DNF Controls today announced that its ST304-DSR1K-T slow-motion controller is being used in the Texas Rangers' control room to bring fans instant replays and slow-motion playback of key plays via the stadium's main video screen. The Major League Baseball team has installed its new DNF controller at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Texas, to provide fast, easy, and reliable VTR-like control of Sony's DSR-DR1000 DVCAM stream-based hard-disk recorder.

"Big-screen video boards were brought to baseball in the late '70s and early '80s to give people in the stadium the viewing experience they could get at home, and today we're able to use products like DNF's slow-motion controller to deliver a dynamic and exciting visual complement to action taking place on the field," said Texas Rangers Vice President of Entertainment and Marketing Chuck Morgan. "The combination of the DNF controller with our Sony hard-disk recorder enables marking and playback of video without disrupting the record process. As a result we have great flexibility in how we can present game highlights to baseball fans."

The DNF/Sony sports bundle was implemented into the Rangers' control room in April, replacing the team's laser-disk system with a more versatile system that delivers faster access to clips, much greater storage capacity, and easier operation through an intuitive and familiar user interface.

The ST304-DSR1K-T takes advantage of Sony's DSR-DR1000's hard-disk technology for instant access and simultaneous record and playback functionality. This pairing allows operators to mark cue points on-the-fly and play back video instantly, even as recording continues. DNF's solution, which supports two record and two playback channels, also offers DSR-DR1000 users a four-line display and a T-bar for fast, simple, and smooth slow-motion instant replay and single-keystroke cue marking for access of up to 100 cue points.