Czech Philharmonic creates UHD streaming workflow with AJA solutions

A selection of AJA solutions is enabling the Czech Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Prague to broadcast UHD content via streaming from the Rudolfinum concert hall.

Rudolfinum technical supervisor Dušan Bajtoš is responsible for the hall’s production workflow, which supports concert broadcasts and streaming for European television channels Czech TV, Mezzo TV, Arte and European Classical TV; social streaming platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo and Meta; and many other distribution outlets. To ensure the highest quality experience across all viewing platforms and device types, he chose to produce concerts in UHD. Bajtoš relates what it was like to develop this workflow: “When approached for this job, it was one of the first UltraHD HDR projects in the region, and I like a good challenge. Anyone who has watched UltraHD HDR content can see the difference in quality, not to mention that most consumers already have UltraHD HDR-capable displays at home, so this path made sense. With tools like AJA FS-HDR, we can raise the caliber of our signal output and deliver a viewing experience audiences can enjoy a lot easier.”

To offer viewers around the world different perspectives during each concert, the team uses four manned cameras and six robotic cameras controlled from the director’s room. Before each concert, a shot list is drawn up describing the angle, timing and duration of the shots per camera, as well as the object or artist to be focused on. From the director’s room, Bajtoš and his team run the production, relying on a set of screens to monitor the shots and make color and exposure adjustments. Signal conversion (between camera record formats, HDR and SDR, and UltraHD and HD) is done with AJA’s FS-HDR solution. This HDR/WCG converter/frame synchronizer allows the team to convert the output to match the requirements of each delivery partner, whether 4K HDR, HD HD HDR or HD SDR. “We love the various modes it offers, from the Colorfront Engine Live Mode to BBC HLG LUTs Mode and the NBCU LUTs mode, which has really impressed us,”Bajtoš recounts.

In addition to FS-HDR, Bajtoš also uses an AJA Kumo 1616 12G-SDI router integrated into the robotic camera head system to enable automatic camera switching. The system also uses an AJA Helo H.264 video streamer and recorder to reliably record to USB drives, which can be handed over to the crew and director after production is complete. In addition, the AJA Ki Pro Ultra 12G 4K/UltraHD/HD multichannel HD recorder and player/recorder is used for Apple ProRes backup recording.