Georgia Southern University Reduces Clutter, Improves Productions with Broadcast Pix
Billerica, Massachusetts - Broadcast Pix(TM) today announced that the Department of Communication Arts at Georgia Southern University (GSU), a public university in Statesboro, Ga., has installed a Slate(TM) 5000 live video production system, which is being used to produce a weekly news program and other original student programming that airs on a local cable channel.
Kent Murray, assistant professor of Multimedia Communications in the Department of Communication Arts, said the new Slate system replaced an "ailing" Grass Valley analog switcher that was more than 30 years old. Murray chose the Slate 5000 after seeing it in action in Savannah, Ga., at the shared facilities for WJCL, an ABC affiliate owned by New Vision Television, and WTGS, a FOX affiliate operated by New Vision through a local marketing agreement.
The stations are using the Broadcast Pix system to produce local news in HD. GSU produces its programming in SD with three Sony studio cameras, but Murray knew the university needed to start moving toward an HD future. He said the Slate system was appealing because it positioned the facility for an HD workflow while accommodating current SD needs.
In addition, because of the Slate's built-in Fluent(TM) workflow tools, GSU was able to eliminate three racks of equipment in the control room. "It minimizes the footprint for equipment space consumption," Murray said. "It looks like we've downsized, but we've upgraded."
Fluent Multi-View in particular allows the school to use a single 40-inch Sony LCD monitor instead of individual CRTs, which results in less energy consumption and less heat in the control room. GSU is also using Fluent Clip Store for easy access to news packages and roll-ins, and although the department still has a Chyron PC Scribe, the majority of the time students are using the Slate's built-in Inscriber CG.
Media Products of Atlanta served as the dealer and integrator for the project, and Murray said the Broadcast Pix system was installed, tested, and ready for production in about three days. Although the new Slate was installed February 2010 in the middle of the semester, students were able to learn the system quickly without disruption to their production schedule .
In fact, according to Murray, the quality of the school's newscasts have improved and students have found new pride in their work since the Slate installation. The department's weekly news show airs on Channel 97, a local government and education channel on Northland Cable Television that is a collaborative effort between GSU and the city of Statesboro.
Especially when considering the price, Murray said the Slate system has exceeded expectations. "We're still realizing the diverse features that this system has to offer," he added.
About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in integrated live video production systems. Its Granite native HD and Slate hybrid HD/SD/analog systems create compelling live video. They run unique Fluent file-based workflow software that streamlines production and improves functionality. With its integrated switcher, multi-view, CG, clip and graphic stores, and aspect and format conversion, Granite and Slate are a fraction of the cost of a legacy control room to buy, staff and operate. They are future-proof, as they can upgrade to 3Gbps 1080p. Customers include leading broadcast, webcast, podcast, entertainment, mobile, corporate, education, religious, and government studios in more than 70 countries. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.
Broadcast Pix, Slate and Fluent are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patented. Made in USA. Apple, iPad, iPhone, and iPod are trademarks of Apple, Inc.
