North Andover CAM’s new facility features a 40 foot by 30 foot television studio tied into a state-of-the-art control room. It can be used for recording individual program segments, as well as complete live or live-to-tape programs.

Studio Cameras

Our Studio features three studio camera units. Two of which are fitted with prompter displays which can show a scrolling script to on-camera hosts/commentators. The scripts displayed on the prompter are scrolled from the Prompter Station in the Control Room.

For studio cameras, we use the JVC GY-HM790U. We also have a fourth optional wall-mounted camera, mainly for use as a viewing angle to see in the studio from the Control Room.

Lighting

It also has a wide array of lighting options, featuring a full LED lighting grid with a 96-channel control console. We have separate lighting setups for our main studio area and our green screen area. The main studio setup features remotely-controlled LED color panels which can project an impressive variety of selectable background colors and arrangements.

The main studio lights also feature ellipsoidal units for use in projecting patterns or logos through the use of a small graphical disks called a “gobo”.

Green Screens

The Studio has ample space for multiple setups to use in the same production, including a complete green-screen section for composite keying effects. Basically, this area is where subjects are photographed against a green screen. In the Control Room, the green behind the subject can be removed electronically, allowing the subject to be superimposed over any virtual background you can create!

Control Room

All of the signals from the studio are routed into the Control Room. It is from here that the crew can switch between camera images, as well as add graphics and insert background images behind any subject recorded in the green screen area.

  • The Control Room is arranged in two roles of consoles.
  • The front row houses the stations for the Technical Director, as well as the Audio Operator and the Prompter Operator.
  • The back row has stations for a Graphics Operator, as well as a Director and a Producer/Call Screener.

The position the Technical Director (TD) is equipped with a Blackmagic Design ATEM production switcher, controlled by the panel you see in the above photo. From this panel, the TD can execute any process desired for the production, such as cutting between cameras, bringing in pre-recorded video elements (also known as “roll-ins”), performing green screen compositing (“chroma keying), and superimposing graphical elements made specifically for the project.

Audio Station

The audio station is equipped with a 32-channel Mackie audio mixing console, and can handle audio sources from the studio, other Control Room devices, and audio sources patched in from the Kitchen Area as well.

Training Programs

North Andover CAM offers regular training programs for volunteer members who want to use the equipment in the Studio and Control Room. For more information, give us a call at (978)687-6570.