May 2012 www.tvbeurope.com


Brian Farrelly: “This new facility is technically advanced and will provide an improved working environment for our staff”


TVBEurope 33 The Workflow These trolleys are, in effect,


mini production centres where camera control, including movement and racking, is under the control of the stylist. Output is sent to the central server where it is available in the gallery for use in programming. A further set has been constructed in the building’s


conscious of environmental considerations, many of the back lighting rigs on the sets are equipped with RGBW LED strips from LED Poison. One set will be fed from a video server for low resolution images from a Hippotizer Critter, all controlled from the Congo Junior consoles. All the main set lighting is


wireless system. “We opted for the Clear-Com solution because of the large number of headsets we have to utilise,” explains Hansford-White. “The system allows us to cluster various headsets together for more efficient use.” Audio comes from a separate gallery located to the rear of the


“We opted for the Clear-Com solution because of the large number of headsets we have to utilise. The system allows us to cluster various headsets together for more efficient use”


grounds for use on gardening and outdoor programmes. All output from the new facility will originate in high definition, although viewers may have to wait until later in the year before there is a high definition channel on EPGs.


Technical specs “In all, across all the studios there will be 12 Sony 1400 cameras, plus three additional cameras mounted above the sets,” says David Hansford- White, QVC’s technical operations manager and the other relocation co-ordinator. “Each of the main studios will have three robotic and one manned camera all mounted on Vinten peds. All lenses are Canon HD high quality suitable for jewellery close-ups.” Robotic control is handled by Shotoku Broadcast Systems TG-18 and TG19 head units, which are operated from the Director’s gallery. The same system is already in use at QVC’s sister facilities in Japan and Italy, as well as the current London site. Hansford-White goes on,


“We looked at a couple of systems before deciding on Shotoku. Tests showed that it was smoother in movement and response than other manufacturer’s products. And also because there are occasions when we will want to switch between robotic and manual, the system allows us to do that at the camera almost instantaneously. This can be achieved without having to re-gas the ped.” Although there is a trend


towards LED lighting in many studios, QVC felt that the output from such units was insufficient for its use — especially for close up shots of small items such as jewellery. However, ever


from luminaires provided by Arri Lighting suspended from Arri Pantographs, with a mixture of Fresnel hard sources and Fluorescent softs. Control for all the lighting, including the LED set lighting, is across four Universes with capability for another two to be installed for moving heads in the future.


Twin galleries Two identical production galleries have been constructed. This not only allows the channel to continue if there is an equipment failure in one, but also enables pre-recording to take place during ‘live’ hours. “The operation is similar to


our existing set-up,” explains Hansford-White. “The Director also vision mixes using a Sony 7000X equipped with 3 ME banks. To his or her left is the Director’s Assistant who is responsible for providing the various assets associated with the product being aired. Those assets include the product item number, description and price, plus any stills or moving footage that may have been captured. To the Director’s right is the Shift Manager who looks after the ETC Congo Junior lighting console and a Broadcast Technical Operator (BTO) who handles control of the robotic cameras and vision control.” The Producer and Production Assistant are located in an area behind the Directors’ gallery and separated by a half height window partition. Sharp multi- viewers are installed throughout the facility for monitoring purposes, with a single CRT only in use in the sound gallery for lip synch monitoring. Communication between the galleries and the floor is provided by a Clear-Com communication system, in combination with a FreeSpeak


into the edit suites. Again, all the suites utilise the Quantel server. The audio editing area is equipped with a Pyramix DAW (digital audio workstation), which integrates fully into the Quantel Editing workflow. Within this area is a Sound Booth for recording voiceovers. Summing up the move to


David Hansford-White


control area. QVC has decided on a Calrec Artemis console with 40 faders. The Artemis’ integrated router means all I/O functions can be performed via Hydra2, using high capacity 8192² cross-point routers and a variety of I/O units. “Using a Hydra system means


that we had to plan all the possible combinations of audio feeds prior to installation – but it does away with complex patch panels and makes operation that much slicker,” declares Hansford-White.


Serving the facility Central to the whole production and playout environment is a Quantel Enterprise sQ server. This is integrated with QVC’s own scheduling, automation and asset management system known as QSAAM. For post production purposes,


three video Quantel eQ suites and one audio edit suite have been constructed. In addition, four Quantel ‘soft seat’ stations are available for producers to carry out rough cuts before moving


Chiswick Park, QVC UK Director of Media Operations Brian Farrelly says, “We have seen continuing growth over the last two decades and now is the time for a further expansion. This new facility is technically advanced and will provide an improved working environment for our staff, many of whom have been with us since


1993. However, it also demonstrates our commitment to provide our viewers with the highest level of service. We are eagerly anticipating 7 June when we go live.” www.qvcuk.com www.ledpoison.co.uk www.green-hippo.com www.etcconnect.com www.sony.co.uk www.vinten.com www.canon.co.uk www.shotoku.co.uk www.arri.com www.sharp.co.uk www.clear.com www.calrec.com www.quantel.com www.merging.com


QVC has selected the Sony 7000X for both its galleries in the new facility


All the main set lighting has been provided by Arri Lighting suspended from Arri Pantographs, with a mixture of Fresnel hard sources and Fluorescent softs. Control for all lighting, including the LED set lighting, is across four Universes


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