September 08, 2006
Moving Picture Electronic Services Exceeds Customer Expectations
Moving Picture Electronic Services is pleased to announce the completion of another year of exceeding customer expectations. Serving the film industry since 1987, Moving Picture has provided rental equipment ranging from Avid Meridian and Avid Adrenaline editing systems to state-of-the-art High Definition cameras and monitors, to sound an video assist packages, to walkie-talkies and communications gear.
But let's let some of our customers speak on our behalf:
"Those guys quickly pull it all together. They really saved the day, coming through in the clutch. Because of their support and involvement we met the 2003 deadline for submission of our film into the Sundance film festival and went on to become nominated for the Grand Jury Prize"
Mark Moormann, Director
Tom Dowd and the Language of Music
Nominated: Grammy Best Long Form Music Video 2005
"For four years in a row we have counted on them to provide five Media Composers and Unity for our biggest corporate meeting of the year. Choosing them year after year for this time critical live production speaks to their abilities."
Max Wyler
President
Accord Film and Video Services
"Renting from them 8 times in three years, there has never been a surprise -- they always deliver great support. Even after being shipped across the country the equipment always arrives working perfectly."
Doc Kohler
Senior Engineer
Hammond Communications Group
"Project after project, the technical support from their staff has always exceeded my expectations!!
Thanks guys!!"
Nick Link
Senior editor, Dolphin Entertainment (Miami Sands)
Nick has edited over 200 episodic one hour television shows on Avid Media Composers from us since 2001!
"Editing on location is always tricky, and when your schedule is tight there's no room for error. When we had to accelerate our post schedule for "The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada," because we were accepted into the Cannes Film Festival, they were able to accommodate every request I had and tech support all of our problems in a quick professional manner. I don't know if we would have gotten a print to the festival on time without them."
Larry Madaras, Assistant Editor,
"The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada"
Directed by Tommy Lee Jones
Thanks to Mark, Max, Doc, Nick, and Larry for their kind words. It's a pleasure to help them, and more, every year!
Posted by MovingPicture at 06:25 PM
July 03, 2006
Avid Xpress Pro 5.5 and New Avid Mojo SDI Now Shipping
Company meets demand for HD on the Mac, increased format support and connectivity for independent professionals
Tewksbury, Mass. – June 28, 2006 – Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced the worldwide availability of version 5.5 of its Avid Xpress® Pro software as well as the newest member in Avid’s line of Digital Nonlinear Accelerator™ products, Avid Mojo™ SDI. Avid Xpress Pro version 5.5 delivers HD capabilities for both Mac and Windows-based systems. Avid Mojo SDI, which works seamlessly with Avid Xpress Pro and Media Composer® software, provides high-quality, advanced analog and digital SDI (Serial Digital Interface) I/O connections for professional video and audio projects.
Avid Xpress Pro 5.5
The Avid Xpress Pro 5.5 software offers professional video, audio, film, effects, and encoding tools – plus custom music creation software – for both Mac and PC platforms in a single box. The software supports native HDV and DVCPRO HD for acquisition, editing, and output; real-time effects and 2:3 pulldown insertion over FireWire®; and Avid DNxHD™ encoding to create effects, transitions, and titles with uncompromised image quality. Avid’s unique Open Timeline enables users to mix HDV, DVCPRO HD, and Avid DNxHD formats with SD and DV media in the same timeline in real-time, eliminating the time-consuming process of incorporating media from multiple sources into a single project.
Avid Mojo SDI
Avid Mojo SDI is a portable, advanced analog and digital SDI I/O device with high-quality professional video and audio connections supporting most professional decks and cameras. Connecting to any Mac or PC via FireWire, the Avid Mojo SDI Digital Nonlinear Accelerator offers the same analog connectivity of Avid Mojo, but adds SDI I/O and AES/EBU digital audio I/O to expand Avid Xpress Pro solutions to work with mastering-quality SD cameras and decks. It is available for both Avid Xpress Pro and Media Composer software.
