By Mark J. Pescatore , September 12, 2003
As always, NAB2003 was a great venue for sampling some of the newest production and post-production products on the market. Here’s a short list of some of the new items that might find their way onto your next requisition list.
Designed for use with Apple Final Cut Pro 4, Io, a new I/O breakout box from AJA Video Systems, allows you to feed component, composite, S-Video, or SDI video into a Apple G4 over one IEEE-1394 cable. It delivers 10-bit uncompressed SDI or analog video, plus offers AES/EBU digital audio, genlock, and RS-422 machine control.
Incorporating a number of technologies from FOCUS Enhancements, the Producer from Amalgamated Video International (AVI) provides a studio for live multi-camera production and a complete NLE system in one portable package. The system includes the MXProDV video mixer, FireWriter CG, and three FS-1 FireStore DDRs. Plus, it features six 5.6-inch LCD monitors, an audio mixer, and a choice of NLE software.
Anton/Bauer introduced its power and support system, Stasis, which is designed specifically for balancing today’s smaller DV camcorders. It supports the weight of the camera on the shoulder and moves the camera battery onto the shooter’s back as a counterweight. The unit weighs less than 2 pounds and folds up for easy transport.
Aspen Electronics has a new battery system called Nexus. Built to upgrade older NP battery mounts, the mount accepts new Nexus batteries or standard NPs. It even features a phantom battery with up to 15 minutes of uninterrupted backup power that takes over when the main battery is removed. Also new for Nexus is the Aspekt line of battery chargers, with two our four-position simultaneous chargers that work up to four times faster than sequencing chargers. The new chargers have an automatic three-stage charging system designed to maximize battery performance.
Bella brought some new keyboards to NAB2003, designed specifically for NLE systems and sporting built-in jog/shuttle controllers. Its DV Keyboard Optima Series includes sticker sets so you can navigate through common editing tasks. The EZ Keyboard Professional Series adds color and icon-coded keys specifically designed for particular NLE software, including Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid Xpress DV, Pinnacle Edition, and Adobe Premiere. Plus, the EZ Keyboard Elite Series features a programmable scroll wheel, and it’s available for Final Cut Pro and Premiere.
Bogen Photo brought several new production finds to the show. First was Reflecmedia’s portable ChromaFlex system. A chromakey studio in a bag, the Chromatte screen folds into a 36-inch bag but opens into a 7-foot square. The supplied blue or green LED LiteRing is placed around the camera lens, so the camera sees the Chromatte screen as a blue or green background (without additional lighting) that’s ideal for keying.
The company also introduced the new Manfrotto 522P, which brings studio config control to Panasonic’s AC-DVX100 camcorder. The unit is built into a video head pan bar, which can be attached to any Manfrotto video head, providing remote control for zoom, record/stop, and other functions. And Bogen Photo also showcased two new Manfrotto A.R.T. tripods, the 542ART and 532ART, which feature a “squid” spreader for improved shooting in tight spaces and spiked feet for improved traction.
Need a big but lightweight prompter? BDL-Autoscript introduced its 20-inch TFT flat-panel prompter, which comes with a wide angle hood that can be packed flat for storage
. The unit also features a built-in tally light that can be triggered from the camera.
Frezzi Energy Systems introduced its Total Control Pan & Tilt System, which consists of the F-PT-15 pan and tilt head and the F-AXP-PLV pilot camera controller. The controller can control zoom, focus, iris, and pan and tilt for up to six cameras, and features an LCD touch panel and joystick. The head can support up to a 15-pound camera, and its on-board memory stores more than 250 presets. Plus, it allows for an on-board Frezzi light with dimmer control.
Talk about a serious clipboard — Horita’s new Script Kit includes a wireless time code system with LCD display. The unit can store up to 50 time code values, and its PTR-LOG software allows users to download the information to a PC. It even comes with logging sheets, a space for document storage, and a wireless mic system.
Mackie Designs introduced a new family of entry-level audio mixers (read: really, really inexpensive). The debut product, the TAPCO 6306, is a six-channel mixer that offers low-noise mic preamps, eight-segment LED metering, and separate volume controls for headphone and control room.
Here’s a find for your engineer. The FC-4 Thermostatic Fan Control from Middle Atlantic Products is designed for thermal management inside equipment racks. It can operate up to four fans at variable speeds, but it only turns on the fans to maintain the ideal temperature, which means it saves energy and eliminates unnecessary use.
Finally, NAB is always a big show, and sometimes I miss things. This year, I stumbled upon two great finds from years past.
First, UNI-SET, known for its modular staging systems, has UNI-CYC, a system of portable virtual set pieces. With flat panels and curved panels as high as 12 feet, as well as all-sided floor sweeps, you can easily build (and store) a virtual set in a variety of sizes. The set pieces are built with flame treated, birch plywood, and are available in chromakey green or blue.
And the second is Rain Deflector (RD) system from Spintec, which debuted at NAB two years ago. Basically, it places a clear piece of Tiffen glass in front of your lens and spins it really, really fast. Thanks to the laws of physics, sand, snow, and rain are forced to the edges of the unit and drain away without putting a damper on your shot. Granted, the motor makes noise, so using the on-board camera mic is not an option. But a directional mic at a reasonable distance eliminates the audio problem, and is more than a fair trade for a clear picture in a rainstorm.
MORE INFO
AJA Video Systems
(800) 251-4224 www.aja.com
Anton/Bauer
(203) 929-1100 www.antonbauer.com
Aspen Electronics
(866) 615-1690 www.aspenelectronics.com
AVI
(916) 383-4054 www.avisource.net
BDL-Autoscript
(516) 799-3869 www.bdlautoscript.com
Bella Corporation
(818) 563-9500 www.bella-usa.com
Bogen Photo
(201) 818-9500 www.bogenphoto.com
FOCUS Enhancements
(408) 866-8300 www.focusinfo.com
Frezzi Energy Systems
(800) 345-1030 www.frezzi.com/totalcontrol.htm
Horita
(949) 489-0240 www.horita.com
Mackie Designs
(800) 258-6883 www.mackie.com
Middle Atlantic Products
(973) 839-1011 www.middleatlantic.com
Spintec
(805) 427-2620 www.spintec.co.il
UNI-SET
(585) 544-3820 www.unisetcorp.com
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