Live From The Concert Lobby
– David Larraguibel, Technical Director, MZTV Production & Distribution
“Live From The Concert Lobby” is the name of the in-house performance series at the popular Toronto radio stations, The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM740, where for the past three years we have played host to numerous live musical acts in our studio environment. Originally broadcast straight to radio.
I currently work as the Technical Director at MZTV Production & Distribution, the television production arm of Moses Znaimer’s second media empire (MZ Media Inc. and ZoomerMedia Limited). Starting with his acquisition of the two radio stations – The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM740 – the directive at MZTV was to work on ways to merge Radio and Television.
When our John Thornton (V.P. Digital Content) first approached me with this project in May 2008, I was still working unofficially as the technical ‘go-to’ guy at MZTV. After the course of a few meetings, the final wish list went something like this;
“We want to build a multi-camera, high-definition, live switching studio environment. We want swappable robotic and handheld camera sources viewable on a multi-view monitor, recorded in high-def with 5.1 audio and we want to be able to see the line cut in the performance area displays as well as streamed live to the web. We want it to be scalable, we don’t have a large budget and we need it running by September. Do you think we can do it?”
Having graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) from their Integrated Media Program, I have a firm background in technical and creative problem solving in the fields of film, photography and computers, but no official broadcast or High-Definition education to speak of. To help with the research and decision making process, we initially enlisted the help of an industry broadcast veteran to get us started and we quickly discovered that using traditional methods and equipment, we realized that either our budget was barely going to pay for two hi-def cameras or we were going to have to do some of our own research. Very quickly, I had to acquaint myself with high-definition standards, prosumer and entry-level professional cameras and recorders, signal converters and the most recent product announcements from the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB).
Our entire system was divided into five major components.
1. Input
After looking at robotic camera offerings from both Sony and Panasonic, we decided to go with 3 Sony BRC-H700 High-Definition 1080i cameras using the HD-SDI output board, centrally controlled by a Sony RM-BR300 Remote Control board. For handhelds we went with 2 JVC GY-HD250U PROHD cameras, utilizing the built-in 1080i HD-SDI live output feature. A Samsung BD-P1500 Bluray player and a Sony HD-SR11 AVCHD 1080i camcorder were also added to list of video sources at little further into the build.
2. Switching
For the second stage, these cameras would be fed into the Panasonic AV-HS400N High-Definition multi-format live switcher, newly announced at NAB 2008. We upgraded this switcher with two additional HD-SDI input cards, bringing our HD-SDI inputs to a total of 8. The AV-HS400N has the built-in Multi-View feature, which allows up to 8 inputs plus Preview and Program to be viewable on a single 16:9 monitor via one of the AV-HS400’s two HD-SDI outputs.
3. Routing
Continuing on with the routing aspect of the second stage, we still needed to figure out how we would get these signals in and out of the switcher, to a recoding system and up on our performance area displays as well as out to the internet. I contacted Jamie Lovekin from Carbon Sound and Picture in Toronto for his expertise and recommendations on Sound and Video broadcast equipment and software and after several emails back and forth, Jamie suggested I look into the Blackmagic Design Workgroup Video Hub as our video router. What appealed to me about the Videohub was its flexibility, low cost, size and ease of use. These benefits plus a software control interface and the ability to choose from any one of 12 SDI inputs routed to 24 SDI outputs in any combination, Standard or High-Definition, made it the only product that would fit our particular need and budget.
4. Recording
Having weighed the relative pros and cons of using hardware based recording systems, such as a HDCAM or XDCAM, cost became the deciding factor once again. After consulting with Jamie, he suggested we go with a computer based recording system, configured as a top of the line Mac Pro 3.2Ghz 8-Core tower with 8GB of RAM, a Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme and Softron’s Movie Recorder software. When we purchased this, I upgraded by adding a three disk internal 1.4TB RAID 0 array and a Fiber connected 2.73TB Xserve RAID 5 array. I asked Jamie for an equipment and software demo from Blackmagic and Softron and after testing for just over a week we knew that this setup was going to work out great! Ultimately we settled on DVCPROHD 1080i60 using HD-SDI into the Blackmagic Decklink HD Extreme, recorded using Softron’s Movie Recorder. Movie Recorder has the ability to generate both Self-Contained and Elementary Movie files and we put both options to use. The self-contained file is recorded to the RAID 5 array and the elementary and reference files are recorded to the RAID 0 array for redundancy. I also took advantage of the HDMI output on the HD Extreme, using it as a 1080i output for a secondary PGM output feed. For audio we are using an Alesis HD24 Multitrack recorder mixed through a Yamaha 01v96 Digital Mixing Console.
