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<br />.~ <br /> <br />· Organize all files and videotapes <br />· Set up the new facility as quickly as possible sa as to minimize production <br />downtime for both staff and the public <br />· Smoothly switch playback from old master control to "new master control <br />· Closely monitor HVAC and power usage to assure conservation whenever <br />possible <br /> <br />!if Master Control <br /> <br />Re-inventing and rebuilding master control will be the most significant goal of the year. <br />(Right after moving into a new buildingl) This will be the first, and most important stEtP, <br />in developing two of our primary long-term goals. First, through the upgrade of our . <br />playback system we will take a giant step toward a new video world that relies more on <br />computers than tape decks. Eventually this change will save us a fortune on eql)ipment <br />and videotape. While computers with massive hard drives aren't free, they are less <br />expensive than the multiple machines Videotape playback and editing require, and they <br />just keep getting cheaper. Second, with the new playback system We" tntend to build, <br />master control responsibilities for all" seven cities can be centralized. This has the <br />potential of saving cities a great deal of money in capital and human resources <br />expenditures. <br /> <br />A series of events has taken place that makes this the most opportune time to upgrade <br />from a tape-based playback system to a hard-drive based playback system. <br /> <br />· Most of the tape decks we currently use for playback need to be replaced. <br />· Our signal routing software and hardware is no longer supported and spare parts <br />are impossible to get. <br />· Alf of the peripheral equipment required to monitor playback quality is <br />original...meaning it is over 15 years old. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />t <br /> <br />l <br />I <br />. <br />i <br />l <br />, <br />1 <br />, <br />.; <br /> <br />Since, literally, all of our master control equipment needs t()be replaced it is the perfect <br />time to move to a new signal transmission and manipulation fonnal Technical staff has <br />been diligently researching "server based playback systemsft and are" completely. <br />convinced of the wisdom and necessity of this format change. <br /> <br />The benefits of such a system are many. Eventually, all program editing could be done <br />at a producer's computer and then simply" saved, via networking to a master server. <br />Once stored on the master server the program can be played back on a channel, <br />dubbed, or used for other editing projects. Staff would also be able to access the <br />playback system via the "internet, from a remote location, in the event of an emergency. <br /> <br />Because we receive many programs from outside sources, on videotape, that wol,l/d <br />need to be encoded for storage on the server, and the possibility always exists for <br />computers to crash, we wou.ld require some tape decks as a part of the master control <br />package. We would, however, not require nearly as many as we otherwise would, and <br />they wouldn't experience a high level of use, thereby extending their tUnctionallives. <br /> <br />"' <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />j <br />j <br />, <br />" <br /> <br />That brings us to the second benefit of our new master control plan, namely, that it serve <br />as the master control for all seven of our citi~ in addition to the public access channels. <br /> <br />I <br />,I <br />