Vinten, a world leader in manual and robotic camera support systems, today introduced its new Osprey pedestal series — a range of two-stage pedestals designed for camera operators to effortlessly move and precisely frame shots to place viewers ‘in the action’.

London, UK, 19 June 2020: Mo-Sys Engineering, a global leader in real time camera tracking and remote systems, has announced a revolutionary approach to bringing the atmosphere back to live sport amid covid-19 restrictions. Providing precision, zero-latency tracking for any camera (including ultra-long box lenses for sport), the Mo-Sys camera tracking kit interfaces directly to the Unreal Engine or any broadcast render engine, allowing production companies to add virtual crowds to stands.

“After so many weeks, sports fans are desperate for any action,” said Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys. “But the frustration will turn to disappointment if the atmosphere of the game falls flat because of empty stands. We have developed a camera tracking kit which any outside broadcast can implement quickly and simply, capable of filling the stands with a virtual, but enthusiastic, crowd.”

The Mo-Sys camera tracking encoders are quickly mounted onto broadcast standard Vinten Vector heads, with no impact on the camera’s perfect balance and no backlash when panning and tilting. Zoom data is collected either by gear encoders or by a serial data link to digital lenses. The combined tracking data is sent over ethernet to the workstation hosting the augmented reality software.

“We are known for the absolute precision and stability of our camera tracking – that’s why Hollywood relies on our technology,” Geissler added. “In this application, we deliver precise tracking, including compensation for lens distortion, even when a 100:1 lens is zoomed fully.”

Mo-Sys has worked with Epic Games to develop a tight interface to the Unreal Engine, including support for the latest version 4.25 software. The result is that highly photo-realistic augmented reality – such as crowds filling the stands – can be integrated into live production with no limitations and negligible latency. The kit includes the bolt-on encoding kit for Vinten heads and the lens calibration tools.

Users can see the technology in action in a Mo-Sys LiveLab webinar, which will also include contributions from Epic Games and Canon. The webinars are on 30 June, at 10.00 (register at https://bit.ly/2N1Ve44) and repeated at 18.00 (register at https://bit.ly/30GqFZP). Michael Geissler of Mo-Sys will also join a distinguished panel with the RTS Thames Valley Creative Centre’s look at production techniques for audience shows in a time of pandemic on Thursday 25 June at 17.00 (register free at https://rts.org.uk/event/future-studio-audience).

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About Mo-Sys:

Mo-Sys is a world-leading provider of camera tracking and camera robotic systems supplying to broadcasters such as BBC, Sky, Fox, ESPN, CNN Discovery Channel, The Weather Channel and Netflix among many more. With a passion for innovation and design, Mo-Sys is at the forefront of live AR and virtual production technology with their StarTracker camera tracking system now powering more than 100 virtual TV studios around the world. For further information, www.mo-sys.com

Mo-Sys Company Contact:

Adam Smith, Marketing

adam@mo-sys.com

+44 (0) 208 858 3205

Mo-Sys Media Contact:

Jennie Marwick-Evans

jennie@manormarketing.tv

+44 (0) 7748 636 171

Sachtler's flowtech100 carbon-fibre tripod was a critical tool in the production of "Skid Row Marathon," an award-winning documentary from filmmakers Gabriele Hayes and Mark Hayes. "Skid Row Marathon" tells the inspiring story of Superior Court Judge Craig J. Mitchell and the people of the Skid Row Running Club in Los Angeles, who have turned their lives around through the empowering sport of long-distance running.

"At least 60,000 people live on the streets and in the shelters of Los Angeles County — many of them stuck in a downward spiral of addiction and despair. As the founder of the Skid Row Running Club, Judge Mitchell has helped to save hundreds of them," said Gabriele Hayes. "It's an incredibly powerful story, and the flowtech100 tripod helped us tell it. A tripod this lightweight and easy to set up and adjust, while sturdy and stable enough to handle our heaviest payload, really is a game-changer."

