Archive for October, 2011

Manic has signed post-production veteran Jason Ortenberg as Sr. VFX Artist to join the company’s renowned creative team. A mainstay in the advertising and feature film spaces, Ortenberg’s recent credits include beauty work for Maybelline and L’Oréal, as well as lead VFX artist work for brands like Hershey’s, Wendy’s, The NFL, Verizon, American Express, and Citibank. His feature film work includes credits on the Star Wars Trilogy special edition and the epic Cremaster 5 directed by Matthew Barney, among others. He has worked as an inferno artist on Sphere and Alien: Resurrection, and as a digital composer on The Proposal, Hey Ram, DragonHeart, Twister, Jumanji, The American President, and The Indian in the Cupboard.

“Jason has an incredible depth of experience across multiple genres,” noted Manic Managing Director Bob Cagliero. “His work carries a distinct stamp of creativity and innovation that comes from two decades of working alongside some of the best in the industry. We’re proud to welcome him to Manic.”

Ortenberg comes to Manic from the wild world of freelance, where he worked as a Flame and Inferno artist and as an on-set supervisor working with feature films, commercials and music videos for many of the top VFX houses in the world. His work took him from California to New York to New England to India working for top brands and feature film endeavors. He also spent time as an Inferno artist at Industrial Light & Magic and leading various VFX projects for Manhattan Transfer in his earlier days as an artist.

Ortenberg notes, “As free agent for 16+ years, I felt it was time to put down some permanent roots. Manic is a solid company on a solid growth path. They have gathered a great group of talented people over recent years and I look forward to being part of a team that has a good presence in NYC… and having a home where I hang my hat.”

Visit Manic

About Manic
Manic is a comprehensive creative solution for conception through completion of all media. Based in NoHo NYC, Manic delivers live-action production, cutting-edge motion graphics, 2D and 3D VFX, design, animation, and high-end finishing services for clients working in commercials, feature films, television, music videos and broadcast. The company’s artists and principals have led campaigns for notable brands such as Nike, Virgin Mobile, Acura, Reebok, Verizon, Maybelline, and Apple from major agencies TBWA/Chiat/Day, Merkley+Partners, McCann Erickson, and JWT to name a few.

More info: TRUST 646 452 3388 (NY) 310 451 5153 (LA) trustcollective.com

Two-Day Conference Follows on the Heels of Successful Events in Los Angeles and New York

(BURBANK, CA) Createasphere – a global community builder for the entertainment technology industry – has announced that it will launch its Digital Asset Management Conference in Europe in November 2011. Createasphere’s DAM Conference-Europe will take place on November 8th & 9th at the World Forum in The Hague, Netherlands. The DAM Conference will feature a curated exhibition area, a conference program, and a variety of social and networking opportunities. Createasphere is known for its focus on quality education, community building and meaningful information sharing at its events.

The Createasphere Digital Asset Management Conference-Europe follows on the success of Createasphere’s DAM Conferences in Los Angeles and New York, and promises to provide foundational knowledge on current workflows and best practices, insights into future advancements, and the opportunity to connect with industry thought leaders, solution vendors and professional colleagues.

The event will feature two days of conferences with tracks specifically devised for Digital Asset Management Specialists and for Leadership/Management. The program has been developed with targeted sessions for DAM workers along the continuum of expertise, from entry level to expert. Conference speakers include; Ed Lantz of Vortex Immersion Media; Nigel Cliffe, CEO of Cliffe Associates; Theresa Regli, Principal DAM Analyst & Advisor; The Real Story Group; and Deiter Reichert, co-founder of censhare AG.

Mary Yurkovic, Manager of Createasphere’s Digital Asset Management Conference noted that “The issues and interests of the DAM Community are global, and we know that it is imperative for us to build a global network of experts and colleagues, dig into the issues confronting our colleagues in Europe and abroad, and continue the exciting educational and enterprise events we began in the US three years ago. We are looking forward to spending a lively and informative two days with these amazing speakers and our collaborators in the European DAM community.”

