Since 1996, New York’s Famous 92nd Street Y Has Captured A Wide Range Of Productions With Robotically Controlled Camera Systems.

From internationally renowned musicians to conversations with famous authors, actors and trendsetters (and everything in between), the IATSE Local 1 Stagehands of the Kaufmann Concert Hall at New York’s famous 92nd Street Y has seen and captured it all on stage with a multi-camera robotic camera control system from Telemetrics. In fact the performance space is on its third-generation system, having first embraced Telemetrics’ technology in the mid-1990’s.

“We like the idea of hanging the cameras from the walls and balcony because it gives us the ability to cover the entire stage remotely and it does not take up valuable seats in the theater,” said Sean Fogarty, Technical Director at the 92nd Street Y. He stated that they installed the first Telemetrics system in 1996 and upgraded that one with a newer model in 2010. Owing to its reliability, this second system is still used in another, smaller performance space, ten years later.

All shows are recorded onto solid state media and archived for later repurposing. Many of the shows are also streamed live and made available on-demand for later viewing.

“The system has been running great,” Fogarty said. “We like it’s ease of use and the smoothness of camera moves that we get with the Telemetrics control panel. We record everything live, so we need to have nice slow movement covering the subjects on stage, which for a live event is critical.”

One of the venue’s three RCCP-1A control panel operators—and the one who completes most of the projects at the 92nd Street Y—is Ellie Fitzgerald, who now completes up to 300 shows per year (many times two per day). She started using the first Telemetrics system back in 1996 and is now very proficient at operating all aspects of the current system.

We like it’s ease of use and the smoothness of camera moves that we get with the Telemetrics control panel. We record everything live, so we need to have nice slow movement covering the subjects on stage, which for a live event is critical.

“The system performs very reliably, and that’s important for us,” Fitzgerald said. “We do a lot of shows nearly every day and it has held up under fire. It’s pretty intuitive and the touchscreen monitor we have connected to the system makes it really easy to use. If we’re doing a show with a musical act and we have to hit a lot of cues, the screen really comes in handy.

Fitzgerald said she uses a combination of presets and live camera moves during a performance, using the right joystick on the control panel for pan and tilt moves and another sidecar joystick for her left hand for zoom and focus. A newer RCCP-2A, with dual joystick controllers and many more features, is now available from Telemetrics.

“I operate the system like a helicopter pilot, with a controller in each hand as I watch the main screen,” she said. “Once you learn how the system operates, it makes it fun to try new things and also stay with the standard way of covering our stage shows that we have developed here by doing it so many times.”

Of course, the new Telemetrics system has a lot more features than the previous generation did. The software includes Telemetrics reFrame Automatic Shot Correction technology that locks cameras onto the talent and automatically trims the shot; without the operator ever having to touch the controls. The panel also features a faster processor that supports more complex keyframe based-motion paths, an LCD touchscreen interface, and a series of operational LCD keys that facilitate more dynamic on-the-fly configuration changes as required.

“One thing that amazes me is how tight the system is,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s very responsive to my every move. Being able to change the ramps on the joysticks is very important. This allows me to change the sensitivity of the controllers for The different needs of each production.”

“We feel confident that we can cover any type of show here at the Kaufmann Concert Hall,” Fogarty said. “The elevating pedestals allow us to raise the camera level and get a better perspective of the performers on stage. The pan/tilt head motors are also very quiet, which is key for a classical concert. I’ve listened to other systems on the market and they would not work in our space, where silence is just as important as the performance. With so many performances, we put the Telemetrics system through its paces, that’s for sure.”

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981.  Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Platform, the ever-expanding series of Robotic Camera Control Panels, the S5 line of Pan/Tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and ceiling- or floor-mounted TeleGlide track systems.  Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.  

