Studio Technologies Introduces Live-Link Jr. Remote Camera Interface System at InfoComm 2012

Studio Technologies, a manufacturer of tailored, high-performance video, audio, and fiber optic products for the professional audio and broadcast markets, will introduce the new Live-Link Jr. remote camera interface system at InfoComm 2012, June 13-15, in the Joseph Electronics booth C5950, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following the original Live-Link system, the company says Live-Link Jr. offers a generous feature set coupled with audio quality and a compact form factor optimized for the capture of events, concerts, corporate meetings, ENG, and uplink vehicle applications. Providing everything needed for a single-camera live shoot, Live-Link Jr. provides everything needed for a single-camera live shoot.

"The Live-Link Jr. remote camera interface system was developed to efficiently support single-camera remote production situations, and is especially suited for feeding content to the multiple media outlets now associated with live events, meetings, concerts, and the like," says Gordon Kapes, president of Studio Technologies. "We are constantly out in the field talking to professionals about what equipment and features they would like to have to complete a project. Live-Link Jr. was developed from these conversations and we believe the commercial integration and AV industries will respond positively, as the system solves an abundance of very real production and system deployment problems."

Live-Link Jr. is a video, audio, communications and control data link between a camera operator in the field and a production vehicle or fixed installation. The system transports one SDI video signal in each direction: camera end-to-truck end and truck end-to-camera end, supporting SD-, HD-, and 3G-SDI data signals. All Live-Link Jr. audio and support signals are transported between camera-end and truck-end units as embedded SDI data. Linked using just two single-mode optical fibers, Live-Link Jr. delivers operational performance regardless of the distance between the camera-end and truck-end units -- whether hundreds of feet or miles apart. The camera-end unit allows for remote powering using hybrid fiber/copper cable, 12V DC or Anton/Bauer or V-mount batteries. The truck/studio end unit offers both AC and DC powering capabilities, with failsafe operation from the DC input, should the AC mains fail.

The camera-end unit offers two mic/line inputs that are compatible with microphone or line-level signals. Related features include adjustable input sensitivity, phantom power, and level metering. Each input stage can be independently set for compatibility with line-level signals (0dB gain) or mic signals (gain of 15, 30 or 45dB). Two balanced line-level outputs are provided on the truck-end unit's back panel and are associated with the camera-end unit's mic/line inputs. Two additional balanced line-level outputs are also located on the truck-end unit's back panel to provide de-embedded analog signals associated with group one, channels one and two of the transported SDI signal. These convenience outputs allow audio embedded, for example, by a camera connected to the camera-end unit to be accessible without the need for an external de-embedder unit at the truck/studio end.

A major strength of Live-Link Jr. is its integrated two-channel intercom system, which tames the typical hassles and limitations associated with field intercom system implementation. A two-channel party-line intercom interface is provided on both the camera-end and truck-end units, allowing beltpacks to be directly connected and powered. A fully functional camera end-to-truck end comms system can be up and running in just minutes. Additionally, a four-wire input and output allows direct interconnection with matrix intercom systems. Two line-level audio signals can also be transported from the truck end to the camera end via fiber connection, allowing for IFB communications. The balanced line/IFB inputs are located on the back panel of the truck-end unit and allow the connection of a variety of analog audio signals, including talent cueing. However, unlike traditional IFB systems, the audio quality can support transporting on-air signals. For flexibility, both line-level and wet IFB (power and audio) outputs are provided on the camera-end unit.

"Live-Link Jr. provides crystal-clear audio quality throughout the system, conforms to all relevant SMPTE standards, successfully integrates party-line and four-wire intercom support and uses industry-standard optical, video, and audio connectors," adds Kapes. "It also allows a serial data port and a contact closure to be transported in each direction. The RS-422 data path and GPI (general purpose input)/GPO (general purpose output) resources make implementing remote camera control, including tally, a simple task. In short, Live-Link Jr. is a high-quality, versatile problem solver that can be deployed quickly and efficiently and operates flawlessly."