Choosing the right type of production truck for your next event production can be exhausting and time consuming. We make it easy to find the right truck and gear for the job and can make recommendations that will make your event even more of a success without sacrificing your budget. We've detailed below a few things to consider while you are on your search for a potential TV Truck for your next event production.

Type of Equipment and capabilities: Not all TV trucks are created equally… Ask yourself…

• Will the switcher accomplish the task?
• Will the show I am doing need motion graphics, and specific software to operate.
• How many inputs and outputs of replay will I need?
• Is specific hardware needed such as file capabilities for importing and exporting video files?
• How many cameras are needed, what type of lenses are needed, what configuration, big box sports lenses, or handheld?
• How many microphones, talent earpieces, intercom communication boxes and other audio gear needed to complete the production?

Our qualified sales staff will walk through the scenarios and options including what is the desired workflow and how does a TV truck fit in it.
 
Maintenance Program:

• How often is gear maintained, ask when the last time something was maintained?
• Ask detailed questions about how old certain equipment is. What is the oldest equipment on the truck? How important is it to the broadcast?

Engineer and Sales Staff

• What is the engineer's experience?
• What is the number of shows he or she has completed?
• What is the highest show experience they have worked, is it relevant to your production?
• Will he or she serve multiple roles/duties on your production?
• Is the engineer often on this mobile unit?
• Is the engineer familiar with the show and client/network requirements?

        
We have heard countless stories of trucks touted as the best possible, but supplied inadequate engineering staff which results in a difficult experience on location and sometimes catastrophy. Carefully choosing your truck, sales staff, production coordinator, and engineer all spell a recipe of success for your event.
Logistics:

• Can it fit?
• Is power on-site? Or Generator Required?
• How far will cameras and other key areas be away from the unit?

Years in business

• Years in business is a good predictor of company success.
• Choose a company with a good track record, and a willingness to listen and put the customer first.
• Ask what are the largest shows they have produced and worked apart of.
• Check References!

Location location location.

• Where is truck based out of?
• Where will it be coming from prior to your event?
• Are there any travel costs associate with truck booking?

The qualified team at Bounce Multimedia is your event production experts! We will walk you through the entire process from start to finish and guarantee the success of your event. Choose us for your next production and see why so many of our customers and clients love us!

REMI Stands for "Remote Integration" and is a concept that has been developed and worked on for the last three years by various networks and only recently gained popularity due to the recent pandemic. We are experts at REMI production and have developed our own systems and procedures that help make REMI productions smooth.

First lets explain why clients would want to use REMI production...

• Clients gain additional cash savings than traditional remote production as most travel is eliminated
• Crews can operate in a familiar environment and workflow. Repetition is key... Using the same method and studio to operate allows a consistent product creates a better product.
• The equipment is already installed, operational and working in a studio.
• Announcers can stay on site, not travel on-site.
• Safer: With pandemics, REMI's can help separate people and keep your crew safer with better.
• Engineers on site have fewer things to work on on-site. Using KISS! (Keep It Simple Studio!)... Engineers have more time and resources to focus on camera operators, transmission, and audio. Fewer moving parts, means a more successful show, and no need for a E2 (Second Engineer) to make the show a success.

Now lets explain the things a company must consider before booking one of our REMI Solutions:

• Internet is a MUST!: Good stable Internet is a requirement to transmit. Using a website like speakeasy.net to test not only the download speed but the upload speed, in addition to testing the health with other various software, we can see the health of the network. Since we are transmitting, upload speed is the important number to consider. It will determined the CODECS, number of transmit feeds, and bit-rate the encoders are set at for the event.
• Transmission Method: There is a plethora of technology available from LiveU encoders, our proprietary H.265 HEVC encoder, LTN Connectivity and more. Choosing the right solution not only saves you money, but also determines the reliability. Some networks also have strict requirements about which encoders are acceptable and "Broadcast Quality" for their network. We can carefully help you navigate the correct choice and combination of network/equipment topography for the event.
• Audio Encoding Method: Unless you are producing the "Charlie Chaplin Look-a-like Contest", you must have audio to accompany the video. Two popular methods exist, Embedding the audio alongside the HDSDI feed down into the encoder or using a DANTE or MADI to IP solution. Both have its drawbacks and advantages, but the main thing to note is having a redundant solution in case a malfunction happens. Duplicating the audio signals in a redundant fashion can save headache during the production.
• Intercom Connectivity: Talking to your camera operators and other support staff on site is an important thing to consider. Depending on the intercom systems available there are several solutions available including Unity Intercom which can connect multiple channels and people to your event, even by cell phone if needed in certain situations. We can walk you through the different solutions and help you decide the best intercom solution for your event.
• GPI and Tally: This may be necessary for your camera operators to know if they are are. Also software exists where you can preset a tally delay (since the transmission has a selectable delay time) to prevent the operator from swish-panning or making vast adjustments while inadvertently on-air. GPIO has many functions in triggering devices, triggering master control commands and more. Depending on your workflow and needs, we can help you make the right decision.
• The "Plan-B": Creating a solid REMI solution requires the "what-ifs" and "plan-b", and maybe "plan-c". Engineers must be well versed in many options including on-site graphics, on site line cut in an emergency, incase of internet failure, studio failures, etc. If the truck becomes primary, then care must be exercised to have an alternate transmit path. A separate encoder can be used to transmit to your master control or final endpoint or streaming destination. Graphics and replay can also be accomplished on site in an emergency fashion as well. Finally another thing we recommend is in the event of a hiccup or event happening on site that prevents cameras from getting the desired shot is to have cover or safety video saved on the video playback or replay computer.