Download PDF

Editorial Contact
Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

Editorial Contact

Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

The National Assembly of Azerbaijan, or Milli Majlis, is the country’s legislative branch of government that regularly holds meetings and legislative sessions that affect the nearly 10 million citizens. In an effort to provide its citizens with transparency, the government has established Parliament TV, a daily program seen via TV and the Internet—in high definition resolution—that keeps viewers abreast of the latest proceedings..

Top support this democratic initiative, the government chambers in Baku and two adjourning meeting rooms have been outfitted with several cameras, both full sized ones operated manually and smaller PTZ cameras robotically controlled with new camera control panels from Telemetrics. While the house chamber installed eight Sony HXC-P70H HD full size cameras with Fujinon 22x zoom lenses in the Main Hall to cover the proceedings, four new Sony HXC-P70 “box style” cameras are mounted on Telemetrics PT-HP-S5 pan-tilt heads on wall mount brackets in the meeting rooms.

Telemetrics HD PTZ systems were installed in each of the meeting rooms. These new PTZ cameras helped the National Assembly cost-effectively transition to full HD operations and expand the system capacity in order to get more control over the cameras and Pan/Tilt heads in the building, which were also supplied by Telemetrics.

The best part about the new Telemetrics PTZ systems, according to Gunduz Suleymanov, General Director at systems integrator Mediatech/Promix (based in Azerbaijan), is that they are very easy for the three Parliament TV operators to use. A few simple button pushes on the Telemetrics RCCP-1A Remote Camera Control Panels with Legislative software is all it takes to manipulate the camera to the desired angle and focal point. The panel also includes special reFrame Automatic Shot Correction technology, which helps Parliament TV’s operators trim the shot if a government member should move out of frame. The software realigns the camera and makes quick adjustments automatically, while the meeting is happening.

A few simple button pushes on the Telemetrics RCCP-1A Remote Camera Control Panels with Legislative software is all it takes to manipulate the camera to the desired angle and focal point.

The two Telemetrics RCCP-1A LGS control panels include the ability to synchronize presets and camera control functions and make extensive use of the Telemetrics Enterprise Database System (EDCS). The Telemetrics EDCS provides complex camera control by utilizing a SQL database with configurable access control. The technical team used to control the cameras from three different control panels, the EDCS server keeps all necessary data and metadata under a single user interface on the RCCP-1A control panel. This helps keep track of stored camera position and cameras settings, which can be easily recalled from the panel.

With the EDCS software all aspects of a robotics camera control are managed for the entire system at Parliament TV. It also provides seamless operation between the two controllers, with all operator and device settings accessible from either meeting room. Up to date robotics and camera settings are immediately available on each RCCP-1A control panel, making it easy to change camera positioning/setting in ether room from one locations. 

“While we chose the full size Sony cameras for the in the main hall due to the focal lengths required and insufficient illumination of the hall,” Suleymanov said. “In the small rooms the PTZs were the better choice because of the sizes of the rooms and the good lighting conditions. Either way we are providing the kind of transparency the citizens of Azerbaijan are entitled to.”

Giving a single operator the freedom and flexibility to control all of the cameras in the Hall has resulted in captivating multi-camera coverage of the Parliament’s proceedings. And the fact that they can store camera settings for later recall—all pan, tilt, and zoom settings can be stored in the system as a preset on the RCCP panel—means that meeting set ups are quick and easy. Also, the organization’s three operators can manage all of the recordings from the Main Hall and two meeting rooms. 

“That makes everything is fast and stable,” Suleymanov said. “Also, I can’t say enough good things about the onsite support we received from Telemetrics. That’s the most important thing for us. We could not have put the system together so quickly if it were not for their engineering team. We now have a system that works perfectly every day that the government meets, and that’s important for the people of Azerbaijan.”

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981.  Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Platform, the ever-expanding series of Robotic Camera Control Panels, the S5 line of Pan/Tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and ceiling- or floor-mounted TeleGlide track systems.  Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.  