For more details, visit the Avid Press Center
Posted by MovingPicture at 07:05 PM
Avid Ships Avid DS Nitris 8.0
New version offers 4:4:4 HD-RGB format support for high-resolution workflows
June 28, 2006 -- Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced the worldwide availability of the Avid® DS Nitris™ 8.0 system, which offers a native 64-bit software architecture and dual-link I/O hardware to support high-resolution and digital intermediate (DI) workflows. The new version also ships with dual-boot capability, allowing editors to use either the DS or Symphony™ toolset with the Avid Nitris hardware. Avid also announced the availability of the Avid DS Assist Station™, a software-only version of the Avid DS 8.0 toolset that customers can deploy on lower-cost workstations to tackle specialized tasks such as rotoscoping, compositing, and conform checks.
New Features for Avid DS Nitris 8.0
With real-time, multi-stream, 10-bit HD performance, a deep creative toolset, and expanded hardware, Avid DS Nitris 8.0 is the ultimate editing and finishing system for SD, HD and 2K/4K DI work. Highlights of the new system include:
- Dual-link HD-SDI connectivity – offering new integrated I/O hardware that provides the necessary bandwidth for capturing and editing 4:4:4 HD-RGB formats, such as HDCAM SR.
- Dual-boot capability – expanding the flexibility of HD finishing options by allowing editors to run either Symphony or Avid DS software on the same system.
- Native 64-bit system and software support – leveraging the advantages of workstations that feature 64-bit processors for faster performance through access to greater physical memory, a critical component when working with high-bandwidth, high resolution files.
- Support for 720p50 sequences – providing European customers transitioning to HD with capture, conform, finishing, and mastering tools in the 720p50 standard.
- Support for Avid Unity ISIS™ – allowing the system to work with Avid’s newest shared-storage system to exchange and share media assets with other connected systems.
Get all the details at The Avid Press Room
Posted by MovingPicture at 06:55 PM
May 09, 2006
Avid Xpress Pro 5.5 for Mac OS X and Avid Mojo SDI
At NAB 2006, Avid announced Xpress 5.5 and Mojo SDI. Here are some of the enhancements that can be found in 5.5:
- HD and improved format support for OS X systems
- Realtime multicam support for OS X systems
- Tapeless workflow for OS X systems
- Direct ingest of XDCAM HD over Firwire
- New film and pulldown support for OS X systmes
- AVX 2 plug-in support for deep colorspace and advanced keyframing for OS X systems
- Full-screen SD and HD monitring using the host graphics card for both Mac and PC
- Enhanced performance with HDV splicing for Mac and PC systems
- Varicam support for both Mac and PC systems
The Avid Mojo SDI allows for SDI I/O and AES/EBU digital audio I/O. Here's what it can offer you:
- SDI video I/O
- Flexible digital and analog audio
- Simultaneous output of video and effects to client monitor and tape
- Audio punch-in
You'll find the Xpress Pro software for $1,695 and the Avid Mojo SDI for $2,495.
Posted by MovingPicture at 03:46 PM
March 14, 2006
Making life easier for Producers - Moving Picture News
The following article is reprinted from Moving Picture's Winter edition of the Producer's Cheat Sheet™ newsletter. If you're not receiving it, send an email to David Wells
Apple's iWeb makes life easier for Producers
written by David Wells
In the past, many of you have struggled to find a way to send photos and video QuickTime files to clients on the web. Often it is not practical to email large picture and movie files to clients. Either your client has compatibility problems receiving the files and or their email account will not accept large files, and so on. What a pain!
If you were very tech savvy, and your client was also -- fat chance -- you could FTP (file transfer protocol) your photos and QuickTime movies to a server, but this is cumbersome and complicated, to say the least!
Read on to find out how to be more effective in communicating with your clients.
On
January 10th at Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Steve Jobs unveiled
iWeb, the newest addition to their iLife '06 suite of media management
and sharing tools. This new program is 
really
terrific and can be make your life as a producer much easier in a
short period of time. Most of you are Mac users, so the new iWeb
will come naturally to you. I created a half decent website
for my dog in a couple of hours (online at www.glenndog.com -
by the way Glenn is AVAILABLE for commercials, music
videos and features!).
