LAS VEGAS — Post’s team of writers, contributors and industry pros recently walked the show floor of the 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas, searching for the most innovative and coolest new products, solutions and technologies. Returning from the show with much to think about,
Post is now proud to announce the list of products, technologies and news that we all agreed had shown an impressive amount of innovation, as well as captured the most attention and interest at the exhibition. Here’s a look at the
Post Picks for NAB 2018, as well as our list of Honorable Mentions.
POST PICK WINNERS
ELEMENTS CLICK
The new Elements (www.elements.tv) Click cloud feature radically simplifies collaboration in production workflows – providing an intuitive, custom-made environment to share and review video files of any format and size from anywhere, anytime – with unmatched security.
Embedded in Elements Media Library, Click allows all workstations connected to the central storage to share assets through a private cloud, directly from within Elements’ GUI. With a simple mouse click every operator from any workstation, even those without direct internet access, can initiate the upload and create a link to the specific video in the cloud, or leverage the “auto-upload” functionality that allows operators to automatically load assets to a new cloud-hosted web platform for easy external access.
Instead of inviting customers or team members to a generic, impersonal cloud portal, Elements Click allows for creating an individually branded cloud portal, giving users their own cloud-based collaboration portal.
Identical to the use of the Media Library as a communication portal, viewers accessing the assets through the cloud can leave comments and even drawings on the image. All annotations are integrated and synced to Elements Media Library.
BORIS FX PARTICLE ILLUSION
Boris FX (www.borisfx.com) is relaunching Particle Illusion, the popular motion graphics and particle animation system the company acquired from GenArts. Redesigned from the ground up, Particle Illusion will feature an updated user interface, additional new emitter libraries and blazing fast GPU speeds. Original founder, Alan Lorence, has joined the Boris FX team as the product manager. Particle Illusion, which was previewed as a tech demo at the company’s NAB booth, will be part of Continuum 12 and the Continuum Particle Unit to be released later this year.
“We have listened to our customer base and have taken on multiple initiatives that will greatly enhance the workflow for editors, motion graphics and effects artists,” said Boris Yamnitsky, Boris FX founder & president. One of the “highly-requested” features for the company was to bring back Particle Illusion. “We have responded by reengineering and designing this application from the ground up.”
BLACKMAGIC DESIGN UPDOWNCROSS HD, MICRO BIDIRECTIONAL SDI/HDMI & MINI OPTICAL FIBER 12G CONVERTERS
Blackmagic Design (www.blackmagicdesign.com) introduced a number of low-cost converters at the NAB show. The Blackmagic Mini Converter UpDownCross HD unit lets customers convert any SD or HD video format to any other SD or HD video format via SDI and HDMI input and output connections. Priced at $155, the unit also gives users automatic scaling of computer resolutions to standard broadcast formats.
The Blackmagic Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI is a pocket size, broadcast quality video converter that simultaneously converts SDI to HDMI and HDMI to SDI in all SD and HD formats up to 1080p60. Blackmagic Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI is priced at $65. Customers can use it to convert NTSC format video from SDI to HDMI in one direction, while simultaneously converting 1080p60 video from HDMI to SDI in the other direction. The professional 3G-SDI connections allow for work with all SD and HD equipment and formats up to 1080p60, including Level A and B devices. The unit can be powered via micro USB from a laptop computer, big screen television or mobile phone battery back. It can also be powered using an optional DC plug pack, which supports 110 to 240V AC and comes with four different international AC socket adapters so customers can plug them into outlets anywhere in the world.
Finally, the Blackmagic Mini Converter Optical Fiber 12G is a new bi-directional SDI to optical fiber converter that lets users extend SDI connections up to 10 miles away. Priced at $155, the unit extends SDI connections over massive distances by converting SDI to optical fiber and optical fiber to SDI in both directions at the same time. Using the Blackmagic Mini Converter Optical Fiber 12G is an affordable way to increase camera coverage at live events because it lets broadcasters place cameras up to 10 miles away from their switchers, routers, and decks using low cost optical fiber cable. Mini Converter Optical Fiber 12G includes a universal power supply with four international socket adapters. It also features a screw lock connector that prevents the power cord from being accidentally disconnected.
