News Technology & Live Sport
But with a 150 frames a second camera At IBC2008, Thomson introduced a new production prefers, and this can be archived to
under 50Hz lighting, successive frames will be approach to live event replay using 21st removable drives as quickly as the network
at a different point in the lighting cycle. When century technology. This is an extension to port will allow. It also means that the content
slowed down, these changes in lighting will the proven and popular K2 media server is instantly accessible: transfer what you need
appear as a visible flicker. This affects not just product line: the K2 Summit server and the onto a removable drive and plug that straight
single phase lighting but two or three phase K2 Dyno replay controller. into an EDIUS or Final Cut Pro editor on a
lights and discharge lamps. Together these represent a new approach to laptop and cut a trailer in a hotel room.
Thomson has developed and implemented a the challenge of live servers, being based on a But it is the performance as a replay server
compensation system in the camera’s base combination of commodity IT and application by which it will be judged, and the K2 Summit
station called AnyLight. Again, this uses specific hardware; embedded software and an is designed to be innovative. Many
sophisticated algorithms within the signal open platform for user-defined software tools. manufacturers claim to be able to start a
processing unit. A simple automatic gain It means that the user can build workflows replay immediately after the recording starts,
control would run the risk of introducing that meet specific needs before, during and but in practice this is a few seconds. In the K2
flicker. And if players are moving quickly after the broadcast. Summit that latency is measured in frames.
through the frame other gain algorithms might One example is that the K2 Summit One other radical new concept is that the
introduce motion blur. captures extensive metadata along with the server contains what is in effect an M/E bank.
With AnyLight, the video engineer has five images and sound, and can accept that from You can do transitions into and out of replays,
degrees of compensation (including off), so the multiple sources. So an operator at a K2 Dyno or between clips, within a single server
flicker compensation can be tuned to the live panel might be entering in and out points channel, simplifying the production process,
individual production, and from camera to for key events, and at the same time a particularly when multiple replays are called
camera within a single production. statistician working at a computer could be for.
Obviously the AnyLight processing, like the adding rich metadata to the same file. The LDK 8300 super slo-mo camera, as
signal blending for the normal speed output, Because it is based on commodity IT already noted, is already in use with major
have to be done in real time. It is equally hardware, it means that other commodity outside broadcast specialists worldwide, and
important that they are performed with very devices can be connected. One of the big its pictures have been appreciated by billions
low latency, too, to ensure there are no jumps downsides of the amount of content stored on of viewers. The K2 Summit and Dyno replay
in the action, particularly when cutting from a a server at a live sports event is that it has to controller will be deliverable from the
regular LDK 8000 camera to an LDK 8300. be archived, either by unbolting disk drives beginning of 2009. Whether used together or
End to end speed is the third of the key from the racks or by writing melt reels onto in conjunction with other equipment, they
issues. The uncompressed signal from the video tape in real time, delaying the derig. represent a high quality, forward thinking
camera, running at 3x, is 4.5Gb/s, and With the K2 Summit, HD content is stored approach to delivering high production values
handling this with minimum latency is a as DV 100 in whatever wrapper the in sports and live event HD broadcasting.
further challenge to be overcome. The LDK
8300 uses a new variant on the standard
camera fibre adaptor which allows this
massive data rate to be carried over the
normal hybrid fibre which is pre-installed in
many sports venues.
In conclusion, the LDK 8300 HD super slo-
mo camera is an excellent match for the LDK
8000 HD camera, with the same colorimetry
and camera video processing to provide highly
comparable image quality. Physically it is
identical, so the same viewfinders, long lens
adaptors and other accessories fit so there is
no need for additional inventory items.
What sets it above all other live high speed
cameras is the quality of its processing, giving
very low noise and stable pictures thanks to
the unique AnyLight flicker compensation
system.
New server technology
The camera is just one part of a super slow
motion system: there has to be a way of
recording the multi-speed signals and playing
them back quickly under the high pressure of
a live outside broadcast.
IBE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 21
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