October 30, 2003

THOMSON'S KALYPSO VIDEO MIXER NOW CAPABLE OF HIGH DEFINITION

NEVADA CITY, CA - In an effort to future-proof its video mixing line, Thomson Grass Valley (www.thomson.net) is now offering an updated version of its Kalypso mixer, which offers users an HD path. The new Kalypso Duo platform, designed for studio, live and mobile applications, can be easily upgraded to HD capabilities through a simple software installation, allowing users to work within a variety of HD formats, including 1080i and 720p.

The Kalypso HD Video Production Center ($491,400) offers switchable SD/HD production, creating a flexible platform for customers who need to, for example, work on a native HD production one day, and an SD production the next. The Kalypso Duo ($424,400) mixer features the same user interface, control panel and advanced production technologies found in Kalypso Classic. It occupies the same 15 RU rack space as the Kalypso Classic, and Kalypso Duo has the same four keyers per M/E, eight-output animation still-store system and six video/key channels of internal digital video effects. In addition, the Kalypso Duo supports up to 90 inputs (video or key) and optional RGB color correction for every keyer and background to complement its built-in YUV video processing capability. The system also features DoubleTake split M/E technology. This allows users to assign keyers to two separate background transitions, creating two completely separate M/E outputs from a single M/E bank.

In related news, Thomson has decreased the price of its Kalypso Classic system by 20 percent to $272,900. This decrease, says the company, will make the Classic system available to an even broader range of customers. The system is already installed in more than 350 locations worldwide.