With the Innovation-Center, KST Moschkau GmbH has created a globally active demo, research and development center for the modern high-end broadcast workflow. Interested parties have the opportunity to experience, test and further develop virtuality, automation and state-of-the-art broadcast workflows.
Due to the wide range of partners and manufacturers, the technology and workflow of tomorrow can already be experienced in the Innovation-Center. The focus is on topics such as automation, virtuality and robotics.
Demonstration Center
Customers and interested parties are offered an interesting overall view of the integrated workflow. The general interaction, but also a detailed insight into the individual sections of the workflow, such as graphics, automation or robotics, can be gained. Interested parties can experience the entire workflow themselves and try out and test each individual technology in detail and hands-on. Customers and interested parties therefore also have the opportunity to create exemplary productions and thus thoroughly test the overall package of the broadcast workflow in combination with virtuality and automation through robotics and decide on the best studio and control room equipment for them.
Development and research center
Since the Innovation-Center is designed to be permanently changeable, it offers ideal conditions for testing compatibility and functionality for hardware manufacturers and software developers.
This full-featured integrated environment is used by both manufacturers and KST itself to test individual products in this environment. In this process, new paths, interfaces, cooperations with other manufacturers and thus, in part, new products are constantly emerging. KST offers manufacturers the possibility to integrate their products into the system and to test them thoroughly, even over longer periods of time.
During the use of products and software solutions, new ideas often emerge that creatively change the existing workflow. Thus, new paths can be actively sought or discovered by chance, because the possibility and freedom for this work are given.
Demonstration areas
Basically, the Innovation Center consists of three areas:
- Green Screen Studio
- conventional studio with large screen projection and portal production
- Control Room / Direction
Green Screen Studio
The 45 mĀ² virtual production studio integrates automation and robotics, establishing standardized workflows and particularly efficient productions. Among other things, KST relies on live rendering so that the director can follow not only the real image but also the finished rendered environment live. Softwares like “Unreal Engine” from EPIC Games, “Reality-Engine” from Zero Density or “KAIROS” from Panasonic enable a smooth and pre-programmable workflow. In addition, AR and VR applications, as well as hybrid solutions, can be integrated.
The advantages of green screen studios over classic productions lie primarily in their flexibility and cost efficiency, which are further enhanced by the effective use of robotic cameras.
conventional studio with large screen projection and portal production
In the Innovation Center’s conventional studio, not only can various cameras be tested, but also large-format and portal production. With high power systems (50,000 Ansi-Lumen laser projectors), large areas can be illuminated in a wide variety of lighting situations. With a canvas system, any number of projection images can also be combined into one large-screen projection. The canvas can thus be populated with different layouts in any format. An exciting special application is the so-called portal production. The projection image is covered with virtual graphics matching the perspective of the connected camera. The projection thus becomes a “portal” to the virtual world.
Control Room / Direction
The extensive control room is equipped with tables from KST’s system construction division and offers workstations for all stations of the modern broadcast workflow.
- Video editing / post-production (post-production of footage, editing, sound, color grading)
- Sound (audio management for [Live] productions)
- Graphic editor (create virtual sets [Unreal/ZD Reality], graphic elements).
- Image mixer (production control, e.g. by Kairos from Panasonic)
- remote (camera control and automation)
The implemented software solutions can be tested in the Innovation Center on various camera and sound systems and coordinated with each other.
Technologies used
Cineforlive
State-of-the-art camera technology with innovative application possibilities is tested in the Innovation Center. In addition to a wide range of studio and PTZ cameras, the Varicam for live workflow is also implemented.
The high-quality cine cameras from Panasonic are equipped with the appropriate transmission technology and firmware to be used in the live studio environment.
Robotics and automation
The Innovation Center works with collaborative systems, such as robotic arms or rails, dollies and lifting systems. To further develop the automation of the broadcast workflow, KST has developed its own modular product CamBotĀ®.system, which is also used in the Innovation Center. Automation should not be limited to individual sub-aspects of the workflow, as this would limit synergies. In CamBotĀ®, the entire workflow is therefore centralized in one system and can be controlled, linked and scheduled together.
Virtuality
Green Screen Studios have been used successfully for years in film, news studios and for other purposes. With the actual gaming software Unreal Engine from Epic Games and the software packages from Zero Density, the virtual environments as well as augmented reality elements can now be experienced not only live rendered but also particularly photorealistic. This makes completely new productions possible and creates a special flexibility for the creators and a maximum immersive experience for the viewers.
Virtual studios enable professional productions in a much smaller space than would be possible in conventional studio construction, and are also more cost-efficient and significantly more flexible, as a wide variety of formats can be produced in the same studio. In addition, robotics and automation can further create synergies.
Large Screen Projection & Portal Production
With high-power systems, such as Panasonic’s 50,000 ansi lumen laser projector, large areas can be illuminated in a wide variety of lighting situations. With a canvas system, any number of projection images can also be combined into one large-screen projection. The canvas can then be freely populated with different layouts and content in any format. An exciting special application here is the so-called portal production. The projection image is covered with virtual graphics matching the perspective of the connected camera. The projection thus becomes a portal to the virtual world.
KAIROS
KAIROS is Panasonic’s IT/IP based video processing platform. This server-based system can be used as a powerful IP-based I/O solution, as well as an image mixer, graphics and/or canvas system. It is possible to work independent of resolution and format with only 1-frame total latency. Due to the innovative and free software architecture, the image mixer application is also no longer bound to classical limits such as available MEs and KEYs. The overall performance only depends on the fully scalable server system in the background. With KAIROS it is therefore possible to realise everything from event to complex studio applications with an all-in-one solution and a simple IP connection in terms of infrastructure.
As an official KAIROS Alliance Partner, the KST Innovation Center is directly involved in the development of the system and also KST products, such as the KST-CamBot.system, are natively integrated into KAIROS.
Partner
KST Terra X VR-Production
23. September 2021The VR production for 3 episodes of Terra X “Fascination Earth” just ended at the KST-Innovation-Center. Since this type of production was new territory for the ZDF team, we are especially pleased that we were not only able to inspire...
Kairos Incredible Productivity becomes reality
24. November 2020The new Pansonic Kairos system is now in active use at the KST Innovation Center. Incredible Productivity is the guiding principle of the new completely server and IP based Kairos production system from Panasonic. After KST has already been involved...