RVTV Project Part 1 – Live Studio

The requirements

In 2010, Rogue Valley Community Television (RVTV) had been in existence as the local public, education and government (PEG) operator for a decade. As with most institutions that have been around that long, its systems started to degrade. The studio was analogue standard-definition and featured a linear switcher from Grass Valley, using an Ultimatte keyer that only weather reporters over fifty would remember. Image quality was fading on the cameras after years of heavy use. RVTV needed an upgrade to stay current and continue providing industry-level equipment to college students, government clients and an active public-access programme.

Initial meetings about the upcoming studio build uncovered a lengthy list of requirements. A shorter version:

• Digital high-definition studio over Serial Digital Interface (HD-SDI).
• Fully featured integrated switcher with green-screen and digital-effects capability.
• Broadcast-quality, fully featured cameras.
• Three-wall green screen.
• Integrated audio interfacing with existing mixers and wiring.
• Flexible input/output with the ability to "go live" and stream to the web.

After research into the best equipment, a budget was agreed and an install timeline set.

The solution

After many demonstrations, the following equipment was installed to completely redesign the RVTV live studio:

• 3 × Canon XF-305 cameras on existing camera pedestals.
• 1 × Tricaster 850 (now end-of-life, replaced by the Tricaster 860).
• 3 × Panasonic HD televisions as monitors for the switcher.
• 1 × 30ft weighted green-screen curtain.
• 1 × 50ft foam-core green-screen floor.

For this build, an integrated switcher solution was chosen. The Tricaster 850 is a complete production solution, handling the switching of multiple live cameras, chroma key, post-processing effects and audio in the same machine. It is a true studio in a box. It was paired with the Canon XF-305 because of its sensor size and on-camera control features. The 305 is really a broadcast field camera, but with the addition of a zoom control and a sturdy base it converted to a studio camera quite nicely.

As an integrated switcher, the Tricaster exceeded expectations with constant additions of new features. It produced a myriad of advanced transitions and video effects previously impossible with the station's old switcher. It also introduced the two-step chroma-key process, which is second to none in this market, and live virtual sets, which revolutionised set building and professionalism at RVTV. Now a set can be built inside the computer with all associated graphics and broadcast live in real time. The only things on the physical set are the three-wall green and the pieces the talent interact with, meaning RVTV can produce many different "looks" in the same studio space at an ultra-low cost.

The results

RVTV still used this studio configuration almost five years after installation, producing many studio shows using exclusively virtual sets. In the best examples, the only items actually on set are the chairs the talent sit in, the table and the rug, and all of the visual-effects processing is done in real time.

Please remember this specific set of equipment is unique to this application. If the description of this studio has given you an idea for studio production, or piqued your interest in any way, contact us to discuss your specific project.