COLOGNE BROADCAST CENTER USES CRYSTAL VISION INTERFACE FOR N-TV PLAYOUT (December 2004)

Crystal Vision has won an order for a large installation at the Cologne Broadcast Center (CBC) in Germany. The 55 interface modules will be used to synchronise graphics and video signals for the German news channel n-tv, which is transmitted throughout Germany and the rest of Europe on the Astra satellite channel. The order, which is Crystal Vision’s largest from Germany so far this year, included 32 SYN102 synchronisers, 19 ViViD124 video delay modules and four TAD202 tracking audio delay boards.

CBC, a transmission playout centre that was established in June 1994, broadcasts a number of major German channels such as VOX, Super RTL and TV Travel Shop. n-tv moved its production from Berlin to Cologne in early 2004, as CBC’s technical infrastructure made it a natural choice for Germany’s leading news channel’s new fully digitalised production process. CBC covers a large site in Cologne, comprising several buildings, and some of the Crystal Vision kit is being used to relay the signals from one building to another, such as from the graphics area to the editing area.

SHM, Crystal Vision’s German distributor, won the order. SHM has previously worked with CBC and persuaded the playout centre to consider Crystal Vision for synchronisers and audio delays after interest was initially expressed in ViViD video delay modules. It is the first time CBC has bought Crystal Vision equipment.

The overall purpose of the order is to integrate the sophisticated n-tv graphics and presentation systems into the CBC transmission architecture. The SYN102s are being used to synchronise all of the graphics signals and to relay them between buildings, while the TAD202s are being used to correct lip-sync errors caused by Onyx graphics. The ViViD124s are used for virtual sets and provide eight frames of delay to compensate for that caused by the Onyx system.

After considering other large manufacturers, the broadcaster chose Crystal Vision equipment due to its cost-effectiveness and features. ViViD124 was chosen because it had up to 24 frames delay, unlike some competing products that only have four. It was also found to be easy to use, with simple setup procedures, and extremely space saving, with each module being only 100mm x 266mm. Crystal Vision’s modular system also meant that the boards could be mixed within a frame with any other combination of products.

SYN102 is a frame synchroniser that corrects timing problems in serial digital installations. It has two operational modes. Synchroniser mode will automatically correct wrong frame rates and delay line mode can be used to set a fixed delay. ViViD124 provides a variable video delay module of up to two seconds (24 frames) and is used to match a fixed delay in another signal path. TAD202 synchronises video and audio signals through the use of both tracking and system delay. The boards will be housed in six Indigo 2 2U frames.

Based at Whittlesford near Cambridge in the UK, Crystal Vision provides digital keyers and a full range of digital and analogue interface equipment including converters, decoders, encoders, distribution amplifiers and audio embedders to the professional broadcasting industry worldwide.

Photos of CBC are available at http://www.cbc.de/cbc3/index.php?id=52