Within the KOTA-TV facility in Rapid City, S.D., the Crispin software is controlling Leitch VR 445 and VR 420 video servers, four Videotek RS12A routing switchers, and four Panasonic AJD450 DVC Pro tape machines
Looking to transition its four stations in the Midwest to digital television operation and make them more efficient, Duhamel Broadcasting has established a private microwave link between facilities and tied them all together with a Crispin automation system.
Crispin’s "System 2000" total automation system controls four channels, which are designated to each station, enabling the central hub at KOTA-TV Rapid City, S.D. to feed programming and commercials between it and fellow ABC affiliates KHSD-TV Lead, S.D., KDUH-TV & K02NT Scottsbluff, Neb. and K06JM Gillette, Wy.
Systems integrator Broadcast Technical Services (BTSI), in Greenwood Village, Colo., helped the station group develop a highly automated server/automation system for the KOTA-TV in Rapid City, S.D. facility. This system uses a Crispin automation package and a Leitch VR 445 four-channel server with Genesis conversion gear and ESE timing equipment.
With the System 2000 software, Duhamel can now perform realtime record and playback, server mirroring/backup, commercial record and playback, program record, segmenting, and playback, device control, playlist management, and asset databasing. Based on Duhamel’s requirements, the system has been set up to provide complete station control, including unattended operation for a complete range of mixed broadcast devices.
Within the KOTA-TV facility in Rapid City, S.D., the Crispin software is controlling Leitch VR 445 and VR 420 video servers, four Videotek RS12A routing switchers, and four Panasonic AJD450 DVC Pro tape machines.
KOTA-TV’s multiple channel operation utilizes a number of Crispin modules, including: RapidPlayX 2000, Turbobrowser, Mapper 2000, Dubber 2000, DubberAssist, SmartWedge, and a 16-port Crispin DeviceServer. RapidPlayX 2000 with TurboBrowser controls the main Master Control room and the Leitch servers, enabling the Videotek routers to facilitate the four-channel operation, as well as backup redundancy. The 16-port CRISPIN DeviceServer module is also used for redundancy and to protect against system failure.
In the event of a failure, Crispin's RapidPlayX 2000 automatically switches to the backup server without missing a beat. The Mapper 2000 software creates and controls a playlist from the Traffic System to the Leitch servers. Automatic dub lists can be created and viewed in Dubber 2000. Kill lists can also be created by DubberAssist.
Crispin’s DeviceServer provides reliable machine control, giving KOTA-TV flexibility to add and change devices without software revision or additional costs. The company’s SmartWedge module gives the system GPI device control.
BTSI also recently installed a DTV package for Duhamel that includes HDTV and DTV transmission, delay, encoding and switching for the four stations. The system is setup to facilitate HD network pass-through (720p) with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and local up-conversion. The system uses Leitch switching, K-tech Decoding and Harris Broadcast encoding equipment. In addition, custom consoles were built by BTSI.
Duhamel founder Dr. William Duhamel was one of the co-founders of South Dakota Cable Television, which brought the first cable television service to western South Dakota in 1966.
For more information visit www.crispincorp.com, www.kotatv.com and www.btsi.tv.
