Holman to deliver Engineering Conference keynote

Mar 15, 2006 2:43 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Innovator and sound engineer Tomlinson Holman will give the keynote address April 23 at the 60th Annual NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference in Las Vegas.

Holman, a professor of Film Sound at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television, will explore how broadcasters can compete in today's marketplace filled with high-quality pictures and sound. Home theater market penetration continues to grow, and with it expectations for picture and sound quality on the home front. With the release of high-definition disc formats, 1080p sets, automated room equalization, and other developments, expectations of consumers are ever increasing for high quality.

Holman also is chief scientist at Audyssey Laboratories, developer of automated room equalization used by Denon in many receiver models. Prior to his position at USC, Holman spent 15 years at Lucasfilm where, as corporate technical director, he developed the THX Sound System and its companions the Theater Alignment Program, Home THX and the THX Digital Mastering program. Holman holds six U.S. patents and is a fellow of the AES, the British Kinematograph Sound and Television Society, and SMPTE. He has lifetime achievement awards and honorary memberships from the Cinema Audio Society, the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association and the Motion Picture Sound Editors.

For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

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Mobile TV to take center stage at NAB2006

Mar 15, 2006 3:00 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

The coming wave of television service for mobile phones is likely to usher in a new stream of revenue opportunities for content owners and service providers. The exact shape and scope however is still unclear.

At NAB2006, the MoTV: Mobile Video & TV Forum is intended to shed some light on how the future may shape up for these emerging services. The April 25 forum will offer several sessions, presentations and addresses. These will include:

• Mobile Video: Opportunities and Obstacles, with participation from Michael Stroud, co-founder of iHollywood Forum; ABC Entertainment senior vice president Bruce Gersh; TBS vice president Bob Schukau; Nokia global vice president Mark Selby. The session will explore how TV and video can be monetized; the best delivery mechanism; and how long consumers will spend watching.
• Keynote Salil Dalvi, vice president, Wireless Platforms, NBC Mobile.
• The Race to Broadcast TV to Mobile Phones, with participants Ryan Hughes, Verizon; Ian Blaine, the Platform; Chris Gilbert, IPWireless; Phil McKinney, Hewlett Packard; Daniel Scalis, WNI Network; and Omar Javaid, QUALCOMM MediaFLO.
• Killer Content with participants Julie Ask, Jupiter Research; Joey Carson, Burnim/Murray Productions; Roger Jackson, IFILM.com; Troy Snyder, None Systems.
• SMS, Games, Visual Radio, Mobile Radio and Other Ancillary Revenue Opportunities for Broadcasters with moderator Laura Behrens of Gartner Group.
• Mobile Video Marketing for Entertainment Brands with participants Richard Bennett, SmartVideo; Phillip Avelda, MobiTV; Keith Hindle, FremantleMedia.

The MoTV forum will be presented in S219 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

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Station chief engineer Pete Sockett and Charlie Grisham of BitCentral will discuss the planning and execution of the Raleigh-Durham, NC,-based station’s transition to a file-based HD news workflow.

Mar 15, 2006 3:04 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

As part of the NAB2006 Engineering Conference, WRAL-TV chief engineer Pete Sockett and Charlie Grisham of BitCentral will discuss the Raleigh-Durham, NC, -based station’s ongoing transition from a tape-based HD news workflow to a digital file-based approach.

The pair will discuss the goals of making it easier to share video, eliminating tape cluttered tape archives and repurposing content for different platforms.

Sockett and Grisham will make their presentation April 25.

For more information visit www.nabshow.com.

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Front Porch Digital to roll out DIVAnet V2.0

Mar 15, 2006 3:08 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Front Porch Digital will unveil DIVAnet version 2.0 for the DIVArchive. It provides advanced content replication, disaster recovery and business continuance functionality across multiple facilities.

DIVAnet V2.0 can replicate content between facilities and provide a fundamental toolset for advanced content lifecycle control for multisite archive management.

The company also will show DIVArchive 5.10, with enhancements, such as broader interoperability with technology from key Front Porch Digital partners, enhanced performance for network-based API clients, file system interface refinements, and enhanced error messaging.

See Front Porch Digital at NAB2006 in booth SU2236, or visit www.fpdigital.com.

