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MillimeterNAB 2002 Pick Hit Awards
Jun 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Cody Holt
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This year, there was plenty new at NAB, including an entirely new exhibition hall, the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall. Also new was the ease with which attendees traveled the showfloors — a fact that can only partly be attributed to the addition of the new exhibit space.
Indeed, attendance was down once again at NAB, held April 6-11 in Las Vegas. Although NAB has not yet released final attendance figures, early estimates have the total in the 92,000 to 95,000 range, a significant drop from last year's total of 113,363, which was down from the previous year. Exhibitor attendance also dropped in 2002, from about 1,500 in 2001 to 1,286 this year.
Stacy Perrus, NAB media relations manager, says the drop-off can be attributed to the sluggish economy and the September 11 attacks on the United States, which have made some people wary of travel. Despite the decrease in attendance, she says NAB 2002 was a success. “Given the economy and the attacks, it was clear that the people who spent the money to travel to the show were there to do business,” Perrus says.
Among those there for business were the nine roaming judges charged with awarding the Video Systems NAB Pick Hit Awards, which honor 14 innovative new products and tools on display.
NAB continues to be the video broadcast industry's primary stage for new product introductions. It is from this fertile ground that we present our 14 NAB Pick Hits for 2002. Our judges (see “The Judges,” page 95) were very diligent in adhering to our judging criteria (see “The Rules,” page 96), and in so doing have unearthed 14 highly deserving products, each one of which could make a significant impact on the professional lives of Video Systems readers. We offer our heartfelt thanks to each of the judges for a job well done.
And, of course, our congratulations to the 14 Pick Hit winners.
Wacom Cintiq 18sx
 Our judges honored the Wacom Cintiq 18sx for its increased resolution, which allows video artists to work in SXGA, drawing directly on the LCD monitor. |
This product brilliantly combines all the best qualities of a high-resolution LCD monitor with the easy-to-use interface features of a graphics tablet. It makes an ideal tool for the animator, special effects artist, and just about anyone who's ever wished they could just reach out and draw what they wanted right on their screen, bypassing the awkwardness of a mouse or table-top tablet. With an 18.1in.-diagonal LCD screen, the 18sx features a resolution of 1280×1024. The jump in pixel count over that of the previous generation allows video artists to work in SXGA resolution. The Cintiq 18sx is currently available for $3,500. (Vancouver, Wash.; 800-922-6613; www.wacom.com)
Barco iQ G300
 Barco iQ G300 |
The G300 is the first desktop/installation projector to incorporate a seamless switcher/mixer and video tiling engine. It can dissolve, wipe, and perform other transitions between interlaced and progressive-scan sources, and also offers multi-window display with layers. The unit features 3500ANSI lumens of brightness, three active-matrix 1.3in.-diagonal LCD panels with Micro Lens Arrays, and a resolution of 1024×768 pixels. The projector's suggested list price is $14,000. (Kennesaw, Ga.; 770-218-3208; www.presentations.barco.com)
Media 100 844/X
This new product offers an impressive combination of speed and incredible compositing power, as well as the highest available image quality (10bit, 4:4:4:4 video, DVE featuring bi-cubic interpolation, Quantel's award-winning 8bit rounding algorithms, etc.), and low cost for its class (complete turnkey for $60,000). No previous product has done so well on all three parameters. The software features editing and compositing tools that will be familiar to experienced editors/compositors. Not only will the software allow you to play any four uncompressed video tracks paired with an alpha track in realtime — a feature called Visual Voicing that works similarly to mute buttons on an audio mixer — but the system offers an advanced recursive video processing scheme named Intelligent Layering Architecture that offers surprisingly fast rendering capabilities. The heart of the system is a remarkable three-PCI boardset called the GenesisEngine, which features seven powerful ASIC processors. (Marlboro, Mass.; 508-460-1600; www.media100.com)
Aurora Multimedia TVP-1000
 Aurora Multimedia TVP-1000 |
Aurora Multimedia is the first company to develop a do-it-all plug-in card for Pioneer's PDP-503 and PDP-433 plasma monitors. The TVP-1000 is a combination NTSC OTA/cable-ready tuner and video scaler/mixer that allows overlays, PiP, PaP, and PoP display of interlaced and progressive-scan signal sources — all for less than $1,000. The unit is compatible with 1080i, 720p, 480p, VGA, SVGA, and XGA input resolutions. Adaptive 4H comb filtering with Y/C processing produces high-quality images with image enhancement and noise suppression. The TVP-1000 sells for $969, and is currently available. (Jamesburg, N.J.; 732-656-9026; www.auroramultimedia.com)
JVC GY-DV300 Streamcorder
