Fred Engel, CPBE

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The Chicago HD Experience -Producing and
Delivering HD Content
Fred Engel, CPBE Vice President of
Technology WTTW11/Chicago
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Acknowledgements
Don DeMartini, Senior Editor Jim Gedwellas,
Lighting Dir. Dave Moyer,Eng. In Charge
Derrick Young, TD Steve Miller, Senior Video Jim
Mancini, Senior Audio
Al Skierkiewicz, Audio Maintenance Jerry Hanna,
Senior VP of Engineering Bob Bruner, Eng. In
Charge Electronic Maintenance Randy King, Ex VP
Executive Producer - Soundstage Ron Yergovich,
Vice President of Production Engineering
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Presentation Outline

• Brief WTTW/Chicago History
• WTTWD HD program delivery service
• WTTW HD production techniques
• WTTW HD productions

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WTTW A little history

• 1955 Museum of Science and Industry
• 1965 Chicagos North side
• 1974 Transmission moves to Sears Tower

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WTTW Stereo Transmission

• 1975/76 First Stereo Audio Transmission
• Early 1980s Electronic Industries Association
  Stereo testing
• Fall of 1984 WTTW 2nd TV Station to broadcast
  stereo audio (WNBC 1st by 4 days)

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WTTW Stereo Production

• 1973 Made in Chicago
• Developed stereo track recording for 2 Videotape
• 1974 SoundStage to PBS
• 1974 Emmy for Stereo Work

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WTTW Digital Broadcast Operations Center

• 1st Digital Broadcast April, 2002
• September 15, 2003 DBOC kickoff
• WTTW11 Analog broadcast service
• WTTWD Digital broadcast service
• Full time HD/up converted SD programming
• Full time 5.1 audio

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HD Ingest from Satellite
HDCam
SMPTE 292 HD SDI
IRD
AES
ProDVHS
ASI
MPEG HD Server
ASI
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HD Ingest to Server
HDCam
MPEG Encoder
MPEG HD Server
HD SDI
310/ASI
AES Ch 3/4
AC3
Dolby E Decoder
Dolby Digital Encoder
ProDVHS
Y
AJA A2D
Pb
HDSDI
Pr
AC3
Optical to Coaxial Converter
Optical AC3
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HD Server Play out
Router Insertion Point
MPEG HD Server
292
310/ASI
292
HD Bug Inserter
IRD
AC3
Router Insertion Point
MPEG Encoder
Dolby Digital Decoder
AC3
To Microwave
Dolby Digital Encoder
AC3 Decoder Set to pass AC3 Simulate Pro-Logic
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HD Technical Considerations

• Tell the Story
• Lighting needs very similar to SD more light
  for 24 frame video
• Camera person Focus, Focus, Focus!
• Editing Terabytes
• Cable lengths
• Connector terminations
• Router capability

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HD Tech Considerations cont.

• Video Monitoring
• Time code/Reference
• Triax or Fiber??
• Big Ticket Items Switchers, Routers,Cameras,
  Lens

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WTTW HD Productions
Playin Chicago
Legends of Jazz
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Playin Chicago

• Shot in 1988
• 1 Analog HD RGB

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• 2002 CSO
• Partnership with Sony/Canon
• Line cut using down-converted HD
• Program edited on SD Avid
• Program conformed on HD Avid DS
• Stereo mix

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• Shot with Sony HDK-700 HDCam minicam
• Coordinate with CTA
• Edited at HDNet

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• Co-production with HDReady
• Shot with 11 Sony HDCam minicams
• No line cut assembled on Avid DS
• Surround Mix on ProTools

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On the road
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PGM
CCU
PST
CCU
ISO1
CCU
CCU
ISO2
CCU
ISO3
CCU
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Y
AJA D2A
HDSDI
Pb
Pr
Y
AJA D2A
Evertz HD Back
HDSDI
Pb
Pr
Y
Y
AJA A2D
AJA D2A
Pb
HDSDI
Pb
Pr
Pr
Y
Y
Miranda Converter
AJA A2D
AJA D2A
HDSDI
Pb
Pb
Pr
Pr
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Thanks