We hope these ideas and considerations can help you in choosing the right REMI provider. We are glad to help you along with your journey, providing much more than a conventional television truck for your next event. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us!

Saturday, November, 14th, 2020 Bounce Multimedia LLC Provides Production Services to local ESPN packager with 5.1 Surround Sound Transmission with help of Mobile Unit A - Matthew and Calrec Alpha-100 With Bluefin.

Watch the Replay on ESPN and see the difference or click below to see a highlight on Twitter.

.@UHCougarFB offense was clicking today, totaling 505 yards.

QB @ClaytonTune7 recorded 306 total yards while adding four touchdowns. The Cougars also added two defensive touchdowns and a return touchdown to beat the USF Bulls on Homecoming. #AmericanPow6r pic.twitter.com/KEgvqVV76a

— The American (@American_Conf) November 15, 2020

Technology continues to make advances in video codecs and streaming. One method of streaming video is with the new H.265 or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec). The advantages include transmission of better quality video at a fraction of the payload size as H.264 or MP4. Although Mp4 still has its advantages and uses today including support in a large number of devices. H.265 requires specially compiled distributions of software on computers that will encode and decode the video. Bounce Multimedia has extensively studied H.265 and built infrastructure that allows transmitting quickly and reliability the video signal with error correction ensuring error free video transmission.

One of the biggest hurdles is processor encoding power, latency, and quality. With H.264 there is less processor usage, but longer delay due to the intermediary frames that are assembled, this is known as GOP or group of pictures. This is what determined compression level and quality. Relatively speaking the longer the GOP the better the quality but the longer the latency as the processor analyzes the previous frames to create a better picture. That is why the quality is not so great on platforms such as Zoom or Skype or Facebook Messenger, inherently they sacrifice quality to create less delay and have a lower GOP.

H.265 is different and doesn't rely as heavily on past frames if configured correctly in the software. Using hardware acceleration methods such as video cards designed and optimized to handle the video signals, you will find latency can be reduced, quality improved, and a more robust product can be built since the heavily lifting isn't handled by the computer processor(s).

Many companies have claims that they are streaming experts, but are unsure of the consequences and advantages that can be had with tweaking settings of advanced video encoders. The difference is easy to see in the final product... streaming your signal with the best audio and video possible to your viewers is what Bounce Multimedia promises. Contact us to discuss your streaming challenges and how we can help overcome them for your next project.

On Halloween 2020 - Oct 31, 2020 at TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston... Bounce Multimedia deployed their Unit A - Matthew TV Truck for the Cougar vs Knights (University of Central Florida) football game.

Utilizing our experience, we utilized a digital booth kit, NDI Telestrator, Ethernet Controlled PTZ Camera in Booth, and more! Our streamlined methods improved setup times, eliminated many troubleshooting issues, and more. Overall it was a success our innovations made to the overall broadcast in regards to execution and rapid deployment.

Bounce Multimedia has always been adapt to innovation and beta testing, from working as the test truck for the MLB Statcast and Pitchcast systems to a product currently in testing with ESPN3 for a virtual down and distance "yellow" first down line on the screen. Our valuable ideas and experience have helped shaped the landscape of televisions sports as viewers see it, and how our broadcast community uses such devices. Look for our innovations on upcoming productions on ESPN!