Videoworks Selects MultiDyne SMPTE HUT Camera Transceivers

MultiDyne Fiber Optic Solutions' global reputation for problem-solving has taken on new meaning for the team at Videoworks. The company selected MultiDyne SMPTE HUT camera transceivers to pair with its Sony fiber camera systems following performance and service challenges with its initial choice.

The switch to MultiDyne immediately solved those problems at a much lower cost, while overall optimizing performance and return on investment for long-distance fiber-topic transport. ProFlixSales, an Atlanta-based online equipment retailer specializing in video production, recommended MultiDyne after Videoworks reported ongoing signal problems with the previous solution.

"We had consistent error and warning lights on their Sony HDC1500R cameras and companion camera control units, which correlated to the transceivers in the fiber-optic infrastructure," said Mike Porter, owner, Videoworks. "While the transceivers were technically working, the error and warning lights nonetheless were a distraction and caused alarm during live productions. There is typically a different camera operator and shader for each project."

The vendor's service department also required that Videoworks replace circuit boards to fix the problem. While reluctant to do so, Videoworks engineers replaced the boards, yet the problems persisted.

"We were confident that we could find a solution for our customer and Multidyne’s SMPTE HUT fit the bill perfectly," said Shimon Hirschhorn, vice president of sales and marketing for ProFlixSales. "Not only did MultiDyne bring peace of mind by simply delivering working transceivers; they also saved our customer $260 per device. This is a huge benefit to a smaller mobile production company like Videoworks with a limited equipment budget. They intend to order additional transceivers in the near future."

Hirschhorn points to the Pasadena Pops Summer Concert Series and the Long Beach Pops as examples of the efficiencies that MultiDyne’s SMPTE HUT transceivers have delivered for live productions. Videoworks recently transitioned from very expensive SMPTE fiber cable to far more cost-efficient tactical cables. The Pasadena project required the Videoworks team to pull wire and fiber cables underground, with two front of house cameras outfitted with SMPTE HUT devices to move video and data to the truck. Videoworks also uses SMPTE HUT devices to transport intercom and video content for the venue screens over single-fiber connections to the Videoworks truck for the Long Beach Pops project.

Porter notes that the streamlined architecture and maintenance of the SMPTE HUT for these and other projects saves Videoworks “a ton of money on fiber cable.” The SMPTE HUT also simplifies adaptation to different kinds of cameras when needed, with clear labeling that enables configuration changes in less than 10 seconds.