Sky News Australia has made a major investment in state-of-the-art robotic camera support systems from Vinten and Intelligent Prompting solutions from Autoscript for its six remote studios in Australia. With the latest build-out just completed in Sky News' Canberra Parliament House studio, the Vinten and Autoscript equipment is a vital link in the network's strategy to reduce operational costs through centralised, IP-based control of remote broadcasts.

Sky News is a 24/7 multi-channel network providing international news, local news, and current affairs programmes to viewers throughout Australia and New Zealand. With headquarters, master control, and main studio based in Sydney, the network operates remote studios in Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Sky News has fitted its Canberra Parliament House studio with three Vinten FH-145 robotic pan/tilt camera heads, driven by the Vinten HD-VRC control system, three Vinten Quattro pedestals, and three Autoscript EPIC-IP 19" prompting monitors with integrated talent feedback monitors, driven by Autoscript WinPlus-IP News prompting software. Amber Technology, a Vitec Production Solutions Premier Partner, supplied the Vinten and Autoscript solutions and partnered for the build-out.

bTV Media Group, Bulgaria's TV audience leader, has installed state-of-the-art teleprompter and camera support equipment from Autoscript and Vinten in its all-new innovative studio. Located in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, the futuristic broadcast newsroom incorporates seven Vinten Quartz pedestals with Vector 750 pan-and-tilt heads, along with Autoscript EPIC-IP17 teleprompters.

In addition to bTV, Bulgaria's first private national TV station, the bTV Media Group's television unit consists of market-leading channels bTV Action, bTV Cinema, bTV Comedy, bTV Lady, and RING. The new studio is the largest-scale technological project in the history of bTV and is unique in Central and Eastern Europe, featuring three multifunctional sets, 11 video walls, and a total area of 450 square metres.

The Autoscript and Vinten equipment is part of an overall design based on maximum flexibility in camera choreography and functional efficiency. Each camera setup includes an Autoscript EPIC-IP17 teleprompter sporting a sleek carbon-fibre hood, together with an integrated talent monitor.

vinten.com.

ChyronHego today announced the appointment of Ariel Garcia as CEO, effective today.

Garcia will drive ChyronHego's expanding focus on product innovation driven by customer requirements. He joined ChyronHego as a board member in 2015, following a strategic investment from Vector Capital, and stepped into the business as president of broadcasting at the end of 2018.

BIRTV2019 Show Preview, Vitec Production Solutions, Booth 3022

Coming Soon! Autoscript WinPlus-IP Features
Autoscript is set to release new features within WinPlus-IP, the Intelligent Prompting software adopted by broadcasters worldwide. Intelligent Prompting offers a fully IP-enabled workflow that can also accommodate video workflows. The new features harness the power of IP to enhance remote production and studio workflows, saving users time and money. Watch for an August (pre-BIRTV) announcement!

New! Anton/Bauer's Titon Battery Series
New for IBC2019 will be Anton/Bauer's Titon, a series of V-Mount or Gold Mount batteries designed for on-location productions that provides customers with a versatile solution to "power their story." Offered in both 90Wh and 150Wh models, Titon powers the leading HD-DSLR, mirrorless, ENG, and digital cine cameras as well as LED panels — including Litepanels' new Gemini 1x1 Soft RGBWW light. With P-TAP and high-speed Smart USB ports, Titon can also power accessories such as wireless transmitters, monitors, and smart devices.

RTÉ News, Ireland's leading public-service television network, has unveiled a brand-new look for its main news studio, Studio 3, with Vinten's state-of-the-art robotic camera support systems. The Vinten robotics equipment is a key component in the newly completed, 1.4 million euros refurbishment and technical upgrade project, designed to enhance the storytelling capabilities of Ireland's busiest television studio. Provided by Irish reseller Broadcast Video Services Ltd., the Vinten solution includes ceiling track and floor roaming pedestal systems.