The new PhotoCineLive mobile unit, equipped by Sony, will be exhibited at IBC 2024

The French audiovisual services company PhotoCineLive acquires a new high-end mobile unit designed by the Danish integrator OBtechTV that integrates technology Sony such as the XVS-G1 mixer coupled to Venice 2 cameras, along with PVM-X2400 and X3200 reference monitors.

The vehicle is 12 meters long, 4 meters high and 2.6 meters wide and is capable of driving up to 20 cameras. They are modularity It can be adapted to any type of service and offers 12 work spaces dedicated to technicians and creatives.

PhotoCineLive, which specializes in shooting with large high-end sensors, including cameras, lenses and accessories, has always operated with mobile units, but is now facing a demand for more specific units for certain services. To adapt to urban limitations, a compact mobile unit, maintaining a high level of comfort and quality.

"Compared to other OB vans, this one is not expandable. It was a deliberate choice, as we wanted the truck to be as compact as possible, while still being spacious inside," he explains. Albrecht Gerlach, founder of PhotoCineLive.

"For this mobile unit, we had the same requirements as for our mobile control rooms. That is, a comfortable space (if the location allows it), top quality equipment and specific furniture to create the atmosphere of a fixed control room. As far as possible, no one sits in a flight case," he adds. Lucien Peron, equipment manager at PhotoCineLive. “This may mean a slightly longer assembly time than with fly-integrated workstations, but these control rooms with a premium atmosphere are our trademark.”

"The Venice 1 and 2 cameras are our preferred work tools. Our mobile control rooms were already equipped with RCP-3500 and PVM-X1800, X2400 and X3200 monitors. So it was natural for us to choose the same equipment for our new mobile unit," he explains. Lucien Peron, equipment manager at PhotoCineLive. "We added an XVS-G1 mixer, which perfectly met our demands in terms of technical specifications and space needs. It is accompanied by two ICP-X1116 and 1224 panels so that we can have two production workstations."

Compact and powerful, the XVS-G1 is ideal for mobile productions. Highly reliable, it offers production convenience without any technical commitment, with a wide range of creative features capable of quickly and easily responding to the very specific needs set by PhotoCineLive (such as, for example, the transition to a 9/16 image format).

Venice Cameras

Sony's Venice cameras offer very high image quality, while adapting to the high light levels inherent to the locations where PhotoCineLive shoots. This quality of “cinematic” image, rare in live productions and one of PhotoCineLive's main assets, is reproduced perfectly on the monitors (PVM-X and BVM-HX series), which offer high rendering quality.

Pascal Kerloch, Key Account Manager at Sony, is delighted "with the trust that PhotoCineLive has shown in Sony and its products over the years. When Albrecht Gerlach spoke with us about the design of this truck, we were able to offer him products adapted to his specific technical needs and that met the requirements of film and high-end production. We are delighted that the experience of the local Sony teams can help us face these types of challenges and to have been able to support PhotoCineLive in this great adventure."

PhotoCineLive's new mobile unit will be present at the RAI Center in Amsterdam from September 13 to 16 during IBC 2024.