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NAB 2006 Update

Apr 19, 2006 12:00 PM, By Dan Ochiva

Last-minute news on products set to debut at the show.

With so much new gear set to debut at NAB 2006, it takes a lot of searching around to keep up to date. We've collected some of the most interesting pre-show news here, so check out what you'll probably want to see on the show floor.

We're covering NAB thoroughly. Pick up the March issue for our initial take on what's new, and be sure to sign up online for our series of pre-NAB newsletters for more show-specific news. Want even more? Visit us at the digitalcontentproducer.com NABlog to stay up to date on what's going down at the show as it happens.

At NAB 2006, JVC will introduce an expanded ProHD product line, building on the popularity of its GY-HD100 camcorder. The company says it's sold more than 12,000 units since delivery began about eight months ago. At its booth, JVC will show how different nonlinear editors enable posting with the camcorder, introduce several new lenses, and show 35mm film-out from it.

JVC will also expand its ProHD lineup with the GY-HD250U, a full-res HD progressive camcorder that adds 60p and studio capabilities. The new camcorder, featuring a “compact shoulder” form factor, offers pro connectors mounted on a die-cast chassis. Specific features on the GY-HD250 not found on the GY-HD100 include newly developed 60p encoding, genlock, studio option with CCU, HD-SDI output, timecode synchronization, enhanced cine gamma, outboard hard drive recording via the DR-HD100U, and composite video input for pool feeds.

If you think you haven't heard much from Thomson lately, just wait. The multinational French media company is on the move, building an aggressive strategic position via key purchases such as Canopus earlier this year (if you didn't know, the Japanese NLE company garners kudos for its top codec technology).

Meanwhile, NAB 2006 sees the launch of its Grass Valley Infinity ENG/EFP system, a breakthrough and a potentially disruptive group of open-source technologies that could be the beginning of the end of proprietary image capture and storage technology.

Based around accepted standards such as JPEG 2000, Gigabit Ethernet, MXF, FireWire, MPEG-2, as well as off-the-shelf Flash RAM and Iomega drives, the camcorder system represents the company's first move to take a lead position in the merging of video into computer-based media technology.

“We're out to stop proprietary, closed solutions from ever again being as central to video content creation as it has in the past,” says Jeff Rosica, Thomson's vice president of global marketing and strategic business development. “We're moving to file-based workflows throughout production and post. If you're buying video equipment today, it's not enough to ask if it's ‘IT-ready’ — instead, it has to be part of a integral IT solution, or you're closing your options.”

At NAB, Grass Valley expands its Ignite HD acquisition and production platform with a series of robotic cameras and an updated programmable controller. This combined hardware and software product helps budget-constrained news operations produce and broadcast news using only one or two operators. The company says the new Ignite HD platform is a more cost-effective way to migrate from SD to HD by leveraging Grass Valley's new Kayak HD video production switcher frame.

Grass Valley will also debut Ignite HDC, an all-in-one robotically controlled HD broadcast camera system. There's also an SD version. The company's SHOT Director multi-camera joystick controller now supports the Ignite SDC and HDC robotic systems, allowing a single user to control up to 16 cameras. It's flexible, allowing users to manually control pan, tilt, focus, zoom, iris, and guide other functions by way of joystick and rotary controls. Users can also program and recall location and movement presets via the same setup.

While IPTV makes use of the public Internet to transmit video, to many that means noisy, lower-res video. That's certainly not Sony's thinking. At the show, Sony will debut its first HD version of an IP-based video communications system designed for television broadcast production and high-end content creation.

Think of HD IPTV gear as a good way to handle on-air news interviews, or even those fixed-camera applications like weather or traffic reports that have to bump up their profiles to match the rest of a broadcaster's HD look. That's the idea behind the introduction of Sony's PCS-HG90 codec and PCSA-CHG90 pan-tilt-zoom camera. The combo can transfer HD-resolution video and stereo audio over an IP network using Sony's IPELA IP communications technology. The hardware delivers pro features such as BNC for video and XLR for audio.

The PCS-HG90 codec supports the H.264 HD video protocol with compression of 1280×720 at 30p or 60p, and a network video transfer bandwidth of up to 8Mbps. The system can also deliver MPEG-4 AAC stereo audio, with stereo echo-canceling capabilities.

Late last year, AJA debuted its first Windows-compatible I/O product, the XENA HS HD-SDI/SDI card. Now booth visitors can see the latest development for the card: native full-resolution capture, editing, playback, and print to tape in HD/SD for Adobe's Premiere Pro 2.0. In addition, AJA's plug-ins let users preview and export within Adobe Photoshop CS2, and preview material within Adobe After Effects 7.0. AJA also announced recently that it would jointly develop XENA with Adobe for an OpenHD certified turnkey solution.

