AJA Video Systems and SKAARHOJ have joined forces to integrate control of AJA’s FS family of frame synchronizers and converters with SKAARHOJ’s Rack Control Duo, streamlining how professionals make RGB color correction and other parameter adjustments across one or many FS devices and channels in live production environments. Developed in partnership with broadcast services provider NEP, the new Rack Control Duo supports AJA’s FS-HDR, FS4, FS2 and FS1 devices and is capable of ganging control of multiple FS products and processing channels together, making set-up and on-the-fly adjustments faster and easier for operators and engineers with a single tactile hardware control panel.
Ideal for live production, OB trucks, concerts, sporting events, corporate AV or any production environment involving multiple source signals, Rack Control Duo is an intuitive hardware control panel with tactile knobs and buttons to easily perform simultaneous adjustments across multiple AJA frame synchronizers. Rack Control Duo supports up to 20 channels from different FS devices that can be grouped together for ganged adjustments. Making simultaneous RGB corrections across FS units enables operators to conform color for multiple sources to achieve the desired final look. Operators can also use the panel to recall and implement presets from previous setups across one or more FS devices. When used in conjunction with FS-HDR real-time HDR/WCG converters, RGB color corrections can be performed via Rack Control Duo prior to HDR to SDR or SDR to HDR transforms, harnessing AJA’s FS-HDR v3.2 firmware update.
“Controlling multiple FS-HDRs with Rack Control Duo gives you the live feel and quick response so that when you’re on the air and need to make an on-the-fly color adjustment to one of your camera sources, you can quickly and easily do it with the press of a button,” said NEP Vice President and Chief Engineer Dan Turk, who was instrumental in developing the Rack Control Duo to support live HDR color correction and conversion for 10 FS-HDR units during broadcasts of the halftime show at the 2020 North American football championship game. “Otherwise, you’re using a mouse with a slider or clicking arrows on a keyboard, which isn’t ideal when you need to fine-tune signals during live broadcasts.”
“Combining the production-proven reliability and performance of our FS frame syncs and converters with streamlined control hardware from SKAARHOJ accelerates setup time and empowers operators with greater efficiency in real-time production environments with no margin for error,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “This integration supports the most accurate adjustments across sources to ensure sources are color matched across multiple FS devices and channels.”
“Partnering with NEP on development and AJA to refine full integration of Rack Control Duo with FS frame syncs and converters has resulted in a revolutionary solution that helps production professionals align color and conversion across variable sources in even the most demanding live production scenarios,” said Kasper Skårhøj, Founder, SKAARHOJ. “Collaborating with AJA has made it quick and easy to get this solution to market.”
More information on Rack Control Duo is available on SKAARHOJ’s website: www.skaarhoj.com/products/rack-control-duo/ and details on AJA’s FS family of frame synchronizers and converters can be found here: www.aja.com/family/frame-sync
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
