July 19, 2013
Christie introduces Vive Audio
CYPRESS, Calif.–Christie, well known in the digital cinema projection market, has launched the groundbreaking Christie Vive Audio solution to help exhibitors “complete the experience” for their moviegoing audiences. Designed for cinema, Christie Vive Audio leverages a unique articulated, single enclosure line array speaker design and ribbon driver technology, and combines it with the first use of efficient, high-powered Class D amplification in cinema. Christie Vive Audio’s cinema speakers and amplifiers can be easily and efficiently integrated into any existing or new theater auditorium for the ultimate movie viewing and listening experience.
“The introduction of digital technology has sparked tremendous changes in movie content since 2005, but many theaters are still using audio systems designed for 35mm film,” said Craig Sholder, Christie’s Entertainment Solutions unit VP. “With Christie Vive Audio, we have found a way to take all the benefits of line array configuration and put it into a cinema environment by combining it with ribbon driver technology and Class D amplification–all in a single, elegant audio solution that is easily attainable to exhibitors.”
Jim Hall, sr. product manager with Christie’s Entertainment Solutions unit, added, “Typical audio solutions in the market have not kept up with performance demands of DCI specifications for audio–until now. The Christie Vive Audio integrated solution with its extended frequency response, high dynamic range and ultra fast transient response, along with unprecedented peak-to-average SPL ratios and smooth and even coverage, meets the performance demands of the DCI specification. Christie Vive Audio represents a major leap in cinema sound, with perfect timbre-matching that unleashes the potential of today’s uncompressed digital audio along with leading immersive audio platforms such as Dolby๏ฟฝ Atmos®.”
The complete Christie Vive Audio solution comprises surround and screen channel speakers, subwoofers, and Class D amplifiers.
Patrick Artiaga, director, business development, Audio Solutions, with Christie’s Entertainment Solutions group, said, “The complete Christie Vive cinema audio solution can be tailored to the demands of any cinema space, from postproduction studios and screening rooms to traditional and premium large-format auditoriums. Each component of Christie Vive Audio has been specifically engineered to complement the other and combine to deliver a complete solution. By combining the superior performance capabilities of each piece into one integrated solution, Christie Vive Audio brings the next generation of cinema audio to any auditorium.”
Render Rocket to debut LaunchPad and Throttle at Siggraph
LOS ANGELES–Render Rocket LLC, an advanced cloud-based rendering services company, will showcase two new innovations at this year’s Siggraph–a new, open source cloud-rendering application called Render Rocket LaunchPad and a new cloud resource management tool called Render Rocket Throttle — as well as a new pricing model.
Once installed, LaunchPad allows artists to tap into the power of cloud rendering with one click-and-submit step. Accessed directly from within the menu of Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, or Maxon Cinema 4D, LaunchPad will automatically check, package up and submit a render job (or series of jobs) to the Render Rocket cloud. This helps artists launch render jobs faster, and removes the risk of render failures by ensuring that all elements of the scene file, all references and networks paths, are correct. Once submitted, artists can monitor their submitted renders from within the application in order to see which jobs are launched and rendering. LaunchPad will be available for Windows and Mac.
In addition, Render Rocket’s Throttle puts customers in the pilot’s seat with the ability to control render resources working on their project and the ability to manage their project costs and render delivery. With Throttle, users can now scale up or down the number of servers working on their renders on-the-fly in order to meet their deadlines and budgets. For high performance “need it yesterday” jobs, users can “throttle up” to hundreds of servers; or for projects where cost management is critical, users can “throttle down” the number of servers for significant cost savings. In addition, users can prioritize their render jobs using drag-and-drop functionality in order to best use their resources.
Starting on September 1, 2013, Render Rocket will also charge by the number of renders nodes per hour rather than by cores per hour. Each individual render node will cost $1-$4/hour, representing a 35% decrease versus current pricing. Loyalty discounts will now apply for studios that use Render Rocket’s services often to further reduce render costs. This lower cost combined with the increase in control with Throttle provides a far better experience and return on investment to artists, producers and studios who are working in fast-paced environments with constantly shifting priorities.
Both LaunchPad and Throttle are expected to launch in early fall.
PLASA London draws new exhibitors
LONDON–PLASA London 2013 will feature more than 30 companies that did not exhibit in 2012, including Pioneer, Samsung and Sony, while many existing exhibitors have taken bigger stand space than last year. PLASA London takes place at the ExCeL Centre, London from October 6-9.
Alex Barrand, audio specialist at Pioneer, said, “We are returning to PLASA after a few years’ hiatus as it is the ideal platform from which to launch our new Professional Audio business.” Pioneer will demonstrate its new speakers in PLASA London’s new AudioLab pro audio arena, theatre and interactive lab.
Jennie Barratt, Show Manager, PLASA London 2013. “PLASA London delivers an attractive proposition to exhibitors, with over 12,000 high quality visitors who are eager to see the latest technology and are in a position of purchasing influence.”
Other exhibitors that are new for 2013 include Creative Technology, Aspen Media, PRG, Pyrojunkies and Sound Network. Companies including Shure, Martin Audio, Roland, SSE Audio and Harman have increased their stand space this year. PLASA London features over 250 exhibitors, and to date over 85% of stand space has been sold–an increase on previous years at this time.
