Routing was handled through a Smart Videohub 40x40, which was complemented by a custom camera preview solution creatively engineered by Nick himself using a Raspberry Pi and a Smart Videohub CleanSwitch 12x12.
A five channel Sony camera rig plus RF cameras for the pit and paddock were supplied by Broadcast Services in Chertsey, who Nick has worked alongside for the past five years. However, without access to a Sony matrix Nick and his team needed a solution that would allow their rack operator to recall the program screen quickly and easily whilst preparing the next camera to air.
Nick says, “Not having the Sony control unit didn’t worry me as I’ve always said Blackmagic kit can do anything and everything you want it to, you just need to know how!
“Alongside Blackmagic’s open SDK, and with a little help from my next door neighbour who runs an IT services company, we spent an afternoon writing a piece of code for the Raspberry Pi. This meant that as soon as the rack operator hits the paddle, the Smart Videohub CleanSwitch would immediately deliver the required camera feed to screen.
“The £26 we spent on that tiny Raspberry Pi system turned into a truly beneficial workflow, one that potentially saved us a rather significant amount of money.”
As with many live events, the team had to produce an engaging and interesting live program of content, whilst managing an ever-changing schedule. “We didn’t know exactly what time Mitch’s hill climb would take place, but we still had to keep spectators entertained with big screen coverage,” Nick adds.
The morning session, ‘Top 12 Run Off’, saw the fastest drivers from the British Hill Climb Championship looking to break records and set the best time of the day, but Mitch’s attempt had to be kept separate as the UK’s Motor Sports Associations’ rules do not allow electric cars. Mitch was to go in the ‘lunch break’, yet this still wasn’t a definitive time, and what if there was an accident in the morning?
The lack of a fixed ‘go live time’, however, didn’t faze Nick and his team. “We had produced a lot of pre-recorded informative content,” he says. “Our editors cut different versions depending on how long we would need to play for: 3 minutes, 7 minutes. Whatever happened, we were well prepared.”
Lead editor, Ross Brown, used Premiere Pro to craft the various lengths of content. Videos included an introduction to hill climbing as well as how the Formula-E car was specially modified to be able to cope with the gradient.
“Our ATEM panel really came into its own here, as we transitioned between the pre-recorded content and the live interviews hosted by female racing driver and presenter Amanda Stretton,” explains Nick. “It was Amanda who announced at 12 noon that Mitch was to go at half past. We really were working on the fly! And so it was absolutely imperative that we were able to react in real-time. The low latency delivered by Blackmagic Design kit meant that we could immediately show viewers the best possible view of the action.”
Due to fairly limited bandwidth at the historic venue, streaming live to GKN Driveline’s YouTube channel had to be 720p. “The course is situated in the leafy Teme Valley, with no ADSL connection, one small spot of 4G, and one location on the hill where you can aim a dish and hit a satellite,” says Nick. “Fortunately though, as soon as were finished we re-uploaded a 1080p version from the HyperDeck recorder which worked seamlessly.”
Nick concludes: “I remember seeing Blackmagic’s OB truck when they had it on show at BVE a couple of years ago, and it made me realise that building my own was possible. But of course the success of this event is not just down to our vehicle, without the assistance of the technical team at Shelsley Walsh and a crew who can react and innovate under pressure, none of this could have happened. For that we are incredibly fortunate.”
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