Last Meeting
Wednesday, 4 October
Aykut told the group how to get those perfect titles
Mark guided us through Compressor
Valentin showed us how to set up a TV station with DTV and Co
Some regulars
Marks Compresor tutorial
Monthly Archive for September, 2006
Hello Geeks and storytellers
Ok now, it’s not necessarily fresh information you’re getting here, but Paul wouldn’t let me leave the country without telling about the recent IBC in Amsterdam.
All the info I will be providing is very personal and not very in-depth. There were after all over 1000 exhibitors there this year! So many toys and so little time.
For more information click on the links provided.
Further Paul will be taking the liberty of extending the information which I am providing here, using generous amounts of copy and paste.
APPLE AND FINAL CUT PRO
We started our search directly at the apple stand, meeting Mr Golisch. We asked him for some tips, as to what would be worth seeing at the IBC.
He dutifully replied APPLE and went on from there.
FCP 5.1.2 is coming out in approximately one month.
This version is being billed as “a bug-fixer” as Mr Golisch put it.
Further there is finally a moving waveform monitor. i.e. shows information whilst video is playing!
FCP 5.1.2 was certainly very well received in by the L.A. user group . There was much praise for the support of many new formats.
Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 includes RT profiles for the latest Apple Mac Pro and iMac hardware.
This release provides the following format compatibility:
- SONY XDCAM HD: Adding 1080 25P and support for native 18- and 35Mbit VBR MPEG HD. Support now includes
- 1080i 50/60, 1080p 24/25/30.
- Native 25Mbit CBR, 18- and 35Mbit VBR MPEG HD for HD
- Native IMX 30 for SD
- PANASONIC: 720 25P from P2 devices. Support now includes
- 1080i 50/60, 720p 24/24N/25/25N/30 form P2 cards
- PANASONIC: 1080pA 24 (Advanced Pulldown) now supported via FireWire from AJ-HD1200A
- PANASONIC: more reliable P2 import dialog with ability browser, mark, and ingest in the background.
- CANON: 1080p 24/25 HDV
- JVC: 720p 24/25 HDV
Other stability and reliability improvements:
- SCOPES AND MONITORS. Improved accuracy; scopes can now sample every video line. Scope will also update in real-time during video playback.
- BWF compatibility
- Improved edit-to-tape accuracy for D5
- Compatibility with insert editing to audio channels 5-12 on decks
- Now compatible with some FxPlug filters
- Gamma control for imported graphics
- Media Manager is now more reliable
- EDL and Cinema Tools lists
- XML for developers
- Metadata preservation in QT files
von Hase and Owen weren’t too exited about the APPLE appearance. Big but some what directionless.
The thing I did not like was the contact with the cupertino crew. I asked for some support for our user group, a number to call in Cupertino for serious questions and I was sent from person to person without solution. Hmm, support still not Apple’s favorite subject.
By the way, at least a third of all systems running editing software for presentation services were running on Final Cut.
Apple screens were to be seen all over the place. People seem to be digging the apple look.
The rest of the first day we just wandered around, just trying to find out where everything is, being amazed about ‘Strande Zud’ a beach bar with lots of bikini girls and cocktails with was hidden right behind the building.
After that we checked out Amsterdam night life we ate some old gouda and went into one of those shops which sell coffee.
HARD DISK RECORDERS
A brief summary follows. Many solutions, but…. wait another year.
Either the stuff is small and nice but usually only captures HD or HDV or big, heavy and bulky and does lots and lots of formats.
Also tends to be really pricey. Although prices will inevitably fall.
However the catch is still no backup! Which means if the disk dies on you, your in trouble, disk dead, data dead equals project dead.
Could also be a insurance problem. It´s going to be easier to insure those old fashioned tapes.
Here is a brief round up of some of the hard drive solutions on display at IBC.
Whilst many are quite similar lets take a look at some of those details which make them different.
By the way a handy little utility to calculate hard drive space can be found here.
http://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/videospace/index.php
FIRESTORE FAMILY
The classic hard drive recorder! Out for a number of years now. With many different options.
Entry level options include The FireStore FS-4 for DV and the FireStore FS-4 HD for DV and HDV.
There are three high end models designed to work with different cameras.
FS-100 for the Panasonic AG-HVX200 P2 Camera. Using the DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50 and DVCPRO 25 formats. Containing a 100GB hard drive.
DR-HD 100 for the JVC DR-HD100. Supports HD 720p mode. And comes with either a 40 or 80GB hard drive.
FS-C for the Cannon XL-H1. Supports hd 1080i or DV25 mode. Comes with either a 60 or 100GB.
SONY HARD DISK OFFERING
The Sony HVR-DR60 hard disk recorder is designed specifically for the new Sony HVR-V1E camcorder.
The 60GB 1.8-inch hard disk will record DV or HDV.
It has HDD Smart Protection, so it can withstand drops of up to one meter.
It weighs 227g (ex battery).
This device can not be powered via firewire like many of the other hard drives listed here. Instead it uses a Sony L-series battery providing between 4.5 hours to 13.5 hours of power.
http://www.sonybiz.net/images/product/X/HVR-DR60(brch).pdf
NDT PORTABLE VIDEO RECORDER.
Small compact, digital and analogue input. Has a nifty removable 2.5in hard drive! And records QuickTime! Not quite sure what the quality is like but they say scalable Motion JPEG Compression 4:1 to 30:1!
