Archive for November 21st, 2011

Santa Monica, Calif., November 21, 2011 — Pioneering audio company Antelope Audio announced its Antelope Audiophile Special — a unique holiday price drop on its world-renowned, audiophile-grade Zodiac digital to analog converter (DAC). From now until December 31st, authorized U.S.-based Antelope Audio dealers will be offering the Zodiac at $1,295 — a $400 discount from its regular street price of $1,695.

Antelope Audio’s Zodiac D/A converter represents a groundbreaking addition to any listening set up. It contains the exact clocking technology used by top mastering professionals and engineers in the music, film and television industries. With the latest holiday discount, the Zodiac represents the most affordable entry point to help music afficiaonados hear the music as it was intended by top professionals such as Bernie Grundman of Bernie Grundman Mastering and Ward Hake, vice president of music at 20th Century Fox’s TV Music division.

“With our Antelope Audiophile Special, we are helping audio consumers access the exact same conversion and clocking technology used by the most prominent industry professionals in the world at a fraction of the cost,” commented Marcel James, Director of Sales for Antelope Audio USA. “The Zodiac is an ideal solution for a home listening environment and the ‘missing link’ in helping any system achieve optimal performance.”

Unprecedented detail and clarity
The Antelope Audio Zodiac helps audiophile consumers experience a new level of detail, sound clarity and warmth. Featuring a plug and play interface that connects seamlessly to a Mac, PC or just about any other digital media source, the Zodiac delivers 192kHz resolution audio, dramatically improving the listening experience on both loudspeakers and headphones. Antelope’s proprietary clocking technology, which is shielded from other electronic components to maintain a consistent temperature, is at the core of the Antelope sound and results in astounding accuracy, dynamics and stereo placement of the audio.

The Zodiac is particularly attractive also to audio consumers who use headphones being designed for precise monitoring with a wide range of headphone impedance. Ultra linear, dual stage headphone amplifiers, which are controlled by a dedicated volume knob, deliver smooth sound at both high and low levels.

Features:

– Custom USB chip streams audio up to 192kHz
– Antelope Oven Clock for supreme stability
– 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC)
– 129dB Dynamic Range
– Ultra Linear, Dual Stage Headphone Amps
– PC/Mac Software Control Panel
– Accurate Level Display for Main Volume

Dealers participating in the Antelope Audiophile Special include audioMIDI.com, Soundsciencecat.com, Sweetwater and Vintage King. To learn more about the Antelope Audiophile special, or for complete product information, please visit one of Antelope Audio’s authorized dealers or manufacturer’s website.

Look Solutions is proud to launch two ultra-efficient, battery-driven performers, the Tiny FX and Tiny CX for theatre, film, TV, concerts and celebrations.

The Tiny FX is the newest, modified version of the successful Tiny series fog generators. Boasting smaller pump and dimensions, plus remarkably light weight (180 grams), the modular-design Tiny FX contains a refillable fluid reservoir that can be screwed directly into the machine, eliminating the need for external fluid tank and tube. The unit incorporates state-of-the-art technology, including a programmable microprocessor for fixed fog control, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.

Tiny FX

The handy, efficient Look Solutions Tiny CX, follow-up to the Tiny C07, is easy to use and quick to start up. All components of the model are built into a small, robust housing. For a safe, continuous run, the Tiny CX is microprocessor-based and fully programmable. Its 11.1 V, intelligence-controlled battery allows for increased fog time and can be changed effortlessly, as can the vaporizer. The unit affords one-hand operation and unobtrusive fog emission.

Tiny CX

Like the Tiny FX, the Look Solutions Tiny CX can be triggered with the lid-imbedded start button, cable remote, radio remote, or DMX 512 with a DMX-converter. For each model, the special Tiny-Fluid provides dense fog with lowest fluid consumption.

The Tiny FX and CX units are already being used for cruise ships, and various entertainment sectors, such as Disney projects and Hollywood productions. For busy producers, stage mangers and technical directors, these units truly offer the dollar-for-dollar ultimate in creative, compact convenience.

