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NAB 2005

Jun 13, 2005 2:25 PM, By Trevor Boyer, Dan Ochiva, Steve Mullen, and Bob Turner

Rush Hour in Vegas

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An NAB Survivor's Guide

Expect to be surprised. And potentially confused. Part of the drama of NAB 2005 will come from the introduction of new technologies such as HDV, which will be a major source of interest — and questions — at the show. Meanwhile, the spread of established technologies like HDTV will continue to push new gear and workflow throughout the video supply chain, offering a dizzying array of workflow options that overlap AV and IT expertise in unexpected ways. Don't assume anything, even about companies and products you think you know well. Something you thought was too expensive to consider may not be (i.e., Teranex format conversion), something you thought was too “low end” for the job you do may not be (i.e., desktop color correction). The best system for you may incorporate elements that cut across traditional video and desktop tools, or combine both.

Many attendees will need to clarify for themselves the differences between HDV and the higher resolution HD formats, since they are not equivalent and each is appropriate for different needs and applications. Beyond that, the major manufacturers will define HDV differently and will take differing approaches to shooting and editing the footage, including making distinctions between consumer and “pro” HDV. For example, JVC will debut “proHD” at the show (a native 24fps variant on the original HDV format), while Sony will make a clear distinction between its consumer HDV-FX1 camcorder and the professional HVR-Z1. Panasonic — which is not participating in the HDV format — will address the needs of the lower-cost, higher-resolution market with its HD P2 palmcorder, based on the well-established professional DVCPRO HD format.

All this adds up to one of the most interesting and complex NAB shows yet. Bring your brain, know your business needs — and read on to help prepare yourself to be a shrewd consumer in a marketplace that offers more options, potential, and “gotchas” than ever before.

In addition, here are some NAB sub-events you should be aware of:

This year's NAB Post|Production World Conference will feature more than 230 training sessions covering the latest tools and techniques for video and film editing, special effects, audio and sound editing, web design, 3D animation, and DVD authoring. (See the insert in this issue for more.)

This year, asset management will not only have a large presence on the show floor (visit the Global Society of Asset Management's DAM Pavilion), but also will turn up as key to many companies' new workflow solutions as their products leverage MXF, AAF, and other acronym-prone metadata concepts.

Want to teach editing and effects classes? Then don't miss the new Avid Xpress Pro Certification Prep classes and Apple Motion and Final Cut Pro HD Certification classes. These two-day, advanced level workshops will prepare you to take the certification exams, which are also available onsite.

The MultiMedia World Conference will offer a broader perspective, with presentations to keep you up-to-date on the most recent advances in digital media. Sessions will include “Convergence and Content on the Move: Riding the Digital, Mobile, Virtual, and Personal Wave” and “Networking and Distribution of Digital Media.”

© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.