Game Creek Video Rolls Out Two New HD Units for ESPN

Game Creek Video this week will roll out the second of two new 53-foot expando units that will be used by ESPN this fall. Justice, a single-trailer unit modeled on Game Creek’s Larkspur unit joins Victory, a two-trailer unit modeled on Dynasty, which just hit the road a little more than a week ago.

“Justice is a single-expando unit with a shrunken EVS replay area where the big goal is reducing the size and weight,” says Jason Taubman, Game Creed Video, VP of design and new technology.

The Calrec Apollo console makes its Game Creek debut in the Victory and Justice trucks.

Both units feature Grass Valley Kayenne production switchers with 96 inputs and 48 outputs; Evertz routing; Sony cameras and Canon lenses; and Chyron graphics. Dynasty has nine EVS XT[2] replay servers and Victory has 17. Icon Broadcast is on hand at Game Creek’s Hudson, NH headquarters and handling systems integration and testing while the truck chassis were assembled by Gerling and Associates.

The equipment complement is very similar to the Larkspur and Dynasty units with two major enhancements: the new units have the Calrec Apollo audio board and new monitors custom built by Boland.

“Apollo is the latest and greatest,” says Taubman. “It has more inputs and outputs, has touchscreens, and when you compare it to the other Calrec consoles it doubles the number of faders.”

It also has 12 layers, meaning that it is, essentially, 12 audio desks in one. And with two rows of 72 faders it can be easier than ever for an audio mixer to quickly respond to live sound needs.

“The operator can set it up anyway they want and it will blow their minds at first because it is overwhelming,” adds Taubman. “But when they get used to it will be the console they want.”

Helping in that flexibility is an Evertz audio router that has 5,000×5,000 inputs and outputs. The video router is 576×1,125.

The video router also feeds into the new Boland LCD monitors, custom made to offer a 16:10 aspect ratio, no lights or buttons, and full control over an IP network.

Icon Broadcast's Ian Bowker with the new Boland that have a hinge on top for easy access.

Taubman says the advantage of the 16:10 aspect ratio is that it makes it easier to add in tally information while maximizing the size of the image.

“They also have a fluorescent backlight, a hinged design so that they can be lifted up and offer access to connections on the back, and HD-SDI inputs so there is no conversion gear required.

“They did a nice job,” says Taubman of Boland. “We started discussions in February and saw the first prototype at NAB.”

And while Game Creek is just putting the finishing touches on Justice work is beginning on standalone B units that will be able to link up to any standalone Game Creek Video production unit via a fiber tether box that sits outside of the unit and has 500 feet of video and audio runs.

“The unit has its own router, monitors, and can roll up to a standalone unit, unlike, say, the Fox unit, where the B unit is totally inert without the A unit because the guts that drive it are in the A unit,” adds Taubman.

The two B units will have 47-inch flat screens with six along the side of the unit and two in the back and in a monitoring station. It also features an area for graphics and replay devices to be added and a room that can be used for an audio submix or graphics area.

The EVS area in Victory features 17 replay devices.

The first B unit will be used alongside Freedom for Fox NFL games before it rides alongside Larkspur for NBA coverage, work stoppages permitting.

“The goal is to make it as flexible as possible,” adds Taubman.

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