Casablanca Online Adds Several FOR-A Products to Equipment Roster

FOR-A Corporation of America announces that Casablanca Online, a leading provider of satellite communications services in Sao Paulo, Brazil, recently purchased a number of its professional video solutions.

A long time user of FOR-A technology, the order adds to Casablanca’s arsenal of FOR-A products and includes one HVS-390HS video switcher, three UFM-30FRC frame rate converters, and two MV-1620HS multi viewers, as well as one FA-1010 and five FA-9520 multi purpose signal processors.

“One of the key factors that led us to acquire new FOR-A equipment was our high level of satisfaction with our existing FOR-A units,” said Alexandre Minghini, Marketing Manager of Casablanca. “We’ve been happy with the quality, functionality, and support that we’ve gotten from FOR-A and its technology.”

Casablanca chose the MV-1620HS multi viewer for use in each of its two new HD OB trucks, which were created to meet market demand for major productions of large sporting events. The MV-1620HS is a cost-effective multi viewer that supports mixed signals from HD-SDI, SD-SDI, or analog composite sources for up to 16 channels.

FOR-A’s signal processors were purchased by Casablanca to provide signal transmission, conversion and back-haul of live broadcasts. The video services provider is taking advantage of the FA-9520’s additional functionality as a color corrector, video optimizer, and up/down/cross/aspect converter to meet the demands of its customers, including Fox Sports Latin America. Casablanca specializes in covering live sports events both nationally and internationally.

“FOR-A provides market-leading solutions that are ideal for use in sports production,” said Minghini. “We’re happy to continue our partnership with them, and Casablanca is also looking forward to testing out new FOR-A equipment in the near future, including the FT-ONE 4K super slow motion camera.”

FOR-A 4K Extraction System Wins ‘Best of IBC’ Award
At IBC 2013, FOR-A debuted ZE-ONE, its new 4K extraction system for use with the FT-ONE 4K super slow motion camera. The solution allows FT-ONE users to frame and extract desired 4K image areas to capture the action for HD replays. ZE-ONE received a “Best of IBC” award from TVBEurope magazine in the acquisition and workflow category.

“After introducing the FT-ONE last year, we decided to develop our own 4K extraction system that allows users to isolate and enlarge certain areas within frames,” said Hiro Tanoue, FOR-A Corporation of America’s President. “Operators can focus in on any part of any scene, ensuring not a moment is missed when shooting with the FT-ONE. We’re proud that ZE-ONE has been recognized by TVBEurope as a stand-out, new technology.”

Ideal for live sports production, the 4K extraction system provides operators with an intuitive touch-screen interface to frame and extract specified HD scenes at any size from 4K sources. ZE-ONE allows users to smoothly zoom in or out, and includes an embedded audio delay processor.

The title “Best of IBC” was awarded to new products across seven categories and chosen from more than 1,400 exhibitors at the IBC Show, held last month in Amsterdam, by the editorial teams of TVBEurope and the IBC Daily. The FT-ONE also received a “Best of IBC” award at last year’s show.