor time misalignment can produce some pretty strange effects. Network distribution to your station might arrive on three AES pairs, requiring switching and mixing on all three. Keeping channel assignments straight and aligned is critical. Mixing in master control is not difficult if the hardware is designed to do six channels for every input. There is, however, the dreaded metadata question. Dolby AC -3, established by the ATSC as the format for DTV audio, carries several chunks of metadata that allow the home receiver to reproduce the sound as the producer and mixer intended. This metadata can be carried with Totalcoverage the audio in the AC -3 stream, and on some VTRs as well. The proper handling of AC -3 is a subject beyond the scope of this article. Dolby offers excellent white papers on mix- Totalfreeckm ing and metadata and other surround sound issues on its Web site (www.Dolby.com/tech/). Another way to transport multichannel audio is to use Dolby E. It permits up to eight channels of good quality audio, along with metadata, in one AES carrier. But en- Digital Wireless coding or decoding Dolby E is a (precisely) one -frame pro- Camera Systems cess. This can require some careful mapping of the video and audio processing to maintain lip sync along the way. At least two master control switchers now contain an internal Dolby E decoder, which is particularly useful for networks that deliver Dolby E to the station. The lip -sync question has the greatest potential to confound an otherwise successful implementation plan.

The good news The good news for broadcasters is that a rudimentary knowledge of 525 -line digital video systems will go a long way to help them understand HDTV system implementation. The tools are remarkably similar. Surround audio is a bit more mysterious. But, with some care, it can be understood easily. The best advice to those implementing HDTV in a station or -:;44s. Total freedom 3f movement and vwq unrivalled performance make the elsewhere is to read extensively, invite experts to your facility LinkXP systems the choice with to educate you, and use common sense. HDTV is still com- users World wee. posed of pictures and sound - it's just a whole lot better. BE Free up your imagination and visit

I NINININI111..1 m1..1101 www.linkres.co.uk John Luff is senior vice president of business development at /1 T: 562-698-8560 Email: salesMinkres.co.uk AZCAR.

70 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 It's not easy! It's r of easy keeping up these days. Motion Imaging Technology no longer changes from month to month, but from day to day.

Keep up with these changes at SMPTE's Technical Conference and Exhibition in Pasasena, CA, October 20-23, 200k

Learn, Know, Achieve.

remk- ( SMPTE " " Moving toward adual -infrastructure facilit By Stan Moote, Steve Sulte, Todd Roth and Nabil Kanaan

Station INJLA-TV uses two compressed video formats: DV25 for editing and MPEG-2 for playout.The News Edit Suite shown here uses native DVCPRO25 compression.

In today's multiple -stream transsion can be visually lossless. may no longer be valid. Artifacts hap- mission environment, broadcast But, as the HD rollout continues, sta- pen, and the new generation of home designers and system integrators must find the best way to integrate the processing, distribution and transmis- Artifacts happen, and thenew generation sion of SD and HD content. In preparing for this integration, of home monitors can display them

broadcasters must first consider band- 111111111111 with alarming precision. width. Baseband transmission to the home isn't practical because of thetions will discover that quality is the monitors can display them with storage and bandwidth requirements.critical issue - to both viewer and alarming precision. Fortunately, today's technology allowsadvertiser. With a more visually edu- These factors combine to challenge broadcasters to handle broadcast -cated audience, the assumption thatengineers to handle compressed quality programming at significantlythe average viewer cannot tell onestreams in an environment that is in- reduced bandwidths, and compres-compression scheme from anothertrinsically baseband-oriented. How

72 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 MasterYourDive into HDTV The New 1053' Camera Connector

Revolutionary Fast and easy cable termination: 15-30 minutes from start to finish No epoxy, no polishing True field -repairability Outstanding increase in connector simplicity and convenience Significant decrease in assembly labor costs Incorporates Corning° UniCam° Fiber -Optic technology

WNry r vews of CONNICT OR sches 'Excellence

American, North, Centraland South Tel: 800.551.0121 www.fischercconnectors.com Fischer Connectors, Inc. Fax: 678.393.5401 mailer ischerconnectors.com can broadcasters maintain SD and HD ity loss from these iterative encode/de-form from ingest to output and main- quality through multiple encode/decode is to avoid them altogether. Andtain image quality. In a multicast envi- code cycles along the signal path? Andthe right workflow can preclude them. ronment, this idea has great appeal, par- how can a facility do so in the most eco- The uncompressed workflow, cen- ticularly when only a few local processes nomic manner, i.e., without addingtered on the tools for live production, are required. Compressed workflow can staff and operational complexity? is still a necessity,. help a facility manage its bandwidth to Rather than integrating baseband and The second workflow is clearly aa much higher degree (perhaps to the compressed signals, perhaps broadcast- compressed one. There is a generalpoint where the facility could launch ers should consider creating two types impression that ASI streams (and thenew channels or services). of infrastructures: one for each of these programs within) are untouchable Functions offered by new compressed signal types. The chief engineer's taskand that, once they've been created,workflow tools include the ability to is then to strengthen each processingyou can't do anything with them -open ASI streams and perform image path and build the necessary bridgesexcept point them to the transmitter. manipulation entirely in the com- between the two. Not true. Provided that you recognize pressed domain without decoding and some caveats, remarkable new tech-re -encoding. This means that, with Coping with quality issues nologies enable a facility to workboth HD and SD formats, users can Meeting the bandwidth mandatewithin the compressed domain, which switch streams, insert logos and crawls, without delivering the associatedoffers great advantages in terms ofand display emergency alerts. Several quality would be pointless. So, as thequality and economy for both HD and manufacturers also offer servers that use of compressed content has in- SDcontent. can ingest and play out in the ASI do- creased, the chief engineer has be- main, while some provide more sophis- come both a bandwidth manager and Inside the compressed ticated mux, trim and remux function- a quality -of -service (QoS) manager. workflow ality. Together, these processing and Facilities that are migrating to an in- Figure 1 compares compressed andserver tools provide a powerful com- tegrated SD/HD environment are ei-uncompressed workflows, showingpressed backbone. The savings in ther upconverting some or all of their programming, or are Local station (baseband) purchasing (or originating) Master control/ HD content, or receiving it Network SDI effects/logos from the parent network. origination (baseband) ASI HD -SDI Compression Within each group, the Satellite Baseband receiver/decoder methods of receiving SD and servers HD content run the gamut E -AN Local station from analog to digital to com- MPEG-2 (all MPEG-2) pressed - with compressed encoders MPEG-2 " ASI processor taking the forefront. At some ASI ASI point, content reaches unifor- A Satellite Transport stream mity, allowing local switching receiver servers and insertion. Currently, that uniformity is baseband. The Figure 1.This block diagram shows the equipment and processes required for com- entire content path (from pressed and uncompressed workflows. compressed network transmission tothe equipment and processes associ- equipment, operational complexity local decompression, production, re- ated with each. Until recently, the onlyand multiple decode/encode passes can encoding and retransmission) pre-feasible way to mix and switch has be significant. sents multiple cycles of encoding andbeen in the baseband domain using When considering a compressed decoding, which have a detrimental ef-traditional tools such as routers, mas-workflow, there are two important fect on image quality. ter control switchers, DVEs, logo in- caveats: Facilities today (and for the foresee-serters, etc. Unfortunately, when a fa- 1. As a prerequisite, the MPEG-2 able future) need to ingest and sup-cility moves content in and out of theprocessing equipment requires emis- port content in multiple formats. Ifcompressed domain (for example, forsion -level coding formats such iterative encode/decode cycles are re- spot insertion and branding), the pro-as MPEG 4:2:0 encoded video and quired, consistent codec behaviorcess can degrade the signals and in-Dolby AC -3 encoded audio. There throughout a facility's infrastructure troduce artifacts and noise. are now several devices on the market can lessen any degradation. But the By using a compressed workflow, athat provide this type of processing best approach to eliminating the qual- facility can keep content in compressed functionality If your facility has 4:2:2

74broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Clear-Com and Drake have combined their world -leading intercom product portfolios, their sales networks, their engineering and management teams, and their R&D budgets to deliver more choices more versatility and more performance to the broadcast industry across global markets.

Vitec Group Communications Inc. Vitec Group Communications Ltd Tel: +1 510-496-6666 Tel: +44 (0) 1223 815000 Fax: +1 510-496-6699 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 815001 email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

www.vitecQroupcomms.com

111Clear-Com COMMUN CATION SYSTEMS

,Award -winning intercom systems from Vitec Group Communications encoded video, MPEG Layer 2 -encoded audio or Dolby E - codecs. Attention to these areas will lay the foundation for encoded audio, then baseband transcoding is the way to go. current technologies and future developments. 2. If the production requires voice-overs that mix new Storage - Determining storage requirements is an exer- and/or existing audio, or if it requires over -the -shouldercise in bandwidth and capacity management, with many effects, baseband is the correct path. points to consider:

Caveats aside, facilities can open new opportunities to pre- Ensure that the facility's storage fabric supports the serve quality across the transmission path and reduce themaximum simultaneous bandwidth requirement, and that amount of equipment required by it can store an appropriate amount organizing the processes according to of online content. This metric is com- compressed and uncompressed replicated by multiple compression quirements and then adapting to the standards and formats, including HD trade-offs, Mem and proxy quality.

Consider ASI as a storage fab- Infrastructure metrics jor...411 lkot ric component, requiring the same Linkingthe compressed and 1°.-. real-time QoS as baseband.

uncompressed infrastructures to- Reserveanappropriate gether through a signal environment amount of bandwidth for non -real- comprising shared storage, metadata time activities such as IP-based file and format conversion can optimizeWJLA-TV relies on 12 Leitch NewsFlash interchange. II NLEs. the interoperability of the two cores. Consider multiple compressed This linked environment benefits the distribution and formats used for different purposes within the same stor- management of SD and HD content. age (e.g., DVC25 for news editing and MPEG-2 for trans- When considering this kind of environment, keep inmission).

mind three fundamental metrics: storage, metadata and Ensure that there is a method to track and catalog assets. This ties in directly with the next metric. Metadata - Now is the time to consider using metadata DK-Technologies Co turn bus kgg on a facilitywide scale. The facility must identify content (SD, HD and compressed) at ingest and normalize it across CEO ICIK-Technologies) Karsten Hansen the entire organization. By bringing those threads together "Where a complicated problem finds a simple solution, just like under a common metadata umbrella through the use of the story of the Columbus Egg... Wise aristocrats were trying to unique material identifiers (UMIDs), facilities can realize make an egg stand on end on a table - Christopher Columbus took hold of the egg, and forced it gently to the surface. new cataloging, searching and reporting functions. Yes, this The base of the egg cracked to form a tiny flat surface, represents a lot of up -front work, but understanding the to their astonishment this left the egg standing on its metadata workflow is a prerequisite to managing assets broken shell. Some were annoyed and claimed successfully. Some newer MPEG-2 processing devices ac- it was cheating and said, tually require a set level of metadata to properly identify "I could have easily done the same'", and manipulate the program streams. but Christopher Columbus answered: Codecs - Instead of second-guessing the industry in terms of what compression standard or video format will domi- "Possible but it was nate, consider migrating toward an infrastructure that is I that did it.- codec-aware. The graphics community has worked in such an environment for years using programs that easily convert files between the various formats. Why not incorporate that same flexibility into your facility's video infrastructure? If an architecture supports plug-in codec capability, users can handle anything that arrives at the ingest port. Within the industry, there is movement in this direction. And if Moore's law has anything to do with it, the required processing speed will be there. olutions in Audio & Vieo- Equipment decision points www.dk-technologies.co To gain the advantages of a compressed infrastructure, U.K: tel: +44 870 241 4118 fax: +44 870 241 411 consider using several categories of equipment that oper- Head Office: tel: +45 4485 0255fax: +45 4485 02 ate in parallel, each with value-added support potential for compressed content.

76 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 lime foranupdate...