Paramount selects DTS for UltraViolet contentCALABASAS, Calif.–DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), a leader in high-definition audio solutions and audio enhancement technologies, announced that its highly efficient DTS-HD codec was selected by Paramount Pictures as a surround sound format for its UltraViolet Common File Format (CFF) catalog. Paramount Pictures plans to deliver its catalog of UltraViolet movies paired with immersive DTS soundtracks in the second half of 2013 upon launch of UltraViolet CFF.
“Since launching UltraViolet, we’ve made numerous enhancements to the user experience, and the introduction of CFF will continue that trajectory,” said Mark Teitell, general manager of the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE). “As a founder of DECE, DTS has been instrumental in developing CFF audio specifications that help enable a premium experience for CFF users, and this announcement is another key indicator of that promise now coming to market.”
By taking full advantage of the benefits of cloud-based access, UltraViolet presents consumers with a unique and convenient way to enjoy video content. With UltraViolet, consumers can download and stream their entertainment collections anytime, anywhere for viewing on TV screens, PCs, tablets, mobile phones and other connected devices. The UltraViolet CFF improves the efficiency of content ownership and playback while greatly enhancing the entertainment experience of watching digital movies. It also enables transferring or copying a downloaded CFF file featuring a DTS-encoded soundtrack directly to an UltraViolet CFF-compatible app or hardware device, facilitating playback of those downloaded movie files on portable devices.
“A good movie experience leaves a lasting impression on people,” said Amy Reinhard, executive vice president and general manager, Paramount Domestic Home Media Distribution. “By marrying our robust content library with DTS’ advanced surround sound technology, we can deliver a memorable cinematic surround sound experience for our customers at home, or on any UltraViolet-compatible connected device.”
Grass Valley showcases nonlinear live prodn at SMPTE AustraliaSAN FRANCISCO–Grass Valley will showcase its latest innovations in nonlinear live production at this year’s SMPTE Australia Conference and Exhibition, 23-26 July, in Sydney. The conference provides an opportunity for Grass Valley to debut the GV Director Nonlinear Live Production System to the Oceanic market, and to demonstrate the latest version of its Ignite Automated Production System.
Visitors to the Grass Valley booth (H18) will be able to see live demonstrations of GV Director and Ignite production systems, as well as GV STRATUS, the K2 Dyno S Replay Controller, LDX WorldCam and its companion XCU eXchangeable Control Unit.
The full product line-up is as follows:
๏ฟฝ GV Director, an award-winning solution, integrates live production tools into a single, easy-to-use and intuitive platform. GV Director removes the complexity of production processes and simplifies the production and delivery of live content.
๏ฟฝ The Ignite Production System is an automated production tool that streamlines production and improves program consistency whilst reducing technical errors and operating costs.
๏ฟฝ GV STRATUS is the industry’s only full set of production tools in one application. Operable in a variety of environments including studio production, play-to-air, and news, GV STRATUS provides a collaborative work environment where everyone can create high-quality, revenue-generating media.
๏ฟฝ K2 Dyno S is a dynamic replay controller that offers a powerful and affordable means to offer viewers engaging highlight packages. With its highly intuitive touchscreen interface, otherwise complex live replay management tasks are dramatically simplified.
๏ฟฝ The LDX WorldCam is an advanced system camera, and with traditional 1080i/720p HD formats in both 50 and 59.94 Hz and 1080p50/60 acquisition, LDX WorldCam gives ultimate format flexibility and high quality HD imaging.
๏ฟฝ The XCU is a uniquely adaptable exchangeable camera control unit. Its cradle allows broadcasters to quickly and easily transfer camera chains between OB (outside broadcast) vans and studios.
Eric DuFosse, vice president of marketing, Live Solutions at Grass Valley, will be presenting a paper at the conference on the ‘Evolution in Design of Production Switchers/Mixers’ on Thursday, July 25 at 2:50pm. The paper, which will be part of the conference track “Evolving Media Workflows”, will discuss the benefits the evolution of technology has delivered to the production community and how a new paradigm will enable workflows.
Snell, Benchmark expand relationship in Asia-PacificREADING, U.K.–Snell announced that Benchmark Telecast Integration will serve as a Snell broadcast system solutions provider to customers in Asia-Pacific markets. Through this partnership, which represents an extension of the companies’ already successful business relationship, Benchmark will offer local service and consulting, with an emphasis on Snell’s TV Everywhere and workflow solutions.
“Our highest ambition is to provide regional broadcasters with best-of-breed designs, coupled with the highest standards of build quality and follow-through, as well as superb managed support services over the life of the system,” said Benchmark Telecast Integration CEO Ashish Mukherjee. “We know, from our previous experience with Snell, that the company offers reliable and forward-looking technology and solutions, backed by strong sales and service teams, which will enable us to maintain a high standard in meeting our customers’ needs. As consumers move from traditional TV sets to multiple devices, broadcasters need to do the same, and Snell provides tools that are valuable in facilitating that shift.”
Benchmark is based in India and Singapore and will work with the Snell regional team to provide services to Snell customers. In their work together, Snell and Benchmark already have earned wins at TV5 in the Philippines, Ch3 in Thailand, and P7 in India.
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