Snell today announced that Germany's TV Skyline will use the industry-leading Kahuna 360 multi-format production switcher -- equipped with brand-new Maverik control panels -- along with a Sirius 840 routing switcher and IQ Modular infrastructure to build a new-generation OB truck optimized to meet the demands of large-scale events and live sports coverage. Utilizing five Make M/E(TM)-enabled units that can be configured into multiple, application-specific M/Es, the new truck will be 3G-capable and 4K-ready throughout. Maverik control panels will support the largest multiple-M/E live productions in less space while giving TV Skyline the flexibility to build a control interface that easily adapts to multiple events and event types.
"Product launches and similar live events are highly complex and can push broadcast systems and production staff to their limits, so it is critical to employ systems that can be tailored to the demands of a given event," said Wolfgang Reeh, founder and CEO of TV Skyline. "Event-specific control solutions are only possible with a control panel system that enables the user to change the order and combination of the subpanels on an individual basis, and Snell's Maverik is the only product to achieve this functionality. In combination with the Kahuna 360 system's Make M/E technology, the Maverik panel will enable us to realize our vision of a uniquely customizable OB van."
The TV Skyline OB truck build represents the first deployment of Snell's new Maverik control panels for Kahuna 360 in a mobile unit. With its exclusive FormatFusion3 technology, which supports a mix of SD, HD, 1080p, and now 4K, Snell's Kahuna 360 is the ultimate live production switcher, providing unmatched creative power and flexibility. The Maverik panel will give TV Skyline staff a flexible, quick, and readily accessible control interface for all features within the advanced Kahuna 360 mainframe.
"Our new Maverik control panels represent a significant departure from a traditional switcher control surface, which typically combines multiple M/Es with a setup and effects area in a fixed configuration, with a fixed set of buttons for each," said John Carter, senior product manager at Snell. "Maverik modules can be assembled in a huge variety of configurations, assuring that the limited space in the mobile unit isn't wasted on buttons, M/Es, and panels that aren't needed."
Maverik features modules for setup, effects recall, color correction, resizing, and clip store access -- the functions that typically occupy the entire right side of a traditional panel. Other innovations include OLED buttons with user-assignable thumbnails, a touch screen at the M/E level rather than on the separate GUI for quick navigation, and the ability to assign RGB values to buttons for clear, confident operation.
TV Skyline's new approach in OB truck design and space allocation was further enabled by Snell's Sirius 840 routing switcher with Advanced Hybrid Processing. Many functions traditionally performed outside of the router are now internal to the Sirius 800 Series. Complete audio handling and processing, delays, and video and audio synchronization are handled without compromising routing functionality. Snell's IQ Modular multi-channel fiber solutions will simplify signal routing between the van and various remote sites.
More information about Snell and the company's products is available at www.snellgroup.com.