NO ONE DELIVERS MORE CHOICES THAN FUJINON! Digital control system "FIND" diagnostcs system Focus breathing compensation New EBC coatings *Advanced backfocus One shot preset A22x7.2ESM *Focus fader RS -485 compatible

Broadcast and Communications Products Division FUJINON INC. 10 High Point Dr., Wayne, NJ 07470-7434 Phone: (973) 633-5600. FAX (973) 633-5216 FUJI PHOTO OPTICAL CO., LTD. 1-324 Uetake. Saitama City, Saitama 33'-9624 Japan Phone: 81-48-668-2152

HA26x6.7ESM *HA26x. only Routers -Consider a scalable and, here again, metadata will play a router with a modular architecture in vital role. With this kind of sophistica- which ASI signals can work side -by - tion, content and data awareness, au- side with standard SDI and baseband tomation can properly orchestrate signals. This is a cost-effective way to master control functions. route multiple program streams on Editing -For both news and pro- single crosspoints. duction, consider editing in the same Servers -Consider a server archi- format in which the material is in- tecture that enables the facility to store gested. Remaining in the native acqui- content in the same compressed for- sition format avoids additional de- mat in which it will be transmitted. code/encode passes prior to transmis- Ensure that the architecture supports sion. To minimize artifacts, a facility distributed storage and simultaneous that ingests in DV should avoid edit- access from multiple devices. As the ing in MPEG. compressed workflow increases in scope, more peripherals will be re- Following the trends questing ASI or file -oriented content. Several industry trends underscore the Master control -Consider a master WJLA-TV uses 26 channels of 131.25 need to recognize the importance of control switcher that can function as a for news editing and more than 16 the compressed workflow. program manager for multiformatchannels of MPEG-2 for playout. Shown is a Leitch SAN architecture Networks are now providing mem- routing switcher ports (HD, SD and storage system. ber stations with multiple SD and HD ASI). Moving to a modular architecture programs in ASI format. The affiliates would be ideal and economical, where to the upstream switching fabric. Thehave a choice: convert to baseband and all of the input processing is offloaded industry is moving in this directionrisk adding artifacts, perform a pass - through in the compressed domain without branding, or use MPEG-2 processing devices for real-time ma- MEASURINGTHE DIFFERENCE nipulation within the ASI stream. Program assembly is occurring later in Video Cable in the transmission chain, even to the Design... point where intelligent set -top boxes The innovator and leader are compiling the final user experi- in video coax technology, ence. These new STBs enable a more Gepco continually personalized experience that includes advances and develops the program's soundtrack, commer- high -resolution video coaxial cables that cials based on demographics, ex- ensure optimal picture tended data services, selectable cam- quality and era angles and storage. Compression exceptional reliability and multistream delivery make this in today ' s environment possible. demanding High Definition, multimedia This is where the technology is go- and broadcast video ing, and there's no viable argument for applications. a comparable scheme in baseband. RETURN LOSS Thus, the driving force behind a move to strengthen a facility's compressed All Reels 100% Swept Test & Certified -10013Frjr,'"--7,-"0:7MMIMMMI ===riiiii11111MIN3TOM infrastructure is not simply economic, 3 GHz Bandwidth for HDTV -2018 -300371111111/11T 1lj1 r 1 I TT PITY' and not exclusively to comply with an Gas-Injected,Crush Resistant Dielectric I I I'll JU 11411 integrated SD/HD mandate. Facilities Zero Center Conductor Migration -4038I J /fad& A I 111111.1111111111111 Exceeds SMPTE Specifications Oil that follow this path can realize tangible 5068 0308 1.5088 3lit quality benefits and will be positioned

for technology's next advance. BE

GEPCO Stan Moote, Steve Suite and Todd Roth INTERNATIONAL, INC. TRANSMITTING CLARITY lead Leitch 's CTO group. Nabil Kanaan is a 0 product manager at Leitch.

78broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Tektronix YES! Enabling Innovation Now Monitoring HD, SD or Composite Analog Signals Please send me "A guide to Standard and High -Definition Digital Video Measurements."

Couldn't Be Any Easier, Any Faster and For fastest delivery and instant downloads, visit us online at the address below, call the toll -free number or return the pre -paid reply card. Anything Other Than From Tektronix.

LSend me the Product data sheet for the WVR7000

Send me the FREE application note "A guide to Standard and High -Definition Digital Video Measurements."

MI4 1.4 C4/0240 las1.4 042.441 044 Also send me information on: .444410044.4 04441 t 44 .44 0.40 44 1 1- 440 3 2 .12 1 SAV 1444 0411.4 IA. C WFMNLE software only Waveform Monitor 04.41 1 2 4 1 if 010. 412. .104 40. .4.4 WFM700 Series Waveform Monitors 12 11 OM 14 12, 1.,2, 11, 404 4444 Emo 0 2244, 1 4 0 II : = 2 =0 04.4 44:r1 :;:r0 WVR600 Series Waveform Rasterizers CI.C11.4 4224 11" : 404 10 24 20 . 20 10 10 10 2 0.10 4 .1.0 t *oft mornV.., Which answer best describes your current status?

I plan to purchase test and measurement equipment within six months. A Ensure gamut compliance of RGB and composite signals A Displays of video and audio with sessions screen I plan to begin evaluating test and measurement with Tektronix Diamond and Arrowhead displays. provide quick signal monitoring of the signal. equipment within six months.

A Broadcast monitoring with video, audio, picture and gamut displays. I am interested in literature only.

Please have my account manager contact me. With a touch of a button, you can now see instantly if your measurement tasks. Configure the WVR7100 to display World -class support from the true leader in Telephone video content meets industry specifications. Thanks to its waveform, vector, gamut, picture, alarm screens, error log, video production and broadcasting means complete intuitive user interface and true digital architecture, the audio signal levels and lisajour-in four difference tiles. confidence in your facility's instruments. Email me relevant measurement information r Yes No WVR7000 Series provides you with the ease, accuracy and Because the analog -like appearance of the rasterized trace stability to make you feel confident about any of your appears so crisp and sharp, you will think you're looking at Of course, you'll find flexible purchase or lease options. The Email Address monitoring applications. an analog CRT. same can be said for service options that meet your technical These all -digital instruments eliminate worry about and budgetary requirements. Name calibration drifting in ambient temperature over time. Which The WVR7000 Series: No other 1RU rasterizer offers Reply today for more information about the premiere name Title means consistent measurement results time after time, year in production and broadcasting, and we'll send you "A guide to HD and SD passive loopthrough inputs. Company after year. Standard and High -Definition Digital Video Measurements," For more than 56 years, the Tektronix faceplate has been Pick an application, any application. With support for 2 passive filled with useful reference standards and troubleshooting tips. Address loopthrough, autodetect SD and HD SDI video inputs, the ACT NOW IN ONE OF THREE FLEXIBLE WAYS to get your "A guide synonymous with high-performance and ease -of -use capabilities. City/State/Zip highly -reliable, the WVR7000 Series helps you measure what to Standard and High -Definition Digital Video Measurements." Maximize application flexibility with needs to be measured. For quickest delivery, just visit the web address indicated above Priority Code What's more, you install the WVR7100 in your signal path so Tek's FlexVu'' technology the reply card, Otherwise, return the attached reply card or the signal that you're monitoring is the actual signal being call toll -free 1-800-426-2200, press 1 (request code 2007) With the FlexVu display, you can choose from a number of transmitted, not a sample from a test point. No need to worry displays to speed and simplify your monitoring and about power loss; the signal is passed through intact. TektronixEnablingGettoDigital Standard Innovation Video and Measurements." High -Definition your FREE COPY of "A Guide

UNITED STATESNO POSTAGENECESSARYIF MAILED IN THE BUSINESSFIRST-CLASS MAIL REPLY MAIL PERMIT NO. 1 BEAVERTON OR POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE TEKTRONIXBEAVERTONP 0 BOX 4029 INC OR 97076-9917 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Chainreaction: The revival of the HDTV transition

The chain reaction reviv- ing HDTV reached critical mass when major sports channels made plans for nEw digital broadcast centers with full HD infra- st -ucture and multichannel HDTV playout. lllustra- ticn by Mike Knust, senior art director

For anyone involved in high -definition tele- ment of HDTV products, but they have seen vision, the past six years have been some- limited uptake of their products. The truth re- what of a rocky ride. Terrestrial broadcast- mains that the HDTV build -out achieved thus ers have spent a considerable amount of money far by most local stations has involved some- on HDTV capaoility, but they have seen little what limited compliance packages consisting return on their investment. Broadcast equip- of upconversion, basic logo insertion and HD ment manufacturers keen to participate in the encoding. transition have 'invested heavily in the develop- It got to the point where people in the

broadcastengineering.com 85 Chain reaction

More industry were embarrassed to talk affordable HD about HDTV because the HDTV eciLopment ramp -up was going so poorly. But just Build -out of production when we were about to give up hope, trucks and HDTV reached critical mass, setting studios Feal HO off an unstoppable chain reaction. It facilities not Network1V just get; serious is now obvious that HDTV has finally compliance abcut HIT -W taken off and will take its rightful Major sports Cable/DTH place in broadcasting history. channels motivated to go HD carry This article describes this chain re- HDTV action and the many forces driving Other specialty Local dhannels broadcasters the strong HDTV transition now fcllow suit increase tlICTV content underway. Figure 1 provides an il- Men buy lustration of the chain of events that HDTV sets Increased to see sports demand for has begun and is likely to continue. HDTV sets Price of The following paragraphs describe flat screens these events: Nails below $1500 Major sports channels go HD. The chain reaction reached critical mass in Introduction of HD DVDs late 2002 and early 2003, when we began to see plans in the sports broadcasting world for the playout of mul- Figure 1. This diagram illustrates the chain reaction, and the many forces tiple channels in HDTV, and the build - driving the current HDTV transition. outs of new digital broadcast centers GET CONNECTED WITH OUR COMPLETE LINE OF SIGNAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Regardless of whether your facility is large or small, new or old, digital or analog, we can provide a signal management system to address your current and your future needs. High performance routing switchers from 16x16 to 2048x2048, cost effective multi channel master control switchers, and flexible control systems that seamlessly integrate it all. Get connected and stay connected with NVISION.

a a nos usmoi NE 111.1110 itiSH IMP n'e n +Z.. ;;;;.. Sn'eiEl 111111111 1111.044,-11141111411111111111 OM E111111411111 .. ** too**. FlexibL Router Control Systems -

Large Video and Audio Routers Multi Channel Master Control

^ Of Compact Multi format Routers

Masters in Digital Audio, Pioneers in HDTV 89 - 20

86 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Managed monitoring for broadcast and distribution

CHI 076. -

Efficient solution to display analog, digital & High Definition video, audio, alarms, network load and computer generated data.

Autonomous or multi -screen display to monitor up to 60 windows simultaneously.

Perfect control room design offering the best possible combination of display technology, hardware and software for 24/7 operation.

Barco Control Rooms Noordlaan 5, 88520 Kuurne - Belgium Phone: +32 56 36 82 11 Fax: +32 56 36 82 48 email: [email protected]

Barco Projection Systems 3240 Town Point Drive, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 - United States Et R CO Phone: +1 770 2183200 Fax: +1 770 2183250 email: [email protected]

www.barcocontrolroorrts.com Visibly yours Chain reaction

sports broadcasting getting serious End -user cost (list price) about HDTV was a sudden and large SD analog to 601 vs SD -to -HD upconversion build -out of HDTV production 45 trucks and other production facili- 40 Price of Price of ",'' NTSC-to-601 M 601 -to -HDTV ties. Sports programming has been 7.35 converter 1 upconverter a particularly powerful driver for the 30 creation of new production facilities 0 -.S, 25 because so much content is live. No $15K $10K t,--.-, 20 other content would have caused such a rapid build -out across such a 15 -6 -0 wide geography. up 10 = More affordable HD equipment. 5 For broadcasters who follow the

i I I I I i 0 1 I sports channels, and for other early 88 90 94 96 98 '00 '02 p3 adopters, the result has been a broader range of more affordable 1992: 2003: broadcast equipment. The increased Analog -to-digital HDTV transition volume and competition has resulted transition begins in a reduction of the pricing of typical HD products of25percent to 40 Figure2. This graph shows a price -curvecomparison betweenHD percent, depending on the function. upconverters and NTSC-to-601 converters. Figure 2 illustrates the reduction in featuring full HD infrastructure, Build -out of production trucks andprice of HDTV upconverters over a production studios and master control. studios. One of the first impacts ofsix -year period. It is interesting to

SprinTx IBISClever. Not complicated news is BIG business but only if you have automated systems that are reliable, fast and flexible.

A complete solution for news and sports environments

aquisition management sports highlights capture playout and archive Our customers world-wide will tell you that we deliver our promises

IBIS INC., STAMFORD, CT. TOLLFREE 877 541 IBIS WWW.IBIS.TV

88broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 "wowPP

PRO850 WIRELESS INTERCOM SYSTEM That's the typical reaction we get when broadcast and theatre professionals see and hear the next generation from HME.

The amazing all -new HME Pro 850 Wireless Intercom System. Call today for a demonstration and let us "WOW" you, too!