AJA will also show its new top-of-the-line KONA 3 HD/SD video capture card for Apple G5 Power Macs. Developed for Macs with the PCI Express bus interface, the card employs new QuickTime drivers that improve system responsiveness with Final Cut Pro. Features include capture and playback of uncompressed 10-bit and 8-bit digital video and 24-bit 48kHz digital audio. KONA 3 also adds hardware-based capabilities, including up- and downconversion to and from HD, as well as a live hardware keyer for compositing bugs, live clips, and other elements over video.

Blackmagic Design's Multibridge Extreme, an outboard I/O box and bi-directional A/D and D/A converter, has become one of the company's most popular products, as it offers great flexibility when dealing with the myriad formats editors face.

Now the company releases version 5.4 software, which makes use of a PCI Express-connected device to offer capture and playback for SD, HD, and beyond, whether for Mac OS X- or Windows XP-based systems. Features include hardware HD-to-SD downconversion (anamorphic 16:9, letterbox 16:9, and center-cut 4:3 downconversion), improved quality via polyphase interpolation filtering, and monitoring support for 30in. dual-link DVI-D displays.

Blackmagic will also show DeckLink HD, its new lower-cost dual-link HDTV 4:4:4 12-bit SDI capture card with high-quality 14-bit analog video monitoring.

MXF continues a slow but steady climb to becoming a key to efficient postproduction operations. At the show, Bluefish444 will demo its video cards, now compatible with MOG Solutions' MXF development tools. Designed for OEMs developing apps for Bluefish444's Windows- and Linux-compatible HD and SD cards, the software allows the generation of any kind of MXF, according to the company. The list ranges from DVCAM, DVCPRO, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 long GOP, to D10 MPEG (IMX), MPEG-4, MPEG Audio, and PCM.

Bluefish444 will also show products compatible with its own Direct Show filters and Main Concept's Direct Show codec technology. The idea here? With today's speedier CPUs, companies can use software like Main Concept's to avoid the need to manufacture dedicated hardware codec chips, saving users money if they plan to work with compressed HD.

Canopus, now part of Grass Valley, will debut the ADVC700, a bi-directional analog/DV I/O and conversion device that supports both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Built around Canopus' DV codec chip, the rackmountable ADVC700 features RS-422A control, and support for LTC timecode and external synchronization. Locked audio support ensures audio and video synchronization.

The ADVC700 includes PerfectSync technology, which controls and synchronizes the transfer rate of IEEE 1394 with an external reference signal. This prevents skipped and duplicate frames and produces perfect conversion of all frames during analog/DV conversion, according to Canopus.

At NAB 2006, Telestream will unveil new versions of FlipFactory, including FlipFactory HD, which is said to simplify conversion of multiformat source media to HD formats for broadcasters and content owners. Other new FlipFactory products will address evolving customer workflows, such as the increasing need for file compatibility and more widespread use of file transfer.

Telestream will also showcase MAPreview, which simplifies multifeed media capture, logging, and desktop review; MAP Media Access for Microsoft SharePoint; personal IP media delivery applications for Mac and PC; and the updated company flagship ClipMail MPEG encoding and IP media delivery appliances.

Broadcast Pix, developer of the do-it-all Broadcast Pix 2000 live production switcher (it includes a CG, still store, clip stores, format converters, and camera control system) will debut Scripts. This memory system not only recalls key settings, but also the exact clips, titles, and animations to fill the keys. Current users get this update for free.

How does Scripts help? Since the switcher's components are tightly integrated, Scripts can be used to, for example, select a camera, position it, bring it to air, fade on its specific title, and then fade it off, all via a single button push.

Broadcast Pix will also debut another software update that lets its systems remotely control Sony cameras, including the popular BRC-300.

Ross Video will debut version 16 software for its Synergy SD production switcher, with improved features including added device interfaces for Avid AirSpeed and EVS maXS servers, Canon and Sony robotic cameras, Chyron Duet CGs, and Extron routers. Operational enhancements include added features in the Custom Control macro system; independently mappable auxiliary buses; and quick random-access cueing of servers, VTRs, and DDRs via the numeric keypad.

Ross' Synergy MD-X multi-definition production switchers now offer an enhanced range of formats, while the new Synergy MD WARP engine adds curvilinear effects to the Squeeze & Tease 3D DVE.

Finally, Ross launches OpenGear, an open-frame standard based on a modular backplane. The idea? OpenGear partners develop monitoring and control modules to handle a variety of production needs, but don't lock you into one supplier's products.

While no information was available at press time, HP may debut workstations that employ the latest Intel Core Duo dual-core CPUs and offer the recently announced next-gen graphics cards from ATI and Nvidia.

