News – information about our products, projects and achievements - Slomo.tv

During most competitions where video assisted judging is used the videoReferee^® system is usually connected to the arena scoreboard controller for receiving the pertinent data (time, period, score, etc.)

Quite often there is a situation when for some reason such direct connection cannot be accomplished but for synchronizing video and scoreboard timing is critical. A typical example is establishing the validity of a throw in basketball at the end of attack time. If the throw was made before the end of this time, the basket is counted.

It is to deal with such situations that we have developed a new feature – displaying a selected portion of the scoreboard as PIP during search and playback. This image can be selected from any recording channel containing the scoreboard or from a separate channel dedicated to scoreboard recording.

The operator will select the scoreboard area to be displayed at system setup. During playback / search of any channel this part of the scoreboard will be displayed in the corner of the screen.

For systems with a limited number of channels (videoReferee^®-B, -Jr. or -SR) there is a special Scoreboard Camera Option, providing additional external input channel via the USB interface. Any camera with SDI or HDMI™ output or even consumer camcorder can be used to capture the scoreboard.

For more than three years slomo.tv’s video judging equipment is used at various basketball national and international championships.

Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) since 2015 is using the videoReferee^®-B for all its matches. The budget systems have been specially developed for video judging in basketball, and LKL became the launch customer for the model. The servers were supplied by TVC, the slomo.tv dealer in the Baltic States. The videoReferee^® systems proved themselves from the best side and were selected for video judging at 2017 games.

As part of the 2017 EuroCup the following matches were played at "Cido" Arena (Panevezys, Lithuania):

• 01/25/2017 Lietkabelis (Lithuania) - Bavaria (Germany);
• 01/02/2017 Lietkabelis (Lithuania) - Khimki (Russia).

Video judging was provided by a new, based on Simple R II system - videoReferee^®-SR.

Because the arena scoreboard controller could not be directly connected to the videoReferee^® system, the Simple R was used in five-channel configuration: 4 channels in normal mode for recording the game action and 1 channel for recording the scoreboard view.

Video refereeing was provided by Lithuanian broadcaster Zoom.TV which has many years of experience using slomo.tv replay servers. For broadcasts of these matches the standard Simple R 331 replay server was used.

The 25th World Men’s Handball Championship is taking place in France from 11 to 29 of January 2017.

The difference between the current championship and previous ones is the use of video judging systems for resolving certain disputed situations. (Read more about this here).

Testing of this on-the-fly video reviewing technology was successfully conducted at IHF Super Globe 2016 games by Qatar Handball Federation in Doha, and became the basis for a decision to use it at the current championship.

slomo.tv videoReferee^® systems ranging from 8-channel videoReferee^®-SR to 16-channels videoReferee^®-4 provide the video proof at the venues of the World Handball Championship.

Technical support and equipment installation is provided by Broadcast Solutions GmbH.

The experience of using Video Proof Systems for handball most likely will lead to changes in regulations for conducting international and national championships.

Two ARROW 662 systems with a wide range of options were supplied for ERR.

The systems provided:

• 7-channel replay mode
• Exchange/Transfer clips between systems
• External SAS RAID connection.

Preference to these servers was given because of their wide functionality, a large number of options and attractive price.

The choice was made after extensive testing by ERR specialists at the National Track and Field Championship in Tallinn (Simple R 662) and at the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Tournament (Simple R II 662 and Arrow 662).

The equipment was provided by TVC company, a slomo.tv dealer in the Baltic States.

Estonian Public Broadcasting is a member of European Broadcasting Union and operates three TV channels and 5 radio stations. It also provides internet news sites in Estonian, English and Russian languages.

Video judging plays increasing role in the process of making critical decisions in all sports.

Ice hockey by its nature with a lot of game stops became the most progressive sport in the sense of video-judging. Technical regulations for 2016/2017 KHL season (1.24d) state: "Starting with 2017/2018 season all arenas used for home matches of KHL clubs must be equipped with additional cameras on the blue lines." That means that video judges also will have to resolve disputed "Offside" situations.

