Featuring Cinedeck recorders and Final Cut Pro editing, the custom-built Land Rover Discovery 4 is designed for a one or two-person team who can record and edit material instantly on set.
The new approach is the result of a close collaboration with Broadcast Networks, which designed and built the new vehicle. Broadcast Networks’ other recent projects include a 3D production OB vehicle for Norway’s OB-Team.
This latest project came about as a direct response to market demand for fast turnaround, high quality and durable live productions that can be rapidly deployed with minimal set up and crew. The ‘ready to go’ approach is said to save time, reduce cost and improve reliability as everything is set up in the Discovery.
The backbone of this mobile production facility is provided by Cinedeck RX dual channel recorders that can record and instantly playback up to four camera chains. This application of tapeless workflow means that the recorded material is immediately ready to edit on the Final Cut Pro edit system in the vehicle. Directors of production and producers can immediately see either a final edit or a working production edit, allowing them to have more creative input with regard to the finished production.
The set-up allows material to be ingested, stored and edited on the fly, enabling a number of cameras to be linked to Cinedeck RX recording systems that capture their output without the need for a large production team. The live ingest system also enables a single operator to monitor multiple cameras and even create a simple ‘cut edit’ list while the camera feeds are being recorded, effectively reducing overall editing time. Once the production content is recorded, the data is transferred onto the main post-production server for final editing.
Oxygen DCTs is renowned for its customer focussed, practical innovations and the Land Rover Discovery 4 is an opportunity to use one of the most versatile and durable four-wheel drive vehicles on the market. Inside the vehicle is a central working area that can be utilised by a one or two-person production team. The rear interior has been stripped and fitted with a sliding custom-built rack (for ease of use and servicing) and features a 5KVA 240V generator.
Tom Haye, Managing Director of Broadcast Networks, commented: “With a smaller equipment footprint and reduced power requirements, our vehicle platform is ideal for any media company involved in the rapid generation, editing and content delivery for TV and film production companies. It is also well-suited to content providers in emerging markets where there is minimal broadcast infrastructure, but where efficient fuel consumption and reliability in extreme terrains is essential.”
Steve Hathaway, Managing Director of Oxygen DCT, added: “Before Cinedeck’s tapeless workflow, VTR decks would have been required for recording productions and the space required for this alone would have precluded the possibility of such a system in a relatively small vehicle. What’s more, the efficiency of operation and operating costs are scaled back considerably by using Cinedeck’s ready-to-edit tapeless workflow and this is [a] well-proven and extremely attractive proposition for TV and film directors, producers and production companies.”
Oxygen DCT has in place an agreed worldwide support deal with Land Rover to offer full vehicle warranty for DSNG and Live Production vehicles.
