Archive for April 17th, 2012

Old Lyme, Conn. – April 17, 2012– With the new firmware version 1.7.0, audio specialist Sennheiser [NAB booth C2632] is now providing a media control protocol for its 2000, evolution wireless ew 500 G3 and evolution wireless ew 300 G3 series. This new open protocol enables rack-mount devices of the series to communicate directly with media control units in an Ethernet network (UDP/IP) and to be integrated into larger audio/video control systems. The units can then be remote-controlled and monitored directly from a central control panel, such as those supplied by Crestron and AMX. Individual solutions from system providers or control via an Apple iPad/iPhone or a mixing console are equally possible.

“The new firmware enables microphone receivers and monitoring transmitters from the 2000, ew 300 G3 and ew 500 G3 series to be remote-controlled and monitored,” explained Robb Blumenreder, channel manager for professional systems at Sennheiser’s U.S. headquarters. The user can display the channel banks of the rack-mount receivers and transmitters, remotely set a suitable frequency and also assign names. The receivers and transmitters can be muted via the control panel and give warning signals if, for example, the signal strength is too low or if the devices are threatening to over-amplify. “Put simply: this interface can be used to give all essential commands and to set up the system,” Blumenreder said.

For the receivers of the ew 300 G3, ew 500 G3 and 2000 series, the squelch, equalizer and audio signal strength can be displayed, as well as the RF field strength for each receiver unit within the device, the active antenna, pilot tone on/off and the battery status for the associated handheld or bodypack transmitters.

For the monitoring transmitters of the ew 300 IEM G3 and 2000 IEM series, the sensitivity, equalizer and mono/stereo setting can be displayed and adjusted. In addition, the transmitter indicates the audio signal level.

“Of course, even when integrated into a media control system, the rack-mount receivers and transmitters can still be operated and programmed directly at the units themselves,” Blumenreder explained. “The devices will then process the current control signal in each case.”

The new firmware version for the receivers and transmitters as well as the complete documentation for the media control protocol can be downloaded free of charge from the Sennheiser website: www.sennheiserusa.com/mediacontrolprotocol.

*iPad and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the USA and other countries

Image Caption:
Screenshot1+2.jpg: Microphone receivers and monitoring transmitters from Sennheiser’s 2000, ew 500 G3 and ew 300 G3 series can now communicate directly with media control units via an open protocol

Devices Supported

EM 300 G3 wireless microphone receiver
EM 500 G3 wireless microphone receiver
SR 300 IEM G3 monitoring transmitter
EM 2000 wireless microphone receiver
EM 2050 twin wireless microphone receiver
SR 2000 IEM monitoring transmitter
SR 2050 IEM twin monitoring transmitter

Award-winning photo and video companies announce global distribution partnership; bring together a combined 100 years of video and imaging industry experience
 
Hauppauge, NY – April 17, 2012 – The Tiffen Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of award-winning accessories for the still imaging, video, motion picture and broadcast markets, is pleased to announce a global distribution partnership with Digital Film Tools, a developer of visual effects tools. Both companies hold impressive reputations and are among a small group to have a rich history that runs deep with creative and technical expertise, attaining the industry’s highest accolades including Emmy’s for both technical and artistic achievements. The new distribution arrangement provides the creative community access to an unprecedented breadth and depth of award-winning creative technology offerings from production to post.
 
“This partnership marks the beginning of what will be an exciting and innovative journey for us. Together, Tiffen and Digital Film Tools will pioneer the future of video and photography,” said Steve Tiffen, president and CEO, The Tiffen Company. “No other partnership has the collaborative knowledge and skill in photography and video compared to our 100 combined years of experience. It comes from our unique understanding of the electronics and the award-winning optical filters and digital effects, as well as working with the world-class designers. We’re setting the bar in the industry, and we’re setting it high.”
 
“The breadth and depth of what we do – and what we are able to accomplish because of our partnership – remains unmatched,” comments Marco Paolini, founder and president, Digital Film Tools. “We look forward to a successful future with Tiffen and, with even more talent and skilled leadership powering the engine, see many more milestones ahead of us.”
 
