News posts from 2003 Q2
 

Hello,

This is Tom McKay from VariZoom. I wanted to let everyone know about a few new products we are about to introduce at NAB Expo.

We have so many new products that I won't list them all but I will list those that are most relevant to this forum.

1. VZ-Stealth LX This is our new Stealth control that includes a few extra features: Data screen on off, frame shuttle + and -, also auto focus. PLEASE NOTE: Auto focus feature on any control is not much use to 3 ccd camera user. The reason being that nearly all of the top 3 -ccd mini dv models are incapable of using this auto focus feature. The GL1 and GL2 are the exception and these camcorders make full use of the options. Most all 1ccd sony and Canon cameras with lanc will work including PC series 100 and up.

Xl1, XL1s, pd150, dsr250, Vx1000, vx2000 do not support auto focus. The slide switch on the side of these cameras to choose auto/manual locks you out of this option.

http://www.varizoom.com/controllers/stealthlx.html

2. FlowPod This is our entry in to motion stabilization and we are very proud of this new creation. It keeps the weight centered over the hand which is less fatiguing. With our patent pending locking handle it doubles as a high strength monopod. One other feature of this unit is it allows for stabilized Low Mode operation with the optional low flow kit.

http://www.varizoom.com/pages/flowpod.html

3. VZ-Rock This is for the users that feel more comfortable using a rocker type control. This unit is fully loaded with all the features of the NEW VZStealth-LX. We made this unit extremely sturdy and machined the shell and precision rocker from solid aluminum.

It cost's a little more than a Stealth due to extra machining and a little less than our popular VZProL and PGL

http://www.varizoom.com/controllers/rocklx.htm

4. VZ-DVXFF This our new Follow focus control for the DVX100 control. It has 4 positions you can mark in and either manually dial to pre programmed positions or you can push a button and go there automatically.

Works well with our recently release VZ-StealthDVX
http://www.varizoom.com/controllers/dvx.htm

Not available on site as of today but will be present at NAB at VariZoom booth.

5. VZ-StealthJVC Stealth JVC (For JVC 300-REM) In a joint venture with JVC VariZoom created this control for the NEW DV300-REM Streamcorder. If you already have a Streamcorder and you want to have studio control you will need to arrange to have your camera shipped to JVC to be flashed with new compatible software. This is estimated to cost $200. including roundtrip shipping and hardware. The REM version of this camera is not shipping yet but will include the compatible VariZoom software.

Not available on web site as of today but you can see the control and camera together at NAB in both the VariZoom and JVC booths.


This post is for information only. I am leaving soon for NAB and will not be available to reply to any questions. Any questions please call us toll free.

Best regards,

Tom

Shuttle Pro (Contour) NAB Press Release
 

From: "CAVS Press Release" <pr@contourdesign.com>
Date: Tue Apr 1, 2003 6:22:19 PM US/Eastern
To: jtdonald@mac.com
Subject: Contour Design Media & Macintosh Products Group Newsletter - April, 2003

Greetings! Welcome to the April, 2003 edition of the Contour Design Media & Macintosh Products Group newsletter. This newsletter is one way we hope to keep you informed of all of the latest news and developments regarding Contour's exciting multimedia and Macintosh products.


Contour Design at NAB, April 7 - 10, 2003

If you are planning to attend the upcoming NAB show in Las Vegas, we invite you to drop by our booth (#SL2619) and say hello. Bring your ideas, suggestions, and questions. Learn more about how other users are boosting their productivity across all kinds of audio, video, multimedia and business applications.

At NAB we will be featuring:
- ShuttleXpress, a new five-button jog & shuttle media controller based on our award winning ShuttlePRO
- our newest driver for the ShuttlePRO and ShuttleXpress, which includes a completely revised Control Panel, support for multiple devices, and other great new additions


International Version of ShuttlePRO & ShuttleXpress Driver Software

We are currently putting the final touches on a new international version of the ShuttlePRO and ShuttleXpress driver software. The international version will support the following languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.

We expect to be making this version will be available sometime in the second quarter of 2003. If you are interested in receiving an evaluation version prior to release, please contact Contour's Media & Macintosh Products Group customer support for more information: support@contourdesign.com.


Other News

Did you know the Contour ShuttlePRO recently won Videomaker's "Best Post-Production Accessory" Best Product of the Year award for 2002? For further details on award, please visit: http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/article.cfm?id=9212&GU=le929

In addition to releasing our updated software we have added support for many new applications. Here's a partial list of new settings:

Vegas 4 - www.sonicfoundry.com
DartXP Pro - www.dartech.com
TEPX - www.imagineproducts.com
Illustrator 10 - www.adobe.com
PhotoShop 7 - www.adobe.com
Final Cut Express - www.apple.com
Peak 3.2 - www.bias-inc.com
Blade v2.0 - www.in-sync.com
Speed Razor 2000/X - www.in-sync.com
DPS Velocity - www.leitch.com
Screenblast - Acid Deluxe 2 - www.screenblast.com
Screenblast - Video Factory 2 - www.screenblast.com
Screenblast - Video Capture - www.screenblast.com
Cubase SX - www.steinberg.net/en
Nuendo 2.0 - www.steinberg.net/en
Wavelab - www.steinberg.net/en
Cool Edit 2.0 - www.syntrillium.com

For the latest information on the many applications we currently support please visit http://www.contourdesign.com

If you are new to video editing you may want to check out the V.A.S.S.T. Ulead tour coming to a city near you. http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/aboutvasst.htm

It's always a good idea to check our site for http://www.contourdesign.com for the latest news and information. And please contact us with your ideas, requests, questions, etc. We look forward to bringing you some really exciting new products in 2003!