44r* --IkA 888.810.1001 800.542.3332

Introducing the DX -200 Spread Spectrum Wireless Intercom is finally here! Call for Details www.hmepro850.com Chain reaction

note that the price of an HDTV Other specialty channels follow suit. upconverter today is less than theAlthough there were other specialty price of an NTSC-to-601 converterchannels that had begun broadcasting 10 years ago, the basic block of theHDTV before the sports channels, transition to 601 inside facilities. many more first- and second -tier Real HD facilities, not just compli-channels have since announced their ance. The build -out of the produc- intentions or are discreetly working on tion trucks and production studiostheir HDTV plans. required to feed this new HDTV Price of flat -screens falls below sports programming has been sig-$1500. Display technology, particu- nificantly more important than thelarly flat -screen display technology, impact of early DTV deployments.has been evolving at an astonishing Production trucks and studios in-pace. It has been driven not only by volve more complex systems, featur-TV display applications, but also by ing a much broader range of equip- applications such as computer display ment. The average production studioand electronic signage. Newer, larger or truck represents $3 million to $4and higher -resolution displays ap- million of audio and video equip-pear every few months. Prices are de- ment, as compared to $500,000 tocreasing at an average rate of 4 per- $700,000 for a typical HDTV -compli-cent to 5 percent per month. By the ant master control (excluding trans-time this article goes to print, large mission equipment). LCD and plasma displays will have Men buy HDTV sets to see sports.fallen below the $1500 price point. For years, retailers of big -screen TVs Not only are these displays capable have always sold the highest num-of displaying HDTV images of in- ber of units just before a big sport - creasing quality, but also they are also

Viewers who receive HDTV TVsignals "EarlyAdopters" off -air (Est 15%)

Viewers who receive television via cable or satellite (DTH) (Est 85%)

s, 00%:4111.6 Akwilt fa Figure 3.The demographics of cable/DTH versus free over -the -air television *41 1/4 esliesei Ak 000. " .11 reveal that early adopters of HDTV are likely to be cable/DTH subscribers. ;4.0 o 4101.11".40, ing event. It's a well-known fact that attractive and trendy. They are quickly , 400 eV OA A elm ettePeed,7174 sports fans buy big TVs. The rollout becoming sought-after decor items in ° of HD sports programming natu- homes. It has come to the point where 10" et*ii-040.4# s -0410---.. 4,- Is. - Ire rally has led to typical sports fansa conventional 4:3 TV set now looks buying large HD televisions, just likeodd and out of place. Soon, on the day those they enjoy watching in theof the next community yard sale, the sports bars. 4:3 set will be out in the driveway, bro:u !cast graphics sok I www.pixelpower.com SEPTEMBER 2004 anystream. software transforms content. Digital Video Published Anywhere

Anystream Agility Batch Encoding and Transcoding Solutions

Whether exchanging media between broadcast servers or repurposing FROS1 SUI I IVAN content for Web, VOD and mobile syndication out'ets, Anystream's Agility Marbet Leadership Award software will manage your digital media workflows like nothing else. Our around -the -clock reliability has made us the lop choice of broadcasters "Largest Software and the industry's largest software -based encoding company. Encoder in the Market" Anystream Agility delivers: Fastest broadcast -to -Web turnaround Anystream. Automated media exchange, production and delivery Agility Integration with broadcast and production workflows, with RS -422 deck control, broadcast server ingest and output and more Scalability for VOD, mobile, HD and new formats Rapid deployment - be up and running in days, not months

Call us today at 888-ANYSTREAM or visit www.Anystream.com/anywhere IFIERTIRChain reaction Ultimate Interface Tool. along with those white appliances thatlate consumer demand for HDTV were removed from the kitchen tocontent. Home viewers who have ex- make room for the shiny new stain-perienced HDTV DVDs will no less -steel ones. A new flat -screen TVlonger find SDTV adequate, particu- has achieved the rare distinction oflarly if they have purchased high - 15 being a purchase that the sports fanresolution displays also. O and the home -decorating guru can Network TV gets serious about both fully agree upon. HDTV, and local broadcasters in- Cable/DTH motivated to carrycrease HDTV content. Once HDTV HDTV. Many have argued that thecable carriage is well established and element missing from broadcasters'specialty channel HDTV program- early HDTV-over-DTV rollout wasming has broadened, then there will I cable carriage. Cable and satellitebe increased pressure for traditional subscription rates in the Unitednetworks and their local affiliates to co

States have risen from approxi-provide more HDTV programming.

0) The key to the chain reactionnow underway is that it is driven by consumers.

mately 65 percent 10 years ago to This willcomplete the cycleand al- better than 85 percent today. Morelow broadcasters to leverage and ex- importantly, the demographics ofpand the HDTV infrastructure they cable/DTH versus free over -the -airfirst installed as part of their DTV television are such that the typical initiatives. 5 early adopter of HDTV is more likely to be a cable/DTH subscriber. Consumers are key (See Figure 3.) The key to the chain reaction now 4g The availability of specialty channel underway is that it is driven by con- programming in HDTV, such assumers - more specifically, their sports and other channels, is nowappetite for HDTV content and driving cable carriage. Indeed, HDTV their desire to purchase the equip- has become part of the core proposi-ment necessary to view it. This rep- tion from many satellite and cableresents the positive market envi- ma providers and is often used to pro-ronment so desperately needed by mote services with competitive deals. our industry. For instance, in early 2004, one pro- Some will argue that it is unfair vider was offering a package featur-to credit sports broadcasters with ing a dish, an HDTV receiver and an starting the chain reaction that has HDTV flat -panel display, all delivered brought the industry this new health to your home for $1000. and excitement around HDTV. Per- Blows the doors off all other media Introduction of HD DVDs. Thehaps they didn't start it. But, even if converters & transcoders. The ultimate DVD player is widely recognized as they didn't, they deserve a great deal everything to everything box converts any having the most rapid adoption rate format to any format including SDI & DV! of credit for the important role they ALL formats & outputs active all the time! of any home electronics product.have played in breaking the content Each format features dual outputs.2RU. Some maintain that the DVD has re-logjam, helping push cable and satel- MSRP $2,995.00 defined the way consumers think oflite system providers to carry HDTV, picture quality, and the DVD is often and for breathing new life into broad- credited with driving the purchase ofcast equipment manufacturers' HDTV larger displays, new sound systemsR&D programs. BE T E L E M E DI A and the demand for subscription to digital services. Michel Proulx is vice president of product www.lairdtelemedia.com Soon, HD DVDs will become development at Miranda Technologies. Life is Good. available, and they will likely stimu-

92 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 TOTAL SOLUTION TOTAL COMMITMENT THE NEW COMPLETE NETWORKING SYSTEV FOR BROADCASTERS

r 7 'Tr., r " -4,"`...aS,'","" '

I entiont. mrmarstazavact4A1

HYDRA AUDIO NETWORKING

In a modem broadcast environment the key to maximum efficiency is flexibility. Hydra maximises studio flexibility by integrating the widest range of broadcast specific digital mixing consoles via a resilient industry standard Hydra gives you exactly that. networking technology. Calrec's new Hydra audio networking system provides broadcasters with a Potential cost benefits are significant. Cat -6 cabling reduces wiring and very cost-effective infrastructure for sharing and controlling I/O resources installation costs, and a redi.iction in router size is achieved as all sources across a network of digital consoles. and console outputs are available to the whole network.

Built on gigabit Ethernet technology, the Hydra audio system provides a Hydra ties together any combination of Calrec's three advanced, field - highly reliable and user friendly system with a very high bandwidth and a proven digital broadcast consoles to give you a whole new way of looking clear evolutionary path. at the way you work.

Gigabit Ether -net fabric provides a cost Up to 256 bi-directional channels effective and reliable infrastructure Fibre or copper connections

Very high bandwidth

CALREC AUDIO LTD, NUTCLOUGH MILL, HEBDEN BRIDGE, WEST YORKSHIRE, HX1 8E1, UKTEL: 0 IIA4 1422 842159 EMAIL: enquiries @ calrec.comWEB: www.calrec.com

South and Mid West States-TEL: (615) 871 0094 EMAIL: [email protected] North East States and Canada ---TEL: (212) 586 7376 EMAIL [email protected] Western States - TEL: (818) 841 3000 EMAIL: jschaller@audiospeccom The air -feed portion of master control in KPSP-TV's hybrid SD/HD facility operates on redundant Sundance automation and uses a storage -area network to thoroughly back up the main play -to -air server.

Rethinking workfl By Jack Verner

Digital technology, with all nas, towers and other necessities toand the mandate for on -screen logos its complexities, has thor- establish the digital signal. Becauseor on -air channel branding. The new oughly altered the thought that capital expense does not bear andigital channels also have required and workflow processes and proce- immediate return in efficiency or rat-engineers to apply servers in different dures stations use. While the technol-ings, the transition can be difficult. ways: for recording satellite feeds, pro- ogy is an important piece of the answer, Fortunately, once the facility com- gram preparation, clips and archiving. a successful transition also affects finan- pletes its transmission investments, itThe latest development is the need to cial considerations through improve- can implement budgets for othertie servers to additional demands to ment in workflow efficiency. digital technology and strategies that support back -office applications. With Unlike the transition to color,can improve quality and efficienciesthese added technical complexities transitioning to digital broadcasting and positively affect the bottom line. comes the additional risk of mistakes has become a government mandate and failures if a station adopts the new for most countries and must be com-Automation processes too rapidly. pleted over a much shorter time Automation has a major impact on The advantage to the bottom line is frame, forcing broadcasters to change workflow and is the key to managinga consolidation of workflow pro- their financial strategies. This man- costs and infrastructure more effec- cesses that reduces operating cost. date has bled all but the most afflu-tively. Introducing automation im-Multitasking becomes more preva- ent stations of capital by requiring in- pacts virtually every part of station,lent within technical operations. ternal improvements, moving re-from ingest to traffic and billing.Where a master control operator pre- sources to new encoders, and the pur- Among the many changes are newviously created verification logs, au- chase of digital transmitters, anten-modes of master control switchingtomation enables a master control

94 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 FromTheExperts... Learn FiberUpgrade for aSuccessful in a FREE, Strategies Engineeringand ADC invited tojoinBroadcast Fiber: You're DeployingandManaging liveWebcast on FiberUpgrade Strategiesfor aSuccessful October19th, 2004 Tuesday, Time 11 AMEasternStandard Cost:Complimentary Register at:www.broadcastengineering.com/webcast/fiber at This,Webcast: What YouWill Learn important other d.why it's betweenfiber and flier versus othermedia Thedifferences of thebene Gaina betterunderstanding driving fiberdeptments and businesstrends rnetwork Technology managethe fiber how toprotect and lesson rned from Lessons on bestpractices and -to -peerexperience on Peer deployedfiber those whohave already

Tom Voi Jeff Peters sIntegration Manager VP of S or, Sr. Product RoscorCorporation or President ofSystems ADC As the Vice managrc adcaStEngineering ADC as aSenior Product Integrat on atRoscor, Tom Wince in Jeff serves year§.of expo Manager in itsBroadcast and the SystemsIntegration business W th over 27 certi Jeff all aspectsof enginee&ni and a Entertainmentproduct group. unit and oversees TV/radioBrad brine his ant 1996 as aProduct system integration. SBE PBE, fined ADC in project and years of telev si the company'sindustry brings over 20 winning.cuiticaett anager for video Tom Voigts and to the aren audio and experience inthe broadcast industry kndWedge thr leading professional Brad is theauthor of the video industries. rgi products. series o=Broadcast articles 'BuildingFiber seminars, andweb sites. Transmission Syste white papers,training also gain accessto related PLUS... You'll Organized andModerated by:

itoadcastEngineering today,visit information orto signup To findout more www.broadcastengineering.com/webcast/fiber Rethinking workflow

Router mains when such a sys- SDI video Ou _Jut Analog audio chi ransinitterBasic system tem would become com- Analog audio ch2 chain Station bug mercially viable, espe- SDI video nserter Out3ut Basic system cially without necessary Analogaudio ehl transmitterwith bug Analog audio ch2 chain must -carry rules for sec- Station bug SDI video ncerter ondary channels. Output Basic system Analog audio chi transnitter The BBC in the UK and Analog audio ch2 with bug and Voice-over chum voice-over Voice-over processor PBS in the United States audio source are currently large inves- tors in multicasting. Not SDI video Audio Output only do these networks Analogaudio chi video transmitterFull system Analog audio ch2 processor chain have access to enough SDI video Voice-over program material to of- Analog audio chi fadee/keys Analog audio ch2 audiolevel fer multiple streams; their public-service man- Add-onoptions date justifies multicasting for distance learning and Push other community needs. Unfortunately, commer- Figure 1. A basic block diagram of master control options for today's workflow environ-cial broadcasters won't ment. The diagram shows four options from router to output transmitter across thehave the opportunity to digital master control chain. earn revenue from digi- operatortomonitor multiplecenters are common. But digital ter-tal multicasting until there is a sub- streams, confirm those streams on therestrial television (DTT) providesstantial viewer base. Automation also automated playlist, manage satellite each terrestrial broadcaster the oppor-enables centralcasting, which carries record feeds and even prep program-tunity to broadcast multiple programfinancial considerations different ming for air. Over time, automationstreams. The requirements forfrom those of multicasting. can reduce errors and produce a qui- multicasting include a wealth of pro- A properly designed facility can eas- eter, and even less chaotic, environ- gramming and a large -enough audi-ily build out to support multicasting ment within the station's technicalence capable of receiving the broad-with only incremental increases in operations areas. casts. With proper planning, the costshardware. The costs of adding a sec- Adding automation also brings mul- of including multichannel capabilityond and third program stream is sub- tichannel considerations to the fore- as part of a digital conversion shouldstantially lower than the investment in front. In Europe, centralized broadcast be incremental. But the question re - automation and servers required for

Ready to ride with 1111? Full 10 -bit broadcast quality RH1OUC-SDI to HD -SDI upconverter with mot on adaptation and genlock

RH 1 OMD-HD-SDI to SDI downconverter and HD distribution amplifier

RH1ODA-1x8 reclocking DA for SDI and HD -SDI,auto -input selection

HD10C2-SDI/HD-SDI dual rate D/A mini -converter

800.251.4224 530.274.2048 Grass Valley, California www.ala.com

96broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Make the jump to the brave new world of high definition

Take off with the first all format multi camera HD Fly -pack from Gearhouse Broadcast.