SONNET TECHNOLOGIES’ EGFX BREAKAWAY BOX 650
Sonnet Technologies (www.sonnettech.com), based in Irvine, CA, launched its new eGFX Breakaway Box 650 at NAB. The 650 is the latest Thunderbolt 3 to PCI Express (PCIe) eGPU expansion chassis for professional graphics and gaming applications and is designed and qualified specifically for large, power-hungry video graphics processing unit (GPU) cards, including the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and overclocked Nvidia GeForce GTX 10 series-based cards. The unit is equipped with a 650-watt power supply, which provides ample power for GPU cards with high transient peak power requirements.
“With the introduction of AMD’s Radeon Pro and RX Vega Series cards, we have experienced a high demand for an eGPU chassis capable of supporting the higher standards of these GPU cards,” explains Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. “The eGFX Breakaway Box 650 meets the demand, enabling users to tap the compute power of even the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and Radeon Pro WX 9100 cards while still providing up to 87 watts of upstream Power Delivery to support popular notebook computers.”
The eGFX Breakaway Box 650 provides a single slot for connecting any size Thunderbolt-compatible GPU card, and features enough room for many high-performance water-cooled cards, making it well suited for pros who need to run bandwidth-intensive graphics applications on their eGFX-compatible notebook, all-in-one, or other small-form-factor computers. The unit is equipped with a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 port that enables data transfers up to 2750MB/s, and supports all Thunderbolt-compatible GPU cards, including the AMD Radeon R9, RX, RX Vega, and Pro WX models; and Nvidia GeForce GTX 9 and 10 series, Titan X and Xp, V, and Quadro models.
In addition, the Breakaway Box 650 includes two eight-pin auxiliary power connectors and provides 87 watts of upstream power (Power Delivery), useful for powering and charging a connected notebook computer that supports Thunderbolt 3 charging.
Sonnet Technologies and its dealers are offering the eGFX Breakaway Box for an MSRP of $449. At NAB, the company was showing two Breakaway Boxes connected to an iMac Pro, which was performing realtime 8K color correction (pictured) using Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve. In a private suite off the show floor, Apple was demonstrating the latest version of Final Cut Pro on a MacBook Pro, connected to an eGFX Breakaway Box. The solution is recommended by Apple and qualified by AMD to support all graphics cards compatible with macOS High Sierra.
AJA KONA HDMI & KONA 1 CARD
AJA Video Systems (www.aja.com) unveiled two new Kona cards at NAB, the Kona HDMI, a PCIe card for multi-channel HD and single-channel 4K HDMI capture for live production, streaming, gaming, VR and post production, and Kona 1, a PCIe card for single-channel HD/SD 3G-SDI capture/playback.
A powerful HDMI video capture solution, Kona HDMI supports a range of workflows, including live streaming, events, production, broadcast, editorial, VFX, vlogging, video game capture/streaming and more. Kona HDMI is flexible, designed for four simultaneous channels of HD capture with popular streaming and switching applications including Telestream Wirecast and vMix. Additionally, Kona HDMI uniquely offers capture of one channel of UltraHD up to 60p over HDMI 2.0 using AJA Control Room software for file compatibility with most NLE and effects packages. It is also compatible with other popular third-party solutions for live streaming, projection mapping and VR workflows.
Designed for broadcast, post and ProAV, as well as OEM developers, Kona 1 is a robust, cost-efficient, single-channel 3G-SDI 2K/HD 60p I/O PCIe card. Kona 1 offers serial control and reference/LTC, and features standard application plug-ins, as well as AJA SDK support. Kona 1 supports 3G-SDI capture, monitoring and/or playback with software applications from AJA, Adobe, Avid, Apple, Telestream and more. Kona 1 enables simultaneous monitoring during capture (pass-through).
The company also announced Desktop Software v14.2, which introduces support for Kona HDMI and KONA 1, in addition to a new SMPTE ST 2110 IP video mode for Kona IP with support for AJA Control Room, Adobe Premiere Pro CC, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, and Avid Media Composer.
Kona HDMI will be available June 2018 for $895 US MSRP, and Kona 1 will be available May 2018 for $595 US MSRP, with both available for pre-order now. Desktop Software v14.2 will also be available May 2018 as a free download.
