Task:

In its capacity as the general contractor, BFE was responsible for the planning, installation and initial startup of the project. The aim was to completely revise the audio and video technology in Studio FM2, which is mainly used to air the Rundschau news program live for 365 days of the year, and to significantly expand the studio's range of functions. In particular, this included the design and implementation of new, more efficient workflows and thus more economical production of broadcast content.

Solution:

All of the audio and video technology was completely redesigned and replaced with state-of-the-art technology to enable the use of HD capability, virtual real-time graphics, studio automation systems and camera robotics. Further online and social media technologies were also integrated.

The virtual system (Vizrt real-time graphics) is as much a part of the new studio concept as the Viz Mosart studio automation and VR camera robots and tripods from Shotoku and Camerobot.

In addition to standard IT components, hardware extensions specifically designed to support real-time graphics and production automation systems (Matrox, Nvidia, Moxa) were also used as the basis for the network and hardware. The clients for the editorial system come from HP, and Dell workstations and HP servers were used as the platform for the Vizrt real-time graphics and the Viz Mosart automation system. All servers and clients can be operated via a Guntermann & Drunck KVM matrices.

Pictures and tracking data for the virtual scenes of real-time graphics are delivered by two remote-controlled Shotoku tripods and a Camerobot camera robot. The real-time renderers use the pictures and data to generate a background image, which is then merged with the respective camera image using three Ultimatte chroma keyers and displayed on the image mixer as a virtual camera image. The studio automation system changes playlists using the OpenMedia editorial system, which is also integrated into the overall system and controls the various connected devices using presets.

The broadcast infrastructure is composed of Lynx and StageTec products and includes a Grass Valley video router, a Sony image mixer and audio components from StageTec, among others. Eyevis monitors and measuring devices from Tektronix, RTW and Wohler are used for monitoring.

The broadcast furniture (tables and monitor stacks) in the control rooms comes from BFE's "New Line" series and was planned, designed and manufactured at the BFE headquarters in Germany.

An interface to the existing central ADC automation system was added to the Viz Mosart studio automation system. Using this interface, the control room can play FM2 clips from the central Nexio video server pool.

Switching functions as well as tally signaling, label transfer, GPIO management and logical links are controlled via BFE's own KSC CORE broadcast control system. BR staff can use the system either via traditional hardware panels or via the user interface in the KSC CORE software.

A sub-control-room was constructed parallel to FM2 for managing a web channel, outside broadcasts and breaking news. The sub-control-room can use the FM2 or FM5 studio space. The core component is the Viz Opus "studio-in-a-box" system, which combines real-time graphics and studio automation in the same hardware and uses the central components from FM2. The rundown interchangeability with all subsystems was very highly valued, and Vizrt Showmaker was integrated to enable independent creation of the rundown even without connection to the editorial system.

The Viz Social TV solution "Feed Streamer" was supplied as a supplement and additional feature. Bayerischer Rundfunk is thus able to integrate feeds from various platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, RSS/Atom feeds or JSON/XML into the news, triggered by the studio automation system. Skype and VidiGo systems are also used.

Highlights

• Conversion of the broadcasting technology in studio FM 2 from SD to HD standard 1080i/50

• Replacement of the production tables and monitor stacks (audio control room, video control room, sub-control-room)

• Integration of a real-time graphics system

• Integration of remote-controlled VR tripods with VR swivel and tilt heads

• Integration of a remote-controlled VR camera robot based on an industrial robot

• High degree of studio automation (graphics components, light control, camera robotics, image mixer and routers, preparation for connection to audio mixer)

• Connection of the studio automation to the editorial system (OpenMedia)

• Construction of a sub-control-room with a "studio-in-a-box" system

Technology

• Vizrt real-time graphics system (Viz Engine, Viz Tracking Hub, Viz Graphic Hub, Viz Content Director, Viz Pilot ActiveX plugin)

• Viz Mosart studio automation with interface to the central ADC automation system and ActiveX components as an editorial system plugin

• VR tripods from Shotoku

• Camera robot from Camerobot

• Ultimatte chroma keyer in conjunction with an image mixer for the preparation of the virtual environment

• Sony MVS-3000 video switcher

• Grass Valley router and multi-viewer

• Vizrt Showmaker

• IT network and IT hardware components from Brocade, Dell and HP

  • Editorial system clients and Viz Mosart automation server on HP hardware

  • Dell server as the platform for Vizrt real-time graphics

• Guntermann & Drunck KVM matrices

• Broadcast infrastructure from Lynx and StageTec

• Monitoring via Eyevis monitors

• Measuring devices from Tektronix, RTW and Wohler

• BFE's KSC CORE broadcast control and monitoring system

• Sub-control-room

  • Use of the FM2 or FM5 studio space

  • Viz Opus "studio-in-a-box" system

• Viz Social TV solution "Feed Streamer" (integration of various social feeds, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, RSS/Atom feeds, JSON/XML) with Viz Data Hub and Feed Streamer client

• Integration of Skype and VidiGo systems

• BFE "New Line" broadcast furniture (tables and monitor stacks)