Quartz solution selected by Italian OB facility

Leading Italian media provider, Valerio Maioli, has selected a router system from UK-based company Quartz Electronics for their new fully digital Outside Broadcast facility.
The truck recently went on the road with two newly installed Quartz serial video routers, configured to 64 x 64 and 32 x 32, a Quartz 64 x 128 analogue video router and a complete control system, also from Quartz.
The vehicle measures 12m in length and is expandable to 38m when stationary. It has been described as a self-contained studio, with workspace for up to 15 people. The truck boasts 20 cameras, 20 Quartz control panels, several digital VTRs, a slow-motion controller and has all the capabilities required for live broadcasts as well as production editing.
The 64 x 64 SDI unit from Quartz routes signals at the heart of the truck, the 32 x 32 SDI router takes camera feeds into a Sony switcher and the Quartz 128 x 64 PAL router is used for monitoring purposes and to communicate with several Under Monitor Displays (UMDs) via the Quartz SC-1000 dual system controller.
The Quartz SC-1000 system controller drives the OB's entire operation. Occupying just 2U, the SC-1000 can be equipped with a single controller or as in the case of the Valerio Maioli installation, a dual controller with redundant power supplies. Each controller and power supply is individually accessible from the front of the frame and supports hot swapping to ensure that there is no disturbance to the system.
A spokesman for Valerio Maioli said: "Quartz represents a very competitive, but dependable package. We made our system selection based on price, compactness, expandability, the company's reliable track record and the Quartz capacity for universal interfacing to third party equipment. Technical support throughout the installation has been excellent".
Meanwhile, Quartz has announced an important new addition to their master control line to debut at NAB 2003 with the launch of a new twin channel master control board, which will further extend the reach of QMC Master Control range.
The full QMC range is on display at NAB. Booth SU6435 in the Upper South Hall.
(AMcE)