New Multi-Format, Camera-Mountable DVR Delivers Pristine Video Quality and Streamlines Production Workflows by Eliminating Time-Consuming Transcoding
IRVINE, Calif. -- Feb 22, 2012 -- At the 2012 NAB Show, Fast Forward Video (FFV) will unveil the sideKick HD(TM), a multi-format, straight-to-edit, camera-mountable digital video recorder (DVR) that raises the bar for image quality when paired with today's state-of-the-art camcorders. Designed to ease production workflows and satisfy the demands of both producers and postproduction editors, the sideKick HD enables customers to get the most out of their camcorders without compromising on quality.
"Superior picture quality is the hallmark of our award-winning line of DVR systems, and the sideKick HD is the latest example, delivering the pristine output and flexibility producers expect while making life much easier for post-production editors," said Paul DeKeyser, founder of FFV. "With the sideKick HD, camera-to-editing workflows have never been more streamlined. Instead of using the camera's on-board recording device, users can capture video directly from any HD/SDI or HDMI output and choose the final post-production codec without any additional transcoding -- saving valuable time and removing steps that could degrade image quality."
The new sideKick HD offers unmatched image quality in a camera-mountable recording solution. Although today's state-of-the-art camcorders offer superior image sensors and high-quality interchangeable lenses, their internal recording capabilities are typically lacking. While most camcorders are capable of delivering a data stream of only 30 megabits per second at 50:1 compression, the sideKick HD is able to record at 220 megabits per second at only 7:1 compression, providing significantly higher image quality for the "camera original."
The sideKick HD attaches to any HD camcorder or HDSLR using a standard ΒΌ-20 mount. As a true straight-to-edit DVR, the system records to off-the-shelf, hot-swappable 2.5-inch SSD drives in native ProRes (for Apple(R) Final Cut Pro(R)) or DNxHD (Avid(R)) NLE formats. Bringing files into the NLE environment is a simple matter of moving the disk from the sideKick HD to the computer; no time-consuming ingest or transcoding operations are required. A 4.3-inch on-board confidence monitor offers playback options including scrub and jog capabilities.
To simplify power management, the extremely lightweight sideKick HD is intended to be powered from the camera's battery. FFV offers power cables for direct connection to Anton-Bauer and IDX camera batteries, as well as approved OEM-compatible batteries with a DC output for Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and JVC camcorders. In addition, FFV offers a battery pack option that extends the full power of the sideKick HD to users of smaller cameras that are not equipped with full-sized batteries. On remote location shoots, these users now have the ability to unplug a discharged battery and replace it with a fully charged one without interrupting a sideKick HD recording session.
At the 2012 NAB Show, the sideKick HD will headline FFV's full line of durable, user-friendly DVR solutions, each designed with customer requirements in mind and focused on delivering the highest quality output possible. More information about the sideKick HD and FFV's complete line of award-winning DVR solutions is available at www.ffv.com.
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About Fast Forward Video
By any standard, Fast Forward Video's family of HD digital video recorders (DVRs) delivers a level of image quality that is second to none in the world. For 27 years, FFV has maintained that focus on quality and innovation. FFV was the first to incorporate digital computer technology, including random-access disk storage and data-compression capabilities, into professional video products. The company holds several patents for its family of DVRs and board-level solutions, which have received an Emmy(R) nomination as well as numerous industry awards. Today, FFV's customer roster reads like a who's who in professional broadcast, presentation, industrial, and military environments worldwide. Visit www.ffv.com to learn more about how FFV's DVR solutions are preferred by media professionals "When Image Quality Counts."
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