Createasphere’s DAM Conferences shape the standards and explore the urgent global issues of digital asset management in the sectors of advertising, entertainment, media, publishing, museums, sports, and higher education. For complete information, session information, and registration, visit http://www.createasphere.com/En/digital-asset-management-conference-hague.html.

About Createasphere
Createasphere is a global community builder for the entertainment technology industry, advancing technologies and careers through Expos, Conferences, and online offerings.

Createasphere was founded in 2001 as HD EXPO, and over the past decade has grown into a global company that develops and presents influential events for the content creation community, on line and face to face. Founded by Kristin Petrovich Kennedy in Los Angeles, Createasphere became part of Diversified Business Communications in 2009, now driving their entertainment strategies and properties division. Currently Createasphere is presenting the Entertainment Technology Expos in New York and LA; the Digital Asset Management Conference in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe; The DAMMY Awards in New York; Cinema India Expo in Mumbai; the online news and content portal CreativeProCoalition.com; 3D Road Shows; and Post Production Master Classes.

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Media Contact:
Chris Purse,818.303.8088
ignite strategic communications
chris@ignite.bz or mimi@ignite.bz

HEBDEN BRIDGE, U.K. — Oct. 19, 2011 — Calrec Audio today announced it will reduce the list price of its Omega with Bluefin(TM) console to bring it in line with Zeta console pricing, with a view to discontinue production of the Zeta on March 31, 2012. The decision to reduce Omega pricing is in response to a customer shift toward the Bluefin platform. more

American Airlines flies to 250 cities in 50 countries around the world, but its latest destinations – under the ocean and into your living room – required some help from the post experts at Absolute. The studio’s Lead VFX/Flame Artist Dirk Greene once again teamed up with Believe Media Director Gerard de Thame in order to kick out this adventurous pair of spots for the airborne giant.

After School opens on a mother and daughter discussing the youngster’s role in the school play as they sit cross-legged in their living room. But something’s a bit off kilter – as the camera swings around the room, a pair of airline seats, which had been casual living room chairs in the previous shot, appear; then the soft glowing lights of a fasten-seatbelt sign blink on along the wall; and, very faintly, a droning voice states, “This is your captain speaking,” in the background. When the camera makes one final swing from daughter to mother and pans out, the elder is not in the living room with her daughter at all, but in the cabin of an American Airlines jet, engaged in the conversation via instant message on her laptop.

Scuba follows a couple scuba diving through the rays of light, schools of fish and sea turtles off a sprawling reef. The first indications that this is not your standard reef appear in the form of a “Priority Access” sign lodged into the plant life, followed by a bank of screens showing the status of departing flights, which is just one example-in addition to text notifications and mobile boarding passes-of how American Airline passengers receive a streamlined, mobile boarding experience. As a school of fish darts in front of the camera, blurring the panorama, the water evaporates and the couple comes out in an airport terminal. “Fly without putting yourself on pause,” a narrator intones. “Be yourself, nonstop.”

This latest project from Greene and de Thame follows joint work on big-name clients Verizon, Allstate and CSX. “One of the reasons why Absolute can consistently create very high level VFX is because we establish production partners that demand excellence,” noted Absolute EP Sally Heath. “In the case of Dirk and Gerard, they’ve developed a special chemistry that manifests itself in everything they do. We’re proud of this partnership and look forward to teaming up with Believe Media in the very near future.”

Visit Absolute
View Media

Credits
Client: American Airlines
Spot Title(s): Scuba, After School
Air Date: October 2011

Agency: TM Advertising
CD: Bernard Park
AD: Brian Wood
Director of Broadcast Production: Hal Dantzler
Producer: Stephanie Murdoch

Prod Co: Believe Media
Director: Gerard de Thame
DP: Mick Coulter
EP: Michael McQuhae
Producer: Fabyan Daw

Editorial Co: Charlie Uniform Tango
Editor(s): Jack Waldrip, Artie Pena
EP: Mary Alice

Post/Effects Co: Absolute
Lead VFX/Flame Artist: Dirk Greene
VFX Artist(s): Warren Paleos, Krissy Nordella, Alex Gabucci
Designer/Animator(s): Ed Manning, Jim Vidal
EP: Sally Heath
Producer: Melissa Stephano

