Broadcast Pix Granite Integrated Production System Anchors Creative Video of Washington HD Mobile Productions
Billerica, Massachusetts – From the Kennedy Center to the National Mall, Creative Video of Washington, Inc., a full-service video production company based in McLean, Va., produces a variety of live events across the Washington, DC region. Although the company maintains a very healthy SD production business - a lot of association meetings are driven by PowerPoint presentations that still use the 4:3 aspect ratio - the company made the move to native HD production with its latest mobile package, which is anchored by a Broadcast Pix™ Granite™ 1000 integrated production system.
According to Kirby Whyte, CVW president, the Granite system has been in “almost constant use” since its launch in October 2012. “Frankly, it has become the heart of our HD switcher package,” he added. In addition to meetings, Creative Video regularly provides live video production for trade shows, awards ceremonies, and indoor and outdoor concerts. The company also offers pre-production and post-production services.
Creative Video had been using a Broadcast Pix Slate™ integrated production system since 2006. “The Slate became a real SD workhorse for us,” said Whyte. “When we decided to upgrade the production switcher to Granite, we built a complete mobile production package and then realized how powerful the Granite was. It was the best decision we ever made.”
The Granite is housed in a six-foot rack, along with two 17-inch monitors, intercom equipment, and CCUs for the package’s Sony HXC-100 cameras. “The advantage to the Granite Server is that you can build it into your engineering rack and do all the wiring permanently,” said Matthew Eidemiller, CVW vice president of production. The patch panel on the back of the Granite makes it easy to connect cameras and other inputs during setup.
On location, an engineer is stationed in front of the equipment rack to handle camera shading. The Granite’s control panel is positioned nearby on a work table, along with two 42-inch monitors and a laptop loaded with Granite’s optional Chyron Lyric PRO 8 graphic creation software. The company opted to install the software on a separate computer so the remote package would not need to be accessed to create graphics during pre-production.
For most live event projects, Creative Video relies on a TD, engineer, and perhaps a content manager (formerly known as a tape operator) who handles clips and CG. The Granite provides the flexibility to adjust to each client’s specific crew requirements. “In our business, it’s all budget driven,” Eidemiller explained. “No two jobs are the same. Having a system that you can customize for each individual job makes our lives a lot easier.”
Creative Video relies several of Granite’s built-in workflow tools, including Fluent-View, the customizable multi-view. Eidemiller changes the screen layout based on the type of live program being produced, and will often customize each 42-inch monitor separately to suit the unique viewing needs of the TD and content manager. “Those that have used it on their shows are blown away with how we can set up the screens for both the director and the TD,” Whyte added.
“I’ve always been a big Broadcast Pix proponent,” Eidemiller said. “We beat the system up more than most people. Things get bounced around from moving the system in and out of the truck. I love their customer support. They’re great at talking us through a solution or getting us what we need.”
About Broadcast Pix The leader in live video production systems with end-to-end integration, Broadcast Pix was founded in 2002 and has customers in more than 110 countries. Its Video Control Centers™ combine an integrated switcher, clip server, CG, and external control software with patented control panels, unique touch-screens, and exceptional displays. Systems range from compact systems controlled by touch-screen or voice automation to large sophisticated control panels. Customers include leading broadcast, streaming, sports, corporate, education, religious, and government studios. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.
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