3 easy steps to an easier 'iLife' as a Producer:
Step 1: Establish a .Mac account, for just $99.95 per year for 1 gig of server space. You'll also receive 4 .Mac email addresses that you can use to protect yourself against unwanted email (except from Moving Picture of course!).
Step 2: Start using iWeb (part of the $79 iLife '06 package), and create a simple home page, maybe just your name set in nice type, a photo, whatever!
Step 3: Drag and drop location photos or QuickTime files, Publish call sheets, contact lists (cut and paste out of Word). Email your web pages URL to your client or crew and Voila! Instant gratification!
Advanced Features Useful for Producers:
- People viewing your site can drag photos off of your pages and save them to their desktop. Double click on a small photo on your site and it expands to full size.
- Password protect pages that need privacy.
- Register a cool domain name (like terrificproducer.com) at godaddy.com and have your domain name point to your .Mac site. (For help on implementing this advanced feature give us a call at Moving Picture.)
- After uploading new photos, QuickTime files, or anything else to your .Mac site, .Mac prompts you with the option to automatically inform a list of people in your address book that your site or specific web page has changed.
- Backup important files from your computer to your iDisk at .Mac.
Visit Apple's web site to learn more: www.apple.com
Good luck, and we hope this makes your life as a Producer a little easier!
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:51 PM
January 30, 2006
Sony unveils XDCAM HD Cameras and Decks
Sony has introduced the next generation of its XDCAM Professional Disc system. The new line-up includes two high definition optical camcorders and two professional VTRs. The XDCAM HD line uses the same Professional Disc media already being used in standard definition versions XDCAM products and allows pros to record up to two hours of high definition content on the optical media.
Alec Shapiro, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' broadcast and production systems division says the new XDCAM line-up rounds out Sony's range of HD production tools, filling the niche between Sony's entry-level and high-end formats.
The new XDCAM HD camcorders - models PDW-F330 and PDW-F350 - both offer true 24p recording in SD or HD, interval recording, and slow shutter. The PDW-F350 additionally offers true variable frame rate recording capabilities for fast- and slow-motion recording.
The PDW-F350 enables variable frame rate recording at a range of frame rates from 4fps to 60fps in one-frame increments. The camera also enables true 24p, 25p and 30p image capture, without any additional conversion required.
The XDCAM HD products offer the flexibility of recording 1080i video in three data recording rates: 25 Mbps, 35 Mbps and 18 Mbps. The system records high definition content to Sony's single-layer media using an HD MPEG-2 Long GOP video compression codec. Both camcorders use three half-inch CCD 1.5 megapixel imagers. A variety of lenses will be available, with Canon and Fujinon already announcing support.
The PDW-F70 and PDW-F30 decks enable high-speed data transfer between compatible nonlinear devices. Both decks up-convert XDCAM standard definition content recorded in the DVCAM format to 1080i high definition at output, and all XDCAM HD camcorders and decks can down-convert HD material to standard definition in anamorphic, letterboxed or 4:3 formats.
The 23.3GB Professional Disc media is based on blue-laser technology and records approximately 120 minutes or more of HD content at 18 Mbps or 85 minutes of SD DVCAM at 25 Mps. The re-writable media costs approximately $30 and offers as many as 10,000 read/write cycles in ideal conditions, based on Sony's testing.
The XDCAM HD line will be available in March and will be marketed as part of Sony's CineAlta family of cinematic, broadcast and professional production systems. The PDW-F350 camcorder is priced at $25,800 and the PDW-F330 is $16,800. The PDW-F70 recording deck is $15,990, while the PDW-F30 player (available in June) is $9,500.
Posted by MovingPicture at 06:38 PM
January 18, 2006
Sony Announces 2006 Camcorder Lineup
Sony is taking the lead in bringing the focus on audio performance to the camcorder market with its new 2006 Handycam models.
