October, 2008:

Digital Production, a leading German language trade magazine covering all aspects of Digital Content Creation (DCC), has published a report about CUNIMA MCU[1] and its innovative features at the IBC.

“3D ultra-compact.

The seemingly hottest trend in all sectors of motion picture production right now is 3D: Hollywood proofs it already with their new 3D-films und also in the broadcast industry experts claim the production and broadcast of three dimensional content as one of the most important development of the next years. Hence the growing task for broadcast stations, production companies and distributors is to produce and provide profitable 3D-content. A solution of vital importance was presented by WIGE Media AG in cooperation with MikroM GmbH and 3ality Digital on this years IBC: Two micro HD-cameras CUNIMA MCU [1] on a 3D-rig produced a synchronous 3D-signal and, thanks to compact equipment and wireless transmission, recorded it and aired it: a glance at the future of broadcasting.

Last year, WIGE Media AG designed the CUNIMA MCU[1] to work under extreme conditions: guidelines were stability under load and extreme centrifugal force (up to ten g), small size (35,5 x 38 x 111,5 mm, 180 Gramm) and low energy consumption (3 Watt). Together with Fraunhofer Institute for integrated circuits (IIS) in Erlangen, Germany, they designed a camera which turned out to be perfect for sport- and show-productions. In contrary to other small chip-cameras, it does not need an external CCU (camera control unit). CUNIMA produces ready-to-air HDSDI signals (4:2:2 or RAW) and needs only a few wires. These arguments let CUNIMA appear as an ideal choice for any 3D-production.

At the IBC 2008, WIGE Media AG together with MikroM presented a „3D production bundle“ which contents the CUNIMA and a Megacine field recorder as a recording unit. Both companies were supported by 3alityDigital who is specialized on 3D-productions and known for their famous concert-film “U2 3D”. The company from Burbank added to the equipment a Side-By-Side-3D-rig to mount two CUNIMA MCU[1] in the same distance as human eyes. And here lays the best argument for the use of the micro-HD-camera: The compact unit offers a side-by-side position without need for mirror-rigs and its attached inconveniences. The advantage is the essentially more tight and handy build-up and no loss of light. Furthermore both image signals are directly available in the right position and do not need to be turned around their horizontal and vertical axis. Because of the missing CCU the signal goes straight to the field recorder, where a synchronized recording takes place. The Megacine is available as a hard drive version as well as flash based and hence can be fitted to the respective production conditions. With the hard drive there can be recorded up to 90 minutes of uncompressed HDSDI footage, which relates to 45 minutes of stereo recordings. A RAID-system protects from data loss.

A glance at the future of broadcasting was also the rest of the presentation at the IBC: image data was sent to two independent processing LINK-wireless-systems, which streamed the signal (in MPEG2, 19MBit compressed) to the booth. The presented 3D-unit by WIGE and its partners could become standard equipment for studio and sport productions in only a few years. Whether host at the studio or inboard-camera in a racing car, whether a peek at the substitutes’ bench or the very close experience of a guitar solo at a concert: 3D will implicate the audience into the sport or show event – if the right equipment provides an efficient and failure-free production. The first step is made.” (Text translated by WIGE Media AG)