In April, we scoured the multiple exhibit floors of the 2010 NAB Show for the latest and greatest innovations for our readers. Twenty-two exemplary items were selected as winners of our annual Vidy Awards, the longest-running NAB awards program. Products were nominated by a jury of editors and contributors to Videography and DV magazines. For an item to receive a Vidy Award, it must be a new product, receive a unanimous vote of the judges and have a significant relevance to the Videography readership.

Adobe Systems Creative Suite 5
Adobe CS5 features 64-bit addressing on Mac and Windows platforms, expanded tapeless workflows and a host of new features. After Effects adds Roto Brush for quick rotoscoping; Photoshop's Content-Aware Fill removes objects from frames. Adobe Premiere's Mercury Playback Engine accelerates playback on qualifying Nvidia graphics cards. An upgrade of major proportions.

ARRI Alexa
This is ARRI's first venture outside of film cameras. For a base price of $60,000, Alexa offers a large-frame Super 35 format CMOS Bayer sensor with a base sensitivity of EI 800, low noise and a wide dynamic range. It can write files in the native ARRIRAW codec or ProRes to SxS cards. Alexa’s internal recorder encodes ProRes 422 (HQ) or ProRes 444 images, along with audio, metadata and Final Cut Pro XML files. Its 54mm PL mount allows the use of cinema lenses.

Autodesk Smoke on Mac
This important tool for high-end finishing is now available for Mac OS X. System requirements include high-end Nvidia card, AJA Kona 3 and Wacom Intuos tablet. Desktop users can now harness the editorial and creative capabilities of this industry-standard application, enabling facilities to more easily add higher-quality finishing to their creative offerings.

Avid Media Composer v5
Avid adds ProRes, RED, XDCAM and H.264 capabilities via AMA (Avid Media Access) to this major upgrade of Media Composer. For the first time, trimming can be performed on the timeline. And through an agreement with Matrox, video can be monitored through the Matrox MXO2 mini device.

Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 7.0
Following the trend of bringing high-end workstation tools to desktop machines, DaVinci's new owner, Blackmagic Design, has ported Resolve to Mac OS X with pricing starting at $995. All of the colorist tools are available, with options for a third-party control surface from Tangent Devices or the full DaVinci Resolve control surface.

Broadcast Pix iPixPanel
Turn your iPad into a control panel! The iPixPanel app controls any Slate production system from Broadcast Pix. It re-creates a classic switcher layout and can connect wirelessly to the Slate 100 for total remote control. The iPixPanel application is available for download at Apple's App Store for $200.

Carl Zeiss Compact Prime CP.2 Lenses
Addressing the popularity of DSLR cameras in high-end production, Carl Zeiss introduces a set of seven cine-style prime lenses, from super-wide to telephoto, that fit directly onto HDSLRs without adapters or camera modification. The CP.2 lenses cover a full-frame 24 x 36 image format without vignetting. They will be available in PL, EF and F mounts in June.

Cinedeck
It's a monitor; it's a recorder; it can even function as an NLE with an OS option. Cinedeck captures 10-bit 4:2:2 or 12-bit 4:4:4 CineForm digital intermediaries in MOV or AVI format, as well as other industry-standard codecs and formats, via HD-SDI or HDMI, enabling many legacy cameras with high-quality sensors to bypass their low-quality on-board tape recorders. Single and Dual Link HD-SDI models are offered.

CineToys GearNex Gear Head
CineToys says that, with GearNex, it is "reinventing the wheel." Indeed, this contemporary offering of the traditional geared camera head does just that. GearNex provides access to a lightweight, professional head at an affordable price. For smooth cinema pans and tilts, nothing beats a gear-driven head.

Element Technica Neutron
The word these days is 3D. Element Technica produces a full line of beam-splitter 3D rigs; Neutron is the first such compact rig suitable for handheld use on a stabilization device. The ultra-small Neutron is designed for the tiny 2/3-inch or 1/3-inch imager cameras sporting C-mount lenses, such as the SI-2K Mini and Iconix. This device will expand 3D production ability.