Fully engineered and pre -configured to meet the most challenging requirements.It's the perfect solution for sporting events, episodic and reality television, live broadcast coverage and film applications.

The fly -pack can be used as a short or long term solution in studios and is an ideal addition for mobile trucks.

Make the jump and take your production to the next level, with this state-of-the-art high definition broadcast and film solution.

818 955 9/d9 www.gearhousebroadcast.com

The worlds first all format multi camera %SE. ilfte HD fly -pack from Gearhouse Broadcast

LONDON I LOS ANGELES I SYDNEY EQUIPMENT RENTAL FLY -PACK SOLUTIONS EQUIPMENT SALES Rethinking workflow

the initial channel. A single operatorthe transitions and promotions fea- gram streams cost-effectively with ad- can monitor perhaps as many as fivetured on the main channel, so the ditional software licenses and inexpen- to 10 streams simultaneously using graphics and transitions between pro-sive computer hardware. automated alarms. grams can be simpler. This often means The required on -air look of each it is feasible to use one large server with The HD picture channel determines whether the facil- multiple automated outputs. And al- High definition is another wild card ity needs additional switchers, graph-though automation vendors typicallyin the big picture. Local production ics systems and other equipment. Of- charge on a per -program -stream basis,of HD programming today has few to ten, these subchannels don't demandthe facility can address additional pro - no practical short-term revenue benefits. With the exception of some HD news production in special markets, 4 OUT OF 5 CONTROL PHREAKS PREFER most stations will simply pass through 5UNDANCE 01617.4i FOR STATION AUTOMATION! a network HD feed or upconvert their AND THE FIFTH GUY? ...OUT MAKING A DONUT RUN. SD signal. As with the transition to color, most stations will not make a major leap toward HD until competitive pressures require it. That's not to say that a station should ignore HD during the digital conversion. Many stations choose to install HD infrastructures - typically wiring and routing systems - now in anticipation of future requirements. Building an HD backbone today does not significantly raise costs. The cost premium comes in the creation of a front -to -back HD facility. One argument against going fully into the HD realm now is that the technology is more expensive today than it will be in a few years. Because the price of commercial inventory typically is based on ratings rather than lines of resolution, producing local spots or providing HD programming in dayparts other than Do@ a IFa IL prime time is not yet practical because it is revenue -neutral. By the time the market dictates a switch to PLAYOUT Automation HD, stations will be able to do so at a MEDIA Management lower capital cost while maintaining NEWS Automation revenue. Start with baby steps ASSET Management Let's now look briefly at what components are key to a successful im- provement in station workflow. While niKlq0MEn110[ID ,,C)[IM'Qr1CD[W, technology is not necessarily the cor- nerstone of the transition, the equip- Sundance Digital, Inc. ment solutions you put into place will 972-444-8442 enable new efficiencies. A broadcaster [email protected] should design the overall broadcast DIGITSUNDANCE AL www.SundanceDigital.com system by defining functionality, workflow, on -air look and future plans, then carefully selecting the best

98 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 standards and cooperation amongthe facility. There are a lot of factors manufacturers have not reached thethat affect the size of the router, so point where a data network can replacedon't shortchange this part of the de- the router. Baseband is still the mostsign process. cost-effective and efficient means for Efficiency is again the key word when routing today. selecting a storage solution. As the price of hard drives falls, the industry The technical operations center at Planning for the routing system is Atlanta's WGCL-TV combines master critical during the transition to digi-consensus is to eliminate tape in fa- control operations with news sup-tal. (See Figure 1 on page 96.) The ad- vor of servers. port to establish smooth workflow A facility can handle commercials between the two operations. dition of new core components and the possibility of additional programand repeated syndicated programming technology to fit the vision. Along with streams both affect the planning pro-more efficiently if it ingests program- automation and video servers come cess. Predict the maximum router sizeming once and plays it from the server new storage, monitoring and other so-you need based on the long-term plan repeatedly, without any additional han- lutions that are radically differentfor additional program streams, even dling. Nearline storage units such as a from the analog world. though initially it will be loaded only DVD-RAM device or a data tape ro- For the majority of stations, the tra- for current demands. This approachbot, can store media that is not on the ditional video infrastructure remains means you can easily expand the active playlist. Though tape becomes intact when converting to digital. While router as the facility grows, which isless important as facilities become file distribution is becoming moremuch more cost-efficient and less dis-more automated, it is still the most in- common in the largest facilities, theruptive than a forklift upgrade. Con- expensive way to store media long audio/video router is still the heart ofsiderations for maximum size alsoterm. An SAIT-based tape robot can most stations. Unfortunately, except in should include the number of produc-store an entire month's programming large facilities with many channels, tion control areas and edit bays within in less than one foot of linear space.

The Right Stuff. The Right Price. 360 Systems' Image Server 2000

0 ImAois!,.! 7700

WHEN THE VIDEO SERVER or as a full-time play -to -air server. Check out the Image Server 2000 SALES GUY COMES CALLING,Of course it's fully compatible with at www.360 systems.com, and it seems there'salways an most automation systems and download the new user manual Elephant in the room:You know desk -top controilers. Using FTP, while you're there. Or call us storage should cost less now than you'll be able tc move program direct to arrange a demonstration ever before, but truth is, 90's -era content over Gigabit Ethernet. and at your place. servers can't make the change. share files with other MXF erabled products. Which is why 360 Systems' Image Server employs a smart, next -gen- For just $10,006, the Image Server eration design that delivers every- 2000 delivers three video channels, thing but the elephant -size price. impeccable images, great sp3cs, and The Image Server 2000 is perfect it also makes excellent business On Air Coast -to -Coast for tape replacement, satellite sense. Isn't it time to rethink what Tel:18181 991-0360 ingest, graphics & animations, you're paying for video storage? E-mail: servers436.3systems.com

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 99 standards and cooperation among the facility. There are a lot of factors manufacturers have not reached thethat affect the size of the router, so point where a data network can replace don't shortchange this part of the de- the router. Baseband is still the most sign process. cost-effective and efficient means for Efficiency is again the key word when routing today. selecting a storage solution. As the The technical operations center at Planning for the routing system isprice of hard drives falls, the industry Atlanta's WGCL-TV combines master critical during the transition to digi-consensus is to eliminate tape in fa- control operations with news sup- tal. (See Figure 1 on page 96.) The ad- vor of servers. port to establish smooth workflow between the two operations. dition of new core components and A facility can handle commercials the possibility of additional program and repeated syndicated programming technology to fit the vision. Along withstreams both affect the planning pro-more efficiently if it ingests program- automation and video servers come cess. Predict the maximum router sizeming once and plays it from the server new storage, monitoring and other so- you need based on the long-term planrepeatedly, without any additional han- lutions that are radically differentfor additional program streams, evendling. Nearline storage units such as a from the analog world. though initially it will be loaded onlyDVD-RAM device or a data tape ro- For the majority of stations, the tra- for current demands. This approachbot, can store media that is not on the ditional video infrastructure remains means you can easily expand theactive playlist. Though tape becomes intact when converting to digital. Whilerouter as the facility grows, which isless important as facilities become file distribution is becoming more much more cost-efficient and less dis- more automated, it is still the most in- common in the largest facilities, the ruptive than a forklift upgrade. Con-expensive way to store media long audio/video router is still the heart of siderations for maximum size alsoterm. An SAIT-based tape robot can most stations. Unfortunately, except in should include the number of produc- store an entire month's programming large facilities with many channels, tion control areas and edit bays within in less than one foot of linear space.

The Right Stuff. The Right Price. 360 Systems' Image Server 2000

0 !AAGESE8VIR2 0 0 0

WHEN THE VIDEO SERVER or as a full-time play -to -air server. Check out the Image Server 2000 SALES GUY COMES CALLING,Of course it's fully compatible with at www.330systems.com, and it seems there's always an most automation systems and download the new user manual Elephant in the room:You know desk -top controllers. Using FTP, whi e you re there. Or call us storage should cost less now than you'll be able to move program direct to a -range a demonstration ever before, but truth is, 90's -era content o'er Gigabit Ethernet and at ypur place. servers can't make the change. share files with other MXF enabled Which is why 360 Systems' Image products. Server employs a smart, next -gen- For just $10,000, the Image Server eration design that delivers every- 2000 delivers three video channels, thing but the elephant -size price. impeccab e images, great specs, and The Image Server 2000 is perfect it also mekes excellent business On Air Coast -to -Coast for tape replacement, satellite sense. Isn't it time to rethink what (818)931-0360 ingest, graphics & animations, you're paying for video storage? -.:!r-if,!rsig360systems.com

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 99 Rethinking workflow

Revenue -generating material such asment has failed, allowing an engineerdoes its part by interviewing the staff commercials should still be archived toto pinpoint problems quickly and pro- and presenting the most effective op- a standard tape format rather than datatect against potential revenue loss. In-tions for implementation to the tech- tape, in the event of system failure. vestment in SNMP monitoring makes nical and management teams. Follow- the most sense for larger facilities,ing these guidelines allows everyone at Streamlining monitoring where the possibilities for signal lossthe station to have ownership in the Monitoring for digital sometimes re-are more complex. transition and sparks interest in mak- quires rethinking the master control ing it succeed. monitor wall. Digital conversion has en- New thinking required The benefits of a fully digital infra- hanced the popularity of multi -image Whether planning for a one -chan-structure may be hard to measure, but displays because the windows can benel digital system, multicasting or high they do result in new efficiencies and reconfigured according to time of day, definition, the underlying theme isimproved workflow. When this is type of program material, aspect ratio how to manage the workflow most ef- combined with improved signal qual- and number of channels being handled. fectively. This often requires an entire ity and new opportunities for revenue Simple Network Management Pro- culture change that cuts across all de-generation through additional chan- tocol (SNMP) for facility -wide moni-partments. To be effective, that changenels, the impetus to move forward toring is growing in popularity. Imple-has to be mandated and managedshould be strong. Those stations that mentation is most practical whenfrom the top down. A strong will fromdo so by planning carefully will reap building a new facility, or a new sub-all departments and a reasonably en- the benefits first, making them strong system within an existing facility.thusiastic effort from the entire staffcompetitors in the race for viewers.BE SNMP allows engineers to monitorwill result in fewer problems. and troubleshoot hardware issues Be sure to start by involving the staff Jack Verner is vice president of engineer- from a central location. The protocolin the process of defining what the fa- ing and chief technology officer for Digital displays when and where the equip-cility is to be. The systems integrator System Technology.

INNOVATION IN TEL STARTS WITH QTV

For confidence, QTV is your only choice.

more elsin ,ora.07,11. been Withover50years broadcast (ryo wm,44, worn*. experience, QTV has led the way in teleprompting technology, producing the most reliable and cutting -edge equipment in the world today. For ease -of -use, durability and performance nothing compares to QTV prompters -that's why every major network in the country uses them. Whatever your prompting needs, QTV has it. Contact us for information or a product catalog.

M/,1°r'7 a division ofAutocue 208 Harbor Drive, Stamford, CT 06902 Tel: (203)406-1400 Fax: (203)323-3394 www.qtv.com

1 00 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 www.broadcasten ineerin.0 0 M

Hamlet 95. tests the digital age BY STEVE NUNNEY 0 The migration to digital hasgenerate faults, meaning the signaland color gamut. Digital cursors are 0 brought about a completepath needs to be traced. provided for accurate timing and C change in the broadcast Whether it is digital or analog, thelevel measurements. Internal pro- (-) world. Nowhere is this more keenly felt facility has to deliver a clean, accurate cessing is digital for maximum sta- than in engineering, which as a careersignal with the right audio and videobility and accuracy. to has changed beyond all recognition. levels. This requires checking every- To meet the portability require- An all -analog system, needing a rou- thing with precision test and measurement, the device is battery powered, 20 tine alignment for each piece of equipment equipment. For mobile engineers running for more than two hours on ment and constant monitoring of lev- in digital facilities, portable devices that a charge. A power adaptor is supplied m els, called for a team of engineers anddon't sacrifice quality can be used. for use in a fixed location. An analogy can be made to the PDA. The system is built around a custom m The platform is a palmtop device, com- chipset, designed solely with the pur- pletely self-sufficient in itself, but ca-pose of audio and video test and mea- pable of linking to a PC to downloadsurement in mind. The launch model data and take on the latest software.of the Flexiscope will meet the most Ultimately, it will be capable ofprovid-common needs of the engineer in the ing the complete range of test and mea- digital facility and is provided with a surement functionality simply by add- single BNC input for SDI or HD SDI ing the appropriate connection mod-with embedded audio. ules and loading the right software. Future Flexiscope products will have Hamlet's Flexiscope is a multiformatmultiple inputs, analog inputs or be waveform monitor, vectorscope and audio -only devices. Should new for- Hamlet's Flexiscope provides a com- picture monitor, with facilities formats that require real-time monitor- plete range of test and measurement functionality with appropriate con- embedded audio. It is capable of working come along, these can be added. nection modules and software. ing in HD as well as SD. The digital revolution has changed The monitor looks like a slightly the way engineers work, but certainly technical supervision of all but theoversized PDA. It has a 3.5 -inch di-not eliminated the need for careful simplest of operations. Digital tech-agonal TFT screen at the top, a set ofquality control. Test and measurement nology has brought a degree of stabil- soft keys below and a keyboard at themanufacturers need to react to this ity to the equipment and eliminatedbottom. A speaker and headphonechange with products that are stable this tedious supervision. The result is a need for fewer engineers, allowing those that remain to be mobile around Digital broadcasting has not eliminated the need the facility, focused on preventive for quality monitoring tools. maintenance and path checking, and able to respond to arising problems. socket are provided for audio confi-and accurate, but portable to reflect Yet, digital broadcasting has notdence monitoring. The TFT displaythe new engineering workflow; simple eliminated the need for quality moni-shows the picture in correct (4:3 orto use without compromising preci- toring tools; it has simply changed the 16:9) aspect ratio. sion; and, above all, cost-effective. way they are used. The display can show SD or HD The Hamlet Flexiscope is a new Signal levels are still an issue. It seems waveform displays or vectorscope,platform with plenty of room to that every piece of equipment nowa-audio bar graphs (with digital, PPM,grow with new applications as they days has a built-in color corrector, forVU, nordic scales and simulated bal-become needed. BE instance, an open invitation to the in- listics), and phase display. Data experienced to create out -of -gamutanalysis also is included for digital Steve Nunney is managing director for signals. And digital equipment can still streams, including EDH, stuck bit Hamlet Video International.