About Look Solutions

Based in Germany, Look Solutions manufactures high-performance fog machines, haze machines, battery-powered mini-foggers, low-foggers, accessories and fluids at reasonable prices. Look Solutions USA, located in western Maryland, serves customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, or to request a demo machine for evaluation, visit www.looksolutionsusa.com or call Hunter Totty, Director of Operations, at 1-800-426-4189. Look Solutions’ Tech Support Hotline is 646-300-0520.

NEW YORK, NY – IKA Collective (http://www.ikacollective.com), the creative production/post studio led by director/brand strategist Ian Karr, has forged an alliance with Mixology Post, the original music/sound design/audio post studio founded by composer/engineer Rob Kahn. Additionally, IKA Collective named Stu Sternbach its Director of New Business Development.

“This year has been an exciting one in the evolution of IKA Collective,” Karr says. “We’ve been a one-stop creative shop since the beginning, but now brands and agencies are embracing that concept like never before. We’re the classic story of an overnight sensation — 25 years in the making. Adding Rob and Mixology to the Collective increases our creative critical mass and takes audio finishing to a whole new level – he is super-talented and a great fit for us. Stuart has a wealth of experience and connections in the advertising production/post production business to bring our collective skills to an even wider array of clients.”

Kahn, who will continue to operate Mixology as an independent company, is available to IKA Collective clients looking for original music/sound design/audio post. The company already offers an array of creative services including, creative development, live action production, editorial, visual effects design and animation.

Since joining IKA Collective, Kahn and his team of audio experts have lent their talents to a launch spot for PurAbsorb, a women’s vitamin supplement, via agency Nail Media Group; a campaign for Penguin Publishing celebrating Nora Robert’s new book, “The Next Always,” and IKA’s own web series “The Midnight Archive.”

“I’m really proud to be associated with Ian and IKA Collective,” Kahn says. “They are a forward-thinking company that is well-positioned to take advantage of the way the industry is heading with its emphasis on creatively nimble companies that can do a lot of things well, fast and on-budget.”

Sternbach joins IKA Collective following years as the president of the independent representation company Pangea, where he represented some of the production/post community’s leading companies. He got his start as an Account Executive at BBDO and from there he transitioned into sales/marketing positions at numerous top post houses before launching Pangea.

“IKA Collective is a rarity in the world of creative production and post,” Sternbach says. “There literally is nothing we can’t do – whether its creative strategy, production or post. IKA Collective possesses the perfect business model for the current economy in which clients are looking to work with shops that can do a lot of things well. I’m proud to be a part of what Ian is building and look forward to playing a role in the company’s the next level of success.”

About IKA Collective:
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company. Rather, they’re creative collective of writers, producers, editors, directors, composers, digital artists, fashionistas, foodies and horror film fanatics who love to tell stories. Whether it’s an ad, a network promo, a digital media project, or their own original content, IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include Fox TV, Discovery Channel, Continental Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com

Matrox graphics hardware drives uncompressed triple-monitor simulation content at one kilometer while also displaying same data on a six-cube visualization video wall

Montreal, Canada, November 21, 2011 — Matrox Graphics today announced that new products from its Avio KVM extender and Mura™ MPX video display wall controller board product lines will be used in conjunction for the first time at I/ITSEC 2011. Building on Matrox’s highly successful showing alongside Mitsubishi at Integrate 2011, Avio will extend uncompressed triple-display simulation content to a remote station one kilometer away from the host workstation, while Mura captures and displays the simulation data on a visualization video wall powered by six of Mitsubishi’s industry-leading DLP rear-projection cubes.

Mura is the new standard in video wall technology and uniquely incorporates input and output channels on the same board to optimally manage peer-to-peer bandwidth in visually intensive, high-resolution applications. Based on PCI Express x16 Gen 2 technology, Mura ensures Full HD performance for training and simulation systems using Mitsubishi displays, projectors, and cubes, while multiple Mura boards can also be combined to build high-density, scalable video walls for control rooms, operation centers, and other mission-critical environments.

“We are extremely pleased with the positive feedback that we’ve received on our Matrox-driven solutions,” said Matt Krstulja – Director of Sales, Datawall, at Mitsubishi Electric. “Matrox’s renowned multi-display graphics performance brings out the best of our displays and has been the perfect complement to our latest visual technologies.”

