Denver, CO-based system integrator Burst has replaced an aging analog, tape-based master control with a digital, server-based system at WHUT-TV, the PBS member station owned and operated by Howard University in Washington, D.C. Burst designed the system in 2008 to handle one HD and up to four SD channels of programming.
The complete station conversion included the installation of three Sony HDC-1400 HD digital studio cameras, a Sony MVS-8000 HD production switcher, a new audio control room with Logitek Artisan digital audio mixer, a video control room, and five Apple Final Cut Pro nonlinear editing suites with associated Promise Technology SAN storage system.
To support master control and production operations, Burst installed new Grass Valley Concerto series SD and HD routing switchers, Omneon Spectrum HD/SD servers, two Grass Valley Maestro master control switchers, a Harris ADC automation system, and new TANDBERG ATSC encoding systems capable of statistical multiplexing for optimum use of bandwidth.
Burst is currently working on Phase II of the project, which includes further enhancements to the production and post-production areas as well as repurposing the former analog master control as a high-end editing suite with full Dolby 5.1 surround monitoring capabilities.