Download PDF

Editorial Contact
Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

Two Newly Upgraded Production Studios Now Include Camera Robotics That Help Create More Content With The Same Resources.

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981. Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Pedestal, the ever-expanding RCCP platform of control panels, the S5 line of pan/tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and TeleGlide camera track systems in floor, wall and ceiling mounted configurations. Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.

Editorial Contact

Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

Ukraine’s historic Verkhovna Rada (Rada) building, in Kyiv houses the country’s parliamentary activities and regularly hosts special assemblies that are of interest to the general Ukrainian population. All meetings are recorded and streamed live over the RADA TV channel (on cable TV and online), using robotic camera control systems from Telemetrics to make government’s work transparent to the people.

In the main chamber, a system of seven Panasonic AK-UB300 box-style cameras and Fujinon lenses mounted on Telemetrics compact pan/tilt heads; all controlled by an RCCP-1 LGS robotic camera control panel and a single operator employed by the RADA TV channel. All of the cameras are networked via a Telemetrics FTS Fiber Transmission System that provides power and control signals via a hybrid optical link to the robotic pan/tilt heads and transmits the HD video signals throughout the chamber hall.

After working successfully for over a year in 2017, the Rada—in close partnership with VisionHOUSE, a local Telemetrics reseller/systems integrator based in Kyiv, Ukraine—installed a second RCCP-1 LGS control system to allow maximum operational flexibility and redundancy in July 2018. The entire system is now fully operational and working great, according Sergiy Kravchenko, VisionHOUSE project manager.

“The Rada began using the new system in September 2018, with the start of the Parliament’s work,” Kravchenko said. “The robotic system is needed for two reasons: first, access to the session hall is restricted, and second, the cameras locations are hard to be physically accessed. It’s been very reliable and has helped us record the proceedings for historical reasons.”

The Telemetrics robotic camera system is one of the most convenient systems in the industry. Adding presets, automated streams, easy operation with one single person – those are great options.

Operators at the Rada said the RCCP panel’s aperture (iris) control is used most extensively to match camera images during a full multicamera production. Vision HOUSE also helped the local guys write their own specialized microphone XML interface to allow a semi-autonomous system to be created.

“The Telemetrics robotic camera system is one of the most convenient systems in the industry,” said Kravchenko. “Adding presets, automated streams, easy operation with one single person – those are great options.

“What I specifically like is the speaker visualization,” he said, referring to a feature that is included in the Telemetrics’ LGS software package of the RCCP control panel. “The system finds a desired person and automatically directs the camera to zoom in. The director can choose the best angle for the show. The system is fast, accurate and efficient.”

In addition, Andrey Mosharov, the head of VisionHOUSE’s technical support services, said that the RCCP panel provides more camera presets and a tighter integration with other third-party systems than other systems he’s worked with.

“The customer has been operational since October 2017, so we know the Telemetrics system and robotic camera technology is reliable,” Kravchenko said. “The best part is that the Ukrainian people can see what their government is doing and judge for themselves. The robotic cameras are making this possible.”

Like the Rada building, many government buildings around the world are outfitted with Telemetrics robotic camera control systems, due to their single-operator ease of use and consistent and reliable video production efficiency.

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981.  Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Platform, the ever-expanding series of Robotic Camera Control Panels, the S5 line of Pan/Tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and ceiling- or floor-mounted TeleGlide track systems.  Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.  

Download PDF

Editorial Contact
Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

Both Companies Have Collaborated On Major Installation Projects For Years.

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981. Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Pedestal, the ever-expanding RCCP platform of control panels, the S5 line of pan/tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and TeleGlide camera track systems in floor, wall and ceiling mounted configurations. Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.

Editorial Contact

Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

The Major Symphony Hall in Miami Hosts A Myriad Of Outside Production Clients With Telemetrics Cost-Saving Technology

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981. Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Pedestal, the ever-expanding RCCP platform of control panels, the S5 line of pan/tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and TeleGlide camera track systems in floor, wall and ceiling mounted configurations. Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.