Best Regards,

Chris Charyk
Managing Director, Media & Macintosh Products Group
Contour Design, Inc.

*********************

Contour Design Media & Macintosh Products Group Press Contacts:
Chris Charyk
603.893.4556 ext. 236
chrisc@contourdesign.com

Pete Langlois
603.893.4556 ext. 231
pete@contourdesign.com

Looking forward to seeing my buddy Pete Langlois at NAB! Jeff, will you be there?

- don

It's been years since I've been to NAB. Las Vegas seems a world away from Florida. Of course, Las Vegas seems like a world away from everywhere. But not this year, maybe when they bring it East.

Windows Media 9 in 177 Landmark theaters
 

here is the link
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030403/sfth027_1.html

Landmark Theaters is a large distribution channel for independent films.

New at NAB ??
 

Hello,



OK, its near the end of the first day at NAB, but have not been able to find out much of any new Cameras that came out ?? Any thing from Sony ??Canon?? Anybody bring out a model to compete with the Panasonic AG-DVX100 24p camera ??

This is first year in last 9 that I was unable to attend NAB..

Thanks,

It looks cameras at the mini DV and DVCAM level are status quo. I haven't seen announcements from Canon, Sony or Panasonic. Panasonic has a new DVPRO50 camera, only $25,000. Sony has a new HD camera also, but didn't catch the price. Sony might still have something to show shortly. Canon is the big disappointment. Nothing on the horizon until 2004.

Hello,

Thanks for the reply, just surfing around some more,, i see canon is saying a replacement for xl1s with 24 p is about 1 year away..panasonic showed a mock-up of a futureristic camera that is tapeless and uses flash memry to record.. Sony seems like nada in the prosumer type cameras.. i would have thoguth we would see something to counter the Panasonic 24p mini dv camera..

Looks like not much new for us at the lower end of the camera market..

Mike

Aist Nab 2003
 

New production and editing enviornment

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

AIST will launch at NAB its version of the 'TV station in a box,' a nonlinear production solution.

Cinegy is claimed to be the end of closed system, proprietary video production. It places television
production in to a fully integrated, enterprise environment with proper back-office functionality and work group features.

Cinegy is a unique solution integrating digital archive, media asset management, tape and live ingest,logging, search & browse, editing and playout. The tight integration improves workflow and efficiency of production as people with different roles can work in parallel on projects instead of having to work in a linear fashion. Cinegy's features such as workgroup collaboration features, nonlinear workflow, multi-format and multi-resolution conform, format independent editing (including uncompressed and direct MPEG2 & MPEG4 editing), as well as post-production integration, make it the ultimate solution forfast, high quality production.

Cinegy is about nonlinear production rather than just non-linear editing. Cinegy can be used for long form production as well as formats like news or sports.

Cinegy is video format independent and can work with multiple proxy resolutions. This allows leaving the high quality or archive quality compressed or uncompressed original material untouched on the server while the PC clients work with MPEG2, DV or Windows Media proxy versions.

Cinegy supports MPEG2-HD (up to 1920x1080), lossless compression for SD editing on PC based clients as well as MPEG4.

AIST will be demonstrating Cinegy in a private suite with an appointment book at its booth - the smallest on the show floor. Over the summer there was a management buy-out, and the new company AIST GmbH now owns the intellectual property of the now-defunct AIST Medialab AG. AIST also will be demonstrating its Extreme 6 software, which has been named Cinegy Extreme. Cinegy is the collaborative postproduction software the BBC has selected for its programming postproduction. BBC Technology will also have a booth explaining its new media asset management platform and post solutions for programming and news.

www.cinegy.com
www.aistinc.com

"i would have thoguth we would see something to counter the Panasonic 24p mini dv camera.."

well canon and sony both have time tables on there products, and it is rare to see them changed, the xl1s is still considered new to canon and they try to get 18 months out of there video products...

panasonic and jvc were playing catch up, not having a cam in that pro-sumer bracket, both companies needed a gimmick...the twist was that nobody expected 24p to be a hit, but jcv struck out with it's net streaming...

usually sony and canon guys are loyal so they can afford the long drought, plus they make excellent products, the vx2000 still holds it's resale value and the xl1 is just an awsome cam even years later...

everyone can see where sony is going, propreitary, with it's blue disc sytems, and canon who knows...i would love to see some sketches, i'm sure sony know more about the xl2 then we do...

If anyone has been to NAB, and had a hands-on feel for that FlowPod, please share yor thoughts and opinions. I think a monopod/stabilizer combo is a great idea for the budget minded.

Boris FX announces RED 3GL
 

BOSTON & MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2003--Boris FX, the leading developer of integrated effects technology for video and film production, today announces that the upcoming release of Boris RED 3GL, the first integrated 2D and 3D compositing, titling, and effects application to implement OpenGL, will add support for Sonic Foundry's Vegas 4.0 nonlinear editing application and Vegas+DVD integrated solution for editing, surround mixing, and DVD production.

We'll have a Flow Pod review on the DV Info site very soon... stay tuned,

Record 24-bit/192kHz audio to your PDA
 

You've looked at DAT and MD but they aren't exactly what you want for high quality audio recording for your next project. DAT offers great quality but it's bulky and expensive. MD is too compressed, but the size is great, fits in a pocket. Wouldn’t it be great to record to your PDA? Well, very soon you'll be able to. Core Sound has a PDAudio Project that is about to come to market. Depending on the hardware you already own, it may cost as little as $400. It will support WinCE and Linux. No Mac support is planned, but it records to Compact Flash (hard disk cards are an option). Remove the CF card and simply copy the audio files into the editor of your choice.

When is this VZ-DVXFF going to be featured on your website, Mr. McKay?