MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 22, 2008) – Vaddio, the leading manufacturer and OEM distributor of specialty PTZ cameras and high-end camera control systems used in the broadcasting, audio/visual and videoconferencing industries received this year’s Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit award at NAB 2008.

Broadcast Engineering’s Pick Hit awards are the industry’s longest-running product technology awards for broadcast and production. With a 14-year history, Pick Hits are the most prestigious awards given at NAB. A panel of independent judges toured the exhibition floor for three days, looking for innovative technology. Based on multiple criteria, including the technical and financial improvements products can bring to a facility’s operation, the Quick-Connect CCU proved a cut above the other 1,600+ exhibitors.

“To have the panel of judges for Broadcast Engineering award our Quick-Connect CCU with a Pick Hit shows that high-definition robotic PTZ cameras have a place in broadcast facilities,” said Rob Sheeley, Vaddio president and CEO.  “We feel very honored to be recognized by one of the industry’s leading publications.”

The first Camera Control Unit for Sony® Robotic PTZ Cameras, the Vaddio Quick-Connect CCU enables you to adjust IRIS, GAIN, COLOR and DETAIL with the turn of a knob. You can finally take control of PTZ Camera image output – allowing you to easily adjust each camera individually and match multiple cameras. In addition, there are two Scene store buttons, allowing the user to save specific color matched images, such as day & night, lighting changes or multi locations.

Tally indicators are located on the front of each Quick Connect CCU, allowing the user to obtain a visual indicator of a live camera. Furthermore, with the Sony BRC series cameras, the LED tally light built into the camera also illuminates, providing the on-air talent a visual indicator of which camera is live.

The Quick-Connect CCU's cabling system allows the use of standard CAT-5 cabling to run both HD and SD video, camera power, black burst sync and camera control up to 500 feet (152.4 m). Vaddio’s High Speed Differential Signaling™ (HSDS) provides for a high bandwidth, low loss video signal to ensure high definition quality up to 500 feet.