Collaboration Runs Deep
This partnership is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Tiffen and Digital Film Tools, who brought their extensive production experience with filters to the award-winning Tiffen Dfx software. The DFT developers’ expertise and artistic talent combined with Tiffen’s own technical and artistic skills have resulted in unparalleled success. Their official partnership and the global distribution of each other’s products takes the exciting collaboration to the next level.
 
As part of the new partnership, Tiffen will be reselling an extensive list of DFT products and bundles, including:
• Composite Suite Pro 1.0 for Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Editing Systems
• EZ Mask 2.0 for Adobe Photoshop
• Film Stock for Photos and Video/Film
• Light 3.5 for Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture
• Ozone 2.5 for Adobe Photoshop and Apple Aperture
• PhotoCopy for Photos and Video/Film
• Power Mask 1.0 for Adobe Photoshop
• Power Matte 2.0 for Adobe After Effects
• Power Stroke 1.0 for Adobe Photoshop, After Effects and Apple Aperture
• Rays for Photos and Video/Film
• reFine for Photos and Video/Film
• Snap 2_5 for Adobe Photoshop
• zMatte 3.0 for Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Editing Systems
Bundles
• EZ mask bundled with Dfx Photo plug in
• Power Matte bundled with Dfx Video/Film plug in
• PowerStroke Photoshop with Dfx Photo plug in
• PowerStroke Aperture with Dfx Photo plug in
• PowerStroke After Effects with Dfx Video plug in
• ReFine with Dfx Photo plug in
• ReFine wth Dfx Video plug in
• PhotoCopy with Dfx Photo plug in and Dfx Video plug in
• PhotoCopy with Dfx Video plug in
 
For more information about the new distribution offerings, visit:
http://tiffensoftware.com/products/dft-products
http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/tiffenDFX/
 
Book A Private Press Briefing at NAB 2012
To set up a press briefing with a member of the Tiffen management team or a private product viewing during NAB 2012, please contact Anya Oskolkova at anya@zazilmediagroup.com.
 
About Digital Film Tools
Digital Film Tools brings together the unbeatable combination of superior software designers, motion picture visual effects veterans, video editors and photographers. Add three Emmy Awards and experience in creating visual effects for hundreds of feature films, commercials and television shows and you have a recipe for success.
 
For more information on Digital Film Tools, please visit http://www.digitalfilmtools.com/index.htm.
 
About Tiffen
Tiffen has been a leading manufacturer of photographic filters, lens accessories, software, and camera accessories for the consumer/professional imaging and the motion picture and broadcast television industries for over 70 years. The company has a rich history of innovative product design, superior optical consistency, and unparalleled quality. Tiffen has been recognized for its product and engineering excellence, earning two Technical Achievement Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as an Emmy® Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Today, the company offers a wide range of products, which include: Tiffen® filters, Steadicam® camera stabilizing systems, Lowel® light, Listec™ teleprompters, Tiffen Dfx® digital imaging software, Domke® bags, Davis & Sanford® tripods, Zing® camera covers, Stroboframe® flash brackets, Saunders® professional trimmers, and Kodak Wratten® filters. Tiffen continues to enhance its reputation as a leading imaging accessory manufacturer through aggressive growth in the image-making accessory industry.
 
For more information on Tiffen, please visit: http://www.tiffen.com.
 
Tiffen is a registered trademark of The Tiffen Company. All other trademarks and products mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.
 
Press Contacts
Tiffen North America
Anya Oskolkova
Zazil Media Group
anya@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) 617.817.6559
(skype) anya.oskolkova
 
Janice Dolan
Zazil Media Group
janice@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) 617.817.6595
(skype) janicedolan
 
Tiffen International
Peter Samwell
psamwell@tiffen.com
(p) +44 (0) 1404 42497
(o) +44 (0) 870 100 1220
 
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Latest upgrade to the robust digital filter suite earns Tiffen Dfx a win as the Best Overall Value in the Post-Production Upgrade category
 
