In May 2021, denON ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. implemented TriCaster® 2 Elite, an all-in-one live video production system from Vizrt. The company launched a professional online streaming service, primarily for corporate and in-house events, by adopting new video production methods using TriCaster for companies seeking a more advanced video production.
denON ENGINEERING provides a wide range of services in the four categories of engineering, operation, support and creative, as well as a comprehensive service that encompasses several of these categories. This allows the company to handle all requests related to sounds, lighting, and videos all under one roof. Based on their corporate philosophy of “Ah, sonna koto ma de” (being detail oriented about even the minute details), denON ENGINEERING provides solutions to various establishments and spaces such as hotels, companies, arenas, passenger boats and hospitals. Among these, they are famously known for their services provided to hotels.
They were the first company in Japan to start a resident service for hotels in the production operation industry. The company single-handedly manages many corporate and in-house events hosted at the banquet halls of partner hotels and stations resident maintenance staff at well-known first-class hotels including the Imperial Hotel, Hotel Metropolitan, Sheraton and Keio Plaza Hotel for operating video, audio and lighting equipment and maintaining various performance-related equipment.
It All Started with Demand for Online Events during the Coronavirus Pandemic
The majority of denON ENGINEERING’s event services are utilized by events hosted at hotel banquet halls, conference centers, halls, and corporate facilities. However, the demand for these services dramatically dropped due to the direct impact from the novel coronavirus. To overcome this, the company launched a video streaming service. As a temporary measure, they were initially thinking of facilitating online events through live streaming platforms.
However, the company confirmed the level of high demand as they continued to provide their streaming service. In the anticipation of their next move, they decided to do this full scale as a new business category. To achieve this, the company’s top priority was to build a more advanced streaming system, rather than just using web conferencing tools and streaming software. It also required a futuristic video production that can not only support online events, but also be used for real events and hybrid events.
Video Production that is Unique to Online Events Using TriCaster®
Until now, when producing videos for filming facilities built for real events, the company utilized a one-way process of switching live footages and synthesizing and processing them using a screen management system. However nowadays, it requires an interactive component that allows participation from performers and the audience such as by changing the screen text in real-time and integrating online conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The company felt the need to address this and incorporate an advanced video production system that is unique to online events, and therefore implemented TriCaster®.
TriCaster 2 Elite is a digital media production system with IP connectivity through NDI®. TriCaster 2 Elite moves beyond being only a live video production system to an all-encompassing digital media environment to create content for Internet, mobile, and television distribution. The agile software driven operation, IP native technology, and production functionality of TriCaster 2 Elite provides extensive capabilities, connectivity, and control. With flexible implementation, integration of standard network infrastructures, a more complete set of capabilities, and a unique capacity for distributed production, TriCaster 2 Elite removes the traditional boundaries of media formats, I/O, channels, and delivery.
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For example, the following functions that are necessary for full-scale online streaming are aggregated into a single device.
- A unique chroma-key synthesis function that can cleanly extract target individuals, even if there are some wrinkles on the green background (fabric)
- Video composition using an alpha channel
- A video playback function that can download videos into the main unit via its embedded video server (DDR) and specify the in-points and out-points on TriCaster
- Import a variety of media file formats, including .mov videos and Photoshop (PSD) images, and use them as graphics and animation titles
- A wealth of transition features and effects
The TriCaster series boots a range of products, of which, denON ENGINEERING implemented TriCaster 2 Elite which is the flagship model. The reason for this is that many event-related companies, partners and so on were mentioning TriCaster, and they wanted to meet client demands at the highest quality level.
In addition to TriCaster 2 Elite, the company also owns many business-grade video, audio and lighting equipment. Hence, they are able to combine various equipment according to the event size and client demand.
Professional Quality Video Production at your Desired Venue
There is a high corporate demand to hold TV program-like online events in a virtual setting. In the past, denON ENGINEERING has been requesting estimates from subcontractors including video production companies and filming studios to produce videos. However, due to the discrepancy between the desired video production level and clients’ budget, they have acquired a system to produce necessary in-house videos to close that gap. By handling all the event processes, as with previous real events, from installing equipment at the specified location to operating the systems and managing the events, they were able to launch a new service that can be provided at a budget equivalent to that of regular live events.
Their System Division also has a great track record of constructing many studios and has been receiving many requests recently to build a streaming facility. In such cases, prospective clients can first establish a temporary streaming system like the aforementioned in their desired location such as their conference room to hold their first event before requesting the design of the streaming facility as needed.
A New Possibility from the Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic
In the future, denON ENGINEERING will also consider increasing the number of TriCaster units to meet the streaming demand as well as enhancing the video system using streaming peripherals and NDI® (an IP video transmission method developed by Vizrt).
The company is also considering hybrid events that concomitantly use large LED screens. A statement from their representative explains how they focus on “developing new production styles instead of simply returning to the past” also indicates how their new initiative is gaining momentum. In fact, even before the coronavirus, video production for corporate and in-house events at hotel banquet halls and other places has already been formalized which made it difficult to come up with new ideas. Through this initiative, denON ENGINEERING took advantage of their track record with live venues and the video/audio technologies that they specialize in and incorporated streaming technology that has been in higher demand in recent years. The launch of this new live streaming service by denON ENGINEERING is the culmination of high-quality customer service that is part of the hotel industry.
Equipment Used:
TriCaster® 2 Elite
Inquiries regarding this system, please contact:
ASK Corporation Media & Enterprise Division
[email protected]
03-5215-5676
www.ask-media.jp
System Designer/Supplier:
denON ENGINEERING Co., Ltd.
[email protected]
https://denon-eng.co.jp/
