Grass Valley Group Announces Kalypso, Next-Generation Video Production Center—New Product Family Integrates Powerful Switcher Capabilities with Open, Networked Architecture for Live Production Control; Initial Commitments for Over 15 Systems—As the hub of a teleproduction environment, the Kalypso Video Production Center combines industry-leading switching and powerful mix/effects (M/E) capabilities with an open, networked architecture that offers a precedent-setting degree of operational automation. With it, broadcasters can free key engineering and creative talent from tedious equipment operation to focus on the content development necessary to pursue new business opportunities. "Video content producers are telling us that they need unprecedented levels of effects, compositing power and facility integration—all at a single control point. These requirements exceed what conventional production switchers can deliver," said Tim Thorsteinson, president and chief operating officer, Grass Valley Group. "Our Kalypso Video Production Center goes beyond today's switcher capabilities to offer centralized production control, enormous efficiency and flexibility." Initial Commitments for more than 15 Kalypso Video Production CentersAlready, Grass Valley Group has commitments or orders for more than 15 Kalypso Video Production Center systems from nearly a half-dozen major customers. Among these customers is Pittsburgh, Penn.-based NEP Supershooters, which supplies mobile units to the major broadcast and cable networks. NEP will supply units this fall for CBS' national telecast of NFL games, FOX's NFL national telecast with John Madden, and ESPN's Sunday Night Football. Currently, NEP operates five digital and 10 analog mobile units, all with Grass Valley equipment. "The Kalypso system's ability to supply effectively eight mix effects banks, along with 80 inputs, will be invaluable in covering the major events such as the Superbowl," said George Hoover, NEP Director of Engineering and lead system designer for the past four Superbowls. "Coupled with its internal digital effects, the Kalypso system packs more production power than was found in two of its predecessors combined," Hoover continued. "Today's graphic- and replay-intensive network coverage of the NFL, NHL and NBA demand the features and power of the Kalypso system. The switcher will offer a quantum leap in production flexibility." Another early Kalypso Video Production Center adopter is Turner Entertainment Networks. Turner, with its world-class coverage of sporting events, plans to use the Kalypso system in the control room of its new digital production facility. The new Turner Studios facility will consolidate the post-production/studio work for Turner Entertainment Networks, along with Turner Sports and World Championship Wrestling. "Our technical directors and engineering staff were quite impressed with the Kalypso technology," said Dan Darling, senior vice president, Turner Studios. "With the Kalypso system, we know our switcher needs will be met well into the HD future." Kalypso System Offers Powerful Switching, Automation, Integration FeaturesThe Kalypso Video Production Center offers fingertip control of a number of previously off-board functions—all from a familiar Grass Valley control panel interface. Its 80 inputs (video or key) eliminate the need for external routing or sub switching in most applications, and its powerful interface to the Grass Valley SMS-7000 signal management system lets users easily and intuitively change router destinations. Its 46 reconfigurable outputs (plus 2 fixed outputs) let facility engineers create an optimum combination of M/E outputs and auxiliary buses. And its programmable clean feed system lets users create two simultaneous program outputs from the same background inputs while automating keys such as bugs and graphics appropriate to each program—an innovative new solution for multi-language and sports programming. The Kalypso Video Production Center also offers comprehensive, powerful M/E capabilities. For every M/E channel, users can place four keys such as graphics or logos over a background video. Each keyer can also function as a chroma key. In addition, every keyer in the system has a Borderline® generator to create drop shadows, extrudes and outlines. The Kalypso system also includes two utility buses per M/E for such functions as external masks, video in wipe border operations or secondary background transitions. To help unleash greater creativity, the Kalypso production center includes up to six channels of integrated digital effects that support 2D transforms in 3D space as well as 2D effects such as blurs and mosaics. Each channel can process video and key information. In addition to cuts, mixes and wipes, the Kalypso system can perform digital effects transitions, using internal and/or external channels as transitional effects. And its effects send system supports up to four external digital effects channels in addition to the six channels of internal effects on its effects send loop. The Kalypso Video Production Center features powerful M/E partitioning for secondary composites and layering. For composites, users can divide the four keyers between two separate background transitions—effectively creating two complete M/E outputs from a single M/E bank. In addition, users may put the secondary output into Lamina™ Image Layering Mode to generate a separate composite key signal for downstream compositing. For automated effects and device control, the Kalypso center provides effects memory timelines that users have grown to appreciate in previous Grass Valley production switchers. Using timelines, users can integrate external device triggers and run commands into the fabric of a switcher effect with complete control of event timing. Designed for intra- and inter-facility integration, the Kalypso Video Production Center fits nicely with other facility devices. It is fully integrated with Grass Valley products, including the Profile® digital video server line, the Krystal™ digital picture manipulator, the SMS-7000 signal management system and third-party devices, including non-Grass Valley routers, digital-effects products and VTRs. Its 16 RU size conserves rack space and its hot swappable modules (including power supplies) keep facilities running uninterrupted. It also supports a variety of network topologies utilizing Ethernet connectivity to provide a flexible platform for collaborative and multi-format production. The Kalypso system's networked architecture also offers remote monitoring and diagnostic features and remote software installation. The 4 M/E channel version of the Kalypso system, which will be available in November 1999, starts at $215,000. Pricing and availability for the 2 M/E channel version will be announced prior to NAB 2000. About the Digital Media Foundation InitiativeThe Digital Media Foundation™ (DMF) initiative was designed to ease the transition to digital production and transmission facilities; to seamlessly link broadcasters with their digital assets and production tools; and to enable video professionals to deliver high-quality content to any digital pipeline. A cost-effective strategy, it supports application choice, robust networking and connectivity. For broadcasters, producers and content suppliers, the DMF initiative provides a distributed network of storage devices, linked via audio/video routers and data networks. These networks offer an open-systems environment for applications ranging from editing and live production to on-air replay. The DMF initiative also defines a strategy for a gradual, cost-effective transition toward digital television, maximizing a company's new facilities investments. About Grass Valley GroupGrass Valley Group is a new, privately-held digital broadcast and video equipment company that has entered into an agreement to acquire the video content production business of Tektronix Inc. Grass Valley Group is a recognized technology leader, with more than 40 years of television broadcast experience. Its heritage includes numerous patents for television technology, as well as helping to shepherd the broadcast television industry through several critical technology transitions, including the move from black-and-white to color transmission and the move from analog to digital broadcasting. Grass Valley Group's product lines include the Emmy® award-winning Profile digital video server family and the Grass Valley router, switcher and modular product lines. For the latest Grass Valley Group product information, see www.grassvalleygroup.com. # Grass Valley Group, Profile and Borderline are registered trademarks and Grass Valley, Kalypso, Digital Media Foundation, Lamina and Krystal are trademarks of Grass Valley Group. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies. |
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