Installation of 2 or 4 extra cameras require additional video-referee server channels. Even back in 2011, developing videoReferee^®-IIM2, our experts have determined that for controlling situations over entire playing field, the server needs to record 11 channels.

Until recently, this number of channels, in terms of KHL regulation, has been excessive. Some clubs recorded additional cameras for more confident decision making.

Foresight of hockey clubs who selected 11-channel videoReferee^®-IIM2 was rewarded with the above-described change in KHL regulations. These clubs did not have to change or upgrade their servers – for them it was enough to remotely upgrade the server software and its settings. Naturally, they had to install two additional cameras.

The hockey club CSKA Moscow was not just among the owners of the server, its specialists, Maxim Pensky and Oleg Barmotin, have proposed to monitor the blue lines with only two cameras. This solution allows users of videoReferee^®-IIM2 to fully comply with the new regulations. See Camera Locations per KHL Regulations article on our site.

It is worth mentioning that, recognizing the importance of video judging, club "CSKA" uses two videoReferee^®-IIM2 servers in a hot swap configuration.

Our special thanks to the club "CSKA" and the staff of the Ice Palace.

Our video refereeing experience in soccer led to a set of requirements necessary for accurate, fast and comfortable work of video assisted refereeing during matches.

Here are some of them:

1. A large number of cameras - 12...24.
2. Separate workplace for referee/operator Assistant, including monitor and special controls.
3. A quick and easy system for designating keys / flags for events and search using these keys.
4. Fast configuration of multi-screen views for simultaneous analysis of controversial moments from different camera angles.
5. Direct access to any camera view.

Based on these requirements, we have developed a new interface device for the videoReferee^® - the «vR- Keypad».

vR-Keypad implements all the above described functions. The compact keypad contains 30 keys with multi-color controlled backlight. The device is connected via USB / RS-422 / RS-232.

vR-Keypad also allows positioning on video by the time-code, it controls the monitor display modes and can function as transport controller.

In addition to modernized Jr.2 / Jr.4 models on IBC we are showing the new all-in-one Jr.8 system with touch-screen monitor. It records 8 HD/SD SDI signals and has SSD storage of 132 hours 100 Mb video. The Jr.8 supports the new vR-keypad - special external keyboard for naming marked events, searching on key words and controlling display mode of the monitor.

By expanding the number of recording channels to 8, the Jr. now can be used for video judging in almost all sports.

The new version includes:

1. Support for Simple R II - ability to run on the same platform up to 12 different configurations. Previously each configuration required a different hardware platform.
2. 771 mode for users with licence of 662 replays. That is replay of 7 video inputs!
3. XDCAM50 Export in MXF files without additional licenses.
4. Direct positioning by Time-code from Control Z and direct access to Playlists and Clips using their numeric ID. Playlist positioning using the arrow keys.
5. Changed Export option for Simple R servers. It now includes Apple Prores and AVID DNxHD codecs.

FULL 4K replay and slow-motion server RED ARROW will be featured at IBC. With this new product slomo.tv once again sets new standards in slow-motion servers. With six 4K physical video ports – all in 4K 50p in a single 2RU enclosure, the RED ARROW offers 4 recording, 4 search and 2 channels playback.

It is the most powerful replay and slow-motion server in the world.

RED ARROW can also be used for 6-channel 4K 50p recording for non-linear editing.

Its 4 graphics ports allow 4 operators to work on one machine at the same time. For example, two operators work in 662 configuration (6 recording, 6 search and 2 replay channels), the other two operators work in 442 configuration (4 recording, 4 search and 2 replay channels).

The system interface has a built-in multiviewer that provides monitoring of input and output signals and search through 4 channels using one standard 1920x1080 monitor. Its SSD based array provides for 266 hours 100 Mbit HD video storage. The built-in DMR™ SATA slots accommodate nine (9) 3.5" SATA drives that can record 18 channels in ProRes 422 and 18 Proxy SD channels or 24 channels DVCPro HD with SD Proxy. In 3G/HD mode the server offers 20 channels of 3G.

RED ARROW is a true game changer in the field of high-end servers!