KitPlus | Articles

Cloud integration: The only way is up

In 2017 we saw the introduction of SMPTE 2110 and since then, the transition to IP has emerged as a priority for broadcasters looking to streamline their operations, decrease their footprint and effectively integrate with an industry in a rapid state of flux. A 2020 survey by Devoncroft found that almost 20% of broadcasters had already deployed SMP...

Submitted by Francois Vaillant

Published 12 January 2022

The Cloud - a measured approach

With the buzz of ‘cloud’ everywhere in our industry it would be natural to think that cloud is the only game in town. Isn’t it time to step back and consider very carefully how, or whether, you make that journey to the cloud?The pandemic has been front and centre in our minds for close to two years now. Overnight, facilities had to either shut down...

Submitted by Ciaran Doran

Published 07 December 2021

Meeting the specification

A good technical specification will detail precisely what is required, from the equipment to the cables connecting it. Many specifications will give particular manufacturers and model numbers. On many occasions, this makes tendering simple and gives vendors a secure and fair way to bid. The challenge comes when specifications are not aligned with c...

Submitted by Chris Smeeton

Published 12 November 2021

Avid and Rohde & Schwarz

As the pioneer of non-linear editing for broadcast, Avid retains its position as a popular choice. For many production companies, post houses and individual editors, its familiarity and functionality also make it a natural choice. Challenges begin, however, when leaving such a homogeneous ecosystem and scaling to serve a variety of different produc...

Submitted by Ciaran Doran

Published 15 October 2021

Sennheiser MKE 400 hands on review and test

Looking to buy? Click here. Sennheiser have just released two products aimed at simplifying audio on the move, the MKE400 shotgun microphone and the XS Lav Mic, in this review we’re looking at the MKE400. If you scroll down there is a video review where you can hear the actual MKE 400 sound so worth a watch. The MKE400 is the second generation with...

Submitted by Simon Tillyer

Published 29 April 2021

A Broadcasters Guide to Microservices

The word “microservices” has been creeping into the conversation about software-centric systems recently. Is it really a different approach, what does it mean, and what are the advantages? Anyone who has ever designed a software device will understand the basic principles of modular design. It is easier to keep track of what the whole system is doi...

Submitted by Roger Persson

Published 31 March 2021

REVIEW - Hollyland MARS 400S PRO Digital Wireless Transmi...

HOLLYLAND MARS 400S PRODigital Wireless Video Transmission SystemBuilt by Hollyland and costing around £600 the Mars 400S is an easy-to-use wireless video transmitter/receiver system – it will be right up the alley of anyone who, like me, considers an instruction manual to be nothing more than box padding. The body is made of metal as opposed to...

Submitted by Phil Vinter

Published 12 February 2021

HOLLYLAND LARK 150 Review

HOLLYLAND Lark 150 reviewThe exponential growth of video supercharged a technological revolution that began in the early noughties with the advent of DSLR cameras. The cinematic-style shallow depth of field image video quality from DSLRs was a revelation, but, back then audio was the big drawback. As demand has grown so the technology has improve...

Submitted by Phil Vinter

Published 05 February 2021

AJA Video Systems - Ki Pro GO User Review with Spellbinde...

For most of us 2020 enforced a step change in the way we work and the kind of productions that our businesses have been delivering. Back in March as the pandemic struck, I took a leap of faith and invested in some switching and streaming kit, in the form of a Tricaster Mini, encoding and NDI kit and some extra cameras. Fast forward nine months and...

Submitted by Ben Sherriff

Published 22 December 2020

ERA IaaS at University of Salford

Seagate Storage Arrays form basis of ERA designed Storage, Edit Management and MAM system for the University of Salford's media and production coursesBACKGROUNDThe University of Salford (UoS) is widely recognised in both academic and professional circles as a leading educational establishment in acoustics and media production. In 2011 the Universit...

Submitted by KitPlus

Published 21 December 2020

Using Modern Technology at Envy Provides a View into the...

As Jai Cave, ENVY’s technical operations director put it, “in a way, we are the cloud to our customers and partners.”ENVY’s use of modern technology, including remote edit capabilities and their expansive use of Signiant Media Shuttle, enables them to collaborate with customers and partners around the world, and made the transition to remote work d...

Submitted by Michael Darer

Published 09 December 2020

Connect A Broadcast-Quality Miniature Camera To Your Comp...

Upgrade any home working or live streaming setup with a broadcast-quality professional webcam. CV503-U3 benefits from a simple plug & play setup, with a single USB 3.0 cable connecting the camera to any computer. Thumbscrew locks on the camera’s USB connector reduces the risk of signal loss due to a loose connection. Any Mac, PC or Linux computer w...

Submitted by Spencer Doran

Published 28 September 2020

How to engage students with live projects

For many employers, how and what we teach at university is sometimes considered to be very mysterious. The responsibility for creating the structure and content within the curriculum is the responsibility of academics. In my experience, the best method for making sure that students and staff are kept up to date with current working practices is to...

Submitted by Martin Andrews

Published 26 March 2020

State of the Nation and Virtual Social Distancing

Under normal circumstances, I usually make my plans for NAB in November time. It’s when the airlines tend to have sales. This year, for personal reasons, I did not get around to booking back then, and it was only at the end of February that I could start thinking about it. Well, the airline sales had long gone, and I was faced with the prospect of...

Submitted by Dick Hobbs - new

Published 26 March 2020

CLASS Is Remote Cloud Working the New Norm

Mr MXF thinks… all the signs would tell me yes. The Tuk-tuk driver has just dropped us off at the hotel in Jaipur. The guard has let us through the gates, past the dogs and the obligatory cow rummaging in the garbage. We wash our hands, head for the bar and before the first Kingfisher beer arrives, I am connected to the virtual Mr MXF compute kingd...

Submitted by Bruce Devlin - new

Published 26 March 2020