Concordia University, St. Paul has selected ZEPLAY, a 4 in / 4 out instant replay server from Tightrope Media Systems for their mobile production truck which is employed in a wide variety of campus sporting events. ZEPLAY constantly records four 100Mbps HD-SDI streams while simultaneously playing out any or all of the streams. It is designed so that a single operator can effectively manage 4 angles of replay, and features a high end jog/shuttle controller, a built-in multi-viewer for all eight streams, and GPI interfaces for integration into production systems. ZEPLAY also includes a sequence editor for on-the-fly highlights package creation, clip store, melts, transport controls, and frame blending in both slow motion and fast motion for super smooth replays.
According to Zach Schuster, Television Production Manager at Concordia University St. Paul, ZEPLAY has been a perfect fit for Concordia. “We have been a customer of Tightrope for over five years now, utilizing their Cablecast automation, Cablecast SX Video servers, and Carousel Digital Signage for our local television channel. When Tightrope announced their Instant Replay Server, ZEPLAY, we wanted to get it in here right away. We needed an Instant Replay Server for all of the sporting events we cover over the course of a year, and with four angles that are always recording in four separate streams, ZEPLAY is the best solution that we could find.”
Schuster also knew that he needed an instant replay system that was lightning fast in order to keep up with the action on the volleyball court with the 4-peat Division 2 National Champion Golden Bear women’s volleyball team. “We run replays all the time in volleyball”, stated Schuster, “this is where ZEPLAY has proven itself over and over again. It’s incredible; as fast as the action is, ZEPLAY is always ready with the replay, from any angle, instantly.”
Concordia also needed a system that was easy to use, as their productions are often crewed by production students who are not experienced replay operators. “With all that Tightrope has packed in to ZEPLAY, it is amazingly easy to operate. The students pick it up very quickly. Even when they are thrown into the truck for the first time, by the second half of a game they are flying through the system. The other thing that Tightrope has done is to build a highlight editor right into the ZEPLAY. The same replay operator can use the built-in highlight editor to trim clips and assemble a highlight reel that I can play out at halftime and also post to the internet right after the game.”
Watch a demonstration of ZEPLAY here.
About Concordia University, St. Paul
Concordia University, St. Paul is Minnesota's only private university competing in the NCAA Division II and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Department of Communication Studies provides students with hands-on opportunities to learn technical, aesthetic, and team skills through various media productions, including sports production.
About Tightrope Media Systems
Founded in 1997, Tightrope Media Systems is the pioneer of web-centric digital signage and audiovisual head-end automation systems. It provides station automation, video servers, the Carousel Digital Signage system, and ZEPLAY, a multi-channel instant replay machine for stadiums and arenas. Tightrope's award winning systems are used across North America in government, hospitals, universities, high schools and local television stations. You can reach Tightrope Media Systems at (866) 866-4118 or visit them on the web at http://www.trms.com