Token Creek Upgrades Chippewa to HD with EVS XT3 Servers

Token Creek Mobile Television has invested in EVS systems to upgrade its Chippewa mobile production truck to HD. The revamped truck needed to be ready for the start of the 2012-2013 basketball season.

Token Creek decided to upgrade the Chippewa truck from SD to HD to satisfy the growing demand for HD by its cable and sports network customers. With the help of systems integrator Beck Associates, Token Creek completely stripped out the SD truck, built a new interior, and re-integrated the trailer as a new HD unit. A lot of time was spent working with the equipment and dimensions to design a new, efficient working space and achieve the work environment they wanted.

EVS XT3 servers with Multicam LSM controllers were chosen for ingest, playout and slow-motion replays.

“EVS servers are a requirement for all our mobile units and we’re very happy with how they perform – they give us reliability and continuity,” says Brendan Clark, Director of Engineering, Token Creek Mobile Television. “Our customers demand EVS servers and there’s a large operator base that’s familiar with the interface. Our clients can move files easily between mobile units across the country, and know that they can go into any market and find a skilled operator. The ability to switch codecs helps facilitate a smooth workflow from the truck to the edit suite.”

Token Creek has deployed four XT3 HD/SD servers, one in a six-channel configuration with the other three in a four-channel set-up, providing a total of 18 channels. They’ve also installed an EVS XS HD/SD four-channel server, and EVS’ XFly NAS portable storage, XNet2 media sharing network, and XF2 removable server.

“With the new state-of-the-art Chippewa truck, Token Creek expands its fleet of HD mobile production units to keep up with the sports industry’s fast-growing demand for HD,” says Frederic Garroy, general manager, EVS Americas. “This project is their first deployment of EVS’ XT3 servers and XFly portable storage which give their customers the speed, reliability and flexibility they need for live HD productions.”