Leader test instruments keep Mediapro OBs on track
August 28, 2019
Leader LV5490, LV5350 and LV5333 test equipment formed the core signal monitoring resource deployed by Barcelona-based television production group Mediapro for its coverage of the recent UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid. Selected by UEFA as the host broadcaster, Mediapro fielded multiple OB vehicles, 42 cameras and more than 150 crew to capture the match for 4K and HD simulcasting. The project was accomplished in cooperation with system specialist and production services provider Mediaburst.
“The Leader instruments gave us the full range of facilities needed to ensure accurate colour matching from the very large number of signal sources,” comments Mediapro CTO and Operations Manager Emili Planas Quintana. “Shooting in 4K is especially demanding as the fourfold increase in resolution compared with HD means every aspect of the production process has to be handled with even greater care to ensure the improved quality is maintained right through the signal processing chain. Leader’s operator-assignable multiscreen feature is particularly useful for side-by-side comparison of the various signal parameters.”
“This was the latest in a long series of high profile sports events at which Leader instruments have been deployed to ensure high quality signal monitoring,” adds Kevin Salvidge, Leader’s European Regional Development Manager. “Sport OB continues to be the primary driver for 4K-UHD broadcasting as the extra detail which can be delivered really brings match coverage alive. A key feature of the LV5490 is the ease with which it can be configured to match a wide choice of production standards. These can be selected either at the time of purchase or added as optional upgrades during the proven very long lifetime of Leader test instruments.”
As well as the UEFA Champions League Final in Madrid, Mediapro also used Leader test equipment in Baku for the production of the UEFA Europa League Final and in Portugal for the UEFA Nations League Finals.
The LV5490 is waveform monitor supporting the full range of standard video production and transmission resolutions from 525 and 625 standard definition up to 3840 x 2160 and 4096 x 2160 4K ultra-high definition. It incorporates a 1920 x 1080 9 inch LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle and high quality colorimetry. This allows simultaneous analysis of up to four video channels. Equipped with eight input connectors, the LV 5490 accepts up to two 4K signals simultaneously. In the 4K video format mode, 3G-SDI dual link or quad link is supported. Up to four 3G-SDI dual link 4K video inputs or up to two 3G-SDI quad link 4K video inputs can be selected for display, or two sets of HD-SDI dual link signals. In the SDI mode, up to four signals can be displayed simultaneously. The LV 5490 also accepts video signals via two-sample interleave as well as square division. Two-sample interleave is the approved standard for 4K.
The LV5350 waveform monitor incorporates all the SDI facilities of the top-of-the-range LV5600 and LV7600 minus the IP measurement capabilities which are currently required by only a minority of production and post-production teams. These include engineering-related features such as test pattern generation, closed-caption monitoring, CIE colour chart, high dynamic range measurement, focus assist, customisable screen layout, tally interface, 4K/UHD operation and 12G-SDI interfaces. The LV5350 and LV7300 also incorporate Leader’s intuitive CINEZONE and CINELITE which are familiar to many camera crews, editors and colourists. A new focus detection algorithm enables the two instruments to sense edges across a very wide range of image contrast levels.
Compatible with over 20 HD-SDI/SD-SDI formats, Leader’s LV5333 is designed for deployment in studios or technical areas, or attached to a camera tripod. The integral 6.5 inch XGA TFT LCD screen can also be used to display video signal waveform, vectorscope or the video image. CINELITE, CINEZONE, histogram, gamma display, gamut and level error display functions are included as standard.
LV5333 features include cable length display, external timing display and field frequency deviation display. SDI-embedded audio can be extracted and two user-selectable audio channels sent as an AES/EBU stream to a BNC output. The levels of up to eight audio channels can be checked using on-screen bar displays. User-configurable multi-display combinations allow easy inspection of signal parameters. Full-screen displays can alternatively be selected to allow detailed review of specific elements.