Standard Features
- Scalable Motion JPEG Compression 4:1 to 30:1
- Analog Composite & S-Video (Y/C) Inputs & Outputs
- Dual Channel Audio
-Time/Date Stamp & Character Display
- USB 2.0 **QuickTimeâ„¢ Video File Transfer
- PC Viewable or Secure Video Files
-Variable Speed Playback
- Time-Lapse Recording
- Loop Record
- Pre-Event Record
- Build and Edit Clip Lists
- 32-Character Video Clip Naming
- User-Named Video Clip Folders
- Instant Discrete Access to Every Frame of Recorded Video
- Jog, Scan, and Scrub – Forward and Reverse
- PC or Standard VTR Machine Control via RS-232
- Low Power Consumption
- Intuitive Touch Pad and Soft Button Interface
- Large Push Button Controls
- GPI Trigger Inputs
- NTSC or PAL User Selectable
www.ffv.com/Documents/NDT_200_Specs.pdf
BIG HARD DRIVES
It doesn´t have to be laCie. Hint, just try doing a search over at the LAFCPUG site for laCie and see what happens!
G-TECHNOLOGY
A range of hard drives connecting via, USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, eSerial-ATA, U320 SCSI and 4Gb Fiber channel, with many units including multiple connectivity protocols.
Solutions range from a small G Drive mini and GRAID mini. Portable and designed to fit in a shirt pocket and connect to a laptop using it´s bus power. i.e no need to cary a bulky transformer. Very sexy.
High end solutions include the GRAID Pro, a firewire 800 solution which features 5 hot swappable 7200 RPM Sata 2, hard drive modules.
JAKOB DREAM HARD DRIVE, NOT YET!
So, what we were looking for, a portable, shock proof, water resistant, battery powered, 5 terra raid system for the backpack… isn’t out yet.
But they are really working on it.
CAMERAS
Sony are in the process of bringing out a second generation of HDV cameras. They have a mind boggling product naming system which is really difficult to understand! If one were paranoid, one could almost think that they are doing this with a view to every so subtly phasing out the first generation cameras.
Sony HVR-V1E
-3 ClearVid CMOS sensors-True progressive scan 25p
-Records to a mini DV cassette
-Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens, 20x optical zoom with F2.8 at the telephoto end
-2 XLR microphone inputs
-3.5-inch LCD
-HDMI output (so you can plug it into your HDTV set
and/or to optional hard disk recording unit, HVR-DR60, which records HDV/DVCAM/DV
The camera is small and my first impression was that it´s a little bit fiddly. But then the price might just be decisive, available end of November and should cost around 4600€
CAMERA ACCESSORIES
MOVIE TUBE
What I really liked was ARRI’S MOVIETUBE, an adapter system for most small three chip DV or HDV cameras.
There are two versions LT and ST.
The system is very flexible. And It is possible to upgrade the LT version to a ST version.
The entry level version includes the image tube, which reproduces the look and feel of 35mm film
Equipped with video rods
A docking bridge for the camera
MT-bayonet adaptor for Arri, PL and Panavision lenses
Lots of different options!
DVTEC
Oh yeah, some funky creative grip a spring-tube coming up from your belly, holding your mini DV cam. REST it on your bellybutton. The DvRig junior. Funny guys.
CAMERA LENSES
INNO VISION HD PRO
Helps, helps camera men shoot from all kinds of weird perspectives. Including around corners with the 45° and 90° adaptor!
Speed: T3.3
Barrel Diameter: 1.7″ (43.2mm)
Length: 19″ (48.2cm)
Weight: 4 lbs. (1.8kg)
Water proof to a depth of 30cm
Available attachments: Direct View, 45° & 90°
Available objective lenses: 5mm, 8mm, 12mm, 17mm & 23mm
Housing: Constructed of aircraft aluminum with durable black anodized exterior.
Optional Accessories: Remote focus control, an assortment of 43mm filters, shipping cases.
AUDIO
CANTAR-X FROM AATON
Owen got overly excited when he saw the perfect craftsmanship. Seems to be able to do lots of fancy things.
Media specifications include:
Recording and playback to and from shock resistant and sealed 2.5″ internal FireWire connected hard drive
8 Simultaneous 8 track recording
FAT32 formatting allows for up to 127GB
Audio format:
AES31 BWF Monophonic tracks for instant use by any computer or mixing console
Built-in CDR burner delivers ISO 9660 Mono or Poly files (stereo interleaved) for on-the-fly telecine syncing and editing stations.
16 and 24 bit, 44.1Khz to 96.096Khz sampling rates in & out. Built-in sample converters allow for any rates.
And much, much more
COMMUNICATIONS
SWE-DISH
Offer their HMO product which stands for Highly Mobile Office.
It consist of 2 components.
Firstly a portable communications centre for voice, video and data housed in a rugged water proof case.
Video Broadcast, videoconference, IP telephony, web browsing, email, office applications etc.
Up to 25 users can use the HMO for phone simultaneously for, mail etc!
The communications center also acts as a remote control center for the satellite terminal.
Connect to the satellite component and phone home.
CONTENT, CONTENT AND CONTENT
We finished in the cinema with a preview of a 3D remake of Monster house. Lovely. good 3d, fantastic sound, hollywood script. popcorn movie. Excellent stuff. Below is a picture of Owen with his 3d glasses.
Oh, the auditorium, I almost forgot, Aardman was there! Holding a very nice course on how to do an animated film.
Very thoughtful, lots of explanational video, very funny with a very basic and good message.
When asked what they would order from all the technicians and developers in the audience, any machine, anything the answer was: a storytelling machine.
Right guys, what does all the geektechnicalequippaldippel do without following a proper script.
Go sit down and write. and cheers, I am of to transylvania.
Jakob, with a little help from Paul.
P.S. Last but by no means least some lovely cables
This is the IBC 2006 BFCPUG convention team, from left to right. me(Jakob), von Hase and Owen, just after arrival.