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Sony to unveil PDJ-A640 cart system, PDW-R1 field recorder/player

Mar 15, 2006 3:34 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

The new PDJ-A640 cart system complements the 80-disc PDJ-C1080 cart machine.

The new cart system can hold up to 640 of Sony’s Professional Discs. It complements the 80 disc PDJ-C1080 cart machine and can be used with up to four XDCAM decks, including both the PDW-1500 and the recently introduced PDW-F70. Both robotics-controlled cart systems can be used for automated ingest play-to-air transmission, short to mid-term archival storage library on-and off-line digitizing

The PDW-R1 field recorder can be AC or battery-powered, features a tilt-up LCD screen and a range of interfaces. It has a low power consumption of just 35W and is available with features, such as audio monitor select and mix out select.

See Sony at NAB2006 in booth SU107, or visit www.sonybiz.net.

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Scopus Video Networks to showcase IP-based video, DSNG solutions

Mar 15, 2006 3:41 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Scopus Video Networks will display IP-based video networking solutions and digital satellite newsgathering solutions at NAB2006.

The company’s IP solutions allow broadcasters and service providers to leverage a unified network infrastructure, simplifying network operations. Scopus’ product portfolio performs satellite reception, real-time encoding, and head-end video processing through IP networking.

The company also will show its UE-9218 DSNG platform featuring simultaneous MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 SD encoding with built-in DVB-S2 modulation and upconversion.

See Scopus Video Networks at NAB2006 in booth SU4175, or visit www.scopus.net.

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Fast Forward Video to unveil VDR 200 portable DVR

Mar 15, 2006 3:50 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Fast Forward Video will show its Mini DVR Pro along with the newly introduced VDR 200 digital video recorder.

The compact VDR 200 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.

The company also will show its Omega Deck digital video recorder, DigiDeck featuring QuickTime movie file recording and Mini DVR Pro.

See Fast Forward Video at NAB2006 in booth C1851, or visit www.ffv.com.

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Pixelmetrix to introduce ConsolidatorPlus

Mar 15, 2006 4:11 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

ConsolidatorPlus can be used to manage a mixed network of monitors, displaying the appropriate level of information for each device, fault and location.

ConsolidatorPlus enables complete visibility of network status from a straightforward Windows client. The user interface can be customized, including a geographical map, to show the location and status of each device. When a fault occurs, the corresponding monitoring point is highlighted, enabling the operator to drill down and determine the nature of the fault. ConsolidatorPlus can be used to manage a mixed network of monitors, displaying the appropriate level of information for each device, fault, and location.

The company also will showcase its DVB-T Line Interface solution for monitoring digital terrestrial transmission over the terrestrial channel and at the transmission tower.

See Pixelmetrix at NAB2006 in booth C6616, or visit www.pixelmetrix.com.

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FOR-A to debut HD frame rate converter

Mar 15, 2006 4:03 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

FOR-A will introduce its FRC-7000 HD frame rate converter at NAB2006.

The FRC-7000 uses motion compensation processing via motion vectors to convert field frequencies and enables conversion between different HD frame rates.

The FRC-7000 can convert frame rates between 1080/59.94i and 50i and between 720/59.94p and 50p.

The FRC-7000’s motion compensation processing technology uses motion vectors to reduce judder and video resolution deterioration in field frequency conversion. The frame rate converter has Scene Cut Detection that detects scene cuts automatically to ensure that the conversion is performed without generating a motion compensation image from unrelated cuts.

See FOR-A at NAB2006 in booth C3210, or visit www.for-a.com.

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Autoscript to launch Plus-Light

Mar 15, 2006 4:50 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

At NAB2006, Autoscript will launch Plus-Light, a system that is mounted to and powered by the company’s TFT on-camera prompters.

Using an LED array, Plus-Light offers soft, controllable light without the aggravation of conventional tungsten fixtures. Plus-Light has no AC cables required to connect to the camera or pedestal and no heat issues.

The company also will show the ELP15-PT on-camera prompter, which enables a 15in teleprompter to be coupled with lightweight robotic pan and tilt heads. The carousel mount carries the weight instead of the pan and tilt head.

See Autoscript at NAB2006 in booth C-7415, or visit www.autoscript.tv.

