Novinky z IBC 2013

News from SONY

At this year's IBC, SONY introduced a number of new products, some of which were already announced at the NAB show in Las Vegas in April this year. The good news is that most of the announced news is already available and there is no need to wait for more months for them. Since this year's IBC was completely 4K, probably the most interesting new product is the compact "handycam" 4K camera PXW-Z100. The camera has a new 1/2.33" Exmor R CMOS 1/2.33" sensor, new wide-angle 4K optics with 20x zoom, and also a new XAVC recording codec borrowed from CineAlta's F5/F55 cameras. The PXW-Z100 is capable of recording full 4K resolution of 4096x2160 at 50 full frames and at bitrates up to 500Mbps. In addition to full 4K, the camera is also capable of recording QFHD (3840x2160) and standard HD at a higher bitrate (up to 223Mbps) in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression at 4:2:2 and 10-bit intra-frame compression. A firmware upgrade to allow recording to LongGOP 4K and AVCHD formats should be available during 2014. Pro audio (2x XLR input), HDMI output for 4K, 3G HD-SDI output, ability to control basic features over Wi-Fi are standard. The PXW-Z100 is expected to be priced at around €6,000 excluding VAT and should be available later this year.

SONY plans to implement the new XAVC codec in several new camcorders, including the PMW-300 (firmware in 2014), which will be available in two versions - with 14x zoom (PMW-300/K1) and 16x zoom (PMW-300/K2

) optics. The PMW-300 replaces the very popular EX3, and in addition to the 1/2" Exmor CMOS chip, 50Mbps recording, interchangeable lens and integrated shoulder rest, it also brings remote control over Wi-Fi, an improved high-resolution viewfinder (960x540 pixels) or remote control via RCP via an 8-pin connector. The PMW-300/K1 version is already available at a price below EUR 7000,- excluding VAT, the PMW-300/K2 version will be available at the end of the year at a slightly higher price.

The new PMW-400, available as a body only (PMW-400L) or with a 16x zoom lens (PMW-400K), replaces the PWM-350 and brings, in addition to remote control via Wi-Fi, an improved viewfinder, 3DNR noise reduction or an integrated system to reduce artifacts caused by camera flashes. The PMW-400 includes a pair of HD/SD-SDI outputs, and using the 50-pin CBK-CE01 interface, the shoulder-mount camera can be made a studio camera compatible with a digital triax (CA-TX70) or optical adapter (CA-FB70). To speed up the workflow, SONY has introduced the CBK-WA100 and CBK-WA101 adapters, which enable wireless transmission of content via a 3G/4G/LTE/Wi-Fi module. The adapter is compatible with PMW-500/400/300/200/160/150/50 (when using HD/SD-SDI and USB connectivity) and with PMW-320, PDW-F800/700/680 (when using HD/SD-SDI connectivity). Along with this adapter, a new BP-U60T battery pack capable of powering external devices (e.g. this adapter) was also introduced. The many features of the camera are further underlined by a limited-time promotion, thanks to which when you buy a bodypack transmitter or wireless "handy", you get a free two-channel digital wireless receiver DWR-S02D

with the camera at a price of more than 2000,- EUR without VAT!

Wireless control was also available for the PMW-200 camcorder (requires CBK-WA01 adapter) but in the new software version, in addition to controlling zoom, focus, aperture, white balance or start/stop recording, live preview is also available on iOS or Android tablets. Find out more about the PMW-200 in this comprehensive video review

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Also unveiled at this year's IBC was the redesigned FS700, which, under the NEX-FS700RH

designation, will include the 11x power zoom SELP18200 lens that is included with the NEX-EA50EH camcorder, for example. Software-wise, the camera will have excellent dynamic range with S-Log2 and 709 Gamma curves.

For those planning their budget further in advance, SONY has introduced a 4K studio camera for live streaming based on the already available PMW-F55. The system consists of the CA-4000 camera unit, BPU-4000 processor and HDCU-2000 camera control. Completing the chain is a video server (MVS-8000X), recorder (SR-R1000) and OLED monitor (PVM-X300

) - all with 4K support, of course. The entire system was successfully deployed at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 in Brazil. An equally interesting addition is the system for combining the images from two 4K cameras into one final 8Kx2K image, in which it is possible to move around in real time and select any cut-out of the image (e.g. zoom in on any part of the pitch). In this way, the entire playing area can be continuously scanned, ensuring that you don't miss any essential detail.

With the advent of HD resolution, and now slowly the more disk space intensive 4K, it is important and necessary to store or archive this content efficiently. Thanks to years of experience with optical discs, SONY has introduced a new system for long-term data archiving that brings several innovations and improvements over, for example, extended LTO tape drives. The new Optical Disc Drive system, using rewritable and very fast optical discs, can be used for long-term archiving (more than 50 years) as well as for active storage for various workgroups. The system is fully scalable and can be started with a single ODS-D55U or ODS-D77U reader/writer and several optical discs (from 300GB up to 1.5TB per disc). Later, if circumstances require, the system can be supplemented with a smaller ODS-L10

archive (capable of holding 10 optical disks and two readers/writers) or alternatively, several of these archives can be integrated into libraries with several dozen disks and access by several users simultaneously. The Optical Disc Drive system is fully scalable and is suitable for both small companies and large enterprises with enormous amounts of data.

