Grass switchers ties that bind at Daytona for Fox, Game Creek

Game Creek Video and Fox Sports used a unique combination of Grass Valley high-definition (HD) production switchers from Thomson to handle coverage of the the Daytona 500 on Sunday February 18 for Fox Sports. The multi-camera, live 720p HD production of this year’s Daytona 500 is so audio-, video- and effects-intensive that it requires the use of two switchers paired together. One technical director will use a 3 M/E Grass Valley Kayak HD production switcher as a “sub-switcher” to capture and interweave the live action replays and isolation feeds into a single feed, then send them on to a Grass Valley Kalypso switcher in the main truck, where they will be incorporated with other audio and video sources for the live telecast for viewers at home.

The veteran mobile production company, based in Hudson, N.H., has four mobile units (FOX “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D”) on-site in Florida for NASCAR on FOX coverage, to handle everything from audio and video feeds to complete editing and Web streaming. The trucks are linked via fiber-optic cabling, ensuring a seamless flow of audio and video feeds between them.

“We have so many sources for this production that we quickly filled up all of the available input capacity [more than 90] on our 4 M/E Kalypso HD switcher,” said Paul Bonar, vice president of engineering for Game Creek Video. “Using the Kayak to handle the overflow proves to be a great way to meet the massive demand Fox Sports requires. The two work perfectly together.”

Game Creek Video considered putting another Grass Valley Kalypso HD switcher to use, but the compact (4 RU) Kayak filled their need for a powerful switcher with a small footprint for their “B” unit. “During this project we found that the Kayak works so well with the Kalypso HD switcher and we couldn’t be happier,” Bonar said, adding that the two switchers were also used for smaller races at Daytona during the week leading up to Sunday’s main event. “We save money and get lots of functionality using the two Grass Valley switchers in tandem. We’ll surely do this again when the need arises.”