Via del Tiglio 91
56012 - Calcinaia (Pisa) Italy
Tel: +39 0587 48 81 28
2023 - Case Study: StillStore at ZDF
Reg. Imprese di Pisa N. 01351840507 - R.E.A. PI -116996 - P.I. 01351840507 - Cap. Soc. €50.000 i.v.
© Copyright 2025 ClassX srl
Overview
At ZDF Landesstudio NRW, innovation and reliability are critical for delivering high-quality live television. When the production team faced growing demands for a modern and flexible StillStore system to support their daily live show Volle Kanne, they turned to ClassX for a custom-built solution tailored to their specific needs. The result? A seamless, intuitive and high-performance system that has transformed their production workflow.
The ZDF team had been using a traditional stills system that was becoming increasingly outdated. Stills play a central role in Volle Kanne, helping to shape the atmosphere during live conversations between hosts and remote guests. However, the limitations of their previous tool made it difficult to react quickly to the unpredictable flow of a live show.
“We needed a StillStore that was flexible, quick and easy to use,” says the production engineer in charge, Janosch. “It had to support last-minute image updates and offer an intuitive touchscreen interface for live selection by the editorial team.”
Control room
A wall of screens showing different stills of the show and two operators sit in front of it.
Finding the right partner
Their search for a dedicated StillStore solution led them to ClassX. Unlike embedded still functions in visual mixers, ClassX StillStore offered a stand-alone application purpose-built for broadcast use. “We found them through a simple internet search,” the engineer recalls. “I realized there aren't so many companies that offer something like StillStore”.
From the very first contact via ClassX’s online form, the collaboration was smooth and responsive. Through a mix of video calls, shared workflows and fast technical back-and-forth, the ZDF team outlined their unique requirements — including the ability to manage both vertical and horizontal screen content, preview selected images via a touchscreen and switch stills on-air within seconds.
“They were always quick to respond, non-bureaucratic and really understood what we needed. It felt like a true partnership,” says the engineer. “Even when we communicated via Telegram, it worked perfectly.”
Operator's workspace
Screen showing StillStore in action and the device to choose stills in an instant on the right.
Going vertical
Deployment and results
Just as the project neared completion, the editorial team requested support for a new vertically oriented screen — a new challenge involving not just stills, but video as well. ClassX rose to the occasion, expanding the solution to handle vertical content, including pass-through video and rotated still previews, without requiring major workflow changes.
After a brief debugging and testing phase, the system was fully operational ahead of the first live broadcast in January. “The most stressful part was testing — because this was a brand new solution,” Janosch admits. “But it worked perfectly. From day one, we had no major issues.”
The touchscreen client became an instant success. Directors could now select stills instantly with a single tap, removing the need for verbal instructions and reducing errors.
Daily use and impressions
Today, the system runs Volle Kanne five days a week, for 90 minutes each morning. “It’s a reliable solution that works day in and day out. Our editorial team loves it, our operators are happy and, from a technical perspective, it saves me a lot of trouble.”
ZDF reboots the system weekly as a precaution but it's been otherwise maintenance-free. “The idea of creating a tailor-made solution really paid off. We’ve made a huge leap forward compared to the old studio.”
Studio where Volle Kanne takes place
A screen with the show's name in the background, a couple tables and two armchairs in front of them.
The success of this project is a testament to what can be achieved when a flexible developer meets a precise broadcast need. With StillStore, ClassX delivered more than just a product — they delivered peace of mind, creative freedom and a future-ready tool for modern live television.