NAB 2019: Wave Central announces integrated solutions for manufacture specific cameras

Wave Central, a provider of wireless broadcast camera and transmission technologies, has announced it has developed manufacturer camera model-specific RF solutions that are on display on the following companies’ booths: Grass Valley (SL106); Ikegami (C7925); Panasonic (C3607); and Sony (C11001).

Wave Central specializes in providing high-end RF solutions for major sports venues across North America and it has worked closely with camera manufacturers to give their joint customers RF solutions that are crafted to integrate with the studio cameras of their choice. Wave Central has provided these types of solutions for some time, but with new camera models being debuted at this year’s NAB Show, getting these manufacturer unique systems ready in time for the show was no easy task stated Wave Central General Manager Tom Doyle, who said: “We work closely with all the camera companies, but sometimes they face delays in production and naturally, it shortens our development time. Fortunately, we were able to get everyone finished; some, just in the nick of time.”

For Sony Broadcast, which is introducing the HDC3500 4K camera at this show, the Wave Central team had to work with the Sony factory engineers to fit a 4K transmitter and remote paint system within the small confines of their new HKC-WL50 side panel kit. Much testing and system confirmation took place, including last minute software updates to get the complete system to meet Sony’s high standards. Both companies are very satisfied with the resulting new AX-SSK RF system.

Grass Valley has had a long-standing relationship with Wave Central, starting with Wave Central’s RF integration of Grass Valley’s LDX series camera, for the Oakland A’s/Raiders project in 2015. For this year’s NAB, Grass Valley is showcasing the Wave Central RF system on its booth, transmitting 4K video.

Meanwhile, on the Wave Central booth, a High Frame Rate (HFR)-enabled LDX camera, being ingested to an Evertz DreamCatcher Slo-Mo server system, is being demonstrated. Wave Central first demonstrated this system at last year’s NAB to a Dyno system. This year, it is showing the ability to provide wireless slo-mo to the server, as well as a “live” output. This ability will give users the best of both world’s, with HFR slo-mo playback and instant “live” camera output as well.

Panasonic Broadcast is showing Wave Central’s 4K RF solution for its AK-UC4000 studio camera. As this camera provides a 12G input, Wave Central had to redesign the interface to accept the 12G signal. Wave Central redesigned a whole new RF system for this camera model and delivered it to Panasonic in only three weeks. Panasonic is also debuting a new Wave Central product line, Cine Vue, on one of its EVA1 digital cinema cameras. The EVA1 camera’s live transmission is being displayed both on the Panasonic booth, as well as in Wave Central’s booth. Cine Vue is a digital cinema-specific model, but could also be used in 24 frame sports production too.

Ikegami meanwhile is showing a Wave Central’s RF solution as well. Both companies recently delivered three HDK99 cameras, equipped with Wave Central’s AX-IKE 4K/HDR transmitters to the New York Mets, as the first part of their transition to HDR.

Wave Central Executive Vice President, Anthony Sangiovanni said: “A lot of effort has gone into working with and maintaining strong relationships with all the camera manufacturers. We understand that our shared customers want custom or unique solutions to ease or enhance their production. Trying to satisfy both the customer, as well as the camera manufacturer’s expectation is not easy, but the resulting rewards in making them happy is what makes all the effort worthwhile.”