Editorial Contact

Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

BX1 is a regional television channel based in Brussels that produces more than 25 hours of original programming per week. This includes 30-minuite and hour-long shows dedicated to News, Sports, Entertainment, Politics, and local culture in and around the city of Brussels; which are distributed on the Internet and on radio and television.

Management there is always looking for ways to maintain a high standard on its on-air image as well as new methods for producing content as efficiently as possible. The popular local broadcaster recently decided to integrate camera robotics and tracks systems from Telemetrics as a practical way to do that. This robotics technology is now combined with a virtual set and 3D graphics system from Zero Density that enables the creative team to produce stunning on-screen effects while distinguishing its own programs apart from each and from the competition. 

The Telemetrics systems were installed in May by local system integrator AV Group and went live a week later—in time to help televise results from the country’s Federal Elections over a three-day period. BX1’s production studio now includes: three Telemetrics PT-LP-S5 pan/tilt heads with built-in tally light and teleprompter power; a Telemetrics Televator EP-7 elevating pedestal; a TeleGlide TG-4 track system; and an RCCP-1A STS robotic camera control panel. The ultra-precise mechanics provide smooth motion and an accuracy of 0.016º, making the PT-LP-S5 ideal for virtual set applications such as this one.

The challenge in this case was the integration between the Telemetrics and Zero Density systems, but it all came together seamlessly in the end and has worked flawlessly ever since.

[The central control panel includes Telemetrics’ Studio Bundle software that includes Keyframing, Studio Automation and External Control, reFrame (automatic shot correction) technology, Image Clips and Captioned Presets.]

Rafaël Sellekaerts, systems engineer at BX1 said that the team wanted to improve its on-air look without spending a lot of money or human resources. The Telemetrics systems installed enable a single person to easily operate all three robotic cameras in the studio, including the one on a TeleGlide camera track and elevating camera pedestal-which is used for steady, sweeping camera pans on air across the front of the Zero Density virtual set.

“BX1 wanted to be able to offer a new range of programs based on a virtual studio tracked to be in the style of the day,” said Rafaël Sellekaerts, Chief Systems Engineer at BX1. “The challenge in this case was the integration between the Telemetrics and Zero Density systems, but it all came together seamlessly in the end and has worked flawlessly ever since.”

Control data from the robotic camera on a track in the studio is fed into the Zero Density Virtual asset system and used to enable precise moves that display stunning graphical elements to help on-air BX1’s presenters tell their stories in a highly visual way that resonates with viewers.

“It was a big challenge to integrate the three robotic cameras and the Zero Density engines in a week, but we did it,” Sellekaerts said. “The result is more than good. We had fears about the interpretation of the Y axis on the diagonal traveling axis, but the Telemetrics system is very accurate so it gives us dynamic movement and very high precision. Everyone is very pleased.”

Indeed, everyone seems very happy with the results. BX1 viewers have praised the new look of the channel and its technical team is excited with the possibilities to create fantastic sets and photorealistic-looking imagery for its programs both now and in the future.

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981.  Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Platform, the ever-expanding series of Robotic Camera Control Panels, the S5 line of Pan/Tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and ceiling- or floor-mounted TeleGlide track systems.  Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.  

Download PDF

Editorial Contact
Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

Finnish ice hockey fans are being treated to a new type of sports show that incorporates the latest virtual studio (VS) and remotely controlled robotic camera technology in order to tell comprehensive stories in most captivating and visually immersive way.

Thanks to Zero Density’s Reality-virtual studio platform, Streamteam Nordic Oy, one of the largest technical TV production companies in the Nordic countries can now generate previously unavailable player interviews and 3D graphical elements on set in real time for viewers at home.

The Finnish league plays more than 450 games per season, with up to seven games often happening simultaneously. Covering all matches simultaneously (in both HD and UHD) and adding studio production to the program required Streamteam to build a centralized production hub and a state-of-the-art, green screen studio in Pasila, Helsinki.

