Solo Production
Traditional control rooms are cumbersome collections of boxes that each
have there own control surface. They are designed for use by a team of
operators. Too often, economics require a single operator production,
forcing the lone operator to surround themselves with control panels,
keyboards, mice and tape decks. This results in most devices being only
rarely used, and so the quality of the television created suffers.
In contrast, the Broadcast Pix system brings all the tools of the live
control room to a single operator. And when a team is still needed the
same system gracefully expands to a team studio .
"One-Man-Band"
Unlike traditional video control rooms that require many operators, the
Broadcast Pix Studio provides a single-point-of control for a single
operator. Simply press a Device Select button, and the top half of the
panel is instantly delegated to that tool. Seven of these device
selection buttons are shown on the right.
Device Controls
The upper portion of the panel is an assignable control bank that
enables the DDR, CG or any tool to be instantly and intimately
controlled. When a tool is selected all device controls are dedicated
to it, including 3 knobs with display, motions controls, joystick and a
bank of 12 PixButtons , which can call up more controls. These
PixButtons rapidly select content, assisted by thumbnails of the
content on the VGA "Monitor Wall".
Fixed Controls
The lower portion of the control panel is the fixed controls, which are
always available for rapid source selection and layering. Classic
program/preview operation is used, with familiar transition and keyer
controls. Source content is shown on the PixButtons in the program row
and on the Monitor Wall.
PixButtons
On-the-button picture displays give unmatched feedback for total
confidence. Each PixButton shows an icon for the device, the number and
name of the content element and tally status: red is on-air, orange is
selected but not yet on-air. When content is imported, these buttons
are automatically generated. PixButtons are used for all 9 program
sources, all 3 keyers (shown at right), 3 assignable device selection
buttons, 1 effects button and the 12 multipurpose "PixPad" buttons in
the FLEXcontrols.
Broadcast Pix Soft-PanelThe Broadcast Pix Studio is
controlled from either a hard-panel or an identical soft-panel.
Hard-panels and soft-panels can be used interchangeably or together for
team operation. While hard-panels are always better for fast-paced use,
the soft-panel provides a low cost panel for a team member who uses it
more occasionally, such as a graphics operator or engineer.
Monitor WallThe Broadcast Pix system include a Monitor Wall
application on the computer's VGA monitor. This shows thumbnails of
content and the current content of each source. Just import your
folders of stills, titles, clips, slides, logos and other content and
they automatically appear on the monitor Wall
Show Management SoftwareThe Broadcast Pix Studio is made
possible by advanced real-time control software and show creation
software. Before going on air, all content elements and play lists can
be prepared in the studio, or off-line. Just before air time, select
the desired show and the VGA’s “monitor wall” and the panel’s
PixButtons self-configure. For details see pre-production .
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Device Selection
Device Controls
Fixed Controls
PixButtons
Broadcast Pix Soft-Panel
(Click for hi-res image)
clips portion of Monitor Wall
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Broadcast Pix was the only switcher that featured a built-in CG and clip store. We can complete a production with our new switcher and never need to run anything through post.