5. Output
The last step in this whole process was the output stage and attaching all the new ‘additions’ that had come in along the way. For displays we had 5 Samsung LN52A530 52” 1080p LCD monitors, one for use in the control room as our multiview display and 4 for our performance area displays and two Sony PVM-8041Q 9” broadcast monitors to monitor our internal recording and our web stream. The problem I faced was that while the Workgroup Videohub was all HD-SDI, our remaining input and output devices were either HDMI or Component Analog. I turned to Blackmagic again for their selection of Mini Converters, using the SDI to HDMI converters to get the signals to the LCD’s and the SDI to Analog for the Sony PVM’s. The Bluray player and the Sony AVCHD camcorder were both converted using the Analog to SDI converters. The last component to this project was getting the linecut down-converted and output to a computer running the web streaming software. Using the Video Hub’s built-in down-converter, which was passed through another SDI to Analog Mini Converter, we output the signal to the streaming station’s standard-definition capture card and streamed it out to the web. Jamie from Carbon was able to get us some of these converters mere days after they were released.
Eight months since completion, the success of this setup has been overwhelming. We have had over a hundred performances in our Concert Lobby and hosted several conferences. We broadcast a daily web show and are in the process of launching a television channel, all using a studio built on less than $90,000. By using Softron’s Movie Recorder software we are capable of recording our choice of multiple video formats from show to show, ready to edit within seconds of completion. Blackmagic Design’s broadcast gear has allowed us to stay flexible and scalable, letting us add the latest high-definition gear on the fly without fear of obsolescence. Our latest initiatives include adding a POV camera to our performers and incorporating motion graphics and effects using Softron’s OnTheAir CG. Ultimately, we have all found it amazing that such a small budget has allowed us to be on the cutting edge of Radio and Television, keeping us current and making us future-proof.
From a Recent Press Release:
Live From The Concert Lobby of The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM 740 come uniquely intimate live-to-air performances by, and discussions with, the greatest artists on the world stage. The Concert Lobby has established itself as a premier promotional stop for every major Classical and Classic Pop artist on tour. Grammy Award-winning superstars Lang Lang, James Ehnes and Judy Collins; violinist Lara St. John; worldwide chart-toppers The Priests; opera sensations Ben Heppner and Measha Brueggergosman; fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Leahy; plus renowned pianists Leif Ove Andnes, Yundi Li, Angela Hewitt, and Gabriela Montero who performed at the US Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, are only a few of the virtuosi to have graced The Concert Lobby.
Moses Znaimer is the proprietor of MZ Media Inc., which owns The New Classical 96.3 FM & 103.1 FM and The New AM 740. Moses is also the CEO of ZoomerMedia Limited (TSXV: ZUM) and President of CARP, Canada’s largest organizations serving the needs of Canada’s 14.5 million Zoomers (Boomers You can visit www.classical963fm.com or www.am740.ca to see our live web streams or archived in studio Concert Lobby footage.With Zip!), the population traditionally and formerly known as 45plus.
You can visit www.classical963fm.com or www.am740.ca to see our live web streams or archived, on-demand, Concert Lobby footage.
MZTV Production and Distribution
550 Queen Street East, Suite 150
Toronto, ON M4Y 1H3
416.619.5500
Studio Gear
3x SONY BRCH-700 Robotic Cameras w/ HD-SDI input boards
1x SONY RM-BR300 Remote Control Unit
2x SONY PVM-8041Q 9” Broadcast Monitors
2x JVC GY-250U ProHD cameras
1x SONY HD-SR11 AVCHD Hard Disk Camcorder
1x Panasonic AV-HS400N Multi-Format Live Switcher w/ 8x HD-SDI input
1x Blackmagic Design Workgroup Video Hub
3x Blackmagic Design SDI to Analog Mini Converter
3x Blackmagic Design Analog to Mini Converter
5x Blackmagic Design SDI to HDMI Mini Converter
5x Samsung LN52A530 52” 1080p LCD monitors
1x Samsung BD-P1500 Bluray Player
Video Recording System
Apple Mac Pro
3.2Ghz 8-Core
8GB RAM
4GB Fiber Channel
1.4TB RAID 0
2.73TB Fiber Channel RAID 5
OS X 10.5.6
Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme
Softron Movierecorder 1.1b41
Final Cut Pro Studio 2
Audio Recording System
Apple iMac 24”
Alesis HD24 Multitrack Recorder
Yamaha 01v96 Digital Mixing Console
RME Fireface 800
SONY PCM-D1 Linear PCM Stereo Recorder
– David Larraguibel, Technical Director, MZTV Production & Distribution
“Live From The Concert Lobby” is the name of the in-house performance series at the popular Toronto radio stations, The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM740, where for the past three years we have played host to numerous live musical acts in our studio environment. Originally broadcast straight to radio.