Telecine Co: Smoke & Mirrors – NY
Colorist: Ben Eagleton
Managing Director: Jo Morgan
Producer: Lauren Shawe

Audio Post Co: Charlie Uniform Tango
Audio Engineer: Jake Kluge

Shoot Location: Nassau, Bahamas (Scuba); LA, California (After School)
About Absolute
Founded in 2004 by David Smith, one of the world’s leading Flame artists, Absolute is a high-end VFX studio working within the commercial, emerging media, music video, and film communities. With offices in New York and London, Absolute over the years has collected numerous industry accolades including two BTAA awards, a D&AD pencil, a Cannes Lion, an APA Collection Diamond, three Andy wins and an MTV video statue. The New York office opened in 2007, helmed by CD Dirk Greene, to further facilitate Absolute’s international client roster with a growing Flame and CG service.

More info: TRUST 646 452 3388 (NY) 310 451 5153 (LA) trustcollective.com

The world’s first pop-up scent museum The Sensorium: Lucid Dreams from the Sensory World, is an interactive, multimedia experience designed to explore the emotions and instincts behind scent. Commissioned by Sephora and leading fragrance manufacturer Firmenich, The Sensorium features interactive and immersive installations First Scent and Lucid Dreams, developed and produced by experience design and production company The Department of the 4th Dimension (The D4D) to transport visitors into the realm of the perfumer’s imagination. The Sensorium – located in a 3,700 warehouse in New York’s Meatpacking District, launched to the public on October 15.

The project is the culmination of a longtime collaboration between The D4D and the alchemist visionaries at Firmenich involving a multi-disciplinary team of creatives lead by The D4D partners Creative Director Matt Checkowski and Executive Producer Ron Cicero. Uniting select architects, designers, technologists and writers, Checkowski and Cicero worked with Firmenich to design a truly unique, interactive experience: two interconnected environments, First Scent and Lucid Dreams, that aim to delight, surprise and engage visitors through the magic and beauty of scent. View more at http://vimeo.com/thed4d/sensorium/

Upon entering First Scent, visitors are surrounded by motion picture media inspired by custom fragrances emitted throughout the room that trigger collective emotion and connections. Dreamlike films of cutting grass, a morning breakfast and a visit to the beach correspond to fragrances Weekend Splendor, 6:01 am and Summer Vacation designed by such superstar perfume creators as Harry Fremont and Honorine Blanc. Here, elemental and unforgettable moments are manifested in an evocative cocktail of sight, smell and sound.

Next, in the museum’s marquee event Lucid Dreams, visitors can affect beautiful suspended images inspired by Firmenich’s master perfumers. Using a high tech flower sculpture, the images transform based on the power of the individual’s sniff – triggered by the unique sound transmitted by the physical act of smelling. The D4D created each room’s architecture, including the short films, beautiful floor-to-ceiling images, glowing sniff-registering flowers and the software that drove the entire soul-stirring experience.

During the production and design of First Scent and Lucid Dreams, The D4D team worked on the visual experience with the custom designed perfumes on hand, to ensure the visual and auditory elements were a perfect fit for each scent and would combine in a journey of heightened perception. The perfumers and The D4D creative team collaborated throughout, with imagery and scent choices and changes influenced by the other during the process.

The technical production of the interactive elements involved significant R&D including an examination of wind velocity and other triggers before landing on the auditory solution. These were among the key considerations for the exhibit, a first of its kind for the consumer.

The D4D is an experience design studio that works with brands to create meaningful connections through storytelling. The company’s team of directors, designers and producers collaborate to realize productions at any scale and with a global reach. The D4D is fluent in the creative and production challenges that enable ground breaking digital content, from story to online distribution. The company’s experience includes advertising projects for TBWA Chiat / Day, Saatchi & Saatchi, Huge and Great Works; clients Electrolux, Nike, Range Rover, Microsoft, and Coke; as well as entertainment projects for ESPN, the USA Network and Steven Spielberg. For more on the company please visit: http://thed4d.com.

