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Blackmagic Design today announced its acquisition of Ultimatte, the worldwide leader in blue and green screen removal technology for the broadcast television, commercial and feature film industries, as well as the acquisition of Fairlight, which creates professional digital audio products for live broadcast event production, film and television post production, as well as immersive 3D audio mixing and finishing. Blackmagic Design also announced Teranex AV, a new broadcast quality standards converter designed specifically for AV professionals. Teranex AV features 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0a inputs, outputs and loop through, along with AV specific features such as low latency, a still store, freeze frame, and HiFi audio inputs for professionals working on live, staged presentations and conferences. Teranex AV will be available in September for 1,695 USD. Also new are DeckLink Mini Monitor 4K and DeckLink Mini Recorder 4K PCIe capture cards that include all the powerful features of the popular HD models but include new Ultra HD and HDR (high dynamic range) features. These new cards support all SD, HD and Ultra HD formats up to 2160p30 and are available now for only 195 USD each. Further on, Blackmagic Design lowered the price for the popular HyperDeck Studio 12G (now only 1,495 USD), and updated Blackmagic Video Assist 4K (firmware version 2.2 improves DNxHD and DNxHR support, adds false color monitoring, expanded focus options and new screen rotation features), as well as DaVinci Resolve (version 12.5.2 features support for additional URSA Mini camera metadata, color space tags on QuickTime export, Fusion Connect for Linux, advanced filtering options and more).

Panasonic introduces two models in the UX Series of professional 4K camcorders. The UX Series is the successor to Panasonic's AVCCAM Series of professional AVCHD camcorders. Given the increasing demand for 4K video content, the UX Series is designed to facilitate the upward shift to 4K for professional image production. The UX series offer specifications, functions and designs that provide the same level of mobility, operability and workflow tracking ability as conventional HD handheld camcorders. The AG-UX180 premium model features the industry's widest-angle 24mm (at 4K/FHD) and optical 20x zoom, and supports 4K 24p, UHD 60p/50p, FHD 60p/50p recording, 120fps/100fps HD super slow, dual codec recording (UHD/FHD), IR recording in dark places, 3G-SDI output, and TC PRESET input/output. The AG-UX90 standard model offers wide-angle 24.5mm (at FHD) and optical 15x zoom, and supports UHD 30p and FHD 60p recording.

Titan HD Extract is the latest upgrade option for the Odyssey & Apollo camera monitor/recorders. Titan HD Extract uses one 4K camera to create three HD video signals. One frame is a Super Sample of the full image area and two are windows selected from within the original input. These windows can be panned smoothly through the 4K field and the three angles can be Live-Switched. All four HD signals can be recorded simultaneously in Apple ProRes with matching timecode and file names.

With Titan HD Extract, you can:

• Shoot a two-subject interview using one camera and Titan and record a Live-Switch of a two-shot plus separate close-ups.
• Record a panel presentation with a wide master plus a single on the moderator and another of the panel, all from one camera.
• Cover a House of Worship service with a shot of the clergyman, another of the chorus, and a wide view of them all – done with the modest investment of one camera and Titan.
• With Titan HD Extract and a single installed camera capture an entire football field from the 50 yard line, plus follow a player as he runs the course of the field.

Titan accepts 4K video signals over HDMI and SDI (original Odyssey7Q limited to 3G-SDI). Titan also accepts 4K RAW data from the Sony FS5, FS7 & FS700 cameras. Live-Switching is available as cuts and dissolves, and an Edit Decision List is generated as an EDL file for conforming an edit in post.

Titan HD Extract is an upgrade option for the Odyssey7Q+, Odyssey7Q and Apollo monitor/recorders. Other options (Odyssey RAW Bundle or Apollo) are not required for Titan. Titan list price will be 1295 USD, and it is is expected to be available around the beginning of October. See Titan in person at the Convergent Design booth 12.A34 at IBC 2016.

Since the introduction of H.264 recording and simultaneous dual codec (H.264/ProRes) recording capability in Video Devices PIX-E family, there has been a strong demand for a secure and stable way to mount these units when not attached to a camera. In response to these requests Video Devices have created the PIX-Base to securely position your PIX-E or PIX 240i models for viewing and operation during a live event or portable production environment.

The PIX-Base features

• Solid and robust metal base with rubber feet. Will not easily slide or move. Mounts via 1/4" 20-thread mounting hole. Can be used with PIX-E monitors with or without the PIX-LR audio accessory attached. Can also be used with any device with 1/4" 20 screw hole.
• Adjustable height and angle.
• Velcro wrap for neat cable connection.
• Easily collapsible and transportable.
• A mounting holes for 'permanently' fixing PIX-Base to a table or other structure.
• Easy-to-use Interlocking base enables multiple PIX-Bases to be linked together. No tools required.

Panasonic will introduce a new cinema-ready version of the VariCam 35 at IBC 2016, featuring a jointly developed Codex recorder capable of uncompressed, 4K RAW acquisition. The so called VariCam Pure is the latest addition to the company's family of professional cinematography products. A co-production between Panasonic and Codex, it couples the existing VariCam 35 camera head with a new Codex V-RAW 2.0 recorder, ideal for episodic television shows and features. The V-RAW 2.0 recorder attaches directly to the back of the VariCam 35 camera head. As a result, the camera retains the same Super 35 sensor, 14+ stops of latitude and dual native ISO as the original VariCam 35. Codex will provide the most efficient dailies and archiving workflow available through its Production Suite. In addition, the Codex Virtual File system means users can transfer many file formats including Panasonic VRAW, Apple ProRes and Avid DNxHR. Using the Codex Capture Drive means a reliable workflow from digital capture to post production. Along with the original camera negative, frame-accurate metadata (such as lens and CDL data) can also be captured, streamlining production and post-production, and delivering time and cost savings. The V-RAW 2.0 recorder for Varicam Pure is scheduled for release at the end of 2016 for under €30,000. The camera will be showcased at IBC 2016 on Stand C45, Hall 11.



Panasonic has also expanded the number of cost-saving camera kit packages for the VariCam LT Super 35mm Cinema Camera to five with the addition of the PROEX-B512 package, featuring the completely accessorized camcorder along with two AU-XP0512BG expressP2 memory cards and an AU-XPD1 expressP2 Card Reader. The 512GB expressP2 cards can record approximately 180 minutes of continuous 4K material at 24fps in the AVC-Intra4K422 codec. All five VariCam LT packages are currently available for purchase:

– The VariCam LT is a basic camera kit including the camera body, top handle, control panel and con-trol panel mounting bracket.
– The VariCam LT-VF package, contains the basic kit plus the AU-VCVF10 OLED Viewfinder.
– The VariCam LT-PRO includes the camera body with basic kit accessories, AU-VCVF10G viewfinder, shoulder mount, operating grip and PL lens mount.
– The VariCam LT-PROEX includes all of the contents of the VariCam LT-PRO package (camera kit, viewfinder, shoulder mount, operating grip and PL mount) plus two 256GB expressP2 cards and an expressP2 drive.

– The VariCam LT- PROEX-B512, the most extensive accessory package, contains all the con-tents of the VariCam LT-PROEX package, but with two 512GB expressP2 cards vs. two 256GB cards.