Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company is looking to solidify its HD foothold at next month’s NAB convention by showcasing its AJ-HD3700 D-5 HD multi-format recording system. It’s billed as a mastering quality DTV/HDTV videotape recorder that performs high-level program mastering, hi-def cinema, TV commercial and multi-format DTV and HDTV program production tasks.
The company has already made major strides in establishing its latest D-5 HD video tape recorder in the postproduction marketplace—as reflected in a recent agreement with publicly traded, Burbank, Calif.-headquartered Four Media Company (4MC), parent to several leading post/effects facilities.
Per the deal, select 4MC houses—including Santa Monica-based Riot, Digital Magic, Company 3 and POP Film, as well as Encore Hollywood—have committed to Panasonic’s new AJ-HD3700 D-5 HD multi-format VTR as the standard for feature film mastering, episodic TV and commercial assignments. These 4MC facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art D-5 HD recorders and AJ-UFC1800 Universal Format Converters for producing 1080/ 24P film-to-tape work, as well as 1080I, 720P 480I, and PAL video-based distribution mastering.
The AJ-HD3700 can play back existing 525 line standard D-5 or D-5 HD cassettes, and can record 10-bit uncompressed 480/60I standard-definition video, in addition to 1080/24P, 1080/60I, 1080/50I, 1035/60I and 720/60P high-definition standards. The recorder also offers versatility between 24 and 25Hz frame rates for international (PAL) program duplication from a 1080/24P master.
Larry Chernoff, president of 4MC Television, said that the new Panasonic D-5 HD video recorder "offers our post studios the quality, performance and affordability that our customers demand for high-definition projects." As earlier reported (SHOOT’s DTV and Advertising Supplement, 3/3, p. 5), Chernoff is optimistic over the prospects for HD spots, despite slower-than-expected movement in that arena. For an undisclosed advertiser, Encore and Riot collaborated on an HD commercial that aired during Super Bowl XXXIV in January; ABC-TV and Panasonic teamed to telecast the Super Bowl, as well as this past full season of Monday Night Football, in hi-def. Chernoff noted that 4MC has also been active in longform HD projects spanning TV and film.
Though the exact extent of the financial commitment wasn’t disclosed, the pact between 4MC and Panasonic was described as a multi-million-dollar deal. Warren Allgyer, president of Panasonic Broadcast, contended that the agreement "will bring great value to 4MC’s customers by migrating them to the world’s most advanced HDTV technologies. In addition, we view this agreement as further proof that the D-5 HD format is delivering the highest quality results for the most demanding postproduction tasks."
Panasonic Broadcast’s Jeff Merritt, product marketing manager for HDTV, claimed that the AJ-HD3700 "completely addresses the proposed 1080/24P mastering standard, and offers both standard-definition and high-definition interlaced and progressive scan recording capabilities in a single recording product." He added that the recorder provides "a secure platform from which to exploit the significant new business opportunities in DTV, HDTV and HD cinema opening up to the production and postproduction communities."
The AJ-HD3700 is slated for delivery in June. Its suggested list price is $85,000.
The 4MC companies will be among the first to get the system. Merritt said that Panasonic has had conversations with other commercial facilities in markets such as Chicago, Detroit and New York that are "considering investing in the 3700 to interface with their telecines and their Fires to do high-quality mastering in high-definition."
Merritt acknowledged that the HD spot market is still evolving. "What we hear from our constituency is that they might not be doing HD today, but they want to be ready when their clients want to get into HD. Part of our job is to help facilities to learn the options and the technology, and to provide them with needed flexibility."