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 103 U. Fiber management in broadcast networks IL BY JOY MCKNIGHT

OC 418 or years, television broad- keep fiber separate from coax cable; casters have relied on coax protect it from out -of -tolerance cable to route video and au- bends; and promote neat, easily acces- dio control signals and RF around sible runs. C.) their facilities. Coax has proven itself Vertical cable protection. Allowing to be easy to work with and reliable. fiber to hang unprotected from the O However, as the television broadcast back of equipment can be a recipe for business evolves from a single analog disaster. Exposed cables are easy to cc channel to a digital world, the indus- snag accidentally with a wandering try is re-evaluating the role of coax. hand or foot, which can result in In its place, fiber-optic cable is emerg- damage to the connector or fiber it- ing as a logical solution for next -gen- self. Additionally, over time, the eration television signal routing, weight of hanging fiber can cause 2 where greater bandwidth is needed to bends outside the acceptable limit accommodate HD signals and and damage the fiber. Proper verti- multicast SD channels. cal cable management in panels or As these applications drive fiber equipment bays provides adequate into more networks every day, many Good cable management ensuressupport, cable protection and a tran- broadcasters' deployment strategies that the fiber networks of today are ready for tomorrow's higher -band-sition from the vertical run to the overlook one major consideration. width applications. Pictured: ADC'sback of the equipment that does not Good cable management practices FL2000 fiber management system. damage the fiber.

are the key to an effective fiber net- Slack storage. Besides the ability to work, allowing for flexibility, fluidthe following items, each critical when tidy up the look of a facility, the proper change, easier network maintenancedeploying a fiber network in a broad- storage of slack patch cords allows sta- and configuration and, most impor-cast environment: tion engineers to work in equipment tantly, growth. When a broadcaster Bend radius. At turns in fiberracks free from the fear that a false uses good cable management fromruns, maintain a 11/2 -inch bend ra-move might accidentally do harm. the start in its fiber network , the net- dius. Tighter bends may causeAlso, having a dedicated slack storage work grows more quickly. Good cable microbending of individual fibers system for patch cords enables users management practices also ensure that the fiber networks of today will be ready for the higher -bandwidth Fiber-optic cable is emerging as a logical solution applications of tomorrow. for next -generation television signal routing. Guiding the way ADC's family of fiber infrastructurethat allows light to escape the signalto specify a single patch cord length solutions for broadcasters was engi-path, resulting in signal attenuation. for the entire plant. Proper slack stor- neered with these concepts of effi-More severe bends can break fiber age means engineers can use a 5 -meter cient cable management in mind.strands completely, resulting inpatch cord without fear that dangling They make fiber networks less sus-signal loss. excess fiber will be damaged. Proper

ceptible to accidental damage or net- Cable troughing. Used to route fi- slack storage also alleviates worries work problems, quicker to install, lessber-optic cable, troughing systemsabout the patch cord being too short expensive to own and operate overprovide a protected pathway for fiberif changes need to be made quickly. the long haul, and easier to expandto traverse spans between rooms and Slack storage systems can take many as needs grow. equipment racks. Troughing systems shapes - from integral storage com- The infrastructure systems addresssuch as the ADC FiberGuide system partments in stand-alone termination

104broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 BroadcaslEngineering

I htpins cabinets to 19 -inch, 1RU trays, such pro- as the ADC Fiber Management Tray. But the common thread among all of these systems is that extra patch cord dadcale lengths are stored neatly, protected from damage and aren't exposed to I 11 accidents that can negatively impact The evolution of broad:ast the ability of a station to earn revenue.

Cable pile-up. In horizontal fiber runs, it is unacceptable to allow a pile of fiber cable exceed two inches. Be- yond that point, the weight of the bundle will surpass the crush tolerance limit of the fiber at the bottom As the television industry continues to redefine itself, of the stack, and result in microscopic Broadcast Engineering is there. Broadcast Engineering is the damage and signal attenuation. Look industry's preferred resource for learning about the ever -evolving for products that have horizontal television market. Stay current on the latest technology developments, routing paths that ensure cable pile- new players, products and decision -makers. up is not an issue. To start your FREE subscription with the industry's #1

Labeling. Develop good labeling authoritative source of technical information`, go to practices. Know where fibers originate www.broadcastengineering.com and click on SUBSCRIBE NOW, and terminate by using products that have adequate designation space. Do- '2002, Paramount Research Stud World Edition. ing so will reduce maintenance time and the likelihood that a maintenance redefining television tech will make hasty decisions on fiber routing that can lead to a rat's nest of cable and patch cords.

Future proofing. When planning rack configurations with a given What are you looking for? number of terminations to accommodate a relatively low number of fibers for today's requirements, Events don't forget the future. A fiber path that easily supports 12 fibers today may be inadequate to support the Crew Equipment wost Production Production 1st AD. Art Directors, Audio. Cameras, Nucl. / Sound Mixing, Ad Agencies, Directors, 200 fibers that will be needed in a Camera Operators, DR Cases, Lights, Abs. Editors, Post Studios. Networks, Gnps, Gaffers. Set Expendables. acilities, Cornpositing, Production Co., couple of years. Planning up front Designers. Stunts 3Hardware, NLE sound Libraries Producers. PuNicIsts for the future can save the expense iPre-Production Digital Media NTalentServices Support of ripping out outgrown capacity Accounting, aCD/DVD Authoring. 5 Artist Management, Accommodations, Associations, Film ;i. Duplication. Casting Directors, Aerial Services. Commissions. down the road. 'tt, Replication, Streaming, Choreographers, Animals, Caterers. Insurance, Legal Video Compression MI Headshots Charters. Film Schools Tying it all together Proper cable management is critically important to the successful con- To find what you're looking for, use ProductionHUB, the online resource version of television broadcasters and industry directory for film, television, video and digital media production. from coax to fiber. The fact that a single fiber may transmit mission - critical signals, such as revenue -generating commercials and programming, underscores the importance of onProductiongliKcom taking the steps necessary to manage fiber's installation and use. BE Where Production meets the Internet.

Joy McKnight is a product manager for ADC.

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 105 KVAL automates with MicroFirst BY STEVE NORDBY

VAL-TV phased in cen- GPIs, as well as re -cue from GPI in case The MicroFirst Media Editor pro- tralized programmingof a false start. Other needs includedgram displays the server's database to with its first Media Pool end -of -station -break GPI outputs, thewith faster and easier to use sort -and - multichannel video server in 1995. By ability to place comment text in afilter options than the station's old 0 2000, it was feeding five zones cover- playlist, and an automatic refresh of du- system. The station also can export D ing most of western Oregon from one rations and titles if clips were replaced.the database to a text file to share on control room. All station breaks are fed Because the manual control roomthe intranet with remote traffic and from the central location's video CC server, as are hourly five-minute news 0. cut -ins on a cable news channel and a As its old server neared retirement age, the station time -shift with different commercial considered modem automation solutions. content for the evening news on a different channel. "take" switch is the break cue (with no sales departments. It takes only a few As its old server neared retirementpreroll), there was concern aboutclicks to copy a clip, and users can eas- age, the station considered modern avoiding dead air while waiting for theily trim clips by clicking "trim clip" automation solutions. server to respond. Automation usuallyto load a clip in the dub/trim win- With a high volume of daily localstarts events at the top of the second;dow. Also, with multiple stations and spots and live programming and ahowever, the station wanted to startdepartments responsible for manag- commitment to serving advertisersimmediately from the cue and haveing server inventory, building, im- promptly with last-minute traffictightback-to-backplay.Theporting and executing a single daily changes, the station opted to remain aMicroFirst system offers an immedi-clip deletion list saves the staff from

Ago. NO ate start feature to keep themind -numbing and error -prone $011.0 Yam station looking clean on air, one -at -a -time deletions. Orttia -i;//7.-1 even through tight network After dealing with huge numbers of

Ir (Wm IneadElsa. breaks and cut -ins. playlist changes during the 2000 elec- .1 MR 4011to 110410101. war.. Several of MicroFirst's fea- tion season, the station knew it had to .1018./.. "mow.

1,111norI10 0../111,4 1101400600. 1.00 1.160.1, tures helped to improve streamline that process. The operator

.10.110111111400.5.1 ty.1.10, INP.1.1. 1111.1 INMAN 4/100. workflow, especially thenow simply uses the time -filter func- 11.0.1l IN10.11 010414 40.1140. lam VOW 001111.0 ROO 10.1k1 /* 40,100. 11.10 OOP. Ral POW 1.011 =MONAmoo MOM. ability to switch directly be-tion to import changes directly into 101,1. 04E141 MOO MOW,/ W.W.I VI 10.02 eal La NI .111, 00..0 LOW M 11.0.10 0200. MVO WOO. RAPIC 0 1.120. tween current air schedulesthe on -air schedule. This lets the staff WY. !!!... and plain text files, and the n " respond to advertiser's needs with er- crou.r". rata. Paz.> Yr... FOB'Friar- pVONORMIS11141" ability to filter importedror -free control. AVM--".'flarirni." rv-Z" schedules to a specific time. Initially KVAL was not concerned When coping with a late - with the ability to automate a record- .10""I 10- 4^ctit -40.4.-b4111111, running event, it's easy to ing schedule, but with about 2500 spots As its old server neared retirement age, KVAL delete individual spots, drag in active inventory, it would have taken chose MicroFirst's Digital Automation system and drop individual com- an operator working full time a month to provide increased functionality. mercials or entire breaks forto record them all to the new server mostly hands-on operation, and auto-make -goods, and skip forward in themanually. MicroFirst recommended mate only those areas where there was schedule to any point. The interfaceusing a recording schedule with GPI a significant advantage. can display four schedules tiled ver-control to roll a matching playlist on KVAL approached MicroFirst for op- tically. In edit mode, an edit panel oc-the old server. Transferring the entire erator -assist functions for a newcupies the lower part of the screen. inventory took about 20 hours. BE Omneon server. The station needed to The user interface was easy to learn be able to start playing each serverbecause of its Windows -like drag - Steve Nordby is software projects source instantly from independentand -drop functionality. coordinator for KVAL-7V

1 06broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Now Only

$995* This price is for cons3le o y and oes not include any add bond xcessoras D.esigned with the Graphics and Multimedia professional in mind Perfect for space conscious rooms Contemporary styling males a powerful design statement

25 Years of Innovation(Nevelt- Ask us about the latest technology innovations and console soluticns.

For more informalion cal 1,800-735-2070 or visit us on the web at e5 www.forecast-consoles.com