PANASAS ACTIVESTOR FOR VR WORKFLOWS
“We’ve taken an interesting tact this year, where we’re showing regular everyday productions tools like Adobe Creative Suite tools, Premiere Pro and After Effects and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve, and demonstrating the use of those tools for VR production,” said David Sallak, VP and CTO, Panasas, at this year’s NAB. “Adjacent to that, we have a half dome where you don’t have to put on the VR headset but you can experience the content produced on those tools all sourced from Panasas storage.”
Panasas (www.panasas.com) demonstrated VR, as well as AI and production workflows, on its ActiveStor plug-and-play, high-performance storage solution on its booth during this year’s NAB show in Las Vegas. ActiveStor is optimized to support parallel creative activities, handle high resource demands from multiple sources and deliver raw speed and management simplicity required for those working in the creative value chain to work faster and smarter. “We’re very excited to support everyday tools, used in unusual, emerging ways,” added Sallak.
TELESTREAM AVID ECOSYSTEM SOLUTIONS
Telestream (www.telestream.net) announced significant enhancements to its Avid integration in the latest version of Vantage. The new Avid Production Asset Monitor in Vantage supports MediaCentral directory monitoring allowing Vantage to trigger jobs from MediaCentral ‘virtual directories’. Also announced was the latest version of Lightspeed Live Capture which streamlines ingest for Avid workflows by creating Avid OPAtom MXF media with associated AAF files and automatically checking assets into Interplay or MediaCentral.
With the Vantage Production Asset Monitor, Avid editors no longer need to spend valuable time rendering and exporting sequences from Media Composer for use in a Vantage workflow. The next release of Vantage includes a new window that allows users to connect to their Avid systems and start jobs without leaving Vantage. Avid sequences and master clips can automatically trigger Vantage workflows from within the Interplay environment. By directly integrating with Interplay or MediaCentral Production, creative teams can spend more time on the creation of media and less time doing what Vantage is optimized to do.
In Lightspeed Live Capture v2.3, a new Avid Interplay Advanced Encoder option allows baseband SDI signals from live events, tapes, or IP feeds to be encoded into native Avid MXF OPAtom containers and AAF files for use in any file-based workflow.
Lightspeed Live Capture supports “growing files” in an Edit-While-Capture workflow and provides direct support for Avid storage solutions. Files and metadata, including generated MOB ID’s, can automatically be checked into to Interplay.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
PRONOLOGY STREAMFILE CORE
Pronology (www.pronology.com), developer of tapeless workflow solutions, presented StreamFile Core, a cross-platform, standalone encoder, at NAB 2018. StreamFile Core encodes evolving IP standards, such as Aspen, NDI, NMI, SMPTE 2022 and SMPTE 2110, and distributes content as popular file-based codecs, such as ProRes, DNX, XDCam and others. This enables facilities and studios moving to an IP-based platform to utilize existing nonlinear editing systems (NLE), graphics and digital system infrastructures throughout this transitional phase.
"Compatibility, low cost, reliability and ease-of-use make Pronology's StreamFile Core a must-have for any company interested in integrating with emerging IP technologies," says Jonathan Aroesty, president of Pronology. “This affordable tool is designed to be run on any system with minimal setup allowing companies of any size to enter the IP technology landscape, without a large investment.”
IMAGINE PRODUCTS MYLTODNA
Imagine Products (www.imagineproducts.com) partnered with StorageDNA (www.storagedna.com) to release myLTOdna for Macintosh, a copy application geared for media files. The software is optimized to take advantage of StorageDNA’s enhanced Linear File Transfer System (Hyper Tape). The system was developed to let users interact directly with files on a tape using their favorite applications for the fastest, simplest LTO tape workflows. By building a Random Access Database (RAD) file for each tape's media contents, Hyper Tape eliminates the latency seek and restore time inherent with typical linear tape storage. This allows the LTO tape to behave much like a hard drive for high performance video applications such as NLEs and transcoders.
With myLTOdna users can streamline workflows: Write directly to tape in the field and use that tape as the source for production editing. And there's no need to archive when the project's complete — it's already on an LTO tape.
NUGEN AUDIO HALO DOWNMIX 3D IMMERSIVE EXTENSION
Nugen Audio (www.nugenaudio.com) unveiled a new extension for Halo Downmix, a highly creative solution for precise downmixing of feature-film and 5.1 mixes to stereo, at NAB. Halo Downmix 3D Immersive Extension and Additional Functionality is a creative solution for precise downmixing of feature-film and 5.1 mixes to stereo, delivering accurate downmixes that are no longer limited to typical in-the-box, coefficient-based processes. It allows for unprecedented adjustment and provides visual controls for relative levels, timing and direct vs. ambient sound balance.
