Increasing consumer demand for high-fidelity video and audio content is raising the bar for commercial advertising. While legacy 3G-SDI infrastructures are adequate for HD production and delivery, commercial post facilities like Tokyo-based ATELIER ARTE are seeking the latest 4K/UltraHD and 12G-SDI solutions to future-proof workflows and scale to handle higher bandwidth content. ATELIER ARTE, the post-production arm of Japanese advertising creative services provider ADK Creative One, recently teamed with technology partner Visual Graphics Inc. (VGI) to overhaul its existing post-production infrastructure with a new and robust system capable of handling 4K and HD content simultaneously with streamlined single-cable 12G-SDI transport.
“We’ve never had 4K-compatible equipment in our editing rooms before, because 70% of our projects are currently television commercials for HD broadcast,” said Takeshi Yamamoto, Editor, ATELIER ARTE. “Our decision to build a hybrid 4K/HD production environment better positions our studio for bidding and accepting offers on higher-end 4K and HDR projects in the future.”
Prior to the overhaul, the team relied on a primary 3G-SDI workflow for HD content. VGI was enlisted as a tech partner and systems integrator to develop and install a modern system that was customized to meet the requirements of the facility layout and creative tools used by the post-production staff. A critical requirement when designing the updated system was compatibility with Autodesk Flame, one of the studio’s main tools for compositing, editing, color correction and finishing.
ATELIER ARTE’s upgraded post facility debuted in 2020, featuring a range of AJA 12G-SDI solutions to simplify routing, conversion and transmission of high bandwidth 4K signals. Central to operations is AJA’s KUMO 1616-12G compact router, which powers routing and distribution of 12G-SDI input signals to multiple output destinations around the studio. KUMO 1616-12G enables editors to operate 12G-SDI signals intuitively, with simple control of both 4K and HD video sources using a single button or via a convenient web-browser UI. Each of the facility’s three Flame Premium editorial suites are outfitted with an AJA KONA 5 PCIe I/O card, which supports the highest fidelity HDR, HFR and 4K/UltraHD content via 12G-SDI. KONA 5 transmits the Flame’s output to the central KUMO 1616-12G router.
For signal conversions and extending 12G-SDI signals over fiber, ADK Creative One incorporated a range of AJA’s robust and portable Mini-Converters into the upgraded facility infrastructure. AJA Hi5-12G converters were added to each of the six editorial rooms for converting 12G-SDI signals to HDMI, in order to display projects on 4K HDR monitors for review and client previews. A pair of AJA FiDO-T-12G and two FiDO-R-12G converters were installed to transport 12G-SDI signals via fiber, used for sharing signals over long distances between editorial rooms and to an EIZO ColorEdge reference monitor for review purposes.
“AJA gear has an excellent reputation for reliability, and in the event of failure, AJA offers full repair services to ensure minimal downtime to keep our operations stable and up-and-running,” said Kosuke Yamada, Data Manager, ATELIER ARTE.
ATELIER ARTE’s upgraded facilities enable editors to transition seamlessly between working with 4K and HD content, increasing overall productivity and removing workflow bottlenecks encountered with the previous system. With the reliability and durability of AJA’s production-proven lineup of routers, I/O devices and converters, ATELIER ARTE is fully equipped to handle the most demanding commercial projects.
For more information on AJA’s 12G-SDI solutions, visit: www.aja.com/solutions/12g
