Duke University NAB 2011 Show Report

At $395, Blackmagic’s UltraStudio SDI is an extremely affordable SDI capture and playback solution for computers that have USB 3.0 support (Mac users see below) The device provides 10 bit SDI capture and playback, plus HDMI monitoring all powered from the USB connection on your computer. HDMI monitoring allows you to use consumer displays for monitoring.  You also get genlock and RS-422 deck control built in.

The good news, newest generation Mac users and Macbook Pro users can now have HDSDI capture. Bad news? It will cost you $995 (as compared to above). The Blackmagic UltraStudio 3D uses Intel’s new Thunderbolt™ technology (10 Gb/s connection that’s up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0) to allow for SD, HD or 2K captureand  even supports two streams of full resolution video up to 1080p HD for new stereoscopic 3D workflows.

The Roland VR5 was recently released and offers a really cost effective way to record or do production for streaming on something like uStream. It is standard definiation and not nearly as full featured as the NewTek Tricaster but at under $5k it is a fraction of the cost. For streaming on uStream, you really don’t need HD. You can load media on to it to use as program video and can mix  up to three audio/video and 2 additional audio feeds. It does some really basic keying – doesn’t  honor transparency, you actually have to make your graphics with blue or green to do chroma key which is kinda lame, but again, for the price, it’s pretty sweet.

Broadcast Pix seems to be channeling the Flintstones with the names of their new compact PC based switchers the  Granite 500 and the Slate 500 both of which feature  a new small control panel (shown above). New features include playlists, ProRes clips and QuickTime Animation playback, as well as an enhanced Harris CG or an optional Chyron CG system. These systems are at new, lower price points of $24,900 for the Granite and $14,900 for the Slate. The control surface provides  monitoring of video and files, as well a  control of the system’s clip store, CG, cameras, and other devices. The new 1 M/E control panel supports up to 18 sources and six keyers for overlays of picture-in-picture boxes and graphics in a compact design.

Broadcast Pix is a pretty popular video switching system used by our friends at UNC and even WRAL has it installed. And of course, there’s an app for that:

So it may appear I’m intrigued with production suitcases. OK, I am. There are so many out there in the Duke community that have small studios that could benefit from having something in this form factor – to use in their school or be able to take out to stream or record live on location.

This is a Panasonic based system called Remo integrated by Rushworks.tv. It runs off a Windows PC, the middle screen there is a touch screen an the mutliview monitor is installed into the lid of the case. It has a Panasonic HD Compact switcher integrated into the case to support up to 4 HD cameras. You can also put H.264 videos on the PC to include it in your program output. It comes complete with (4) Panasonic HD PTZ cameras for $56k or the case alone for $26k.

And just because I’m a total nerd, here’s a look at the switcher and  the back of the suitcase. Beautiful.

OK. I admit it. The TriCaster Demo’s at NAB are like the Veg-A-Matic or Sham Wow demos at the fairgrounds. I’m totally in love. The new Tricaster 850 Extreme is amazing.  You can simultaneously record up to eight channels of video from any input or output and broadcast, record and stream all at the same time. The suggested list price will be around $40k with recording and about $26k without – not including the control surface -  and its due out in October. It is literally a complete production studio in a box. Since they bill it as a portable production system, I asked if people have installed it in a fixed location. The answer was yes and I asked to follow up with some references.