Sony Professional has unveiled its first European Customer Experience Centre at its offices in Basingstoke, UK. The new resource will allow visitors to gain an understanding of the latest broadcast solutions in a relaxed and comfortable setting reflecting the work Sony is doing to ensure that the customer is at the heart of its propositions. The centre boasts a state-of-the-art 3D broadcast training facility, ensuring that stereographers and camera operators are equipped with the skills required to ensure that live broadcast 3D is a success.
The Centre is equipped to demonstrate the Sony ‘lens to living room’ story. The sizable training area contains 3D rigs and camera systems allowing users to learn how to capture the best 3D footage while dealing with issues such as changes in lighting, temperature and speed of action. A section of the main lounge is set up as a production gallery, enabling visitors to experience the MPE-200 multi format processor box, which is central to the production of high quality live 3D. Customers are then able to view the output of their work in the lounge area where professional 3D monitors and consumer 3D BRAVIA televisions are set up.
Aside from 3D solutions, visitors will also be able to experience a fully functional TV production gallery including the latest switchers and Sonaps system. A further demonstration area will allow customers to get to grips with the latest software offerings, including XDxchange, Media Backbone and Ensemble. As well as the static broadcast solutions, customers are able to visit the Solutions team, who are responsible for large scale broadcast transformation projects as well as the design, fitting out and testing of Outside Broadcast trucks.
David Bush, Director of Marketing, Sony Professional, commented; “Until now our ability to demonstrate a functional broadcast workflow to customers has been restricted due to the space and equipment requirements. This new Experience Centre will change that, allowing us to work with our customers to understand the issues which they face and working collaboratively to solve them.”
Bush, went further; “We know from the Sony 3D Technology Centre in Culver City, USA, that customers are appreciative of being able to experience equipment and improve their skills in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. We hope that our European customers will gain the same benefits, from this, our first Customer Experience Centre in Europe.”
An exciting extension to this Centre is the upgrade taking place in the current Studio+ facility. This area is being transformed into a fully fitted cinema complete with 2K, 4K and 3D projectors. This project is due for completion in January 2011 and will complete the Sony Professional Customer Experience Centre.
While I was at IBC during the year Sony had a prototype shoulder mount 3D camcorder sitting in a glass case, there was no price or availability, this professional Full HD 3D camcorder features four SxS memory slots, left and right channel HD-SDI outs, and a dial for adjusting the point of convergence, extremely important when shooting professional 3D videos.