Come see us at Booth # 1433 at the Government Video Technology Show 6;1 Routing switchers BY JOHN LUFF Routing switchers seem toEarly incarnations were usually twois quite effective, as blocks of be a simple-minded lot.switchers under strict parallel con- crosspoints have climbed from 10x10 What could be simplertrol, with one audio level and oneto as high as 128x128, it is no longer than taking a unidirectional signal invideo level married together on apractical to "work around" a signifi- and passing it on unchanged? Howone -for -one basis. Breakaway was cant failure. Both NVISION and Utah can something so fundamentallypossible, but without the ability to Scientific have developed internal re- O uncomplex be so important to our in- map crosspoints to logical pairingsdundant cards that can seamlessly re- dustry? The answer lies in the com-like we see today. place crosspoints and I/Os. Utah Sci- cc plexity that is under the covers. The routing switcher began life as a simple crossbar switcher, much like What could be simpler than taking a unidirectional a telephone switch. Many inputs could be connected to many outputs signal in and passing it on unchanged? but, unlike a telephone switch, one input could be replicated to all out- As time passed, it became clear thatentific has built-in signal presence puts at the same time, a kind of su-the switcher needed more capability. detection that can allow the control per -flexible distribution amplifier.Signal paths became much cleaner assystem to sense a lost input and au- the requirement to circle through thetomatically replace it with an alter- system many times became increas-nate signal, a copy of the main signal ingly important. Stereo audio levelsor a suitable replacement. NVISION were added, as were machine controlput a redundant crosspoint into the functionality, RS -422 matrices, tally, frame that allows for potential fail- and sophisticated control systems that ure of a large block of crosspoints and allowed multiple levels for key signals their replacement, with no effect on and other functions. Input mappingany output. became virtual, allowing system Control systems are embracing TCP/ reconfiguration without rewiring aIP for distribution of control to pan- plant around one piece of equipment. els and for communication to other Reliability increased, and one manu- devices. This facilitates some of the facturer offered a 10 -year warranty. more important changes. Web -based (And still does!) Control systems wentmonitoring and configuration has from embedded real-time systems tobegun to be a valuable and simple way reprogrammable software systemsto interact with control systems. with redundant processors. NVISION, with its Envy control sys- Today, all of this seems like the darktem, has pioneered a new Web inter- ages. Routing has taken such a key po- face - featured in products from sition in mission -critical operations Thomson Grass Valley, Utah Scientific that some manufacturers have takenand others - that permits more flex- a fresh look at how to best protectible maintenance and operational fea- their clients. Careful planning fortures. Remote monitoring and diag- eventual failure once enhanced reli- nosis can now be done from anywhere, NVISION's NV8256-Plus router fea- turesa high -density 256x256 ability. For instance, signals were dis- including from a manufacturer's crosspoint module. Its frame has pro-bursed among physical I/O cards to plant. As systems become more com- visions for an additional crosspointensure that one random board fail- module to serve as a hot standby, plex, and labor budgets get even eliminating the crosspoint module as ure could not take all inputs to thetighter, this will increasingly be a valu- a single point of failure in the system. MCR off the air. While this strategyable tool.

108broacicastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 This movement to IP control also 2-D squeeze, full -featured master con-acting as an intelligent signal proces- facilitates wide -area connection of trol, or a small production control sor on a grand scale. BE virtual control systems. The Euro-room. Install a virtual monitor wall pean Broadcasting Union, has con- processor, a VGA level to the router, John Luff is senior vice president of nected a Thomson Grass Valley En- and voila, you have instant control business development for AZCAR. core control system between Wash- rooms. With streaming processors ington and New York, with software like H.264, a control room could be SEND Sulquestions and comments to: control panels distributed in 10 cit-located anywhere, with the router [email protected] ies across Europe over private data bandwidth. Though not for the faint of heart, the same thing could be done using VPN connections over the public network for temporary or low usage control. Control panels are becoming highly networkn o v a configurable. With programmable button legends being offered, it is not hard to see how the entire button set can be flexible, allowing buttons to be assigned to special purpose functions or macros. The contents of a router frame re- mained remarkably the same until recently. For many years, stereo audio routing switchers have been capable of channel summing or track rever- sal. A few years ago, wide bandwidth routing became available. The ability to mix HDTV signals with digital 525/625 signals was an important change. But this year, a more important evolution occurred. Several manufacturers now offer analog -to- digital conversion (and the reverse) for audio and video signals. In some cases, these are special purpose I/O cards. In the case of the Thomson Grass Valley Concerto audio router, the standard audio cards (analog and digital) can be mixed in one frame, World leading compact router program allowing flexible I/O with internal conversion both directions. All signal formats (Broadcast, Telecom But more exciting is the inclusion by and Multimedia) 16x2, 8x8, 16x16, 32x32, 64x64 Quartz and others of new functional- Modular Router 32x32 to 128x128 ity in routing. Keyers have shown up Special RUM/ Multimedia Routers in Quartz's Xenon router. It is easy to THOR Router Management System Advanced Control Panels see how a routing switcher could be- All 3`d party interfaces come a simple master control switcher. For DTV multiplex this is particularly appealing. It is easy to feed all the sig- Network Electronics US Inc 11075 South State Street Ste27 Sal Lake City LT 84070 Phone: (800) 420-5909 Fax: (800) 420-5911 nals to one box and take out combined or individual signals. Functionality www.network-electronics.corn/US could be distributed via IP if a few other simple features were added, such as a simple mix multipler with key and

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 109 REAL-TIME 3-D VIRTUAL SET TELEPHOTO LENS 4 Darim VS2000: System combines keying of live Cooke S4/I: The 180mm lens offers actors or video feeds with full 3-D to produce contrast and resolution through live studio broadcasts; virtual cameras can be focusing distance and T2 up to 10x moved within the 3-D graphics environment or MOD; is thermally compensated; zoomed in/out while the physical camera designed for use with any PL -mount remains still; features real-time 3-D rendering engine; camera body and with LDS -equipped advanced users can tweak keying parameters manually co cameras; uses an 54/I data display using the special control panel; uses 3-D studio max for unit built by various companies. U) set creation, composite, S -video, YUV, RGB and SDI I/O. +44 116 264 0700; www.cookeoptics.com 888-GET-MPEG; www.darim.tv DSP-BASED VIDEO ENCODER OPEN FORMAT EGT Professional Video Encoder: Built on a digital SGT Interoperability Services: Includes a series of signal processor (DSP) platform; MPEG-2 encoder products - DBOS traffic interface, DBOS NRCS inter- incorporates advanced video algorithms; provides cc face, DBOS NLE interface - each optimized for a transition to future HDTV and MPEG-4 compatibility; particular type of application; products operate with a lower bit rates allow up to 30 percent more channels per DBOS MXF interface. slot; has simultaneous ASI and IP outputs; supports +33 1 64 73 74 74; www.sgt.fr legacy and fast Ethernet networks; dense package includes two channels per rack unit to relieve space CAMERA constraints. Ikegami HDL-40HS: 404-591-4800; www.egtinc.com Equipped with CMOS sensors; operates at 120fps capture rate, and sampling at 1280x720; has 720/120p I via dual -link HD SDI that supplies the high frame rate needed and sends it to the server for slow-motion replay; standard 720p output is available for live use; can also operate at 1080/60p; precision HDTV SloMo is achieved SHORT SHOTGUN in conjunction with the HD LSM-XT server from EVS. MICROPHONE 201-368-9171; www.ikegami.com Audio-Technica AT897: is an 11 -inch compact line+gradient condenser microphone; stays out of frame TIME SCALING PROCESSOR on wide shot when the camera is mounted; controlled Dolby Model 585: Provides pitch correction; processes off -axis response; its line+gradient polar pattern ensures PCM audio from any multichannel system, with special signal rejection from the side and rear; operates on consideration for supporting decoded Dolby E and Dolby phantom power or internal battery; features a low Digital audio and their associated metadata; eight audio frequency roll -off switch; includes a foam windscreen channels can support multiple individual audio programs and stand adapter. such as 5.1 +2, four stereo pairs or eight mono channels, +44 113 277 1441; www.audio-technica.co.uk and all other Dolby E program configuration modes. 415-558-0200; www.dolby.com TAPELESS WORKFLOW SYSTEM Cinegy News: Has full MOS protocol workflow DVD/DVR ARCHIVER integration for real-time support of solutions such as Baystor BK-2500: Record and burn industry -standard The Associated Press' ENPS system and the Avid MPEG-2 DVDs; preserves SMPTE time code, closed iNEWS newsroom computer system; includes real- captioning and other vertical interval info on the DVD; time on -air playout of rundowns created in MOS can also record and retrieve video in DV25, AVI and protocol -based applications; features ActiveX plug-in Quicklime format to DVDs; hard disk can store 10 hours for seamless integration directly into applications; can of DV25 quality video and audio; can be used as a integrate fully with Cinegy Archive for digital asset desktop or rack -mountable unit. management and archive. 813-645-6666; www.baystor.com 408-333-9127; www.cinegy.com

1 10 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 TWISTED-PAIR A/V FILE SHARING SOFTWARE RECEIVER AND Studio Network Solutions iSANmp: Built on the iSCSI TRANSMITTER protocol; designed for audio and video file sharing over ALTINEX DA1930CT and DA1931CT Ethernet; IP-based storage networking standard that (shown): Transmit and receive video enables rapid and efficient transport of block -level I/O and audio signals over twisted -pair data over high-speed Ethernet; works with Windows and CAT -5/6 type cable; can be used Mac OS X systems. together or in combination with other 877-537-2094;www.studionetwodsolutions.com ALTINEX CAT -5 -type products; supports VGA-UXGA computer video COMBINED SYNCHRONIZER, resolution, S -video, or composite TRACKING AUDIO DELAY AND video with stereo audio signals over EMBEDDER/DE-EMBEDDER CAT -5/6 or no -skew twisted -pair cable; maximum Crystal Vision distance up to 700 feet. SYNNER144: Times 800-Altinex;www.altinex.com audio and video to the local syncs; synchro- HD RASTERIZER nizes video feeds; Tektronix WVR7100: Monitors HD, SD, composite analog synchronizer and signals, and digital and analog audio; access to key tracking audio delay functionality is available with the touch of a button; users works with two groups can control and access the system from up to 100 feet of audio (eight mono channels); when used as an with a new remote front -panel capability; supports two embedder, audio can either be added to an existing group passive loop -through HD -SDI inputs of the HD formats to partially overwrite it, or a complete second audio group (720p, 1035i, 1080i, 1080p and 1080sF) at a variety of frame can be added. rates. +44 1223 497 049;www.aystalvision.tv 800-426-2200;www.tektronix.com CONNECTIVITY SYSTEM HD MEDIA Thomson Grass Valley XML-Gateway: Provides SERVER complete network connectivity for the Grass Valley Andromeda tally and GPI management system and Omneon Spectrum Nennos signal management software; allows information HD: Delivers integrated to be exchanged between several Andromeda systems, native playback of HD Nennos systems, and between both systems on any MPEG media; includes WAN or LAN; offers customizable labels that describe two new media the content of signals and can be assigned to router interface adapters: the MultiPort 4000 series for one or inputs in each production area. two channels of HD MPEG playback and the MediaPort 4010 for material acquisition; interface units can store 530-478-3000; www.thomsonyassvalley.com and play back SD and HD content simultaneously; COMPACT existing Omneon systems can be upgraded. CARDIOID 408-585-5000;www.omneon.com STEREO KIT DPA Microphone DPA HDTV UPCONVERTER 3521: Features two 4021 Leitch HUC-3901: Supports 1080i and 720p outputs; compact cardioid offers either quick selection from five preset common microphones carefully aspect ratios or fully scalable output aspect ratio and matched within 2dB on picture position; can remap one group of embedded frequency response, sensitivity and self -noise; is audio with matching delay into the output HDTV signal; supplied in a sturdy carrying case and includes the perform last -stage upconversion of SDI signals prior to combination XY/ORTF holder, two gooseneck mounts and DIV transmission, bridge existing SDI content into an two magnet bases for mounting on metal surfaces; is HDTV island, upconvert existing CG video and repurpose pre -amplified using a built-in miniaturized thick -film existing key/fill signals for master control. mounted FET-amplifier. 859-371-5533; www.leitch.com +45 4814 2828;www.dpamicrophones.com

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 1 1 1 A N w Product A A 2-1K=11 tb_ I I II_ is

NOW SHIPPING

SD RECORDER MOTION GRAPHICS SOFTWARE Accom APRClipStore: Has more than an Apple Motion: Create natural simulations hour of uncompressed video, key and audio with behavior procedural animation recording capacity within a 3RU chassis; techniques; automatically generate simple provides a versatile interfacing with a or sophisticated fluid motion effects and network of graphics rendering computers, uses make changes spontaneously; features an NetPanel browser -based interface and Windows Media advanced particle engine that enables users to quickly 9 export encoding; has built-in import/export capability; and easily apply realistic particle presets, with instant can record and play an associated key signal; provides previewing of multiple filters and particle effects; inte- an automated solution to stream digitized video, key and grates with both Final Cut Pro HD and DVD Studio Pro 3. audio into computer systems. 408-996-1010; www.apple.com 650-328-3818; www.accom.com

01, 41) a new direction in routing a HD -SDI bouts to'ourSonyPVM/BVUI one.. 16 x 16 Monitor JJ 11111111111111MMININIII 32 x 32 Multi -Definition 111CIMS=. SDI to Analog NK Is a compact and very flexible series Component of routing systems designed for use in Converter broadcast, educational, corporate, and for Sony Monitors government facilities. Installs directly Available in in the rear option analog and digital slot of select audio and video Gear Sony PVM / BVM as well as data series monitors routing formats. NEW! All formats are available in either 16x16 or 32x32 configurations. $1,1'95

Sony, PVM, 6 BVM are trademarks of Cool Practical Technology- Cool Practical Technology - Sony Corporation

www.rossvideo.com www.rossvideo.com tel: (613)652-4886 fax: (613)652-4425 tel: (613)652-4886 fax: (613)652-4425 email: [email protected] email: [email protected]