I currently work as the Technical Director at MZTV Production & Distribution, the television production arm of Moses Znaimer’s second media empire (MZ Media Inc. and ZoomerMedia Limited). Starting with his acquisition of the two radio stations – The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM740 – the directive at MZTV was to work on ways to merge Radio and Television.
When our John Thornton (V.P. Digital Content) first approached me with this project in May 2008, I was still working unofficially as the technical ‘go-to’ guy at MZTV. After the course of a few meetings, the final wish list went something like this;
“We want to build a multi-camera, high-definition, live switching studio environment. We want swappable robotic and handheld camera sources viewable on a multi-view monitor, recorded in high-def with 5.1 audio and we want to be able to see the line cut in the performance area displays as well as streamed live to the web. We want it to be scalable, we don’t have a large budget and we need it running by September. Do you think we can do it?”
Having graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) from their Integrated Media Program, I have a firm background in technical and creative problem solving in the fields of film, photography and computers, but no official broadcast or High-Definition education to speak of. To help with the research and decision making process, we initially enlisted the help of an industry broadcast veteran to get us started and we quickly discovered that using traditional methods and equipment, we realized that either our budget was barely going to pay for two hi-def cameras or we were going to have to do some of our own research. Very quickly, I had to acquaint myself with high-definition standards, prosumer and entry-level professional cameras and recorders, signal converters and the most recent product announcements from the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB).
Our entire system was divided into five major components.
1. Input
After looking at robotic camera offerings from both Sony and Panasonic, we decided to go with 3 Sony BRC-H700 High-Definition 1080i cameras using the HD-SDI output board, centrally controlled by a Sony RM-BR300 Remote Control board. For handhelds we went with 2 JVC GY-HD250U PROHD cameras, utilizing the built-in 1080i HD-SDI live output feature. A Samsung BD-P1500 Bluray player and a Sony HD-SR11 AVCHD 1080i camcorder were also added to list of video sources at little further into the build.
2. Switching
For the second stage, these cameras would be fed into the Panasonic AV-HS400N High-Definition multi-format live switcher, newly announced at NAB 2008. We upgraded this switcher with two additional HD-SDI input cards, bringing our HD-SDI inputs to a total of 8. The AV-HS400N has the built-in Multi-View feature, which allows up to 8 inputs plus Preview and Program to be viewable on a single 16:9 monitor via one of the AV-HS400’s two HD-SDI outputs.
3. Routing
Continuing on with the routing aspect of the second stage, we still needed to figure out how we would get these signals in and out of the switcher, to a recoding system and up on our performance area displays as well as out to the internet. I contacted Jamie Lovekin from Carbon Sound and Picture in Toronto for his expertise and recommendations on Sound and Video broadcast equipment and software and after several emails back and forth, Jamie suggested I look into the Blackmagic Design Workgroup Video Hub as our video router. What appealed to me about the Videohub was its flexibility, low cost, size and ease of use. These benefits plus a software control interface and the ability to choose from any one of 12 SDI inputs routed to 24 SDI outputs in any combination, Standard or High-Definition, made it the only product that would fit our particular need and budget.
4. Recording
Having weighed the relative pros and cons of using hardware based recording systems, such as a HDCAM or XDCAM, cost became the deciding factor once again. After consulting with Jamie, he suggested we go with a computer based recording system, configured as a top of the line Mac Pro 3.2Ghz 8-Core tower with 8GB of RAM, a Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme and Softron’s Movie Recorder software. When we purchased this, I upgraded by adding a three disk internal 1.4TB RAID 0 array and a Fiber connected 2.73TB Xserve RAID 5 array. I asked Jamie for an equipment and software demo from Blackmagic and Softron and after testing for just over a week we knew that this setup was going to work out great! Ultimately we settled on DVCPROHD 1080i60 using HD-SDI into the Blackmagic Decklink HD Extreme, recorded using Softron’s Movie Recorder. Movie Recorder has the ability to generate both Self-Contained and Elementary Movie files and we put both options to use. The self-contained file is recorded to the RAID 5 array and the elementary and reference files are recorded to the RAID 0 array for redundancy. I also took advantage of the HDMI output on the HD Extreme, using it as a 1080i output for a secondary PGM output feed. For audio we are using an Alesis HD24 Multitrack recorder mixed through a Yamaha 01v96 Digital Mixing Console.