“We’re proud to show our latest high-end visualization solutions in partnership with Mitsubishi,” said Samuel Recine, Director of Sales, Americas & Asia Pacific at Matrox Graphics Inc. “Combining Mitsubishi’s leading display products with our graphics hardware will allow IT and AV systems integrators to reach the pinnacle of multi-user, high-intensity content visualization, whatever the application.”

I/ITSEC attendees seeking additional information on Matrox multi-display solutions with Mitsubishi display products can visit booth #2835 at the Orange County Convention Center from November 28 to December 1, or contact Matrox Graphics at graphics@matrox.com.

About Mitsubishi Electric
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc. is a US subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America manufactures and markets a complete line of display products including projectors, data wall display systems, LCD digital signage monitors and players, large-screen 3D DLP® televisions and the world’s first laser TV, LaserVue®. Other products include industrial printers, photo kiosks and digital photo printers, time lapse security recorders and DVRs.

About Matrox Graphics Inc.
Matrox Graphics is a leading manufacturer of graphics solutions for professional markets. In-house design expertise, top-to-bottom manufacturing, and dedicated customer support make our solutions the premier choice in industries that require stable, high-reliability products. Founded in 1976, Matrox is a privately held company headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with representation and offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

For more information, visit www.matrox.com/graphics.

Boston, MA (November 18, 2011) — Brickyard VFX recently collaborated with ad agency Mullen and Partizan director Jeremy Konner to create JetBlue’s customizable “Getaways Granter” web campaign. Launched this week, the campaign lets users upload their boss’ name and picture into one of four videos in a tongue-in-cheek effort to procure some vacation time. Once created, the site then allows users to share their unique videos via email and social media.


Brickyard’s Lead VFX Artist Peter Bullis supervised the shoot, where the whole crew tackled a crazy schedule – filming all four spots, including elaborate set changes each with extensive tracking markers, in just sixteen hours. The Brickyard team then used Autodesk Flame and Vicon Boujou to key elements and composite in 2D backgrounds for each spot, once again facing a challenging schedule – Brickyard completed all compositing for 101 shots in just two weeks. Once all the plates were complete, Mullen’s digital team finalized the spots with customizable programming to let users turn their boss into the face of a Caribbean tiki bar or some bicep tattoo art for an rockin’ urban front man.


“This campaign is just so funny, quirky and well-written, and it was great to work with Mullen again and help bring their vision to life,” said Bullis. “And I’m really looking forward to seeing how some of the other Brickyard folks look added in to these videos!”





About Brickyard VFX
Brickyard is a digital production studio skilled in high-end visual effects, animation, design and creative development for advertising, feature films and emerging media. With shops in Boston and Santa Monica, Brickyard is artist-centric at the core, fostering a close collaboration of not only artist-to-director but the entire creative team. Within a cozy eclectic production space, Brickyard assembles a customized crew of designers, animators, and compositors for every project. Please contact Kirsten with Brickyard VFX Atlantic at (617) 262-3220 or Jeff with Brickyard VFX Pacific at (310) 453-5722, or visit http://www.brickyardvfx.com.


# # #


Credits:


Client: JetBlue Airways
Campaign: Getaways Granter
Spots: Island Hopping, Outdoor Wrangling, Honey Mooning, City Rocking


AGENCY: MULLEN, Boston MA
Chief Creative Officer: Mark Wenneker
Executive Creative Director: Tim Vaccarino
Executive Creative Director: Dave Weist
Associate Creative Director: Jesse Blatz, Allison Rude, Brian Leech
Art Director: Ramzi Sarieddine
Copywriter: Gabriel Ferrer
Exec Director of Integrated Production: Liza Near
Producer: Mary Donington
Digital Producer: Cindy Kao, Lisa Neary
Senior Flash Developer: Joe Palasek
Web Developer: Joel Oliveira
Group Account Director: Michael Craig
Account Supervisor: Jessica Zdenek
Account Executive: Hannah Moore