Las Vegas, NV — April 17, 2012 — The Tiffen Company, a leading manufacturer and distributor of award-winning accessories for the still imaging, video, motion picture and broadcast markets, is pleased to announce that Tiffen Dfx v3.0 has just won the Best Overall Value award in the Post-Production Upgrades category at the StudioDaily Prime Awards, held in Las Vegas this Tuesday morning (April 17, 2012). The industry event honored the top innovators in production and post, with awards for categories in Production — New Product and Upgrades, Post-Production — New Product, and Post-Production — Upgrades. This award for Tiffen Dfx v3.0 follows many other prestigious accolades, including a Best of CES 2012 award from Photo Industry Reporter, a MicroFilmmaker Award of Superiority, and the DV Black Diamond award. Tiffen Dfx is on display now at NAB 2012 at the Tiffen booth (C8818).
 
“The new Tiffen Dfx v3.0 continues to garner a lot of attention from the industry influencers. We’re very happy to have this upgrade recognized as the Best Overall Value by StudioDaily,” said Steve Tiffen, President and CEO, The Tiffen Company. “This award recognizing Tiffen Dfx as one of the most innovative products on the market during the broadcasting event of the year solidifies it as the definitive set of editing tools for filmmakers, photographers and visual effects artists worldwide.”
 
Book a Private Press Briefing at NAB 2012
To set up a press briefing with a member of the Tiffen management team or a private product viewing during NAB 2012, please contact Anya Oskolkova at anya@zazilmediagroup.com.
 
About Tiffen Dfx v3
A powerful and robust video and still image editing effects suite, Tiffen Dfx 3 boasts enhanced multi-processor acceleration for faster interaction and rendering of images, 10+ brand-new filters for optical effects, updated host support, interface improvements and more, taking image editing to the next level of visual brilliance. Simulating 2,000+ popular award-winning Tiffen glass filters, specialized lenses, optical lab processes, film grain, exacting color correction plus natural light and photographic effects, Tiffen Dfx digital effects suite is the definitive set of digital optical filters for any photographer or video editor.
 
About Tiffen
Tiffen has been a leading manufacturer of photographic filters, lens accessories, software, and camera accessories for the consumer/professional imaging and the motion picture and broadcast television industries for over 70 years. The company has a rich history of innovative product design, superior optical consistency, and unparalleled quality. Tiffen has been recognized for its product and engineering excellence, earning two Technical Achievement Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as an Emmy® Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Today, the company offers a wide range of products, which include: Tiffen® filters, Steadicam® camera stabilizing systems, Lowel® light, Listec™ teleprompters, Tiffen Dfx® digital imaging software, Domke® bags, Davis & Sanford® tripods, Zing® camera covers, Stroboframe® flash brackets, Saunders® professional trimmers, and Kodak Wratten® filters. Tiffen continues to enhance its reputation as a leading imaging accessory manufacturer through aggressive growth in the image-making accessory industry.
 
For more information on Tiffen, please visit: http://www.tiffen.com.
 
Tiffen is a registered trademark of The Tiffen Company. All other trademarks and products mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.
 
Press Contacts
Tiffen North America
Anya Oskolkova
Zazil Media Group
anya@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) 617.817.6559
(skype) anya.oskolkova
 
Janice Dolan
Zazil Media Group
janice@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) 617.817.6595
(skype) janicedolan
 
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MIAMI — April 16, 2012 — Primestream(R), a leader in advanced Media Asset Management and Broadcast Automation software, announced that its acclaimed FORK(TM) Production Suite now supports Harmonic’s Spectrum ChannelPort(TM) integrated channel playout platform. The combination gives media organizations control over all of ChannelPort’s branding, master control switching, and clip playout functions directly from the FORK environment, making it possible for broadcasters to enrich their on-air look with graphics and up-to-the-minute tickers without having to switch between systems. more

Cross-Platform Support and Intuitive New Interface Enable Users to Browse FORK Content Without Leaving Editor Application

MIAMI — April 16, 2012 — At the 2012 NAB Show, Primestream(R) will unveil an enhanced level of integration between its FORK(TM) software platform for managing and automating broadcast workflows and the upcoming release of Adobe(R) Premiere(R) Pro CS6, the acclaimed video editing software for Windows(R) and Mac(R) OS X(R). The integration will allow users to drag and drop clips directly from FORK into Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 and to browse FORK content without leaving the editing application, enabling editors and producers at all types of media organizations to get content to air more quickly and easily, whether they are using Windows or Mac. more