5. Output
The last step in this whole process was the output stage and attaching all the new ‘additions’ that had come in along the way. For displays we had 5 Samsung LN52A530 52” 1080p LCD monitors, one for use in the control room as our multiview display and 4 for our performance area displays and two Sony PVM-8041Q 9” broadcast monitors to monitor our internal recording and our web stream. The problem I faced was that while the Workgroup Videohub was all HD-SDI, our remaining input and output devices were either HDMI or Component Analog. I turned to Blackmagic again for their selection of Mini Converters, using the SDI to HDMI converters to get the signals to the LCD’s and the SDI to Analog for the Sony PVM’s. The Bluray player and the Sony AVCHD camcorder were both converted using the Analog to SDI converters. The last component to this project was getting the linecut down-converted and output to a computer running the web streaming software. Using the Video Hub’s built-in down-converter, which was passed through another SDI to Analog Mini Converter, we output the signal to the streaming station’s standard-definition capture card and streamed it out to the web. Jamie from Carbon was able to get us some of these converters mere days after they were released.
Eight months since completion, the success of this setup has been overwhelming. We have had over a hundred performances in our Concert Lobby and hosted several conferences. We broadcast a daily web show and are in the process of launching a television channel, all using a studio built on less than $90,000. By using Softron’s Movie Recorder software we are capable of recording our choice of multiple video formats from show to show, ready to edit within seconds of completion. Blackmagic Design’s broadcast gear has allowed us to stay flexible and scalable, letting us add the latest high-definition gear on the fly without fear of obsolescence. Our latest initiatives include adding a POV camera to our performers and incorporating motion graphics and effects using Softron’s OnTheAir CG. Ultimately, we have all found it amazing that such a small budget has allowed us to be on the cutting edge of Radio and Television, keeping us current and making us future-proof.
From a Recent Press Release:
Live From The Concert Lobby of The New Classical 96.3FM and The New AM 740 come uniquely intimate live-to-air performances by, and discussions with, the greatest artists on the world stage. The Concert Lobby has established itself as a premier promotional stop for every major Classical and Classic Pop artist on tour. Grammy Award-winning superstars Lang Lang, James Ehnes and Judy Collins; violinist Lara St. John; worldwide chart-toppers The Priests; opera sensations Ben Heppner and Measha Brueggergosman; fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Leahy; plus renowned pianists Leif Ove Andnes, Yundi Li, Angela Hewitt, and Gabriela Montero who performed at the US Presidential Inauguration Ceremony, are only a few of the virtuosi to have graced The Concert Lobby.
Moses Znaimer is the proprietor of MZ Media Inc., which owns The New Classical 96.3 FM & 103.1 FM and The New AM 740. Moses is also the CEO of ZoomerMedia Limited (TSXV: ZUM) and President of CARP, Canada’s largest organizations serving the needs of Canada’s 14.5 million Zoomers (Boomers You can visit www.classical963fm.com or www.am740.ca to see our live web streams or archived in studio Concert Lobby footage.With Zip!), the population traditionally and formerly known as 45plus.
You can visit www.classical963fm.com or www.am740.ca to see our live web streams or archived, on-demand, Concert Lobby footage.
MZTV Production and Distribution
550 Queen Street East, Suite 150
Toronto, ON M4Y 1H3
416.619.5500
Studio Gear
3x SONY BRCH-700 Robotic Cameras w/ HD-SDI input boards
1x SONY RM-BR300 Remote Control Unit
2x SONY PVM-8041Q 9” Broadcast Monitors
2x JVC GY-250U ProHD cameras
1x SONY HD-SR11 AVCHD Hard Disk Camcorder
1x Panasonic AV-HS400N Multi-Format Live Switcher w/ 8x HD-SDI input
1x Blackmagic Design Workgroup Video Hub
3x Blackmagic Design SDI to Analog Mini Converter
3x Blackmagic Design Analog to Mini Converter
5x Blackmagic Design SDI to HDMI Mini Converter
5x Samsung LN52A530 52” 1080p LCD monitors
1x Samsung BD-P1500 Bluray Player
Video Recording System
Apple Mac Pro
3.2Ghz 8-Core
8GB RAM
4GB Fiber Channel
1.4TB RAID 0
2.73TB Fiber Channel RAID 5
OS X 10.5.6
Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Extreme
Softron Movierecorder 1.1b41
Final Cut Pro Studio 2
Audio Recording System
Apple iMac 24”
Alesis HD24 Multitrack Recorder
Yamaha 01v96 Digital Mixing Console
RME Fireface 800
SONY PCM-D1 Linear PCM Stereo Recorder