The Sensorium is located at 414 14th Street between 9th and 10th Ave and runs through November 27th, 2011. Tickets are available through the Sephora website (http://www.sephora.com/go/sensorium/).

Digital Domain used Tweak's RV in the creation of "Real Steel"

– RV enables a common viewing and collaboration experience on desktops, conference rooms, and screening rooms across Digital Domain studios —








San Francisco, CA (October 19, 2011) — Tweak Software announces that digital production studio Digital Domain has standardized on Tweak’s RV and RV-SDI software to enable a common collaborative viewing experience from desktops to screening rooms for image, sequence and 2K stereo dailies review throughout its studios.


“Digital Domain has artists, facilities, and partners all around the world. Our goal was to create a unified and universal user experience for watching dailies and conducting collaborative reviews. Artists can be at their desks doing one-on-one reviews with colleagues at other locations, or in conference rooms or in screening rooms doing group reviews – anything is possible,” said Digital Domain Technology Project Manager Ryan Mayeda. “With RV and RV-SDI we were able to create that experience not only within studios, but across them, remotely. It’s like having one big screening room.”


RV enables easy review of images and sequences through a flexible dailies workflow and an advanced media architecture that can automatically combine media of different resolutions, frame rates, color spaces, and audio sampling rates. RV-SDI provides dual link SDI output with embedded audio, to handle 2K stereo playback/review in screening rooms and theaters.


While artists at Digital Domain had been using RV for desktop playback, the studio had a different solution for its screening rooms. “Tweak adding support for SDI was the missing piece,” said Mayeda. “SDI is the only way for us to watch 2K stereo. It feeds into the projector effortlessly and you get perfect, artifact-free playback. RV also has a number of nice features for stereo viewing, allowing supervisors to make stereo adjustments live in the screening room.”


Digital Domain also tapped RV’s open API and SDK to integrate RV tightly with its proprietary DMX dailies system. The result is a seamless experience for users during dailies whether they are all together in one room or remotely connected from different facilities. “One of the key reasons RV was such a good solution for us was because it’s extensible by our developers – it gave us everything we needed to easily link it into our dailies system,” said Mayeda. He added, “And now that RV is going to support Python, it’s going to get even easier!”


RV and RV-SDI are fully integrated into the pipeline at Digital Domain’s Venice and Vancouver studios and were used recently for digital production on Thor, X-Men: First Class, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Real Steel. On Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Digital Domain even set up a remote system with fast connectivity to director Michael Bay’s office, so he could use RV to review work, draw, annotate, start and stop playback, and talk to artists and supervisors via videoconference. RV deployment is in initial phases in the studio’s Florida and San Francisco studios.


About Digital Domain
Digital production company Digital Domain was founded in 1993. The company has created visuals for more than 80 movies, including Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and TRON: Legacy and hundreds of commercials. Its artists have earned multiple Academy Awards©. Digital Domain recently completed visual effects for Thor, X-Men: First Class andTransformers: Dark of the Moon, Real Steel, and is in production on Jack the Giant Killer, 47 Ronin and a full slate of commercials. Digital Domain is headquartered in Venice, California with studios in Vancouver, San Francisco and Florida. http://www.digitaldomain.com


About Tweak Software
Tweak Software was founded in 2007 to develop tools that address real-world production needs of VFX and animation professionals. The Tweak partners Jim Hourihan, Seth Rosenthal and Alan Trombla spent many years at Industrial Light and Magic where they developed tools and techniques still in use at that facility today. Jim Hourihan is the recipient of two Sci-Tech Academy Awards and is best known for developing Dynamation, the first commercial particle system that was subsequently incorporated into Autodesk’s Maya software. For more information, visit www.tweaksoftware.com


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Mrs Louma Rabah and Mr Carl Sakr of Alsumaria TV at the controls of the iQ

Independent Middle East broadcaster chooses Quantel for speed and efficiency

The Lebanese arm of Alsumaria TV has purchased a Quantel iQ 2K multi-resolution finishing system for its creative department. The iQ will be the lynchpin of Alsumaria TV’s intensive promotions production operation, and will also help drive the broadcaster’s channel identity design, commercials creation, post production and programme graphic design.

