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Filed under: *VIDEO* •Audio •Distribution •Hardware •Production •

MONOGRAM’s BCC is a portable studio that changes the rules of the game

When people first hear about MONOGRAM’s BCC (Broadcast Case) production TV studio in a box, some of them mistakenly assume that it is a copycat of existing portable TV studio systems that have been on the market for a while. However, as soon as they get closer or hear more about it, they realize that it is quite the contrary. I had never seen a touch-screen interface before on a vision mixer (“switcher”), let alone for an entire portable production studio with onboard audio mixer, character generator, 4:2:2 recorder, and H.264 video streamer. I had also never heard of one with an onboard intercom system, yet alone one that could even power the cameras over a unique combined camera cable, which unifies SDI (or HD-SDI), power, intercom, and even tally information in one very manageable enclosure. In this article, you’ll learn how unique and groundbreaking the BCC really is.

BCC’s main features and benefits

• 4 or 8 input SDI or HD-SDI physical video inputs, with embedded audio capability and onboard scaling to match a project’s resolution
• Unlimited Internet inputs (i.e. Skype) with embedded audio capability and onboard scaling
• 2 XLR-balanced audio inputs, line level
• Inboard power supplies for cameras
• Inboard intercom system
• Inboard tally light system. Tally lights are included for cameras.
• Unique unified cable system for cameras (SDI/HD-SDI, power, intercom, tally)
• Inboard i-frame, 8-bit, 4:2:2 MPEG2 high-profile recorder with user-adjustable bit rate (default is 60Mb/s)
• Inboard H.264 web streamer with user-adjustable bit rate
• SDI/HD-SDI output for live broadcast or external 10-bit recording
• Touch-screen interface (more ahead)
• DVI-output for program monitor (not required)
• Unique template-based source system
• Optional HDMI input/output
• Optional instant replay with slow motion (recorded from all live camera inputs)
• Optional ISO recording of each camera source

BCC’s live touch screen interface.

Side view of the BCC, revealing the connector panel.

BCC’s connector panel, inside the case, shown above with optional HDMI input/output.

BCC’s base pricing

Currently the BCC is available in the following base configurations:

• Standard definition with 4 physical SDI inputs for US$14,995
• Standard definition with 8 physical SDI inputs for US$17,995
• High definition with 4 physical SDI/HD-SDI inputs for US$19,995
• High definition with 8 physical SDI/HD-SDI inputs for US$23,995
• 3DHD with 4 physical stereo HD-SDI inputs for US$34,995

All of these configurations have a built-in intercom system and multi-camera power supply, and come with the appropriate number of combined camera cables, which include intercom, SDI (or HD-SDI), power, and tally lights, for the number of inputs ordered. Standard, they also include intercom headsets for the number of inputs, plus one for the director. Additional camera cables and additional headsets (i.e. for the producer) are available as options.

When the purchaser is planning to use cameras which already have SDI or HD-SDI output, BCC comes with the standard camera interface boxes, which provide power, tally light connection, and intercom headset connection. When the purchaser is planning to use lower cost cameras with only HDMI output —i.e the Panasonic

AG-HMC40, HMC41 (used for demonstration purposes with the BCC at NAB 2010), AG-HMC80 or HMC81— then the purchaser should order the upgrade to the expanded camera interface box, which also contains an HDMI>HD-SDI converter, for +US$795 each (upgrade price, at the time of the original purchase).

The physical inputs are independent from the virtual (i.e. Skype) inputs. In other words, a BCC with 4 local cameras connected via HD-SDI can also have one or more virtual inputs, for a total of 4 local cameras, and at least one more via Skype. If the Skype source’s spatial resolution does not match the project’s, the BCC will upscale the Skype source to be full frame.

Note that MONOGRAM also offers a non-portable version of the BCC called BOB, at much lower cost, which requires a desktop computer (not included), and does not use a touch-screen interface.

Multi-standard at no extra cost

Unlike some other systems where there is an artificial financial penalty for 50Hz compatibility, with BCC, all units are multi-standard. This means that you are free to choose 720p50, 720p59.94, 1080i50, or 1080i59.94 on a project basis, without paying extra. Obviously, your cameras should be able to match the framerate you choose.

BCC’s onboard software-based audio mixer can accept embedded audio sources over HD-SDI, from remote Internet (i.e. Skype) sources, or from BCC’s pair of analog XLR inputs.

On page 2 of this article:

• Look Ma’, no physical keyboard required!
• Look Ma, no monitors required!
• BCC’s unique template-based source system
• BCC’s image editor, media library, scene editor
• BCC’s onboard chroma keyer
• BCC’s webstreaming adjustments
• BCC’s add-on options
• BCC’s internal components and specs
• Waveform monitor
• Warranty and distribution channel
• Inevitable competitive comparison

Click here for page 2 of this article.

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