Snell, the new company formed through the merger of Pro-Bel and Snell & Wilcox, will introduce a variety of enhancement for its acclaimed Kahuna multiformat SD/HD production switcher at the 2009 NAB Show.

New K-Watch and K-Mirror Software for Kahuna Multiformat SD/HD Production Switcher Bring Efficiencies of IT-Based Workflow to Live Production Operations

Enhanced functionality includes new software applications that address the demand for IT-based workflows across production operations, as well as new capabilities targeted to 3-D acquisition in live production. By making it easy for broadcast and production facilities to transfer, share, and backup project files across an IT backbone, the new K-Watch and K-Mirror software applications bring greater efficiency, flexibility, and security to production switching. The Kahuna’s new 3-D stereoscopic functionality simplifies acquisition of high-quality 3-D video.

K-Watch for Kahuna
The K-Watch software application facilitates the conversion and uploading of file content and graphics to one or multiple networked Kahuna systems. The software supports creation of files in the IT domain and transparent placement of those files onto the switcher without disrupting its operation. With this capability, broadcasters can easily publish name plates and lower-thirds to a Kahuna system, or share other files among multiple networked switchers. By eliminating the need to upload files manually, K-Watch increases control over files, cuts the time required to deliver media to the switcher, and lowers the risk of error.

K-Mirror for Kahuna
K-Mirror is a software application that allows users to gain significant workflow efficiencies by backing up valuable work, whether working with a single Kahuna or in a networked multiple-Kahuna environment. K-Mirror facilitates the rapid backup and sharing of Kahuna Projects, each of which is a complete show, series, event, or production consisting of elements including graphics files, animations, effects memories, DVE memories, and engineering configurations.

Project files, representing all pre-production work and related settings and elements, now can be copied onto the facility’s IT backbone and shared across Kahuna systems. As a result, the entire Kahuna Project for a particular show can be loaded remotely, from a completely separate studio, without disrupting production personnel. Much faster than conventional backup via USB or media drive, K-Mirror brings a cost-saving combination of speed and security to production switching.

3-D Stereoscopic Functionality
The newly developed 3-D stereoscopic functionality for the Kahuna makes it easier for operators to fine-tune the alignment of cameras, thus enabling faster and more cost-effective calibration of cameras for 3-D acquisition. With these added capabilities, the Kahuna offers advanced processing that, through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, enhances the operator’s ability to shoot, monitor, and control 3-D video for live production in sports, entertainment, and other programs.

About Kahuna
Kahuna is the world’s first and only true multiformat SD/HD production switcher. Thanks to a Snell technology called FormatFusion, Kahuna enables simultaneous SD and HD operations in the same mainframe and on the same control panel. This vastly simplifies the HDTV transition for broadcasters by eliminating the need for external HDTV up/down/crossconverters in the live production environment, as well as the cost and the signal-path delay associated with these products. Kahuna has the smallest-size mainframe, lowest weight, and lowest power consumption when compared with other large switchers, and it has been integrated with dozens of third-party products including routers, servers, automation systems, and controllers.

More information about the Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher and other products from Snell is available online at www.snellgroup.com.