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16:9 SD Production

7 replies [Last post]
Tyler Beckley
User offline. Last seen 8 years 31 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Aug 2008

After consulting with my mentor on this, we both decided this would be a good question for the forum. I punch football games live to tape for edit and re-air on other networks. This year they want to produce the show in 16:9 SD. My question is...

For most of the games I will be switching on a Zodiak with the possibility of them changing it out for a Kalypso. I am pretty comfortable with both switchers. I know in the Daily Setups there is a 4:3 - 16:9 button that can be toggled. Does that do anything? I was on the truck a couple of days ago and toggled it to 16:9 and nothing changed. I guess what I am asking, as the TD, do I have to worry about changing anything on my end or does all of that fall on the EIC? When I talked to my friend about this he didn't really know what to tell me as he only works in 16:9 world and has never had to worry with anything like this. My first game, however, will be on a Sony 7000 - Again, does all the "resizing" happen before everything gets to me?

I have only worked in a 4:3 world and now we are moving to a 16:9 and I want to make sure that I know how to answer and diffuse any situations that might arise with this and integrating 4:3 and 16:9 sources.

Any and all help, suggestions, advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

Tyler Beckley

Tyler Beckley
User offline. Last seen 8 years 31 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 17 Aug 2008
Yes, I have received some great answers - and truthfully, the ones that I was expecting. I just didn't want to get in the truck and not know exactly what the deal was. Thank you all for your help! I look forward to any and all help that everyone has to offer! Tyler
Bill D
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
[quote="Tyler Beckley"]After consulting with my mentor on this, we both decided this would be a good question for the forum.[/quote] Since you got some great answers Just have to add the word mentor just makes me think of that Seinfeld episode. :)
Bob Ennis
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Joined: 24 Aug 2005
On a Zodiak or Kalypso, the 16:9 button changes two parameters - wipes such as circles will appear more oblong as they are stretched horizontally to match the 16:9 environment; and the internal Transform Engines will have their "grid" changed from +8/-8; +6/-6 to +32/-32; +18/-18. This means that any moves that your ITE's did in the 4x3 world will probably have to be rebuilt for use in 16x9, as you have a much larger 2D/3D space to be playing with. As Rick said, in the SD world there are exactly the same number of pixels in a 4x3 image as there are in a 16x9 image...it's just that in 16x9 the pixels are more rectangular. from a switching point of view, the switcher doesn't care about the shape of the pixels - except to match wipe patterns to the environment. That's why you saw no difference when you switched between the modes. It is the cameras, the CG's, and the VTR's (and ultimately the monitors) that change the environment. Just remember that if you're going to go with 16x9, you'll still need to consider that for the forseeable future (including after the Feb 2009 digital switchover) the majority of viewers are still watching in 4x3, and so when you shoot, you'll have to protect your images for the 4x3 space.

Bob Ennis

Rick Edwards
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Mike is correct. In standard definition, there is no difference (in pixels) between 4:3 and 16:9. It's simply an anamorphic squeeze that affects only the Acquisition device and the display device. The switcher could care less. Only the wipe aspect ratios are changed. If the switcher has a built-in DME or you're setting an external DME to 16:9, then there are mathematical differences in rotation and the screen grid but the resolution and bitrate does not change. It's still 720x486. RE
Mike Cumbo
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Joined: 18 Aug 2005
On the switcher the 4x3/16x9 switch does NOTHING to the pictures, however it changes certain wipes(circle wipe and a few others) and the values for things like internal DVE devices. Engineering will have to change the camera CCU's to output the right signal, the tape machines will accept any signal as long as it is a 525 signal and the graphics people have to rebuild their stuff to look right. You may have to check the monitors to make sure they are set for 16x9.
AJR
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I did a 16x9 show a couple months ago on a Sony 7000. What we wound up doing was setting the switcher to 16x9, setting all the cameras to 16x9 and setting all the monitors on the monitor wall to 16x9 and that seemed to work. You don't really notice a difference until you flip all the monitors from 4x3 to 16x9.
Zipp
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Joined: 2 Mar 2006
Search "16x9 on a Kalypso" for your GVG answers.