1 1 2 broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 ELECTRONICS RESEARCH, INC. The HD Maestrcr EL Series Real-time, PC -based Time UHF Antenna High -resolution (10801) HD MPEG Encoding Workstation Aliao- The EL Series UHF ..41Op Transmitting ar. Antenna for either id4i.del DTV or NTSC applications to ra a IITOI, ii

"111IPP*A Input HD -SDI. output DVB-ASI ,,,,,,,.,..: 00 Based on the LSI Logic DoMiNoT°' chipset 114,ir. Perfect for post production HD content distribution

PC platform provides flexibility contact: and connectiivity . g For more information on the HD Maest-o or any DVEO products, call 858 613-181B Or visit Id www.dveo.com ,2 VIM ICAritrJ Your Single Source for Broadcast Soluticns DVEOPro Broadcast Division [email protected]+1 (812) 925-60001www.ERlinc.com

TALLY BROADCAST VIDEO Over IP MAPPERTM Broadcast Quality at 1.5 MbpsMTN 4:2:0/4:2:2 Video Profile Contribution Feeds Tally Routing & Mapping Live News Gathering One Button Operation Portable ENG & SNG Store Maps Internally Advanced Error Correction Edit From a PC/Laptop Realtime Store & Fwd ACT -L3 Video Transport Multi -Network T1, El & IP IIStreamboxIIhum Call or visit our website today! www.streambox.com [email protected] 206/956-0544 x222

A Compact Solution, Ideal for Mobile Units and Multiple Production Setups. -rENTION VideofrarneTM dvertiserS Control System Solutions

Tel: 530-477-2000 Call to advertise in Broadcast Engineering magazine www.videoframesystems.com Jennifer Shafer 800-896-9939 [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 1 13 For Sale

ELE7 7L7,1 7/17 * BROADCAST * POST * PRODUCTION * SONY * TEST * BUY / SELL / TRADE * BRAND * SCOPES * EQ. RACKS * VIRS * NEW * & MORE! * DSR390L £7L 49L7C7--5r-f-L76'-145 DVCAM Camcorder V with Studio Capability PRE OWNED

m New Type 1/2 inch Power HAD CCD's AcousticsFirst F13 at 2000 lx sensitivity TN.,::Fbr:888-765-2900 65 dB S/N ratio Full product line for sound control 0.4 lx min illumination (F1.4) and noise elimination.

TrueEye process Web: http://www.acousticsfirst.com

Dyaniatitude Skintone Detail The leading broadcast video sales compcny cn the west coast! Black Compress and Stretch TRADE SONY a...itaraitateegtah Professional Services Authorized 818.840.1351 Professional email for quotes Paulgstudio-exchange.com Reseller 816 N. Victory Blvd.Burbank, CA 91502 FAX 818.840.1354 JOHNH. BATTISON P.E. CONSULTING BROADCAST ENGINEER, FCC APPLICATIONS AM, FM, TV, LPTV Antenna Design, Proofs, Fieldwork 2684 State Route 60 RD *1 Loudonville, OH 44842 419-994-3849 FAX 419-994-5419 SKYLINE BROADCAST D.L. MARKLEY & Associates, Inc. CONSULTING ENGINEERS 2104 West Moss Ave. Peoria, Illinois 61604 Phone (309) 673-7511 FAX (309) 673-8128 www.dlmarkley.com Member AFCCE

GILMER&ASSOCIATES, INC TECHNOLOGY/MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

BRAD GILMER PRESIDENT 2207 RINGSmITH DR ATLANTA. GA 30345 TEL 17701 414-9952 FAX ,7701493-7421 EmAtL bgilmer@atlnet com

TO ADVERTISE contact.... Jennifer Shafer 800-894-9939 [email protected]

114broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Companies Employment Chapters Wanted COMPANIES WANTED Who you know Get A newly formed group headed by the former EMPLOYERS/EMPLOYEES can make CEO of a broadcast equipment manufacturer Click On plugged in all the difference is interested in purchasing companies with ton niche products and sales of 3 to 10 million KeystoneAmerica.corn SSE chapter (317) 846-9000, x23 dollars, the company does not have to be NO. 1 TECHNICAL / ENGINEERING www.sbe.org profitable.If your company meets this crite- near yoa! SOCIETY OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICE BROADCAST ENGINEERS ria please respond with some initial information which will be held strictly confidential. Please respond to PO BOX 281, Bloomfield, MI 48303-0281.

TU12fle2 STUDIOS I

Turner Studios, the state of the art digital television complex serving a the production needs of theTurner THE Entertainment Networks in Atlanta, WEATHER Georgia, is seeking highly motivated, client service oriented CHANNEL Engineers to join our team! weather.corn We are currently accepting resumes for: Engineering Mgr - IT Infrastructure DIGITAL VIDEO ENGINEER Network Specialists We have an opportunity for a top notch Digital Video Engineer. This person Render Administrator will be responsible for digital video activities associated with the development, Production Engineers (all shifts) Audio creation, testing and implementation of key initiatives for our company. Editorial We are seeking a person with proven experience in video signals, digital Effects video technologies and compression technologies. It is highly preferred that Router Studio the individual has experience maintaining a post production facility. This person will be a key player in maintaining the company's digital cable lab as well Successful candidates will be as participating in key strategic projects for the broadcast engineering depart- motivated self-starters, detail and ment. The engineer must have experience working in cross functional teams deadline -oriented team players, and meeting priority deliverables. This person will be involved in communicat- with strong interpersonal, ing and presenting company technological contributions in the area communication and customer - of digital video technology to the cable industry. service skills. Minimum 3 -years industry experience with strong Come join our team! Candidates must apply online at www.weather.com/jobs background in television engineering and cutting -edge post - The Weather Channel, 300 Interstate North Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 production technology. Flexible work shifts are required. Please send resumes to: Jeff Sharpe Director of Engineering For advertsing questions, please contact... Fax - 404-878-4014 Email [email protected] Jennifer Shafer 800-894-9939 For more information, please visit: http://www.turnerstudios.com [email protected] http://www.turnerjobs.com

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com1 1 5 A PRIMEDIA Publication I BroadcastEngineering www.broadcastenginearing.com

Editorial Director. Brad Dick, bdickeprimediabusiness.com MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN - WATE- Technical Editor. Donald Keller, dkel ler(Oprimediabusiness.com MAINTENANCE ENGINEER - JOB Sr. Assoc. Editor Susan Anderson, sandersonapninediabusiness.com TV6 has an immediate opening for aREQUIREMENTS: A minimum of Sr. Assoc, Editor. Laura Dixon, Idixonfaprimediabusiness.can Broadcast Maintenance Technician.3-5 years broadcast maintenance Asst Editor Chevonn Payton, cpaytoneprimediabusiness.com Asst Editor. Heidi Hueseman,hhuesemanaprimediabusiness.com Applicant must be a graduate of anengineering experience as well as Sr. Art Director Michael J. Knust, mknustaprimediabusiness.can accredited electronics school orthorough knowledge of electronic Assoc. Art Director Robin Morsbach, rmasbacheprimediabusinesstorn college with 10 years experience in Technical Consultants: Computers & Networking -Brad Gilmer maintenance for broadcast televi- Antennas/Radiation - John H. Battison broadcast maintenance. Must besion required. Requires an in-depth Digital Video - Michael Robin capable of troubleshooting analogknowledge of television station opera- Transmission Facilities -Donald L. Markley legal -Harry C. Martin and digital broadcast electroniction. Live news experience, strong a New Technology -John Luff equipment to the component levelplus. Must be able to read schematic Industry Watcher -Paid McGoldrick in cameras, videotape machines, New Media -Craig Birkmaier diagrams and troubleshoot analog switchers, microwave, transmitters,and digital equipment to the com- Sr. VP peter L. May, pmayeprimediabusiness.com and associated terminal equipment. ponent level. Familiarity with all Group Publisher. Dennis Triol a, dtriol agprimediabusinesstorn Marketing Dir.: T' I, cheileprimediabusinesscan Must have an understanding of com-FCC rules, regulations as well as test Online Sales & Marketing Di.: Samantha Kahn, skahrtgairneditusiness.can puters and microprocessors as theyequipment operation for diagnosis Vice Pre i sde nt of Production - Lisa Parks, Iparkseprirnediabusiness.com apply to broadcasting equipment.of all digital and analog signals. Sr, Ad Prod. Coord.: . Daniels, kadanielseprimediabusiness.corn Classified Ad Coord.: nelle Hooper, mhoopereprimediabusinesstan VHF and UHF transmitter experienceExperience in server technology a Dir., Aid ence Marketing: BarteraKurnmer,Cluiranereprimediabusinas.com a plus. Must have a General Class FCC plus. LANGUAGE/SKILLS: Bilingual Group Show Director/113k Sharon Morabito,smorabitokrinkaliabusiness.com license and SBE certification. Inter-Spanish/English helpful. Must be ested parties send resume and salaryable to troubleshoot and respond PRIMEDIA requirements to: WATE-TV6, ATTN: Business Magazines & Media timely to maintenance needs for PERSONNEL, ENGINEERING JOB #04- COO: JackCondon. jcondoneprimediabusiness coon live broadcast. TO APPLY ONLINE Executive Vice PresidentJohn French, jtiendaprimatiabusiness.can 18, P.O. BOX 2349, KNOXVILLE, TN VISIT US AT: http://nbcjobs.com.... Corp. Comm/M kg.: Karen Garrison, kgarrisongprimediabirsines.can 37901. No beginners and no phoneKey word is Maintenance Engineer...

Primedia Inc.: 145 Fifth Ave., NY, New York 10151 calls, please. EEO Employer. OR FAX TO HUMAN RESOURCES AT: Chairman: Nelson: dean.nelsoneprimedia.com 818-840-3528 EOE President and CEO: Kelly Cod in. ke I ly.conl ingairnedia.com Vice Chairman & General Counsel: Beverly Chell, beverh chell(aprimediatom WDSI FOX61TV seeks Assistant Chief Engineer: experience with UHF Trans- FOX O&O in Memphis is seeking an MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS 4111.13pA mitter preferred, ability to maintainengineer to maintain and repair stu- Sustaining Member d. 41.010%.004, studio equipment, analog and digital Society of Broadcast Engineers dio and transmitter equipment with Member, American Business Media; Member, BPA International tape recorders and DVC Pro equipment emphasis on Beta SX VTR and RF required. Good communication skills a BROADCAST ENGINEERING, ISSN 0001-1994, is published manhly (except systems repair. Troubleshoot to the must. Send resume and cover letter to: semi-monthly inJune and December) by PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media component level. Serve as designated Inc., 9800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 65212 (primediabusiness.coml. Current WDSI FOX61 Attention Christene Ramsey, FCC Chief Operator. Must be well and back issues and additional resources, including subscription request forms and 1101 East Main Street, Chattanooga, TN an editorial calendar, are available on the World Wide Web at versed in FCC and OSHA rules and broadcastengineering.com. 37408, email to [email protected] or regulations. Must be self -motivated fax to 423-265-3636. NO PHONE CALLS SUBSCMPTION RATES: Freeand controlled circulation toqualifiel subscribes. and able to work independently with Non-qualthed perm may subscribe at the follaMng rates (Prices subject to PLEASE. WDSI FOX61 is an equal op-little supervision. Requires ability changel:USARICatacta,lyear,S70.00,1years,5135.00,3fears,S2013.00;Outside portunity employer and a drug freeto lift 50 lbs., occasionally work on USAandCanada,lyear,S85.00,2years,$165.00,3yeas,245.03safacemailll year, workplace. 15500, 2years,S255.00,3pars,S440.00ainnaildelivery). For stiostribersavicesa ladders or in confined spaces, and to order singlecopies, writetoBroadcastEngineering, 2104 Handl Circle, Bellevue, NE 68005 USA call 866-505-7173 IUSAI or 402.505-7173 (outside USA(; or visit available to work nights/weekends/ www.aoadcastangineenrg.com. A BROADCAST MAINTENANCE EN- holidays for emergency calls. Must

ARCHNES AND MICROFORM: This magazine is available for research and GINEER is needed in Salt Lake City, have valid driver's license. Requires retrieval of selected archived articles from leading electronic databases at online Ut. Applicant must be proficient infive years experience in commercial searchsennces,noludingFactivalaidsNexisandProquestFormiaofonnanilability, Autocad, computers andnetwork-broadcast television and transmitter contact Prolest at 800-521-0600 or 734-761-4700, or search the Serials in Micro- form listingsat proquestcom. ing technologies, analog and digital maintenance. SBE Certification is pre- video tape recorders, digital audio/ ferred. Please send resume to: Human REPRINTS: Contact Wright's Reprints to purchase quality custom reprints or e -prints of articles appearing in this publication at 877-652-52951281-0t9- video systems, microwave, satellite, Resources, WHBQ-TV, 485 S Highland, 5725 outside the U.S. and Canada). Instant reprints and permissions may be and TV transmitter systems. Appli- Memphis, TN 38111. purchased directly from our Web site; look for the iCopyright tag appended to the end of each article. cant must have good verbal and written communications skills and work PHOTOCOPIES: Authorization to photocopy articles for internal corporate, personal,ar instructionalusemaybeobtainedf rombeCopyrightClearanceCenterICCCI well in fast paced stressful environ- at 978-750-040a Obtain further information at cocanghtam. ments.Requires five years experience broadcasting. SBE certification TO ADVERTISE PRNACY POUCY: Your privacy is a priority to us. Fa a detailed policy statement about *vary and infarnationdissemination practices related to Primedia Business is preferred. Please submit resume contact.... Magazines and Media products,pleasevisitour Web siteat to: Ronda K. Porter, KUTV Human Re- uwmprimediabusiressarn. Jennifer Shafer 800-894-9939 sources, 299 South Main, Suite 150, [email protected] CORPORATE OFFICE Primedia Business Magazines & Media, ' liiMetcalf, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, Or fax to Overland Park, Kansas 66212 913-341-1300 primediabusiness.com 801-973-3173. Email: porterr@kutv2. Copyright 2004, PRIMEDIA Business Magazines & Media Inc Allrights reserved. coon, No phone calls please.

116broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 Page AdvertiserWeb site US/CANADA HotlineAddress WEST ADCTelecom Inc 59,95 800-366-3891 adc.com/broadcast George Watts III AJA Video 96 800-251-4224aja.com (360) 546-0379; Fax: (360) 546-0388 Anton Bauer. 46 203-929-1100 antonbauer.com [email protected] Anystream 91 888-ANYSTREAManystream.cornianywhere Avid Technology 4-5 avid.com/broadcast EAST Azden Corp. 66 516-328-7500 azden.com Josh Gordon Barco Projection Systems 87 770-218-3200 barcocontrolrooms.com (718) 802-0488; Fax: (718) 522-4751 Calrec Audio Ltd 93 615-871-0094 calrec.com [email protected] Canon USA Broadcast Lenses 29 800 -321 -HDTV canonbroadcast.com Chyron Corp. 20 chyron.com EAST/MIDWEST 510-496-6666 vitecgroupcomms.com Joanne Melton Clear -Corn Intercom Systems 75 (212) 462-3344; Fax: (913) 514-9249 Dielectric 69 800 -DIELECTRIC dielectric.com [email protected] DK Audio 76 +45 870 241 4118 dk-technologies.com DMT USA 63 856-423-0010 dmtonline.us Dolby Labs Inc 21 415-558-0200 dolby.com/dolbye INTERNATIONAL Ensemble Designs 56 530-478-1830 ensembledesigns.com ERG Ventures Co. Ltd. 68 949-263-1630 erg-ventures.com EUROPE Euphonix 51-54 650-855-0400 euphonix.com Richard Woolley Evertz Microsystems Ltd. IBC 905-335-3700 evertz.com +44-1295-278-407 73 800-551-0121 fischerconnectors.com Fax: +44-1295-278-408 Fischer Connectors rich ardwool [email protected] Fluke Corporation 42 800-490-2361 pomonaelectronics.com/75ohm For.A Corp. of America 61 714-894-3311 for-a.com EUROPE Forecast Consoles Inc. 107 800-735-2070 forecast-consoles.com Tony Chapman Fujinon Inc. 77 973-633-5600 fujinon.com +44-1635-578-874 Gearhouse Broadcast 97 818-955-9449 gearhousebroadcast.com Fax: +44-1635-578-874 Gepco 78 800-966-0069 gepco.com [email protected] Hamlet Video 48 866 -4 -HAMLET hamlet.us.com Harris Corp./Broadcast Div. 3 800-4HARRIS broadcast.harris.com ISRAEL IBIS 88 877 -541 -IBIS ibis.tv Asa Talbar Inscriber Technology 33 800-363-3400 inscriber.com Talbar Media Inter BEE 2004 45 bee.jesa.or.jp +972-3-5629565; Fax: +972-3-5629567 Laird Telemedia 92 800-898-0759 lairdtelemedia.com [email protected] Leitch Inc BC, 27,101-102 800-231-9673 leitch.com Link Research Ltd. 70 562-698-8560 linkres.co.uk JAPAN Marshall Electronics Inc. 58 800-800-6608 Icdracks.com Mashy Yoshikawa Maxell Corp 9 800-533-2836maxell.com Orient Echo, Inc. Microwave Radio 65 978-671-5700mrcbroadcast.com +81-3-3235-5961; Fax: +81-3-3235-5852 Miranda Technologies 13 514-333-1772miranda.com/intuition [email protected] Network Electronics 109 800-420-5909 network -el ectronics.com us NVISION 86 530-265-1000nvision1.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Omneon 34 408-585-5000 omneon.com OVERLAND PARK, KS Panasonic Broadcast 7 800-528-8601 panasonic.com/broadcast Jennifer Shafer Pesa Switching Systems 17 800-328-1008 pesa.com (800) 896-9939; (913) 967-1732 Pixel Power 90 954-943-2026 pixelpower.com Fax: (913) 967-1735 Prime Image 25 408-867-6519 primeimageinc.com [email protected] Pro -Bel 64 631-549-5159 pro-bel.com Production Hub 105 productionhub.com REPRINTS QTV 100 203-406-1400 qty.com Wright's Reprints Quantel Ltd. 19 203-972-3199 quantel.com (877)652-5295; Quartz USA 50 888-638-8745 quartzus.com/xenon International inquiries, (281) 419-5725 Radyne ComStream 47 602-437-9620 radn.com [email protected] Richardson Electronics Ltd. 70A -D 800-737-6937 rfengineeredsolutions.com Ross Video 41 613-652-4886 rossvideo.com LIST RENTAL SERVICES Sachtler Corp. of America 23 516-867-4900 sachtler.de Marie Briganti,Statlistics Salzbrenner Stagetec Media 40 +49 9545 440-0 audiorouting.de (203) 778-8700 x146 Scopus Network Technologies 18 609-987-8090 scopus.net (203) 778-4839 Screen Service Italia 49 +39 030 3582225 screen.it [email protected] Sennheiser Electronics Corp. 32 860-434-9190 sennheiserusa.com SMPTE 71 smpte.org/conference CustDmer Service: Snell & Wilcox Ltd. 36-37 800-827-4544 snellwilcox.com/kahuna 913-967-1707 or 800-441-0294 Solid State Logic 57 212-315-1111 ssl-broadcast.com Sony Business Systems 10-11 sony.com/xdcam BROADCAST ENGINEERING September 2004, Vol. 46, Sony Business Systems 31 sony.com/hdcx300 No. 9 (ISA 00071994) is published monthly and mailed Sony Business Systems 39 sony.com/luma free to qualified persons by Primedia Business, 9800 Stratos Lightwave LLC 28 708-867-9680 stratoslightwave.com Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS 66212-2216. Periodicals Sundance Digital 98 972-444-8442 sundancedigital.com postage paid at Shawnee Mission, KS, and additional 89 800-542-3332hmepro850.com Systems Wireless mailing offices. Canadian Post Publications Mail Agree- tektronix.com Tektronix Inc., Measurement Business 79-84 800-426-2200 ment No. 40597023. Canada return address: DP Global Thomson/Grass Valley 15 thomsongrassvalley.com/routers Mail, 4960-2 Walker Road, Windsor, ON N9A 6J3. POST- Thrane & Thrane 35 +45 39 55 88 30 tt.dk MASTER: Send address changes to Broadcast Engineer- Utah Scientific 67 801-575-8801 utahscientific.com ing, P.O. Box 2100, Skokie, IL 60076-7800 USA. CORRE- Videotek, Inc 43 800-800-5719videotek.com SPONDENCE: Editorial and Advertising: 9800 Metcalf, Vitec Group Communications Inc 75 510-496-6666vitecgroupcomms.com Overland Park, KS 66212-2216 Phone: 913-341-1300; Wheatstone Corporation IFC 252-638-7000wheatstone.com Edit. fax: 913-967-1905. Advert. fax: 913-967-1904. © 360 Systems 99 818-991-0360360systems.com 2004 by Primedia Business. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER 2004 broadcastengineering.com 117 1 1 : 1 11 The soul of an engineer BY PAULMCGOLDRICK while back,I was ()tiered why I had no desire to pursue a ca- are few and far between, unless you're the opportunity to re-reer in science, such as physics or actively involved in facility or equip- uild an AM transmitterchemistry, as they all did. But thement design. That's not to say that station that I had originally installed.world I saw was one where inventionthere is no ingenious work going on It was destroyed accidentally whenwas key to humanity's future. All thein your area, although in older facili- an ammunition dump, inexplicablygreat inventors were engineers (manyties it may involve using duct tape until positioned right next door, blew up.of them never formally trained butthe budgets improve. The engineer in I was offered extremely attractiveno less brilliant). It's a wonder thatus identifies the constraints we are compensation, but I declined theso many people see engineering as a under, along with the resources that work. It was in a Middle East location to which I had no desire to return. And, besides, there's really no Engineers are at their best when theyare being challenge in doing something you've ingenious, solving new problems, applying their already done successfully. (I always wonder why golfers keep playing experience and knowledge. again and again after they've proved they can get the little white balldry profession filled with nerdyare (or are not) available, solves the down the hole.) types. There are certainly nerdyimmediate problem and moves on to My decision not to take the job gotpeople out there, but most seem tothe next crisis. me thinking about what an engineerbe in arenas such as software, where In addition to being ingenious, most is and what he does. To most people, the title engineer is almost certainlyengineers are also ingenuous - frank, we are locomotive drivers or under- a misnomer because the professionhonest and open (often too open) - paid public employees doing jobs thatrelies on rigid rules that leave littleabout the problems they encounter in require little or no skill. And the im-room for imagination. doing their job. This is one of the rea- pression that engineers are makers or People also compare engineering tosons why it's so easy for general man- attendants of engines is probably the practice of medicine, using adjec-agement to stall any but the most ur- equally popular. tives like pragmatic or worldly. But allgent of equipment upgrades and The word engineer originates from the physicians I know have been less changes. We ourselves create the impres- the Latin word ingenium, meaningthan practical. Just watching my next- sion that it takes a lot of ammunition to skill. This root word also has given us door neighbor, a family practice phy- trump the ever -practical, resourceful the word ingenious. Engineers are atsician, spreading lawn fertilizer/weedengineer. But, then, we are also inge- their best when they are being inge-killer directly from a box, withoutnious enough to know that when some- nious - solving new problems, ap-measurement, with his young bare-one moves that ammunition dump next plying their experience and knowl- footed son trailing after him, was door, it's time to move on. BE edge to solutions that serve a greatenough to make me scratch my head. number of people. We are, above all,And, when talking with physicians, Paul McGoldrick is a freelance industry practical people - at least in the fieldyou find a level of indecision that you consultant based on the West Coast. in which we specialize. Scientists in- don't get talking to an engineer. We're vestigate phenomena; engineers solveused to taking action immediately to Send questions and comments to: SEND problems. Scientists measure, engi-solve a problem, more like an emer- paul_ [email protected] neers calculate. (In some languages, gency room physician. such as Arabic, the same word is used But, in broadcasting, how much en- ATTENTION READERS! for engineering and geometry.) gineering do most of us do on a daily Sign up now for Broadcast Engineering's exciting, new online newsletter I grew up knowing that I wanted tobasis? How many times do you get out be an engineer (even worse, I knew Iyour calculator (or even your slide wanted to be in broadcasting). Myrule) to make a calculation about BEYONDTHEHEADLINES fellow students did not understandsomething? Such occasions probably at www.broadcastenguneering corn

1 1 8broadcastengineering.com SEPTEMBER 2004 r.

MILES ABOVE IN HDTV

HD MULTI -VIEWERS

HD CROSS CONVERTERS

HD FRAME SYNCS

HD MASTER SPG SYSTEMS

HD FIBER OPTICS

HD AUDIO/DOLBY' E

HD CAPTIONING

HD ROUTERS

HD LOGO INSERTERS & KEYERS

HD UPCONVERTERS

HD DOWNCONVERTERS

and much more..

HDTV is here and E7ertz is more than ready to provide an industry -proven, complete solution for your facility and mobile truck needs. Bring your HDTV plans to reality by contacti 7g your Evertz representative. www.evetz.com

Head Office (?05) 335-3700

US Weste -n Sales '480) 419-2855 Intl UK Sales 44.10)1258-779234 Evertz is the leader in HDTV! West Coast Sales E18) 558-3910 Beling Sales +86-10-6427.8228 What's Your HD Strategy?

Master the Move to HD with Leikh Whether you are buidiig a complete system, 3 new master control facility orjuststartirg act with a small HU/ island within your existing facility,Leitch Fat all the peces tofiyour strategy as you upgrade to DTV and HDTV

Powerful HD Pieces Make your move with _eitch. W8 are tota ly commited to For Your Total Integrated providing your HD iolition. Content Environment www.leitch.corn/FDTV

Canada +118001-287 C233 USA East +1(800) Z 19573 USA West +1(8881543 7)04 Latin America +1(305) 513 0045