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MillimeterNAB 06
Mar 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Trevor Boyer, Barry Braverman, Dan Ochiva, Jan Ozer, Jem Schofield, and Jeff Sauer
Tire kicking time
Recently shipping HD camcorders including the Canon XL H1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, and Sony PDW-F350 will garner significant attention at NAB 2006.
Who knew the future of digital media involved so much window, er, booth shopping? Of course, educated tire kicking is the main reason everyone shows up at NAB, with many companies and individuals using the show's many product launches to make their buying plans.
If you walk the aisles, it's easy enough to see the prime role of digital technology, from production through distribution. You just may agree that the National Association of Bitcasters might be the more appropriate moniker for today's convention.
Some of the big themes we'll be keeping our eyes on? How about the initial user reactions upon this first complete generation of HDV and HD camcorders from the major vendors? Plenty of us have been waiting: Both Sony and Panasonic state that their latest camcorders have quickly become their hottest-selling camcorder products ever.
NAB 2006 is also the first time three of the major NLE makers—Adobe, Apple, and Avid—will go head to head with their all-in-one production suites. We'll be interested to see if Apple and Avid pick up on Adobe's challenge to deliver a highly interactive post process, one that treats separate programs as a complete package for today's format-agnostic digital content creation workflow.
Of course, as the Internet plays an ever-greater role in all of our activities, Internet protocol (IP) gains a place in post as well. We'll expect to see more IP-based storage solutions such as Studio Network Solutions' GlobalSAN, which employs iSCSI commands and Gigabit Ethernet to deliver fast, extensible storage networks that are much easier to set up than those first Fibre Channel SANs.
Trends to watch at NAB 2006 include the inexorable merging of video and IT, typified in products like Grass Valley’s Infinity camera system and Quantum’s SDLT 600A—and higher levels of production integration, via products such as Adobe’s Production Studio.
Even camcorders are jumping on the IP wagon. Thomson's Infinity Digital Media Camcorder, which has a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port for transfers, will also allow interactive control of the camcorder's parameters over the network. Expect to see IP connectivity to turn up in monitors, control panels, and other networkable gear.
While asset management has the potential to be the next big thing, don't expect much to come out of the show. Even though many agree that figuring out smart ways to join databases and content creation together makes great sense, the lack of widely accepted standards and even basic definitions for assets continues to hinder its growth for the DCC crowd. Instead, look for more targeted solutions from companies like ScheduAll, which provides production and operations management software for facilities.
But there's one relatively new standard, MXF (Material eXchange Format), that is starting to bring important changes to production. Sony, Panasonic, Grass Valley, and others are starting to implement MXF in their camcorders to smooth video into post.
Quantum's SDLT 600A data tape system, meanwhile, uses MXF-support to provide a method for economical system backups and even replace HD recording gear to some extent. The 600A combines the accessibility of videotape with the cost-effective performance and reliability of commodity data tape drives. With built-in Gigabit Ethernet capability, this archival device might end sneakernet forever.
With the last analog broadcast signals now set to fade on Feb. 17, 2009, expect to see the checkbooks come out at NAB 2006.
Want to stay up to date on these and all the other tech introductions, buy-outs, and other developments to unfold during the NAB convention? Be sure to visit digitalcontentproducer.com for the latest blogs direct from the Las Vegas show floor.
This year's NAB Post|Production World Conference will feature dozens of training sessions covering the latest tools and techniques for video/film editing, special effects, audio/sound editing, web design, 3D animation, and DVD authoring. (See digitalcontentproducer.com/NAB_2006 for more.)
What: Boris FX Boris Blue version 1.0
What it Does: Integrates advanced 2D and 3D compositing, 3D modeling and animation, DVE, titling, motion tracking, vector paint, Adobe Illustrator file animation, extrusion, and more without too steep a learning curve.
What: Boris FX Boris Red version 4.0
What it Does: NLE plug-in adds new filters, 16-bit color support, and a new paint engine to its already full package of 2D and 3D compositing, software DVE, 3D extrusion and animation, native vector titling, motion tracking, vector paint, and rotoscoping.
What: ScheduAll modules
What it Does: This production and operations management software gains new modules, including Media Connection Services (bi-directional API access for third-party development); Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Interface; and ScheduAll for the Web (provides API Interface and .NET support).
What: Arri X Ceramic 250, Studio Ceramic 250
What it Does: Get cooler-running, lower-power 3200-degree K tungsten-quality light from a new technology that can still use the housing and all the accessories of the Arri Studio 1K Fresnel.
What: Videotek VTM series
What it Does: Debut of a fully customizable, multi-format test and measurement console. Users can pick and choose from a list of video and audio options to create their ideal test instrument for any specific purpose.
What: ATTO FastStream 5300
What it Does: External device integrates into existing SCSI storage and adds data protection and storage networking. The FastStream 5300 includes two 4Gbps Fibre Channel host interface ports and two Ultra320 SCSI drive interfaces, and can be configured as JBOD or RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10.
What: Ciprico MediaVault 4105, 4210, and 4110 storage arrays
What it Does: New “daisy chain” version allows straightforward expandability of 4Gbps Fibre Channel storage without the need for a switch. New versions of MediaVault 4210 and 4110 arrays will offer removable controllers and support for an 8+2 RAID6 configuration.
What: Focus Enhancements FireStore FS-4 Pro HD and DR-HD100
What it Does: Camcorder drives now offer native QuickTime HDV support. Files can be used immediately in Apple Final Cut Pro 5 without having to first capture or convert footage.
Vinten Vision iScript
What: Fast Forward Video VDR 200
What it Does: Compact, industrial/professional portable DVR features an AC/DC power option, records to a removable 2.5in. IDE drive, and can serve as a direct replacement for tape-based recording systems.
What: Vinten Vision iScript
What it Does: Fast and easy teleprompter setup and use is the promise of Vision iScript pan-and-tilt head and platform. A pre-set counterbalance system, for example, is set specifically for the prompter system, reducing wasted time tweaking the setup.
What: Canon YJ20x8.5B KRS 2/3in. zoom lens
What it Does: This long-zoom portable offers improved quality for SD shooting—lighter weight, smaller size too—with a wide 8.5mm focal length and 20X zoom ratio.
What: Canon YJ13x6B wide-angle 2/3in. zoom lens
What it Does: With a wide 6mm focal length, high 13X zoom ratio, and fast servo zoom speed (1.2 seconds, end to end), this new SD lens is lighter and smaller than its predecessor.
Ikegami Editcam HD camcorder
What: Ikegami Editcam HD camcorder
What it Does: The first camcorder to use Avid's DNxHD mastering codec, this shipping version of the three-CMOS device delivers full-raster (1920×1080) HD-resolution imaging. FieldPak2 swappable drives now come in 120GB size, providing more than one hour of HD recording time.
What: Hamlet Flexiscope
What it Does: One of the leaders in the move toward creating potent but portable test gear, Hamlet pulls it all together in the handheld Flexiscope. The multi-format, multi-standard device sports a 3.5in. diagonal screen and includes a waveform, vector, audio, and picture monitor.