It just keeps getting better and better for DV shooters in the sub-$3,500 price range. With a 12bit processor linked to three 1/3in. CCDs, JVC's new Streamcorder introduces a whole new point of view to the DV revolution. Outputting MPEG-4 to the Web, the GY-DV300 offers shooters an elegant and low-cost solution — and a versatility we could only dream about not long ago. When used with the KA-DV300U MPEG-4 adapter, the DV300U can record video to tape and/or compress video using MPEG-4 (320×240 pixels at 15fps). The Streamcorder is currently shipping, with a street price of $3,495 without the MPEG-4 adapter, and $4,294 with. (Wayne, N.J.; 973-315-5000; www.jvc.com/pro)
VBrick VBStar
VBrick's encoders/decoders have been wowing people for the last year with their ability to send DVD-quality video over broadband networks. With the introduction of VBStar, that same DVD-quality video can be sent to anyone regardless of the bandwidth of their network connection. VBStar basically adds a 60GB hard disk to any VBrick encoder/decoder product. Capable of storing 30 to 50 hours of high-quality video, the hard disk makes it possible for any VBStar owner to receive video that can be stored and viewed on demand. The VBStar has the ability to store and forward simultaneously, making it possible to record video while also streaming it out to any other VBStar anywhere in the world at the same time. With the introduction of VBStar, web-based distribution of high-quality video just got a lot more practical. The cost to add a VBStar hard drive to any VBrick product is $1,995. (Wallingford, Conn.; 203-265-0044; www.vbrick.com)
Sony eVTR
 Sony eVTR |
Sony has raised the bar for signal distribution of its Anycast concept. Once the eVTR board is installed in the Sony IMX MPEG digital VTR, it becomes an Ethernet device, complete with a selectable IP address. Video and audio are distributed as files via gigabit LAN, WAN, or the Internet, eliminating the requirement for discrete audio and video, or for FireWire signal distribution. The eVTR concept also provides for remote control of VTRs, allowing a technical director in Sydney to roll tape on a VTR in London. The BKMW-E2000 network interface board, which is the power behind the eVTR concept, will be available later this year, but a price has not yet been set. (Park Ridge, N.J.; 800-686-SONY; www.sony.com/professional)
Panasonic AG-DVX100
This camera is truly a revolution in a box. For DV filmmakers looking to mimic the look and feel of film, there is no other camera remotely close to this sub-$5,000 wonder that can also shoot standard 30fps interlace NTSC. This 4.4lb. miniDV camcorder is equipped with three 1/3in., 410,000-pixel CCDs that enable it to capture images using 24fps or 30fps progressive scan. To record progressive video that can be played back on NTSC monitors, the DVX100 adds pulldown in the same manner as when film is telecined to tape. An interesting aside to the understandable hoopla surrounding this camera is the format's inherent benefit to filmmakers outputting to DVD. Encoding 24p reduces the bit requirements for a feature on disc by 20% — a substantial savings long appreciated by Hollywood studios. The DVX1000 will be available in September at a suggested list price of approximately $3,495. (Los Angeles; 323-436-3660; www.panasonic.com)
Quantel QPaintbox
QPaintbox is a Windows-based paint and graphics compositing software application with all the tools and features — including the famous user interface — of the industry-vanguard Quantel Paintbox. This software offers remarkable performance even on a laptop. Feature highlights include: resolution coexistence; a digital rostrum camera; new template tools; compatibility with a wide range of graphics and video formats, including AAF compliance; and workgroup networking. And this is just one product in a family of exciting Generation Q products introduced by Quantel at NAB. Others include the high-performance gQ graphics flagship, the new eQ postproduction finishing system, QEffects software, QEdit software, and a variety of news-editing software products. QPaintbox software costs $12,000 for a single license, and is expected to ship in June. (Newbury, England; +44 635 81 5804; www.quantel.com)
Hitachi C-D1X
This Hitachi docking DVD recorder offers quite an innovation for video recording. Unlike dedicated DVD camcorders, the C-D1X can mount to a number of cameras from several manufacturers, allowing the video professional the freedom to select the camera quality and style needed, while still maintaining the high quality of DVD recording. Weighing less than 3lbs., the unit delivers CD-quality recordings and can record up to one hour of full-motion MPEG-2 video. It offers both DVD-R and DVD-RAM format compatibility and features a loop recording feature, enabling camera operators in the field to continuously record without fear of running out of storage space. The C-D1X is priced at $6,000 and scheduled to ship in Q4. (Woodbury, N.Y.; 516-682-4429; www.hdal.com)
Kino Flo ParaBeam
 Kino Flo ParaBeam |
No one thought a fluorescent fixture could pack the punch of an HMI — until now. A deceptively simple-looking four-tube instrument, the ParaBeam utilizes a custom-molded parabolic mirror array to achieve a near-blinding beacon of balanced light. For shooters looking for a low-cost alternative to expensive HMI units, the ParaBeam may be the perfect choice. It comes in two sizes: the ParaBeam 400 (four 55W lamps/$1,500), and the ParaBeam 200 (two 55W lamps/$1,150). Both models are currently shipping, but are on back order until October. (Sun Valley, Calif.; 818-767-6528; www.kinoflo.com) For more on fluorescent lighting applications, see page 27 of this issue.
