Manhattan Center Productions Expands Production Capacity with Ikegami Cameras

In the heart of midtown, Manhattan Center Productions (MCP) stands as one of New York City’s most versatile media production complexes. A recent influx of new long-term clients at the facility required MCP to significantly expand their production capacity, with ten new Ikegami HDK-97C Digital 3G Portable CMOS Camera Systems at the heart of the buildout.

“MCP is in demand, with content producers requesting more studio time here,” confirms Marvin Williams, Director of Video Engineering and Operations for MCP. “This is an Ikegami house, and staying with Ikegami is the best choice for us. We’re planning for the future by going with 3G for all of our new switchers and routers, and it was important to us moving forward that our cameras had the same capability.”

The Ikegami HDK-97C is part of Ikegami’s Unicam HD camera line, featuring multi-format HD cameras that also provide 3G-SDI performance. Employing three 2.5 mega-pixel 2/3-inch CMOS image sensors, the HDK-97C achieves superior quality HDTV video, and supports a number of native HDTV and 3G formats, including 1080p/59.94.

At MCP, cameras, crews, and control rooms are spread across the Manhattan Center complex that includes the purpose-built television studios TV1 and TV2, as well as the elegant former opera house the Hammerstein Ballroom and the spacious Grand Ballroom. With a wide range of HD video productions taking place daily, the performance and versatility of the Ikegami HDK-97C made them essential for MCP’s expansion.

“Our clients and camera operators agree that the HDK-97C makes a crisp, clean, beautiful picture,” Williams says. “It’s extremely easy for us to place these new cameras on our facility-wide network, and put them into operation anywhere throughout the Manhattan Center. They’re our backups as well – we can use them anywhere that the HDK-720’s are in use, since they’ll interface with those CCU’s at the flip of a switch.”

A docking-style camera, the HDK-97C features a 3G fiber-transmission system from the camera head to its CCU.  There is also 3G transmission from the CCU to the camera, providing three channels of prompter/vanity monitor video, as well as, Return VF video selected from 4 return inputs. Either an FA (Fiber Adaptor) or TA (Triax Adaptor) can be mounted on the camera, and the CCU-970M can be fitted with built-in fiber and triax transmission, and a simple front panel toggle switch to select the transmission system depending on the cable type to be used for each application.

In addition, MCP is now taking advantage of Ikegami’s 200-series network control panels.  As a result, any camera chain can be controlled by any OCP-200 at any of the video control locations on the different floors in the building.  Assignment of the OCP is selectable via its color touch screen.

From past experience, Williams and his team knew to expect the highest level of service for their new HDK-97C cameras. “Ikegami support has always been great,” notes Williams. “If you make a phone call, there’s always someone there to help. And if I send a component back for repairs, they take care of it right away, with no delay.”

As MCP continues to win additional business, having Ikegami technology on hand is consistently an asset.  “People are always happy to see that you have Ikegami cameras on your equipment list,” Marvin Williams says.