New 4K products from Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design has introduced several new products (not only) for Ultra HD/4K video processing. These include the new ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K overhead that will be launched around October this year, the SmartScope Duo 4K dual rackmount video monitor (already available), three new models in the Mini Converter line, namely the Mini Converter Optical Fiber 4K, Mini Converter SDI to HDMI 4K and Mini Converter SDI Multiplex 4K, coming in October, and also the upgraded HyperDeck Studio Pro 2 disc-based video recorder (on sale now). The manufacturer further announced new "Desktop Video 10" firmware and software for the popular UltraStudio 4K and DeckLink 4K Extreme capture cards, which has been completely redesigned and now allows full-duplex operation (i.e. simultaneous video recording and playback) with minimal latency - more information can be found here. This makes Blackmagic Design one of the few companies to offer a comprehensive suite of products for 4K/Ultra HD video processing. No wonder the first Ultra HD transmission truck

in Denmark is equipped with Blackmagic Design's technology!

DaVinci Resolve users will be pleased with the recently released beta version of the program, numbered 10. The beta includes a number of new features, including support for OpenFX plug-ins and the Ultra HD standard, new features for distributing masters to cinemas, among others. At the company's booth, the implementation of real-time (!) 4K video color editing on a workstation equipped with AMD FirePro graphics

and UltraStudio 4K cards was demonstrated. The beta version can be downloaded at blackmagicdesign.com/support.

NewTek launches new TriCaster video editor line

NewTek has unveiled the next generation of its TriCaster family of mobile overhead products. The new line includes three new video production overhead models - the TriCaster 860, TriCaster 460 and TriCaster 410 - and a significantly enhanced version of the flagship TriCaster 8000

product. All of the introduced products include significant improvements in multi-camera live production and now offer 4 or 8 configurable effects (M/E) channels. Users can use the M/E channel to create challenging and layered compositions in real-time, produce sub-mixes in the main program, and send content to outputs as a secondary program, including overdubs, graphics, layers and virtual studios.

The new TriCasters come with updated software that greatly expands operators' capabilities and reduces production costs. The most significant changes are significantly improved virtual studios - now with the ability to create panoramic and photorealistic virtual studios from photos captured with phones or DSLRs - as well as features for controlling robotic "Pan-Tilt-Zoom" cameras using standard serial and network interfaces, a preset system, or manual control over the orientation, focus, and aperture of individual cameras.

New versions of Photoshop CC, Premiere CC and After Effects CC

Adobe announces the availability of updates for users of Adobe Photoshop CC bitmap editor, as well as updates planned for October for video products in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Upcoming updates to Creative Cloud video tools, such as Adobe Premiere Pro CC or Adobe After Effects CC, will include over 150 new features and will be available to all Creative Cloud members at no additional charge or price increase. You can order all of the above Adobe Creative Cloud products directly from our e-shop

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Autodesk Maya LT 2014 for indie game developers!

Autodesk has launched a new, "lightened" and also cheaper version of the 3D program Maya. Called Maya 2014 LT, the software is specifically designed for indie game developers and mobile game creators. Maya LT includes all the tools indie developers need to produce content for PC, web and mobile games. The program is built on the core of Maya 2014

, with which it shares modeling tools (NURBS surface support, polygonal tools, UV coordinate editing, etc.), including the Modeling Toolkit and full support for "baking" textures with Turtle!

Autodesk also offers the option of temporary rental licenses. You can rent 3ds Max 2014, Maya 2014, Maya 2014 LT, and the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite for one, three, or twelve months. The option to purchase a perpetual license and the Subscription service remain in effect. Additionally, Extension 1 expansion packs have been introduced for subscribers of 3ds Max, Maya or Mudbox 2014

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Easy Media Suite

At this year's IBC, ESM unveiled enhanced versions of their three most important solutions - Ingest, CG and OnAirCG playout supporting cards from Blackmagic Design. New to the OnAirCG

playout solution is primarily an internal architecture change aimed at supporting "any" resolution, mainly targeting 4K and UltraHD playback (coming soon). New features also include the ability to embed groups of clips and schedule them, which is useful for embedding advertising, for example. Other new features include clip trimming (or setting the start and end point of playback), clip search and optimizing the performance of the whole system.

The CG captioner has received the ability to animate individual levels in a template, better XML support, and tighter binding to the playout, among new features. The Ingest

multi-channel ingest solution has gained a slightly clearer working environment, new presets that can now be edited/created/exported/imported, and a cleaner system for setting up clip splitting and scheduling the start of recording. Changes have also been made to metadata and parametric commands. New versions and individual improvements are now available.

Build your own 19" rack from Datavideo

At its booth, Datavideo presented several complementary products to its mobile overheads as well as a mobile version of its latest SE-2800 video overhead under the name HS-2800. This mobile overhead has 8 HD or SD inputs (HD-SDI, SD-SDI and HDMI), which can be increased up to a total of 12 inputs with an expansion card. In addition to the video inputs, the overhead also has 4x XLR audio, built-in intercom/tally, 17" multiviewer as well as a variety of effects, interlacing, 2x picture-in-picture, 2x DSK for graphics or logos. Another new addition is the DVK-300HD 19" 1U rack-mountable hardware SD/HD chromakey DVK-300HD keyer with HD/SD-SDI, HDMI or DVI in/out and convenient software control of functions such as brightness, contrast, noise reduction, edge adjustment or color dispersion via LAN. Also of interest will be the new small up/down/cross converter DAC-70, which will be able to convert VGA, HDMI and SDI formats - an ideal helper if you need to connect/laptops to video theatres. An interesting new feature, this time more from the user interface, is the new Datavideo Rack Builder

- a web application allowing you to build your own 19" rack assembly with accessories on some of Datavideo's video arrays. Kits can be saved and resumed later, or sent to us for pricing or compatibility checking.