Systems integrator Broadcast Solutions Finland Oy developed an innovative technique to allow live on-air presenters to regularly interview hockey stars “in person” without those stars physically appearing in the studio. Instead, they are using Zero Density’s virtual studio software “Reality” to enable that player to be interviewed at a venue against a green screen located hundreds of miles away and have their figure transported live into the studio. 

At each hockey arena, a player stands in front of a small green screen and wears a headset to enable them to talk live with the presenter. Their virtual image is then generated in the studio for viewers at home to see. The teleportation effect is very realistic looking (with a mere a 1 millisecond of delay) and allows the real presenter to interact with the virtual star as if they were together in the same room.

Only a robotic camera solution like the one Streamteam is using from Telemetrics, would work in this small studio.

To successfully accomplish this huge project Streamteam worked with Broadcast Solutions Finland Oy, which designed and implemented the whole remote production system for the Finnish ice hockey league. Streamteam now operates the system while the show is distributed by local Telco company Telia’s IPTV service. A company called Dreamwall created the set design for the virtual studio.

The distinctive motion graphics system, which includes remotely controlled camera robotics and a control panel from Telemetrics mounted on descending pedestal (also from Telemetrics) went live for the start of 2019/2020 hockey season. This robotic system is critical to provide tracking data in relation to the computer-generated player being interviewed in real time. The Telemetrics Pan/Tilt heads provide an UDP-stream of positioning data to the Zero Density’s rendering engines based on Epic Game’s Unreal Engine.

In total, a single Telemetrics RCCP-1A robotic camera control panel and two Telemetrics PT-LP-S5 Pan/Tilt heads were installed, one with a longer EP7-1000 Televator elevating pedestal and the other with a EP7-600 and a 9 meter TeleGlide track mounted on the ceiling of the 8x6 meter studio.

“Only a robotic camera solution like the one Streamteam is using from Telemetrics, would work in this small studio,” said Petrus Palola, Broadcast Engineer at Broadcast Solutions Finland Oy, who helped coordinate the Telemetrics sale and installation for Streamteam. “The fixed Televator is located inside the green screen and is masked out in Zero Density configuration. That provides the mandatory close-up shots the director requires.” 

The studio, which includes a uniquely shaped green screen, is now home to a sports show that reports on all matches of the Finnish Ice Hockey League, where they produce studio shows 2-3 times a week during the season. Those involved said Streamteam’s technical solution represents the largest broadcast investment in Finland.

For Finnish hockey fans, coverage of the sport they love has just been elevated to a totally new level technically, operationally and, most importantly, visually.

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981.  Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Platform, the ever-expanding series of Robotic Camera Control Panels, the S5 line of Pan/Tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and ceiling- or floor-mounted TeleGlide track systems.  Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.  

Download PDF

Editorial Contact
Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com

ReFrame^TM Automatic Shot Correction Feature Found On RCCP Series Control Panels Frees Up Robotic Camera System Operators To Be More Creative

About Telemetrics, Inc.

Founded in 1973, Telemetrics revolutionized television camera control with the development of triax and continues to be a pioneer of innovative camera control systems used in the Studio, Legislative, Military, and Education markets. The company began designing, manufacturing and supporting its own camera robotics systems in 1979, and ceiling and floor camera track systems in 1981. Today, Telemetrics offers the OmniGlide Robotic Roving Pedestal, the ever-expanding RCCP platform of control panels, the S5 line of pan/tilt heads, the Televator family of motorized columns, and TeleGlide camera track systems in floor, wall and ceiling mounted configurations. Telemetrics is committed to making the most reliable, durable, and dependable television broadcast robotics ecosystem in the world…products that can be built on for decades, not just years.

Editorial Contact

Mel Medina
Director
Product Marketing / Management
201-848-9818 x221
MMedina@telemetricsinc.com