While the initial Core Duo CPUs powered the first Intel-based Mac laptops, expect to hear whisper-suite talk about workstations built around the code-named Conroe processor, due out in the second half of 2006. It should deliver a considerable bump in performance. According to company announcements at Intel's March developers' conference, Conroe will boost performance 40 percent and decrease power consumption by 40 percent, compared with the top-of-the-line dual-core Pentium D 95.

GridIron Software introduces Nucleo, an optimizing technology that speeds rendering in single workstations running Adobe After Effects — as long as the hardware includes at least one dual-core processor. Nucleo rejiggers the standard serial processing setup After Effects uses, speeding throughput by turning it into a parallel processing system.

Nucleo is a sibling to GridIron's X-Factor for After Effects, which creates grid-computing networks to speed preview and rendering. X-Factor allows users to create an on-the-fly renderfarm by networking any mix of computers lying around the shop — whether Mac, Windows, or both.

Automatic Duck turns out some of the best timeline integration software around, so be sure to check out the latest: Pro Import AE 3.03, an enhanced version of the company's flagship Timeline Integration Engine software for the newly launched Adobe After Effects 7.0.

This new development is targeted for Avid Adrenaline, Xpress Pro HD, and Symphony Nitris users. For the first time, these users can use Pro Import AE to support Avid AAF compositions that refer to MXF media, including DN×HD and uncompressed HD.

New enhancements to Pro Import FCP come in version 2.0. The product now handles import for Final Cut Pro users. Also, artists can import OMF files from digital audio workstations, such as Digidesign Pro Tools, into Final Cut Pro.

Chyron introduces a new graphics operating system for the broadcast environment, with the promise of delivering a toolset whose simplicity of use is “unmatched in the industry.” Lyric Pro allows users to create graphics the way everyone thinks of them — in pieces, rather than as a flowing, ongoing stream of images. Multiple graphics can be merged at airtime; entry, exit, and update effects are created individually for each graphic element; and persistent objects are created separately.

This means that, if necessary, graphics can be built and changed within seconds before airing. Whether this makes life any easier for the tech director is another question.

Also, check out updates to Chyron's top-of-the-line HyperX HD/SD graphics system, including improved 3D creation and manipulation.

VDS Twister HD version 7 is set to debut at NAB 2006. The next generation of the well-established Liberty paint software, Twister HD is a paint, graphic content creation, and workflow utility app. One nice, er, twist: Twister combines its extensive set of graphic design tools with custom browser utilities, which helps address workflow issues.

Some of the new version 7 features include improved support of Photoshop files, improved masking tools, added dynamic tools, additional quick keys, and integration with ORAD. Twister's auto resolution conversion now makes it easier to create reusable daily templates in SD or HD.

Harris will introduce the flagship product of its new Inscriber graphics family, known as the G-Series. An HD/SD-selectable character generator system, Inscriber G3 is said to be easy to learn and manage, while seamlessly interfacing in news or other broadcast environments.

Harris will also debut the Videotek VTM Series, a fully customizable, multiformat 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. Features include field upgradeability, 1RU chassis, lit controls with a tactile feel, and output to VGA monitors.

Harris will also introduce enhancements to its Videotek TVM series of precision monitoring instruments, including the new TVM-Eye 2 option, which creates an HD/SD eye pattern monitor with jitter meter.

Miranda continues to offer useful interface products, such as its Bridge series for HDV gear. At the show, it will debut HD-Bridge DecDXC, a new version of its successful HDV to HD-SDI interface. The HD-Bridge DecDXC features a genlock input for broadcast applications, as well as 720p24 HDV to 1080p24 HD-SDI conversion for native 24p production and editing. Other new features include an HDV downconverter for SD editing and a simultaneous composite video output for low-cost monitoring.

While many know For-A for its range of switchers, the company fills other postproduction and broadcast needs as well. Take the new FA-9000 multipurpose processor, for example. It's versatile, supporting all video signal input and output formats for digital signals (such as HD-SDI and SD-SDI) and for analog component (HD and SD) and analog composite.

The new processor uses 12-bit internal processing to support all video signals from signal conversion to format conversion. (It includes digital analog input/output for audio signals in the same manner as video signals.) An optional Dolby-E decoder can be installed for monitoring and signal correction for surround sound signals in today's multichannel environment.

Tektronix will show new capabilities for its WVR7100 and WVR6100 rasterizers, including eye pattern display, jitter measurements, and cable length measurement for HD-SDI and SD-SDI signals.

At NAB 2006, Wohler Technologies will introduce a new touchscreen LCD video monitor series with mini router functions and multi-screen output. The new Touch-it LCD touchscreen video monitor includes dual high-resolution 7in. LCD panels, which offer video confidence monitoring for up to 12 channels of composite video.

One nice touch with these monitors: You can monitor 12 1.8in. thumbnail-size touchscreen-selectable images on one screen, touch the one you want, and it pops up at full size on the other screen.

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© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.