New horizons in slow-motion coverage
OmniCam4Sky (O4S), part of the Mediapro Group, is an R&D company, specialising in the creation, development and production of special cameras and remote-controlled systems for HD cameras that bring movement, emotion and realism to a broadcast.
As a leader in the industry, providing solutions to multiple production companies from its base in Portugal. O4S has worked closely, for many years, with Dream Chip on point of view and special purpose cameras. Dream Chip, too, is an R&D intensive company, developing uniquely powerful solutions for dedicated applications.
Critical viewers, particularly for sports, now expect to see action from multiple viewpoints, with replays of each key moment to really understand what has happened. Slow motion is critical.
Super slo-mo
To bring clarity to slow motion replays, broadcasters and camera vendors developed the technique of super slo-mo (SSM). The camera shoots at a high frame rate, and processes its output to produce parallel phases of standard HD. Typically today four phases are used, allowing shooting at 240 frames a second and, with a suitable server, replays slowed by a factor of four while still retaining perfect quality.
Producers are naturally keen to get this same functionality from every camera, including the new miniature and POV cameras. Dream Chip addressed this with the AtomOne SSM500.
This delivers even more functionality. First, it provides a realtime full HD output. Two versions are offered: with a C lens mount for compact, fixed applications; and a B4 mount for broadcast box lenses. Alongside the realtime output, the AtomOne SSM500 also provides four phases for 240 frames a second capture.
Finally, it can shoot at frame rates of up to 500 fps, storing the very high speed recording into on-board memory, which can be replayed with an external trigger.
Collaboration
This is where the close working relationship between O4S and Dream Chip was really invaluable. O4S took the AtomOne SSM500 and developed an ergonomic, intuitive user control panel to complement it.
This provides full shading control, to ensure the camera matches all the others, including system cameras, in the production. The same controller also provides access to the on-board storage of very high speed shooting, triggering replays as required.
For the replay operator, the interface is a touchscreen in which the memory is partitioned into clips. This protects the content which may be required, leaving the rest of the memory available for continuing cyclical recording. The O4S system links the control panel and camera, typically over a single hybrid fibre which can carry the live output, four phases for conventional SSM, and the triggered output for high motion replays.
Live and replays can be transferred simultaneously. The live camera output – realtime and four-phase super slo-mo – is still recorded on the server network in the production truck while replays are being broadcast.
Extending the capacity
With multiple successful implementations delivered, O4S and Dream Chip looked to make significant advances in the product.
The original AtomOne SSM500 provided an on-board solid-state recorder capable of capturing 60 seconds at 500 frames a second, which would represent a total of 10 minutes replay at normal frame rates. This is plenty of capacity for any single event or piece of action in sporting coverage.
However, it might be a limitation when the action and events are coming up fast. Each protected clip partitions memory, leaving less space available for the next action. It may not be practical, in the heat of the live event, to record the high motion clip and release the memory.
Dream Chip has addressed this with new versions of the camera. The Atom SSM501 doubles the onboard memory to 120 seconds, providing twice as much recording space and dramatically easing the pressure on the replay operator.
The company has also developed the Atom SSM502, which has a remarkable 140 minutes capacity. It can record a complete game at 500 fps, for subsequent processing. Obviously, incorporating very large amounts of solid state memory increases the cost of the camera, and this will be used only in prestige events, but the technology exists and is proven.
To replay the full 140 minutes of 500 fps recording would take close to a full 24 hours!
Working together
Dream Chip cameras are designed to be integrated into a premium broadcast production. They have all the required functionality, including genlock, remote control and HDR capabilities. They are compact and light enough to be mounted on conventional grips, or on poles, rails, jibs and drones. They can be body worn to get really close to the action. Underwater housings are available, too.
OmniCam4Sky has taken these high quality cameras and created complete solutions for very real needs, in some of the most high profile sport, music and events television. With the operator control panel and replay management, they provide the complete chain from the camera to the truck. The OCP is designed to be familiar to operators, with touchscreen control for speed and security.
Dream Chip and O4S are transforming live television by working together.