Hot technology picks by Michael Graybill, chief engineer, Wexler Video, Burbank, CA
Evertz 5600MSC
The Evertz 5600MSC is the latest Master Sync and Clock Generation product from Evertz. It can provide highly stable sync reference and timecode with unparalleled accuracy. Capable of outputting black burst, tri-level sync as well as driving 24 and 30 fps time code simultaneousely, this unit a must for television production. GPS high stability and frequency standard referencing is available in addition to 5MHz or 10Mhz master-oscillator referencing for even greater stability, making this unit a powerful tool in modern television production environments.
Zaxcom TRX900
The latest in wireless technology, the TRX900 is the first digital wireless microphone with built-in IFB. There is also an optional IFB transmitter remote control. The unit has a 6-hour internal record time via memory card that plays out (via a card reader) directly into an Avid. The unit also has integrated time code transmission and digital drop-out protection — all wrapped up in a package that’s smaller than most transmitters on the market today.
Digital Microwave
Wexler’s camera-mounted diversity unit has an on-board digital transmitter that accepts SD and SDI digital video plus two channels of audio. Camera video/audio is encoded into an MPEG-2 stream and transmitted via 5.8 Mhz to multiple receivers and antennas. The digital receive antenna system automatically chooses the strongest signal and sends the encoded video to the engineering rack, where it is transferred back into SD or SDI. From the rack the audio/video can be routed and viewed in any control room/video village setting. Capable of managing up to 10 cameras/transmitters, feeding six distinct antenna positions via the digital diversity receiver system, this is an exceptional system.
