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 In early January, Amp’d Mobile selected TV Pro Gear (TVPG), a Los Angeles-based system integrator, to be the design and installation company for its mobile, live 3G production vehicle. One of the challenges of the project was the rapid turnaround; from start to finish, the project was set to a 3-week time line. TVPG and the Amp’d staff quickly detailed the primary requirements for this new truck. The primary goal for Amp’d Mobile truck #1, was to ingest two external SDI line cut feeds from the sports promoter and mix the signal down with pre-produced content and then encode it to MPEG for 3G wireless transmission.
“Our mobile 3G truck needs to be nimble and be capable of rapid deployment. Many of the events we cover provide different forms of video & audio signal; this truck just rolls in and is ready for transmission in ten minutes. The crew at TVPG pulled together a tight little package; it’s all SDI and can handle our workflow from start to finish including a shared Raid editorial solution” said Dave Sypniewski programming director for Amp’d Mobile.
Amp'd Mobile, the first integrated mobile entertainment company and the only 3G carrier in the U.S. specifically targeting youth and young professionals, launched an aggressive lineup of live sports programming. Defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 respectively, these standards seek to provide uniform delivery of rich multimedia over newly evolved, broadband mobile networks (3rd generation networks) to the latest multimedia-enabled cell phones. As part of its business strategy, Amp’d decided to go live with targeted sports events. Many of the events for the calendar year are highly publicized and Amp’d will be sending live video to its US audience via 3G (Third generation mobile network).
 The Amp’d Mobile truck #1 was designed around the Panasonic MX-70 8-input SDI production switcher because of its powerful features and small form factor. In this modest 8’x10’ control room, space was a primary consideration. To accommodate monitoring all switcher inputs and on air elements, TVPG selected the Miranda Kaliedo Alto screen splitter feeding a Panasonic 50” Professional Series HD Plasma Display. Because of limited production schedules and some very expedited editorial needs, the system design includes an Apple X-Serve Raid, disk array supplying real time SDI video in and out of the switcher.
At the front end of this Apple system, are three Final Cut Pro HD workstations for all the pre and post editorial, networked with Apple X-Serve and Xsan policing file management. This SAN configuration allows all the workstations to share files in real-time and drive SDI video to the switcher live and back to the X-Serve Raid. For b-rolls and live to tape, TVPG selected two Panasonic AJ-SD93 DVCPRO 50 VTR’s.
In addition, the truck is outfitted with a Sony J30-SDI so Amp’d can roll-in betacam formats as well. Because of the nature of the live events Amp’d shoots, a Doremi two-channel, SDI, MPEG 2, 4:2:2, 3-hour video server, was installed for instant playback and record with slow-mo. The audio of for Amp’d #1 starts from the embedded SDI external source, de-embedded and then is routed throughout the truck in analog pairs. A Mackie 1604-VLZ Pro, 16-channel analog mixer then handles the final mix. The Genelec 8020a’s near field audio monitors handle program audio. Because this truck is also equipped with a talent voiceover booth and often takes external camera feeds, a Clear-Com MS-232, 2-channel communications system is installed as a master user station with number of Clear-Com RM220 fixed user stations and Clear Com RS-602 belt pack stations. For live talent a Clear-Com AB-100 Announcer console is used with a Sennheiser HMD-25-1 Headset for IFB (Interupt Feedback). The truck and chasis were designed by Renegade. With a full motor home front configuration for support on location and plenty of power from its on-board 50 amp generator.
“This was a fun project for us” stated Chan Mahon, Senior VP for TVPG. When Amp’d first contacted us we thought we had the perfect fit, with our record of quick turn-around, and our background in ultra portable construction, getting to a workable design was straight forward. Dave and the guys at Amp’d really ring this thing out every weekend, I am very impressed what these guys can do on a short schedule at these live events. Amp’d has a very experienced crew and I think this truck design fits their workflow quite well”.
About Amp'd Mobile
With a myriad of customizable options to meet each person's individual needs, as well as strategic alliances with top entertainment properties MTVN and Universal Music Group, Amp'd brings a more relevant, personal experience to the wireless lifestyle with unique music, video, community, entertainment, sports and gaming offerings divided into various channels for quick and easy access. Offered nationwide, more information can be found at http://www.ampd.com.
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