Competitive Factors Overlooked

I read the Intelligence article recently in Video Systems magazine (September). The data is incomplete. While it is very true that film and video studios are feeling the heat of increased competition, the compilation of data does not go far enough to explain one of the major reasons why there is so much competition these days. Or why many clients and corporations are adding in-house video and film capabilities.

While it may be true that the market is reflecting some economic improvement, I would argue that the biggest reason there is more competition in the video production marketplace today is that for about $5,000 you can own the production capabilities that used to cost $30,000 to 40,000 about 10 years ago.

Agencies are using Final Cut on their Macs, freelance video producers all have Avid DV Xpress Pro (or the platform of their choice) on a portable under their arm, and many corporations now have multiple editing workstations in-house! Cost of capability is turning clients into competitors.

This internalization of inexpensive and highly effective video production capability is equivalent to the desktop publishing revolution in the 1980s. Driven by inexpensive and good technology, everyone is getting their own production system. Compared to what it used to cost, it's almost free! I would argue far more competition is being created by this industry phenomenon than by any “economic improvement.”

Think about it. It doesn't take a lot of economic improvement for a corporation or an agency to be able to afford a copy of Final Cut Pro or Avid DV Xpress Pro. On top of it being affordable, these products can pay for themselves on the first project.
Doug Normington
NORMCO Multi-Media, Inc.
Madison, Wis.

Don't forget to add Matrox

Just a quick note to add to Bob Turner's fine work (“Uncompressed vs. Compressed,” September). His list of uncompressed HD manufacturers should probably include Matrox, which introduced its Axio HD product at IBC for both post- and realtime production. (I imagine it was announced after his deadline.)

This is important to me, as I have a tight budget for video production, but I don't want to shirk on quality or capability on my next system purchase. Most folks in corporate video production here have had great results with their Matrox RT.X100 plus Adobe Premiere solutions, so I am betting that most will go with this new Matrox product.
Mark Roussey
Producer/consultant
Digital Media Consulting
Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Sony pro camcorder's arrival much anticipated

When is the expected arrival of the pro HDR-FX1?

An anxious wedding videographer

Editor's note:
The Sony Business Solutions & Systems group announced the pro version of the HDR-FX1 consumer camcorder on Nov. 10. The HVR-Z1, with an MSRP of $5,946, will ship in February.

This new pro camcorder is discussed in depth in the first issue of Video Systems' new HDV@Work enewsletter. For more information on the Sony HVR-Z1, go to the current issue of HDV@Work online at
http://www.videosystems.com/e-newsletters/HDVWork_Nov_29/#1.

To subscribe to Video Systems enewsletters on topics ranging from HDV developments to video display, go to
http://videosystems.com/subscribe_to_e-newsletters/.

Article on 4D was a cut above

I was referred to videosystems.com by the InfoComm News Network. In my search for more information about 3D special effects, I came across the article on 4D written by Ellen Wolff (“The Fourth Dimension,” January).

I thoroughly enjoyed Ellen's article on 4D and the style in which it was written.
Bill Walsh

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