Ross Video Helps ARET Video Construct New 4K UHD OB Van, Becomes Member of The DPP

ARET Video and Audio Engineering is Ross Video’s Platinum Premier partner in Italy, but the Milan-based company has also carved out an international reputation for the supply of OB vehicles. Also, the company has become the latest member of the DPP.

New 4K UHD OB Van
ARET is currently delivering a nine-meter 4K-UHD OB production unit to a client in Qatar with an innovative workflow that will offer new creative potential to the operators and enhance the quality of productions.

This OB unit features a layout that maximizes the internal space, allowing interoperability between the different production areas: the main production area (comprising a monitor wall and a replay and character generator station), the audio room with its custom acoustic insulation, and the engineering and camera control area that enables control of up to eight fiber plus two wireless cameras.

Each area, including the racks, has a fully redundant air conditioning system in order to help the unit endure the challenging weather conditions and operate under any circumstances. In addition, as per ARET standards, the OB unit has an automatic leveling and stabilization system that can be operated by remote control, and a logic system for controlling mechanical movements and transport conditions.

The signals workflow was engineered to realize the maximum potential of the unit, and with operator ease of use top of mind. To achieve this, ARET engineers relied on Ross Video solutions for UHD in 12G-SDI. The Acuity production switcher installed onboard is designed to handle the world’s most challenging live events, easily adapting to evolving technology in the video production industry. At its side, the XPression Studio character generator is an industry-standard real-time motion graphics generation system, fully compatible with the new 12G format. In addition, the Abekas Tria+ replay server fits perfectly into the workflow, with the real-time monitoring function and its support for a huge spectrum of resolutions and formats (including 4K-UHD, HD, and SD).

At the core of the system, is the Ultrix 12G routing/AV processing platform. Ultrix has an unprecedented number of features packed into a modestly-sized chassis, and provides significant savings in terms of space, power, time, and cost. Its MultiViewer functionality lets the operator check the quality of all audio and video signals, while the frame synchronization and the UHD gearboxing makes this device perfect for handling any external signals you need to bring into the production. Moreover, since redundancy is at the center of the design philosophy for ARET, all the video sources are accessible both from the video switcher and the video router. This choice, together with Ultrix’s quiet switching functionality, guarantees a backup production solution in the extreme case of video switcher failure.

The system is enriched by a wide variety of audio and video glue products: the natural choice here was the Ross openGear platform.

Finally, the DashBoard control interface enables the whole system to be configured and controlled very easily, all via a mixture of prebuilt and user-designed touchscreen control panels. Of particular note here is the Ultritouch monitoring and control solution – a fully customizable touchscreen control solution capable of operating as a normal router panel and also as standalone DashBoard interface, allowing the operator to control and configure whatever is in the Dashboard workflow in a new and unique way.

“We are very proud of the result: this project is one of the first (if not the first) fully 12G UHD OB units in the Gulf Area, and it is proof that you can build a cost-efficient 4K-UHD facility using 12G-SDI, with no compromises in terms of quality or workflow,” notes Umberto Asti, Vice President of ARET. “This was thanks to our technology partner Ross who today represents the state of the art in broadcast technology.”

The DPP
The DPP was initially formed by the UK’s public service broadcasters to help producers and broadcasters maximize the potential benefits of digital television production, and the group has since expanded internationally and carried out a great deal of work on common technical and metadata standards for digital TV production. We’re very much looking forward to contributing to the networking events run by the DPP and sharing best practices in digital production across a range of different production environments and technologies.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Ross to the DPP,” says Mark Harrison, DPP Managing Director. “Our success depends on the input and expertise of our members, and Ross has an impressive pedigree when it comes to innovation in the live production space. I know Ross will have plenty to contribute as we discuss emerging standards and technologies in broadcast.”