Press release from Well Above
Magna Systems and Engineering, leading systems integrator and supplier of technology to the broadcast and communication industries, yesterday announced details of the graphics solution it has again provided to the ABC for the 2010 Federal election.
The 2010 solution is being used by the ABC team to create a new look for this year’s elections that also involves 3D graphics for the first time and expands on the system created by Magna for the last election that moved the ABC away from the manual process it had used in the past to a newer, more automated one.
The turnkey system is based on the Chyron HyperX2 CG, the award-winning Lyric Pro motion graphics feature set and Magna’s GFX Commander software.
The HyperX2 graphics engine can simultaneously manipulate dozens of 3D layers of text, logos textures and movie objects, all in real-time. The mature, intuitive Lyric software platform provides precise control over every transition and effect with a broad array of adjustments already familiar to users of 3D creation tools and NLE’s. The HD/SD-switchable HyperX2 is scalable with up to two independent HD/SD channels, optional DVE, eFX Clips and Lyric® PRO advanced creation and playout.
GFX Commander is the custom software system written exclusively for the ABC by Magna Systems’ software architects, where all the graphics (including 3D, text, pictures, manipulation and animation) are designed on the Chyron HyperX2 running the Lyric Pro graphics engine in real time at one million polygons per second.
GFX Commander allows the on-screen graphics to be updated automatically with all the producers and operators having simultaneous remote access to the same system. Presenters and journalists also have web access to the graphics which means they can see exactly what’s coming next. The system also allows the primary graphics operator a much more efficient and effective working environment.
ABC Executive Producer, Elections Eric Napper commented, ““Magna’s GFX Commander together with the Chyron Hyper X2 has been a major contributor to ABC’s dominant position on election night. In 2010, we’re extending our use to include, for the first time, results presented in virtual reality and GFX makes this proposition straightforward. We can simply and easily keep track of all our graphic assets, build and manipulate playlists using multiple operators. It’s flexible, efficient and most importantly for us, delivers impressive on-air results. It promises to be a compelling night’s television.”