The challenge

EPIC, the East of England Production Innovation Centre, is one of the most advanced broadcast production facilities in Europe.  The company has three HD studios – suitable for drama light entertainment, situation comedy, chat show, discussion and small channel hosting – as well as post production and training facilities for hire.   

Owned by Norfolk County Council, the centre was created from Anglia Television’s former news and light entertainment studios.  EPIC’s remit was to ensure the continuation of Norwich’s long history as a centre of excellence for television production.  In early 2008 it received funding from the East of England Development Agency to provide state-of-the-art facilities to rival other production companies while also offering training opportunities on the latest technology for new entrants into the business.  The money allocated to this project enabled EPIC to upgrade its production, post-production and broadcast facilities to high-definition.

The solution

Having won a two-stage EU-wide tender process for the EPIC project. MHz designed & built a cost-effective file-based workflow solution that incorporated three studios. It was necessary for MHz to replace the entire existing equipment inventory as well as the installation of HD-capable fibre optic cabling.

The new equipment included a range of products from Thomson Grass Valley such as a K2 media server & three Kayak HD-capable digital production vision mixers - one for each of the centre’s three studios. MHz worked closely with the EPIC team to integrate the Thomson K2 media server, with an existing storage area network (SAN) totally 60 TB of storage. The K2 servers & the SAN storage provided seamless integration with the Apple Final Cut Pro and the Avid editing systems, enabling on-SAN editing in the post domain. This created a truly tapeless post production workflow at this new facility. Cameras were based on six new high-definition Sony HDC-1500 cameras configured with Canon lenses. In the production control room, the monitor stack was completely replaced using JVC flat-screen HD monitors & plasma displays. In addition, racks & facilities furniture were designed, built & installed by MHz.

Why MHz?

According to EPIC’s Head of Engineering, David Hazel, “MHz won the contract for this major upgrade at EPIC because not only did the company understand our needs, it was able to provide the complete solution within budget and on time.” Hazel continues “MHz created a well thought out solution - a complete file-based workflow – that is as good for our commercial broadcast clients as it is for the students learning the latest production techniques."  

Hazel also singles out MHz’s project management for some well-earned praise.  “It was a complex project to implement and the MHz team completed the installation with little impact to our commercial client’s business or our trainee student.  In fact the implementation was quick and thorough.”  

Business Benefits

• State-of-the-Art Technical Expertise: From file-based workflow design to the build out of studios for high-definition operation, MHz can integrate the very latest in HD-ready broadcast production, post production and on-line facilities on a tight schedule, whilst remaining within budget.

• End-to-End Turnkey Solutions: MHz’s experience covers every aspect of systems implementation from engineering planning, project management, design, product evaluation, commissioning, training, support and IT services.  MHz oversees projects from draft concepts to commissioning, training and support – so one company takes responsibility for the installation, streamlining project management and saving money.  MHz has completed turnkey projects for some of the world’s leading broadcasters, telecommunication and digital media companies.

• In-House Skills Galore:  From CAD design, mechanical and electrical engineering to coach building and woodworking services, MHz is uniquely positioned to offer all these skills in-house. This ensures cost efficiencies and accountability to its clients is maintained at all times.

• Thomson Grass Valley K2 production server & Kayak digital production vision mixers
• Sony HDC-1500 high-definition cameras with Canon lenses
• JVC flat-screen HD monitors and plasma screens
• Apple Final Cut Pro  & Avid editing systems