“We are delighted to offer this expansion to our Halo line-up at NAB this year,” says Jon Schorah, founder and creative director, Nugen Audio. “Halo Downmix is already well established as a powerful solution for accurately and easily delivering an original surround mix in stereo. Now we’re adding the ability to downmix and balance 7.1.2 content, it’s ideal for re-purposing, re-balancing and auditioning an even wider range of audio.”
HP ZBOOK STUDIO X360 CONVERTIBLE WORKSTATION
HP (www.hp.com/go/ZBooks) rather boldly reimagined the creative workspace and launched a versatile new laptop with 360-degree performance. The company’s ZBook Studio x360 Convertible Workstation is a convertible laptop designed to tackle large files and run multiple apps with speed and responsiveness. Seamlessly edit or render high-res images without lag or delay, with NVIDIA Quadro graphics and 6-core Intel Xeon processors.
With the company’s innovative 360-degree hinge, users can find both the comfort of a laptop and convenience of a tablet and the luxury of additional modes to help showcase work.
The Studio x360 features 4000 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt with the Wacom AES pen. And with the HP DreamColor display, users can experience one billion vibrant colors1 on HP's brightest 4K laptop.
TV LOGIC 4K, UHD & HDR DISPLAYS
TVLogic (www.tvlogicusa.com) was at NAB with a range of native UHD/4K model displays, additional display sizes that extend its high-end LCD series, and a 55-inch precision OLED monitor.
The LUM range of 4K/UHD monitors saw three new model introductions at NAB 2018. The LUM-313G is a 31.1-inch native 4K (4096×2160) monitor with maximum luminance of 350nit and contrast ratio of 1500:1. It supports various video formats up to 4K/60p through single-link 12G-SDI, Quad 3G-SDI and HDMI 2.0. In addition to various professional features such as Waveform monitor and Vectorscope, the LUM-313G provides HDR emulation function with HDR EOTFs of PQ, HLG and SLog3. More camera-specific HDR logs and gamuts will be supported by firmware updates.
The LUM-318G (pictured, above) is a 31.1-inch true 4K monitor with a native 4K resolution of 4096×2160 and a maximum luminance of 850nit, along with a contrast ratio of 1500:1. Like the 313G, it offers wide color gamut and wide viewing angle, a Waveform monitor and Vectorscope, and HDR emulation functions. And the LUM-430M is a 43-inch true UHD monitor (3840x2160) resolution, with a true 10-bit driver. It accepts single-link 12G-SDI, quad 3G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 inputs.
On the LCD front, TVLogic’s LVM series offers high picture quality, wide viewing angles and professional broadcast functionality with a low power consumption in a slim, single-piece integrated designs. At NAB 2018, the company expanded the range with two new models.
The LVM-171S (pictured, below) is a 16.5-inch high-end LCD with 1920x1080 native resolution, wide-gamut reproduction (up to DCI-P3), enhanced contrast ratio and wide viewing angle. A completely redesigned video processing unit provides powerful dual-channel performance and artifact-free image reproduction. The LVM-171S provides HDR emulation with HDR EOTFs of PQ, HLG and SLog3, support for 3D LUTs and various cinema camera log-to-linear LUTs. Priced at $3,950, the unit is well suited for on-set use or in the studio.
The new LVM-241S is TVLogic’s top QC-Grade 24-inch model with an IPS LCD panel offering 1920x1200 resolution. This monitor incorporates the same features as its 17-inch counterpart, including wide-gamut reproduction (up to DCI-P3), enhanced contrast ratio and wide viewing angle, and is priced at $5,650.
And in its OLED range, TV Logic’s 55-inch LEM-550R is a QC-grade HDR monitor for broadcast and post production with UHD resolution of 3840×2160. The OLED panel can reproduce a peak luminance of up to 750 nits. The LEM-550R supports various HDR standards, such as SMPTE 2084PQ and Hybrid-Log Gamma (HLG). It also supports multiple color gamuts, including Rec.709, DCI, and Rec.2020. Signal i/o includes 3G/6G/12G-SDI input via one, two, or four SDI connections, as well as HDMI (V.2.0).