FORK Improvements, Enhancements, Integrations Help Broadcasters Keep Pace With Multiscreen Delivery Workflows

MIAMI — April 16, 2012 — Primestream(R), a leader in advanced media asset management and broadcast automation software, announced FORK(TM) 3.0, the next generation of its acclaimed FORK Production Suite for managing and automating broadcast workflows. FORK 3.0 boasts new features, technological improvements, and integrations with third-party broadcast workflows that make it more responsive, powerful, extendable, and capable of handling multiple tasks. more

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – With more than 1,500 television productions per year including The Voice, The Winner Is, F-1 Silverstone and DWDD, DutchView is the leading broadcaster in the Netherlands. Whether recording these programs in one of its 14 studios or on location, DutchView often relies on HARMAN’s Studer digital consoles for high-quality sound mixing.

In 2007, DutchView equipped its DV2 OB van with a Studer Vista 8 for medium-sized productions. In 2010, DutchView added a Studer Vista 5 console at its Westergas Fabriek studio, from which two of the Netherlands’ most popular primetime daily talk shows are broadcast.

In 2011, Heynen bv (Studer’s supplier in the Netherlands) and DutchView came to an agreement for the upcoming years regarding the delivery of Studer digital mixing consoles. The choice for Studer was based on good pricing and a strong brand, but most of all it was based on DutchView’s positive experiences with its previous Studer Vista consoles. In February, DutchView outfitted its new DV8 OB van with a 62-fader Vista 9 console-one of three Vista consoles it plans to add to its new OB vans in the near future.

The brand-new DV8 OB van is designed to serve a wide variety of customers in both low and high-end productions. DutchView is very pleased with the routing and layering capabilities of Studer digital consoles, especially in combination with providing the highest possible sound quality levels for any digital console. DutchView also finds the intuitive “analogue approach” of Vista consoles very attractive.

With 62 faders, DutchView is able to have all of its important sources directly on the faders, including EQ, dynamics and panning. In combination with FaderGlow and Vistonics(tm), this gives most audio engineers the ability to work in an intuitive and familiar manner. This is crucial when preparation time is getting shorter by the day.

Another advantage of the Vista 9 is its ability to handle a lot of different feeds, which is needed for huge events like Domino Day, where 30 receivers and 140 microphones were used. In these cases, the Studer compact stage box is also a good asset, especially for controlling the preamps directly from the desk surface.

The audio section in the OB van is very spacious, providing enough room for a professional 5.1 surround sound system. It even provides plenty of room for extra individuals, such as music directors, to sit comfortably. DutchView also adheres to the Loudness Recommendation EBU 128. “Thanks to the Vista 9, the DV8 OB van is very versatile and able to cover almost all types of broadcasts, including sports, festivals, entertainment, music or even a combination of these,” said Peter Slot of DutchView. “In many cases, this will even save us from needing several OB’s on the road to do just one job.”

DutchView is very involved in Sustainable Broadcasting. By implementing all kinds of different innovative solutions the DV8 uses up to 40 percent less energy than comparable OB vans. This is possible by using more fibre optics instead of copper, a low emission engine, a balanced cooling system and the use of LED lightning. In turn, DutchView is pleased that both Heynen bv and Studer share the company’s philosophy on Sustainable Broadcasting to help maintain the highest standards of quality and environmental responsibility.

At this moment, Studer is already building a second Vista 9 for the DV9 OB van, which will be identical to the DV8. It is expected to hit the road sometime in the second half of 2012. With these new OB vans and the intensive technical support of both Heynen and Studer, DutchView will continue its leading trend-setting role in the Dutch broadcast landscape.

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 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.

LOS ANGELES—Chronicle, the stylish sci-fi thriller from and Twentieth Century Fox, employed Codex Digital recording and workflow technology while shooting on location in South Africa. The film used Codex Onboard recorders in tandem with the ARRI Alexa cameras to capture camera data in ARRIRAW format. Chronicle is among the first films using this groundbreaking Codex/ARRIRAW workflow to reach theaters.

more

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – SRG SSR, the Swiss public radio and television broadcaster, has taken delivery of three new Studer OnAir 1500 12-channel, 6-fader consoles. These are designed to provide a flexible, compact solution for radio broadcasting and production.

