Indiana's Ball State University Selects Grass Valley Live Production Solutions for Sports Coverage

Grass Valley has supplied Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana, with a live production solution that provides University staff the flexibility and versatility to capture more appealing and creative footage from sporting events held at the school's Scheumann Stadium and Worthen Arena. The solution includes six LDX Flex advanced imaging cameras with XCU (eXchangeable Control Units) Twin base stations which support fiber as well as triax, and two K2 Dyno Replay Systems.

"We've been a Grass Valley customer for many years, and the LDX cameras and K2 Dyno systems were a natural choice for us both for quality and price," says Alan Gordon, associate director at Ball State University. "The LDX cameras are fibered back to our control room and provide beautiful picture quality, and the K2 Dyno Replay System is so easy to use-our staff and students have only had minimal training and are creating compelling replays and highlights with aplomb."

The LDX Flex is an entry-level single-format (1080i or 720p) camera offering exceptional performance providing both single mode fiber and triax transmission. Triax connectivity at the camera head adds robust performance and durability as the cameras are moved between venues and the Grass Valley converters provide the single mode fiber capability for the lengthy run back to the control room. In tandem, the XCU base stations provide full 3G transmission connectivity for both triax and fiber. The unique cradle of the XCU can be pre-mounted and pre-wired in the rack, forming a secure mechanical and electrical connection so the XCU base stations can easily slide in and out as needed-perfect for transfer between OB vans, studios, or any other location.

The K2 Dyno Replay System, widely used in arena and televised sports, contains a comprehensive set of live production replay tools that are seamlessly integrated for use in nonlinear, file-based production environments. The system is powerful, cost-effective, and includes a highly intuitive touchscreen interface, which provides simple functionality and a quick learning curve.

"Ball State University is a longstanding customer, and we understand its need for high-quality equipment that will optimize their coverage of live sporting events along with industry leading support to protect their investments," says Andy Jackson, senior vice president of sales, North America region, Grass Valley. "The combination of LDX Flex cameras and XCU base stations along with the K2 Dyno gives them the agility and flexibility they need to produce the highest possible quality content for their viewers."