Telemetrics Symphony Control and Camera Robotics System Featured at Arts Centre Melbourne

CameraRobotics

Integrated System Provides Ideal Solution at World Renowned Australian Venue Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne

Hamer Hall at Arts Centre Melbourne has been recently refurbished to the standards of a 21st century concert hall, providing a better experience for audiences and enhancing the attraction of the concert hall to leading international and national performers. Included in the $135.8 million transformation is a new production facility to assist staff with the broadcast, recording and archiving of performance events held within the concert hall, home to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

In keeping with the 21st century directive, the broadcast facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art camera control system from Telemetrics. Specifically designed for concert hall venues, the Telemetrics CPS Symphony Control System offers a flexible architecture for control of camera positions, CCU controls, and peripheral devices and is designed to provide single operator, efficient control of all operations. The Symphony Control System, along with Telemetrics PT-RM-1 pan/tilt heads, are key components of the new production facility in addition to Panasonic AK-HC-1800 HD cameras, Canon lenses, an Avid Media Composer editing suite and Ross Video equipment.

Judith Isherwood, Arts Centre Melbourne Chief Executive, is quoted as saying, “The new broadcast capabilities will help reinforce the Hall as one of the world’s great venues for capturing the best live music experience possible.”

The Symphony Control software provides increased technical capabilities and system control versatility to the house production crew, including camera-operator like moves, zoom and focus, as well as the ability to create unique productions using storyboard camera shots. Camera controls are accomplished using specially designed control screens that emulate the remote operating panel of the Panasonic cameras. A joystick control panel provides trim controls for pan, tilt, zoom, focus, iris and master pedestal to adjust the camera position.

“The symphony control platform is simple to operate and is ideal for the variety of live performances we intend to record and broadcast,” said David Harvey, Project Manager, Precinct Redevelopment, Arts Centre Melbourne. “It delivers everything we want without compromise.”

With the improved acoustics in Hamer Hall, a concern was that equipment noise might interfere with audience enjoyment of the performance. According to Mr. Harvey the Telemetrics PT-RM-1 pan/tilt heads operate in complete silence while offering the ultimate in responsiveness and high quality performance.

The PT-RM-1 pan/tilt head features an internal fiber transmission module and single hybrid connecting cable to handle all the unit’s pan/tilt and camera control signals, power and camera video. To more easily assist in managing cables, the PT-RM-1 pan/tilt head is designed with a provision for harnessing power, serial/Ethernet control, video, genlock and prompter video cables at the base of the pan/tilt unit.

The production facility was implemented by Techtel, a Telemetrics partner and leading systems integrator, who was selected through a tender evaluation process.

“Each component of the system was selected not only for their individual attributes or their ability to integrate easily, but importantly we needed to be sure of their suitability to the performance space environment,” commented Mal Chandler, Head of Sales at Techtel. “The Telemetrics CPS Symphony Control System is ideal for the setting as it’s built specifically for the production of live entertainment events such as symphonies and other orchestrated shows.”

Resources:

http://www.telemetricsinc.com