Purchased from Dr.W.A.Günther Distribution, the HARMAN Professional distributor for Switzerland, two of the desks will be used in the TV studios in the Media Centre of the Swiss Parliament building in Berne, while the third will be used for mobile/location work-such as election nights or other major events.

Both desks are equipped with a MADI card and connected to the central Nexus TV audio router over a MADI fibre cable, to give them access to most of the audio sources in the house. Replacing two older consoles they are working alongside nine OnAir 3000 and two OnAir 2500 consoles in the Media Centre’s Studer armory-part of a complement of 14 Studer digital audio mixing consoles specified when the Media Centre was originally built in mid-2006.

This production hub forms part of SRG SSR National Services. According to Broadcast Systems Engineer, Werner Isch, these studios produce radio and television news broadcasts from Parliament, along with local news from the region of Berne, Freiburg and Wallis, for five enterprise units-Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF), Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), Radiotelevisione Svizzera (RSI), Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha (RTR) and Swissinfo.

“In other words,” Isch said, “we are house broadcasters for the Swiss Parliament. The Federal Parliament Media Centre records all debates in the National Council and theCouncil of States (the two houses of Parliament). Recordings can be followed live when Parliament is in session, while in addition to the activities of the executive and the legislature, SRG SSR provides coverage of 400 governmental press conferences annually.”

Located within the Media Centre are a large 10-camera, 230-square-meter TV studio and three small single-camera Duplex studios, dealing with everything from live news to pre-production of MPs’ speeches. The new OnAir 1500 consoles in Duplex studios 1 and 2 follow a third, larger Duplex studio, built in 2010, which houses a Studer OnAir 2500.

Isch added that it had been logical to upgrade with the Studer platform, since the 80-year-old organisation has worked with fellow Swiss manufacturers for at least half of that period.

The OnAir 1500 consoles also boast a similar operating concept as the OnAir 2500 and OnAir 3000, which provided a further compelling reason for this latest purchase. “We needed a 6-fader console with a small footprint that would be easy to use for both live and pre-production. Last year we tested a prototype of the OnAir 1500-and found the quality to be excellent,” he said.

The incoming and outgoing feeds from Duplex 1 and 2 are transmitted over the fibre network and the Nexus audio router to the OnAir 1500 consoles. Other inputs include two microphones, servers and telephone lines (ISDN codec).

“All the users are happy with this purchase,” Isch concluded. “The OnAir 1500 consoles are easy to use and offer a good price/performance ratio.”

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 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Users of HARMAN’s Studer Vista consoles can now opt to add up to 24 channels of Lexicon Effects to their console with the release of the VISTA FX engine. The VISTA FX unit contains 8 channels of FX, and three units may be cascaded to allow up to 24 different mono channels per console.

Not only does each 2U lightweight VISTA FX unit provide the equivalent of 2 renowned and revered Lexicon PCM96 devices, but control and assignment of the effects and their parameters is all accomplished via the Vistonics(tm) user interface. Both real-time operation and snapshot-based control can be achieved through the touch-screen based system. The unit can be configured to provide 8 mono, 4 stereo or 2 surround signals; with hundreds of different presets available to the operator.

Additionally, BSS 30-band graphic equalizers are available for input channels, groups, masters and auxiliaries, with control of the bands either via the Vistonics rotary controls or via the faders on the console. Users can choose the starting band position on the fader bank to provide the most convenient location for the graphic EQ control. On the Vista 9, the FaderGlow(tm) turns red on the controlling faders to indicate that they are in EQ mode.

The option is available as an upgrade for all Studer Vista consoles which utilise the SCore Live DSP core.

Other new products from Studer at NAB include the new Studer Vista 1 Compact mixing console, Vista Compact Remote bay, RTW TM7 Metering Option for Vista consoles and an Axia Livewire(tm) AoIP card for the D21m system.

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 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.