Fifty Fifty selects Leader LV5600 for UHD HDR monitoring

Awarding-winning production and post production house Fifty Fifty has invested in a Leader LV5600 broadcast-quality waveform monitor for use at its Soho headquarters. The newly installed instrument is being used as the master reference for quality control of television and digital film productions. It was supplied by Leader distribution partner Thameside.

Fifty Fifty’s operational Managing Director Alex Meade comments. "The LV5600 was a crucial addition to our equipment jigsaw. It provides all the tools we need to ensure conformance with the strict standards laid down by the major video-on-demand content providers. The operating menu is well structured and highly intuitive, as Kevin Salvidge of Leader demonstrated when he visited us to host a very effective training session.

"A major advantage of the LV5600 is that its CINELITE and CINEZONE tools allow real-time signal monitoring, supported by the ability to drill down for closer study when specific elements of the signal flow need detailed inspection. Measurements are consistent, repeatable and can be stored or exported. Our operators have the freedom to configure the internal display screen to allow precise comparison of multiple signal parameters. They can also connect the output to a larger external display screen. Portability and robust construction are further useful features as we can move the LV5600 between suites or use it on location if necessary."

"The Leader LV5600 allows customers to invest in the features they require when they need them rather than having to predict their future business requirements," says Chris Margrave-Gregory, Senior Broadcast Sales Specialist at Thameside. "It comes as standard with a wide range of test and measurement tools including waveform and vectorscope, five-bar gamut display, audio/video timing and status display. The version commissioned by Fifty Fifty includes two plug-in internal hardware modules - UHD-SDI interface and digital analog audio option - plus HDR measurement software, 4K support software and customisable display-layout software."

"With UHD now the default standard for domestic television displays, and video-on-demand viewing statistics accelerating strongly, a potentially huge range of UHD content will become available to the public via terrestrial, satellite of online networks," adds Leader Europe Managing Director Koichi Fukagawa. "The rollout time will vary from country to country but we are confident that the transition will occur in the relatively near future."

Leader's LV5600 is a mains-powered SDI/IP waveform monitor in a half-rack width 3 RU desktop chassis with a touchscreen front panel display. It can be configured to provide all the facilities needed to monitor UHD/HD/SD SDI, as well as video-over-IP signals, seamlessly in a hybrid operating environment.

Engineering-related features provided as standard include test pattern generation, closed-caption monitoring, CIE color chart, high dynamic range measurement, focus assist, adjustable screen layout, tally interface, 4K/UHD operation, 10G IP input and 12G-SDI interfaces. SMPTE 2022-6, SMPTE 2022-7 and SMPTE 2110 protocols are all supported. The LV5600 also incorporates Leader's intuitive CINEZONE and CINELITE which are familiar to many content production staff.