Ultimatte Plug-in
For editors and compositors working in DV's highly compressed color space, effective keying has always been something of an oxymoron. With this new plug-in from Ultimatte, color noise can be significantly reduced, and DV shooters and producers for the first time can attempt intricate keying effects in the 4:1:1 color space. In many cases, this may obviate the need for producers to move up to a higher-end, more expensive format such as DigiBeta or D-9. The plug-in, which features resolution-independent image processing, will work with a number of compositing and editing programs, including those from Adobe, Avid, Apple, and Discreet. It is scheduled to ship by the end of June. Pricing is $1,495 for a full license, $495 for a render-only license, and $495 for an upgrade license. (Chatsworth, Calif.; 818-993-8007; www.ultimatte.com)
Sony DSR-DU1
The need for this pocket DV drive is obvious — everyone wants to record straight to disc with no upload time so they can begin editing immediately. It's an idea that's been talked about for years — Avid's CamCutter is an example, as was the Ikegami/Avid Editcam. But with the DSR-DU1, it's an idea whose time has finally come. Primarily introduced for use with DVCAM and DV camcorders, the unit provides up to three hours of DV format recording. Through an IEEE 1394 connection, the output of the camcorder's camera is simultaneously recorded to both the hard drive of the DSR-DU1 and the camcorder's tape cassette. Detached from the camcorder, the unit can be used for field offline logging or EDL creation, as a player for making dubs, or as a source feeder machine for 1394 interface-equipped nonlinear editors. (Park Ridge, N.J.; 800-686-SONY; www.sony.com/professional)
Sonic Solutions DVD Producer
 Sonic Solutions DVD Producer |
Sonic's DVD Producer is a repositioning of the company's existing DVD Fusion product, and as such is not a groundbreaking Pick Hit. However, it is Sonic's first professionally oriented product to include Sonic's OpenDVD feature (interestingly, the feature is already in the consumer-oriented MyDVD), allowing professional users to re-open and re-edit finished and even burned DVD projects. By expanding DVD from a static medium to a dynamic one, Sonic gives video professionals new options for collaboration, review and approval, delivery, and distribution — all in the convenient disc format that we've come to know at home. And that's a change from the esoteric authoring station formerly hidden in a backroom suite. (Novato, Calif.; 415-893-8000; www.sonic.com)
The Judges
Bob Bergfeld
President, Presentation Systems Design, Valley Park, Mo.
Barry Braverman
Los Angeles-based director of photography
Tom Patrick McAuliffe
Owner, Reel Communications, San Leandro, Calif.
Steve Mullen
Owner, Digital Video Consulting, New York
Dan Ochiva
Senior technology editor, Video Systems
Steve Porter
Online editor, Video Systems
Peter Putman
Owner, ROAM Consulting, Doylestown, Pa.
Jeff Sauer
Director, Desktop Video Group, Cambridge, Mass.
Bob Turner
NLE system consultant, Scituate, Mass.
The Rules
Video Systems Pick Hit judges operate anonymously. Each year they look for new products that meet the following criteria:
- Products must be new, and not shown at a previous NAB
convention.
In some cases, distinguishing a new product from a modified, older one is difficult. For Pick Hits purposes, a new product is one with a new model number or designation.
- Products must have some positive impact on the intended user's
everyday work.
Judges are asked to search for equipment to be used on a regular basis. Products should provide new solutions to common problems.
- Products must offer substantial improvement over previous
technology.
Unique circuit architecture need not apply. Some new approach or application must be involved in the product's design.
- The prices of the products must be within reach of their
intended users.
Products must be appropriate for use in a wide range of facilities.
- The products must be available for purchase within the calendar
year 2002.
Equipment must be on display (literally) on the showfloor and currently (or imminently) in production. Of course, we must take the exhibitor's word on availability dates in some cases, but we confirm intended ship dates in all cases. Products demonstrated in private showings do not qualify.
Continue the discussion on “Crosstalk” the Millimeter Forum.