“We produce more than 35 different promos every week, 15 or more 3D jingles and 20 2D animations each month as well,” said Walid Melki, Antenna Management Director of Alsumaria. “When you’re under that kind of pressure, you need a system which is really fast and efficient, and nothing beats Quantel in these areas. The iQ also fully integrates all the editing and graphics tools we need in a single system, which will further help speed work through the creative suite. And when Alsumaria TV moves into HD broadcasting, being a 2K capable system, the iQ will make the transition seamlessly.

“As regards selecting the iQ, I knew what we wanted right from the beginning. I’ve worked on Quantel systems for many years,” Melki continued. “I started at TF1 in France on Paintbox, then Harry, Hal, Henry and Editbox. When I moved to Lebanon in 2004 I began working on Final Cut, After Effects etc, but I missed the speed and efficiency of Quantel systems, so when the chance came to bring Quantel back into my working environment, I took it eagerly. I know our operators will take to iQ easily and will make the best use of it. I count on Quantel all the way.”

NEW YORK, New York — The overwhelming success of HARMAN’s Studer Broadcast Academy continues with sessions at the AES 2011 convention in New York City on October 21 and 22. The Broadcast Academy sessions will include hands-on training for Studer’s Vista consoles as part of certification modules that will provide engineers with proof of efficiency with the Vista line.

Designed to educate and support the interests of audio engineers around the world, the Studer Broadcast Academy has been a huge success since launching in July, with sessions taking place throughout the United States. Below are some comments from attendees of the previous sessions:

“The Academy is really great because I’ve been looking at the Studer versus some other consoles, so it’s nice to see it in action and in a mockup of what it would actually be doing in the field…It’s nice to just sit down and look at the product because I think a lot of people aren’t exposed to the quality of Studer—it’s a huge leap above the other manufacturers…To go through the Academy and be able to talk about it and have some Q&A’s is fantastic—you wouldn’t get it if you just turned up at a show because no one would have the time to talk to me. It’s just a fantastic opportunity.” – Chris Rudyk, Broadcast Lane Studio

“The course is great—they gave us the real lowdown on the Vista 9 and Vista 5. They answered any questions that we had and showed us all the details from the top down.” – Sam Kokajko, StageTech

“It’s absolutely a priceless experience to be able to put your hands on these and actually try them out and see how they work.” – Joe Piland, Dobbs Stanford

“I love how they show you all about the mixers and they show you very simply about it. I love the openness of the mixer—the operator doesn’t have to have a great knowledge of the mixer to be able to operate it, but it’s also complex and you can do many things with it.” – Ty Horstman, Pure Flame Studios

The Studer Broadcast Academy sessions will be held in the HARMAN truck (Space T1) at AES on October 21 and 22, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Throughout the AES show, the HARMAN truck will also feature demonstrations of products from other HARMAN brands, including AKG microphones, JBL studio monitors, Lexicon digital processors and Soundcraft digital consoles.

More information on the Studer Broadcast Academy can be found at usa.studer.ch

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.8 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2011.

Wayne, N.J. – Chicago’s Corplex Mobile Television has earned its status as an award-winning innovator in live broadcasting over more than 25 years covering sports, news and entertainment events.

So, it’s no surprise that this pioneer in all-digital mobile production has demonstrated a commitment to innovative technology along with its latest order of lenses from FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Optical Devices Division. This order coincides with the recent opening of the division’s fifth service center – in nearby Hanover Park, Illinois – this past spring. The new service facility was started to provide more locally available and immediate customer support to its Chicago-area customer base, something Corplex is already taking advantage of.

Corplex is constantly seeking the “latest and greatest” technology for its facilities, which now includes three 53-foot expanding HD mobile units each with a graphics/support trailer, and reliable, state of the art customer service is essential to its continued success.

According to Corplex CEO Carter Ruehrdanz, “We’ve been using FUJINON lenses for so many years, we probably now have more than sixty lenses. And we’re so busy, we use them every week. Other companies also make great lenses, but we’re really happy with the fact that Fujifilm now has local service here in Chicago. We can’t afford to be down at all. We’re especially impressed with the more aggressive turnaround time and pricing we’re seeing.”