PRODUCTION COMPANY: PARTIZAN
Director: Jeremy Konner


EDITORIAL: MULLEN EDITORIAL
Editor: Jessica Phearsome
Mullen Editorial Producer: Jamee Sheehy


POST: BRICKYARD VFX
Senior Producer: Amy Appleton
VFX Shoot Supervisor: Peter Bullis
Lead VFX Artist: Peter Bullis
VFX Artist: Henrique Ghersi
VFX Artist: Robin Hobart
VFX Artist: Jimi Simmons

HOLLYWOOD– Re-Recording Mixer Marshall Garlington has joined Todd-AO. Garlington has more than 75 feature films to his credit, including two films in the Twilight series, Rambo, Blade, the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian, and also extensive credits in large format (IMAX) films. He will primarily be based at Todd-AO’s Hollywood facility and team with Re-Recording Mixer Joe Barnett.

“Marshall is a consummate professional who has produced a very impressive body of work, particularly in action movies,” said Robert C. Rosenthal, President of CSS Studios, Todd-AO’s parent company. “We are thrilled to welcome him into the Todd-AO family.”

In explaining his move to Todd-AO, Garlington cited the company’s unparalleled resources and the quality of its staff. “I look forward to working with the Todd-AO team and the opportunity to work on high caliber, creatively challenging projects,” he said.

Barnett, who has worked with Garlington on several projects, including the 2009 film Shrink, starring Kevin Spacey, looks forward to expanding their collaboration. “Marshall is a prodigious talent whose skills dovetail beautifully with mine,” Barnett said.

Garlington has recently been working as a freelancer. His recent film credits include Hesher, Traitor, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas and Delta Farce. His television credits include Lie to Me, The Inside and Las Vegas. He received an Emmy nomination in 2002 for the television movie The Lost Battalion.

About CSS STUDIOS, LLC
Hollywood, California-based CSS Studios® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 180 countries. CSS Studios provides creative post production sound services to major motion picture studios, independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising agencies and interactive producers. The services of CSS Studios are marketed under the brand names Todd-AO®, Sound One, Soundelux®, POP Sound®, Modern Music, Soundelux Design Music Group and The Hollywood Edge, with facilities in Los Angeles and New York. With more than 50 years of experience in providing creative sound services and technical solutions, the companies, collectively, have garnered more than 50 Academy Award nominations and won 26 Academy Awards®.

VH1’s “Big Morning Buzz Live”

The Tiny FX is the newest, modified version of the successful Tiny series fog generators. Boasting smaller pump and dimensions, plus remarkably light weight (180 grams), the modular-design Tiny FX contains a refillable fluid reservoir that can be screwed directly into the machine, eliminating the need for external fluid tank and tube. The unit incorporates state-of-the-art technology, including a programmable microprocessor for fixed fog control, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.

The handy, efficient Look Solutions Tiny CX, follow-up to the Tiny C07, is easy to use and quick to start up. All components of the model are built into a small, robust housing. For a safe, continuous run, the Tiny CX is microprocessor-based and fully programmable. Its 11.1 V, intelligence-controlled battery allows for increased fog time and can be changed effortlessly, as can the vaporizer. The unit affords one-hand operation and unobtrusive fog emission.

Like the Tiny FX, the Look Solutions Tiny CX can be triggered with the lid-imbedded start button, cable remote, radio remote, or DMX 512 with a DMX-converter. For each model, the special Tiny-Fluid provides dense fog with lowest fluid consumption.

The Tiny FX and CX units are already being used for cruise ships, and various entertainment sectors, such as Disney projects and Hollywood productions. For busy producers, stage mangers and technical directors, these units truly offer the dollar-for-dollar ultimate in creative, compact convenience.

About Look Solutions

Based in Germany, Look Solutions manufactures high-performance fog machines, haze machines, battery-powered mini-foggers, low-foggers, accessories and fluids at reasonable prices. Look Solutions USA, located in western Maryland, serves customers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, or to request a demo machine for evaluation, visit www.looksolutionsusa.com or call Hunter Totty, Director of Operations, at 1-800-426-4189. Look Solutions’ Tech Support Hotline is 646-300-0520.