Entertainment Technology News

Live-Link Jr. Now Shipping Internationally

(Amsterdam) Studio Technologies, the manufacturer of tailored, high-performance video, audio and fiber-optic products for the professional audio, installation and broadcast markets, is pleased to showcase its Live-Link™ Jr. Remote Camera Interface System at IBC 2012 (Stand 8.E72). Carrying on the successful tradition of the original Live-Link system, Live-Link Jr. offers a generous feature set coupled with excellent audio quality and a compact form factor optimized for ENG, OB Van, production truck and uplink vehicle applications. Providing everything needed for a single-camera live shoot, Live-Link Jr. delivers performance flexibility, ease of use and support for high-quality programming, along with broadcast-standard talent cue (IFB) and intercom audio. Live-Link Jr. systems are now shipping internationally.

"The Live-Link Jr. Remote Camera Interface System was developed to offer efficient support of single-camera remote broadcast production situations and is especially suited for feeding content to the multiple media outlets now associated with broadcasting live events, news, concerts and the like," says Gordon Kapes, president of Studio Technologies. "Live-Link Jr. was developed from conversations with leading engineers and technicians about what features are needed for field operations. We believe the broadcast industry will respond positively, as the system solves an abundance of very real production and system-deployment problems."

Live-Link Jr. is the quintessential video, audio, communications and control data-link between a camera operator in the field and a production vehicle or fixed installation. The system transports one SDI video signal in each direction: camera end-to-truck end and truck end-to-camera end, supporting SD-, HD- and 3G-SDI signals. All Live-Link Jr. audio and support signals are transported between camera end and truck end units as embedded SDI data. Linked using just two single-mode optical fibers, Live-Link Jr. delivers excellent operational performance between the camera end and truck end units, regardless of the distance. The camera end unit allows for remote powering using hybrid fiber/copper cable, 12-volt DC, or Anton/Bauer® or "V-Mount" batteries. The truck/studio end unit offers both AC and DC powering capabilities, with fail-safe operation from the DC input, should the AC mains fail.

The camera end unit offers two mic/line inputs that are compatible with microphone or line-level signals. Related features include adjustable input sensitivity, phantom power and level metering. Each input stage can be independently set for compatibility with line-level signals (0 dB gain) or mic signals (gain of 15, 30 or 45 dB). Two balanced line-level outputs are provided on the truck end unit’s back panel and are associated with the camera end unit’s mic/line inputs. Two additional balanced line-level outputs are also located on the truck end unit’s back panel to provide de-embedded analog signals associated with group 1, channels 1 and 2 of the transported SDI signal. These "convenience" outputs allow audio embedded by a camera connected to the camera end unit to be accessible without the need for an external de-embedder unit at the truck/studio end.

A major strength of Live-Link Jr. is its integrated 2-channel intercom system, which tames the typical hassles and limitations associated with field intercom system implementation. A 2-channel party-line intercom interface is provided on both the camera end and truck end units, allowing beltpacks to be directly connected and powered. A fully functional camera end-to-truck end comms system can be up and running in just minutes. Additionally, a 4-wire input and output allows direct interconnection with matrix intercom systems. Two line-level audio signals can also be transported from the truck end to the camera end via fiber connection, allowing for IFB communications. The balanced line/IFB inputs are located on the back panel of the truck end unit and allow the connection of a variety of analog audio signals, including talent cueing. However, unlike traditional IFB systems, the audio quality can support the transportation of on-air signals. For flexibility, both line-level and "wet" IFB (power and audio) outputs are provided on the camera end unit.

"Live-Link Jr. provides crystal-clear audio quality throughout the system, conforms to all relevant SMPTE® standards, successfully integrates party-line and 4-wire intercom support and uses industry-standard optical, video and audio connectors," adds Kapes. "It also allows a serial data port and a contact closure to be transported in each direction. The RS-422 data path and GPI (general purpose input)/GPO (general purpose output) resources make implementing remote camera control, including tally, a simple task. In short, Live-Link Jr. is a high-quality, versatile problem solver that can be deployed quickly and efficiently and operates flawlessly."

Resources:

www.studio-tech.com