BILLERICA, Mass. — Oct. 7, 2008 — Echolab Inc., a leading provider of professional video production switchers and broadcast tools, today announced that Romanian broadcast production company Studio Video Art is installing Echolab Overture series production switchers in two new OB vans. The integration of Echolab's high-performance 1-M/E Overture1™ and 2-M/E Overture2™ production switchers in these new vans will provide Studio Video Art technical staff with simple yet powerful switching and effects capabilities, in turn giving the company a significant competitive edge in bidding for prestigious live events.
"We've worked with a variety of switchers in the past, but our technical crew is very fond of the equipment's capabilities," said Bogdan Alexe, executive manager at Studio Video Art. "Our original purchase of an Echolab Opera production switcher was based on price, quality of design, and user-friendliness, and the decision to return to Echolab as we outfit our new OB vans was based not only on the performance and reliability of the company's products, but also on the strong relationship we have developed with the Echolab team. I am sure that when we transition to HD, Echolab will be the only company that comes to mind for the upgrade of our switchers."
Studio Video Art is equipping its vans with standard definition (SD) models of the Overture1 and Overture2 switchers, both of which can be upgraded easily to multidefinition (MD) systems. These innovative systems combine internal conversion and synchronization with powerful key layering and special effects to provide simple control over complex production tasks and, in turn, streamline creation of a sophisticated on-air look.
Built on the same award-winning System on Chip (SoC) technology used in Echolab's Opera™ switchers, the Overture1 and Overture2 accept and deliver both digital and analog signals without the need for external analog-to-digital (A-to-D) converters. Four M/E keys and two downstream keyers enable title keying for graphics, logos, and bugs, and unique SuperSource™ crosspoint keys make it easy to achieve expert transitions with up to four boxes on screen with minimal effort and without tying up existing switcher keyers. A DVE key in each "take block" enables instant transition effects, and robust DVE capabilities are complemented by as many as 34 internal graphics/still stores.
The Overture systems also feature the Stinger™ transition, a special "take block" keyer with combined mix/wipe and graphic control that reduces complex animated transitions to a single button press. The Studio Video Art technical crew can save time in setting up these transitions, using the Stinger feature to manage timing issues and ensure successful execution of the transition. Like the SuperSource feature, the Stinger transition leaves existing keyers free for other uses.
Echolab Overture switchers accept up to 32 multiformat analog and digital signals and provide as many as 16 multiformat outputs making it an ideal fit for installation in OB vans such as those being constructed for Studio Video Art. Internal frame synchronization and internal A-to-D converters simplify system complexity when working with sources such as DVD players, satellite, remote studios, and microwave links. The Overture systems make installation easier and reduce space, weight, and equipment costs.
More information about the Overture series of production switchers and other Echolab products is available at www.echolab.com.
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About Studio Video Art
Studio Video Art is one of the leaders in freelance broadcasting in Romania. The company's primary services include production of events for TV stations and production companies, as well as rental of equipment and provision of technical staff. Studio Video Art specializes in live sports transmissions, music shows, and live TV shows. In the past several years, the company has broadcast the Romanian Open Tennis in Bucharest, the Romanian MTV Music Awards, qualifying soccer matches for Romania and Moldova, and many other events. Studio Video Art also produced the unilateral transmission for Romanian Television (TVR) at UEFA EURO 2008 European Soccer Championship, held in Austria and Switzerland. More information about the company is available at www.studiovideoart.ro.
About Echolab, Inc.
Echolab, Inc. is a leading provider of video production switchers and related tools that offer flexibility and on-air reliability for the production and distribution of digital media in a variety of formats. With products including its flagship Overture1™ and Overture2™ video production systems, Echolab delivers the robust functionality, reliability, and ease-of-use critical to professional-quality productions. Since its founding in 1974, the company has delivered more than 6,000 production solutions to a global client base including major broadcast networks and stations, corporations, educational institutions, houses of worship, sports arenas, entertainment venues, and military facilities. www.echolab.com
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