Euphonix MC Color Control Surface
At a breakthrough price of $1,499, Euphonix offers a control surface designed to integrate with Apple Color 1.5. It is touch-sensitive, has a high-speed connectivity interface, and features high-resolution optical trackballs, trackwheels, displays, encoders and a host of programmable keys to speed up and enhance the Apple Color workflow. But Apple Color isn't its only application; MC Color will integrate with any video or audio software utilizing EuCon, Mackie or HUI protocols.

JVC Professional Products IF-2D3D1
Have a 2D video you would like to convert to 3D? The IF-2D3D1 Stereoscopic Image Processor will accept an SDI input and convert 2D content to 3D in real time during a live production or in postproduction. Results are amazing and highly realistic. On location, the JVC device can be coupled with a 3D-capable monitor to provide real-time 3D monitoring.

Litepanels Sola Fresnel Series
Finally, LED lighting technology has advanced to the point where LED Fresnels are possible. Available in on-camera 75W (650W tungsten equivalent) and 250W (2,000W tungsten equivalent) models, Sola daylight-balanced lights offer beam control of 70° to 10° and can be dimmed flicker-free with no change in color temperature.

Mole-Richardson Co. MoleLED
Mole-Richardson takes a unique approach to LED lighting through Osram Kreios technology. MoleLED unites a fixture by Mole-Richardson with advanced remote phosphor LED technology from OSRAM Sylvania to deliver a soft, even light in exactly tungsten or daylight color temperature. Two models are available: the 12-Pack, with 12 boards of 20 LED lights each (240 individual sources), and the Single, which can be daisy chained.

NewTek TriCaster TCXD850
With inputs from up to eight external sources, the TriCaster TCXD850 brings NewTek streaming technology to large productions. The unit is HD-capable, streaming H.264-encoded video. Less portable than smaller TriCaster models, the TCXD850 is perfectly designed as a rack unit for a production truck or control room. The TCXD850 is slated to ship in July for $24,995 (NTSC).

Panasonic Solutions Company AG-3DA1 Full HD 3D Camcorder
Utilizing a side-by-side dual-lens arrangement, the AG-3DA1 records AVCCAM to dual SD cards in complete sync. The camera offers convergence adjustments and can output both dual HD-SDI and HDMI to record full 3D to devices other than the built-in SD cards. At less than 6.6 lb., the AG-3DA1 is equipped with two 1/4.1-inch full 1920x1080 2.07-megapixel 3-MOS imagers to record 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p and 50p in AVCHD. The camera is expected to be available this fall for $21,000.

Pomfort Software SilverStack v2.0
The complete solution for dealing with digital workflows. SilverStack 2.0 ingests raw files, backs up and archives, provides pro media management, transcodes and has color correction features, among other workflow tools. Supports ARRIRAW, CineForm and CineForm Bayer, RED, DPX and QuickTime. Version 2 of SilverStack will be available this summer.

Small Tree GraniteSTOR ST-RAID
Shared storage over TCP/IP with basic configurations of 8, 12 or 15 drives, expandable to 16, 24 or 32 drives. Configured as RAID 5 with hot spare and running over 10Gb Ethernet, it provides a secure and flexible shared storage solution.

Square Box Systems CatDV
Now at version 8.1, CatDV has advanced over the years from a basic DV media management tool to a complete ingest, asset management, Web page generation and diagnostic tool. It is available in both standalone and networked versions.

TVLogic LEM-150 OLED Monitor
The first broadcast monitor using OLED technology. The device sports a 15-inch 1366x768 OLED panel with 180-degree viewing angle. It has full broadcast functionality including Dual Link 3G HD-SDI, a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, WFM, vectorscope and audio meter display.

Tyler Camera Systems Tyler Minigyro Stabilizing Mount
The most compact, versatile gyro mount ever. Handling payloads up to 30 lb., Minigyro mounts in a variety of helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, ATVs, vehicles and boats. Now true run-and-gun gyro stabilization is available for the range of cameras from DSLRs to mid-size rigs.

Zylight Active Diffusion
This electronically adjustable diffusion system to soften harsh light sources comprises a flexible LCD panel mounted on a rigid frame that will be available as a 2x2, 4x4 and softbox attachment for the Zylight IS3. A knob on the handheld controller provides dimmer-like control over the amount of diffusion, between translucent and opaque, softening the light from a cool light source placed behind it. Available this summer.