NAB Preview Part Three

The countdown is now very much on, with only a matter of days left before the LVCC opens its doors to the assembled multitudes and NAB 2012 starts. Here are some more of the product highlights that have crept over the wires in recent weeks…

EVS will unveil the latest enhancements to its Sports360° solutions. These include the XT3, EVS’ future-proof recording, and media server featuring eight channels in loop recording mode. EVS will present a new configuration of this unique hybrid media sharing network which will be a 3Gbps (single link) video in/out capable system with embedded high/low res management.

Also part of Sports360°, the new version of CCast is an advanced multi-cam solution allowing instant distribution of multiple camera angles on web-connected screens during live productions. Suited to any sports, it offers possibilities for multiple audiences including TV viewers, spectators, coaches, journalists, and referees. With fully-modular and service-oriented architecture, CCast adapts to any kind of business or workflow, and offers advanced integration with third-party web systems and data import such as statistics, commercials, and tweets.

Brands on display at The Tiffen Company booth will include Tiffen optical filters, Steadicam, Lowel-Light, Davis & Sanford Tripods, Domke Bags, and Tiffen Dfx digital filter suite.

“NAB is undisputedly the venue to debut our new and innovative professional product lineup for broadcasters and motion picture professionals,” comments Steve Tiffen, CEO, The Tiffen Company. “Our engineering teams have been working hard at developing the next Tiffen blockbusters, and I am confident that attendees are going to love what they see on the show floor at the Tiffen booth.”

MultiDyne will offer advanced, high-end digital video camera accessories based on creative innovation provided by Inflexion Design, a new co-venture that combines the strengths of three industry veterans, Frank Jachetta, Eugene Baker, and Carlos Acosta.

Inflexion Design’s foundation draws from the design skills of Eugene Baker, previously co-founder and CTO of Telecast, combined with Solid Camera co-founder Carlos Acosta’s real-world, on-set expertise in digital cinema and industrial design and the vision of MultiDyne president and fiber-optic innovator Frank Jachetta. The union will allow MultiDyne to provide camera operators with innovative new solutions that are elegant in design while offering improved workflow and operational ease of use. The new high-performance, fiber-optic-based camera accessories are designed to appeal to a wide range of applications — from broadcast television stations to 3D cinematographers.

“Inflexion Design integrates the best aspects of creative design from Solid Camera with MultiDyne’s high-quality fiber-optic products,” said Baker. “Our combined knowledge, experience, and vision allow us to create extraordinary product functionality and reliability not currently available in the industry.”

Avid will showcase Avid InGame, a sports marketing system that enables team, league, and facility production groups to deliver fan experiences, build brands, and generate incremental revenue.

With in-venue entertainment fast becoming a crucial component of the sports experience, Avid InGame provides the sports-centric technology organizations need to quickly create and display content, such as video packages, promotions, scoreboard animations, online commentary, or anything else that adds to the consumer experience.

As an end-to-end production solution, InGame can encompass any or all of Avid’s technologies, including Media Composer, a creative film and video editing system; Avid Motion Graphics, an easy-to-use next-generation graphics platform; and Interplay, an intelligent asset management system that lets users automate production processes and link them with critical business functions.

Canon will have the new XJ95x8.6B super-telephoto HD field lens on display, which is designed for demanding sports and outside-broadcast applications. It provides high-resolution, high-contrast optical performance for the capture of images that are sharp across the 16:9 HD image plane. The XJ95x8.6B comes standard-equipped with an improved built-in Canon optical Shift-Type Image Stabilizer, the CAFS (Constant Angle Focusing System) to help counteract lens “breathing,” and outputs for focus, iris, and zoom-position data for use with virtual studio systems.

Abekas will offer a rich product line aimed at the sports broadcast industry, including instant replay and production servers, digital video disk recorders, profanity elimination delay systems, and digital special effects machines..

The Mira production server is being used around the world for live instant replay, regular and super slow motion, and highlights editing.  Event highlights can be “melted” to an external USB/eSATA drive or networked edit station in two popular media file formats: Sony XDCAM-50 and DVCPro-100.  Mira is available in configurations ranging from a 4-channel system with 25 hours of storage to an 8-channel system with 350 hours of storage. By pairing channels, any Mira server can be instantly changed into stereoscopic 3D operation with 3G level-B interconnect.

Ikegami will show the new HDK-97C Unicam HD 3G field production multi-format CMOS camera, which supports not only 1080i/720p, but also 3G signals such as 1080/60p 4:2:2 and 1080/30p 4:4:4 for “next-generation” HD production. A compact low-profile docking-style camera, the HDK-97C allows for easy change-over between fiber and triax adapters, with the Ikegami CCU-970 capable of supporting both cable types with simple front-panel switch selection, an important feature for mobile sports production.

And Harris is introducing HView SX Pro, a high-density, scalable multi-display management system for live production, outside broadcast, and other video/audio processing needs.  The HView SX Pro reduces space, power, and complexity while offering excellent picture quality and intelligent, flexible control options.

The HView SX Pro offers low-latency processing and enhances image quality through Harris MicroFine scaling technology.  Its high-density design accommodates more sources and outputs in fewer rack units to reduce system and installation costs.  Harris customers can use the HView SX Pro as a standalone solution or integrated within Harris Platinum routers.