Sports

New Sony Mobile Production Unit Hits the Road

Sony's new Mobile Video Producer (MVP) unit recently hit the road for its first live event: a series of Division I college baseball games held at AT&T Bricktown Park in Oklahoma City.

The remote unit was used to feed content to the stadium's scoreboard and to the displays placed around the stadium's concourse areas. Game content was also streamed on the Big 12 web site.

A full-scale HD production trailer that can be easily transported by any vehicle with standard hitching equipment, the MVP unit offers a range of live event production options and increased remote flexibility for sports broadcasters, as well as other organizations that need easy-to-use remote A/V systems.

"The "all-in-one" design of the MVP unit can eliminate the cost of a dedicated cab or tractor, giving the MVP a smaller footprint and greater maneuverability," said Peter DiIorio, senior manager in Sony Electronics' Solutions Development Group. "Despite its small size, the MVP couples flexibility with a high level of functionality and a full-scale equipment complement. And the MVP can be easily staffed by operators with varying levels of technical knowledge."

The MVP unit combines three production resources in one: pre-production, live production and post production. It incorporates Sony HDC-X300 HDTV cameras, an XDCAM camcorder, an MFS-2000 production switcher, XDCAM® HD optical disc and DSR-DR-1000 recorders and LUMA™ professional LCD monitors. The MVP unit also includes full intercom and tally capabilities, a 16-channel audio console, a Chyron Duet system and multi-format (HD, SD and analog) outputs.

The unit's production capabilities also include linear and non-linear editing, slow-motion effects and web streaming capability.

The unit is 24 feet long, and comes standard with electric brakes, interior and exterior task and work lighting, a 12-volt setup lighting system with charger, a front and rear fire extinguishers, and a motion-activated security system.

"The MVP unit offers an easy-to-use production option that solves many of the challenges typically associated with live event production," DiIorio said. The unit includes high-quality audio components, including two Mackie consoles, one as a main mixer and another as a removable secondary console in the video production area for single person operation; self-powered Fostex 6301BAV monitors in the audio and production areas; two DBX 166X compressor limiters in the audio and production areas; and two Telos telephone interfaces.

More information is available at sony.com/mvp.