The 2004 NAB was an exciting show, especially for those looking at digital news editing solutions.
Avid Technology
Avid introduced version 5.5 of NewsCutter Adrenaline FX and NewsCutter XP news-editing systems, the AirSpeed ingest and broadcast playback server, and version 4 of Avid Workgroups.
The NewsCutters now offer support for DVCPRO25, DVCPRO50, DVCAM, and MPEG IMX at 30-, 40- and 50MB/s (including support for Sony XDCAM and Panasonic P2 media acquisition) plus integration with the AirSpeed system. In a release expected before the end of the year, they will also support HDV, DVCPRO HD, and Avid DNxHD. Version 5.5 also introduces MXF support.
Pinnacle Systems
Pinnacle Systems had major HD news: All Liquid turnkey NLEs now support HDV, Elite HD (long GOP MPEG-2) and uncompressed HD (Liquid Edition is HDV-only). The company introduced a Liquid HD application that will work with all Liquid editing products. Pinnacle's Liquid HD video editing was awarded a Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit award.
Liquid nonlinear editors are now MXF-native and support Sony XDCAM and Panasonic P2 media. They also integrate directly with MediaStream servers and Vortex systems. Pinnacle also introduced CinéWave 4.6, which now supports multiple streams of Panasonic DVCPRO HD in real time. There are over 70,000 Liquid seats sold and Pinnacle announced an annual growth rate of 40 percent.
Pinnacle's Liquid Editing for Workgroups is a complete, low-cost networked editing solution for SD (and soon HD) video that uses Pinnacle's Palladium Store 100 (PS100). This MSRP solution includes 2TB of storage with ultra-secure RAID 10 mirroring.
Thomson Grass Valley
Thomson Grass Valley showcased its digital news-production products, including the NewsEdit XT nonlinear editor, NewsEdit LT laptop-based nonlinear editor (now supporting XDCAM and P2 formats), NewsEdit SC software-based nonlinear editor, FeedClip interactive feed-capture system, NewsQ manual playback system, NewsQ Pro automated news playback system, NewsBrowse Web-based browser/editor, Network Attached Storage system, Open SAN system, Profile XP media platform and Profile network archive.
One of the big announcements was that Apple's Final Cut Pro will be integrated into the DNP family through a Thomson Grass Valley professional plug-in module. Final Cut Pro 4.0 and Final Cut Pro HD work with the Open SAN system or the M-Series iVDR.
Quantel
Quantel launched QEdit for news and sports editing. QEdit is a low-cost, software-only application accessing the powerful version 2 GenerationQ editing tools. One unique feature is custom transitions. It allows a TV station's graphic designer on a QPaintbox or QEditPro to create a customized template for effects that could include directional blurs, flashes to color, resizes in 2-D and 3-D plug-ins, then effectively clusters these effects into one saved transition that any of the networked QEdit desktops can drag and drop onto a clip. This creates identities that help stations differentiate themselves from competitors — especially during sweeps periods. Quantel plans on making generic, customizable custom transitions available for download on its Web site.
The system offers a wide range of tools to clean up white balance, resize images for content or quality purposes, and track/blur or mosaic to hide identities. While other systems may offer similar features, QEdit has what are called one-shot effects, which enable users to fix white balance with a single key press. There is a single-key resize, a tracker that does not require complex key-frame programming, and a one-shot choice of blur or mosaic that tracks easily. You can even spotlight the desired area, darkening the background simply and easily. Direct-to-timeline editing through IEEE 1394 is another distinguishing feature. It is a perfect fit between the QCut cuts-only application and the QEdit Pro craft editor. Interoperability with P2 and XDCAM acquisition technology was also demonstrated.
Canopus
Canopus unveiled its EDIUS HD turnkey broadcast editing solution. It includes EDIUS Pro real-time HD/SD editing software, the Canopus HD and HQ software codecs and the Canopus HDRX-E1 SDI-HD SDI I/O card.
Bob Turner is a contributing editor to sister publication Video Systems magazine and an editing consultant.
PRODUCT JACKPOT
SINGLE-CHANNEL CG
Pixel Power Clarity 100
954-943-2026;www.pixelpower.com
1RU CG for master control graphics insertion and post production; compatible with all the major master control, branding and newsroom automation systems; can be expanded to offer dual 2-D live squeezeback capability and full-frame cell, text and logo animation effects; can play back and record up to four audio channels.
BROADBAND UHF ANTENNA
Dielectric TUA-M
800-341-9678;www.dielectric.com
Mid-power antenna designed for multiplexed digital and analog signals; customized beam tilt and null fill; stainless steel backscreen and radiating element; provides broadband impedance characteristics suitable for single or multiplexed stations; constructed to operate in severe environments subject to high winds and heavy ice loading.
MULTISDI MONITOR
Leader Instruments LV 5700
800-645-5104;www.leaderusa.com
Monitors HD/SD-SDI signals with an XGA TFT color LCD in an adjustable tilt front panel; tests 20 HD-SDI and SD-SDI formats with total digital processing compliant to SMPTE 259M, SMPTE 292M and SMPTE 296M; input format, colorimetry and trilevel or black burst external reference inputs are automatically detected.
CARDIOID MICROPHONE
DPA Microphones Type 4021
+45 4814 2828;www.dpamicrophones.com/eng_pub/
Phantom powered (P48) condenser microphone uses the same type of cartridge as the Type 4011, but is preamplified using a built-in thick-film-mounted FET-preamplifier; no external preamplifier needed; 5m standard cable is side-mounted; linear frequency response from 40Hz to 20kHz (±2dB).
STUDIO LENS
Canon DIGISUPER 22xs
516-328-5000;www.usa.canon.com
Also known as the XJ22x7.3B IE-D; compact box-style design; 13.4-pound package; offers a focal length of 7.3- to 161mm (14.6- to 322mm with a 2X extender); maximum zoom speed of .5 seconds and focus of 1.5 seconds; F stop of 1.8.
NEWS PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Sundance Digital NewsLink v2.0
972-444-8442;www.SundanceDigital.com
Provides array of news production tools including camera control, audio and switcher controls, plus a range of video server controls; allows structured newscasts to be built with macros or drag-and-drop control; automation level can be selected on a show-by-show basis.