All of the new FUJINON lenses incorporate some of the most innovative features in the industry. To pair with its Sony HDC1500 cameras, Corplex has chosen two of FUJINON’s most advanced and industry-leading XA101x8.9BESM Super Telephoto EFP HD lenses, six HA23x7.6BERM Telephoto ENG HD lenses with 2x extenders, and two HA14x4.5BERM Super Wide Angle ENG/EFP HD lenses with 2.2x extenders.

The new lenses will be used on Corplex trucks for large sporting events, including NFL football, Major League Baseball playoffs, golf and hockey, as well as high profile entertainment programs. Ruehrdanz said, “We stayed with FUJINON lenses so that all the big lenses are from the same manufacturer, and we can swap things around. Our Platinum truck has two 101x lenses in addition to five 87x. The longer 101x lenses are an important element and can make a huge difference in the production. We’re also putting the new ENG lenses right to work on our handheld cameras for the beginning of the NFL season.”

In addition to their new purchases, Corplex has a large inventory of FUJINON lenses that offer a consistency in lens design that allows the servo modules and controllers to work on any box lens regardless of their age. “Because of this we’re able to have plenty of spares and additional pieces to make them full servo when needed,” said Ruehrdanz.

“It’s our job to supply every piece of gear and make sure everything’s working all the time,” said Ruehrdanz. “That’s why having local customer service is so important. We’re just looking for quality, reliability and good support. FUJINON, its lenses, and its new service center have absolutely made a big difference to us in achieving that goal.”

About Corplex
Corplex Mobile Television, based in Chicago, Illinois, is a leader in live television broadcasting, operating mobile production and support units throughout the U.S. and Canada. Visit http://www.corplex.tv.

About Fujifilm
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 16 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2010, and in the year ended March 31, 2011, had global revenues of $25.8 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 86 yen to the dollar.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Division, 10 High Point Drive, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. Phone: 973-633-5600. Fax: 973-633-5216. Web site: http://www.fujifilmusa.com/products/optical_devices/index.html

NEW YORK, New York — Building on its steadfast commitment to providing the best customer support in the industry, HARMAN’s Studer is introducing Vista Remote Access for its Vista line of digital mixing consoles. Vista Remote Access allows Vista owners to access and manage their console from anywhere in the world at any time, all on a secure network.

Remote Access offers additional technical support directly from Studer factory-trained engineers, enabled with real-time monitoring and system interrogation of the user’s Vista system. The system can be used to address and support anything from system setup and configuration, to real-time screening of log files to identify problems with the Vista system, even during live productions.

The Remote Access operation is simple to set up and utilizes a closed network for maximum system security. Vista owners simply dedicate a PC or laptop as the Remote Access interface, which hosts the secure network connection. The computer hosts a third-party Remote Access application and the Studer Virtual Network Connection (VNC). At Studer, a technician uses the VNC connection as the secure portal to access the owner’s Vista system, giving them monitoring and control capabilities from their location.

Through the network security system, the PC or laptop provides Studer with direct access to the owner’s Vista without exposing it to the Internet or any form of open network. The Remote Access uses encryption and has a minimum of two levels of password protection, providing another layer of security and confidence.

Vista customers can take advantage of Remote Access at any point of ownership. If time and resources are limited, Studer technicians are able to walk the user through the system for training, or work together online to troubleshoot user or function-related questions. This is strong support for any facility or production working with new engineers, freelancer, or contractors who are not familiar with the Vista system or show configuration. It can also act as a tool to help users save time by allowing the Vista technician to prepare for a show or event.

Remote Access is available for any Studer Vista 5, Vista 5 SR, Vista 8, Vista 9, running V4.2.00 software or above. The latest software is available as a free upgrade. Interested Vista customers can contact their local Studer support center. The Remote Access package is included in all Extended Warranties purchased from Studer USA or a Studer Sales representative can add it to the customer’s system configuration at time of purchase.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 12,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.8 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2011.