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Panasonic to showcase AJ-HPC2000 HD camcorder

Mar 15, 2006 4:54 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

The AJ-HPC2000 features five P2 card slots for enhanced on-board recording capacity.

The 2/3in CCD imagers allow the use of widely available professional quality lenses and accessories. The camcorder offers F10 at 2000 lux sensitivity and can capture images at a minimum illumination of 0.032 lux (at +62dB).

The AJ-HPC2000 features five P2 card slots for enhanced on-board recording capacity. Each P2 card is hot swappable and can be plugged directly into a laptop PC or P2 portable recorder, such as the new AJ-HPM100. An additional card slot is provided for optional accessories, such as a Proxy Video Encoder. An SD card slot is also included for recording and replicating setup information useful in multi-camera productions.

See Panasonic Broadcast at NAB2006 in booth C2518, or visit www.panasonic.com.

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Scientific-Atlanta to show HD advanced compression encoder

Mar 15, 2006 4:59 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Scientific-Atlanta will highlight its Model D9054 HDTV advanced compression encoder (AVC) and the benefits it offers in satellite distribution and IPTV applications at NAB2006.

The new MPEG-4 part 10/H.264 encoder supports multiple applications, including IPTV, satellite distribution, backhaul/contribution, DVB-T and xDSL. Using AVC, operators can maintain high video quality, even at bandwidth-saving low bit rates.

By delivering more channels over existing bandwidth, AVC helps expand the usefulness of current networks and provides opportunities to launch expanded HDTV programming and add new revenue generating services.

See Scientific-Atlanta at NAB2006 in booth SU1608, or visit www.scientific-atlanta.com.

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Laird Telemedia to introduce DV switcher

Mar 15, 2006 5:01 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

At NAB2006, Laird Telemedia will unveil its new LTM-DV4X1A, which provides simple DV-based switching of up to four devices.

This digital production tool accepts DV IEEE 1394 (FireWire) inputs from DV devices, such as VTRs, cameras, or NLEs, and will lock and switch any of the four sources glitch-free.

Devices do not have to be genlocked or synchronous. The LTM-DV4X1A also allows insertion of external audio into the DV stream from either a line level or microphone source.

The switcher features simple front-panel pushbuttons. Two of the compact units fit in one LTM-RK2 rack-mount adapter.

See Laird Telemedia at NAB2006 in booth SL3769, or visit www.lairdtelemedia.com.

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WOSU-TV automates master control with Titan

Mar 15, 2006 5:04 PM, NAB Update e-newsletter

WOSU-TV, the PBS affiliate in the Columbus, OH, market, is installing a new Titan automation system from Sundance Digital in master control center located at the Fawcett Center on the campus of Ohio State University.

Together with Titan master control automation, WOSU will be building a new 10,000sq ft HD facility in downtown Columbus at the Center for Science and Industry. This remote studio will originate broadcasts, such as public forums and political debates, house postproduction and producers, and expose children and adults to the latest broadcast technology.

Titan is a scalable automation system that can control many hundreds of channels in a facility or remotely manage playlists at multiple geographically separated locations.

See Sundance Digital at NAB2006 in booth SU1425, or visit www.sundancedigital.com.

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Streamload supplies digital media services to Discovery Communications

Mar 16, 2006 10:25 AM, NAB Update e-newsletter

Discovery Communications has selected online digital media services provider Streamload to host its first online viewer video submission project.

Streamload's viewer submission system, which allows viewers to get more involved in their favorite programs, is being used to support the new Travel Channel series "5 TAKES." "5 TAKES" equips five young travelers with video cameras to document their travel experiences while interacting with viewers throughout their journey via the network's Web site. "5 TAKES" provides a unique platform for amateur travel journalists to share experiences and travel tips via the Web.

Supported by Streamload technology, potential participants in "5 TAKES" were encouraged to upload their videos to www.travelchannel.com for review, rating and comment by producers who then selected their favorite submissions, which may be shown in online Webisodes.

The viewer submission system was created via Streamload's Web Services, allowing Discovery Communications to leverage Streamload's storage system, which currently manages the digital media of more than 3.5 million user accounts.

For more information, visit www.streamload.com.

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