Leading the pack are two high-end DVD models and Sony's first hard disk drive camcorder. All models feature built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound and a unique center-channel microphone capability.
"Nothing preserves memories better than moving images with sound," said Linda Vuolo, director for camcorder products at Sony Electronics. "We are offering new enhancements to both audio and video performance in our 2006 product line."
Hearing Is Believing
Now when you record your child's lead performance in cinematic surround sound, you can be sure that his or her voice will stand out clearly in the troupe.
The new DCR-DVD505 and DCR-DVD405 DVD Handycam models support an optional wireless microphone that can be clipped to your subject while shooting. The microphone then amplifies the center channel sound in the camcorder's Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound system.
Thanks to Bluetooth technology, voices and sounds can be recorded wirelessly at distances up to 100 feet.
In addition to audio enhancements, Sony is bringing new ClearVID CMOS sensor technology to the DCR-DVD505 model. The layout of this new sensor is engineered to increase the number of recorded green pixels in order to boost image resolution and better enable the human eye to distinguish precise detail.
Combined with Sony's Enhanced Imaging Processor, ClearVID CMOS technology offers a host of user benefits. For instance, the camcorder not only records stunning video but also four-megapixel still images. Its Dual Record function allows users to shoot video and capture a three-megapixel still image simultaneously.
Other benefits from the CMOS technology include the smooth slow record function that allows you to view scenes in slow motion. Three seconds of video are played back in 12 seconds - ideal for analyzing your golf swing or tennis back-hand.
The DCR-DVD505 model stands out from the camcorder crowd thanks to its two-megapixel ClearVID CMOS sensor, compact body design, and wide 3.5" touch panel SwivelScreen LCD with Clear Photo Plus technology for brighter images with high-contrast that are easy to view in virtually any environment.
In total, Sony is introducing five new DVD Handycam camcorders. Across the DVD line, you find Carl Zeiss optics for exceptional video quality, improved menu functions and access controls for greater ease of use, and enhanced digital still functionality.
Most models record digital still images in ratios of 4:3 and 16:9, perfect for slide shows on widescreen TVs. A Memory Stick Duo slot has been incorporated into select models so that images can be transferred easily from DVD disks to memory cards and vice versa. And with higher still image capability on these new models, PictBridge technology has been integrated for seamless PC-free printing.
Handycam Family Grows With Three-Megapixel Hard Disk Drive Camcorder
The latest addition to the Handycam camcorder line is the hard disk drive-based DCR-SR100 model. It offers long record times and seamless PC connectivity.
Unlike other camcorders in its class, the DCR-SR100 unit features built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and supports Sony's new optional center-channel Bluetooth microphone for a cinematic sound experience.
The model also sports a three-megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens for excellent image clarity and color resolution. It records on a 30GB hard disk drive, which eliminates the need for tapes or discs. You can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video or more than 21 hours in long play mode. Users will also enjoy the camcorder's three-megapixel still capture in 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios, built-in flash, and wide 2.7-inch SwivelScreen LCD display.
For additional reliability, the DCR-SR100 model has a sophisticated back-up protection. The camcorder has physical shock absorbers to protect the hard disk drive. It incorporates G-sensor shock protection which safeguards internal mechanisms to help prevent data loss.
Sony is also adding in-box PC applications to back up your video memories on DVD. For example, a DVD burn button on the model transfers video to a PC and automatically creates a DVD, with the entire process taking about 30 minutes for a full hour of high-resolution video. It also comes with DVD authoring software to edit footage.
High Quality Video On Any Budget
On the digital tape front, four new MiniDV models aim to please cost-conscious video enthusiasts with prices beginning at about $350.
All the MiniDV models deliver a powerful combination of precise image detail and vivid color reproduction thanks to Carl Zeiss optics and Sony's high-resolution CCD imaging technology. They feature top-side tape loading so it's effortless to replace tapes while shooting from a tripod, and wide LCD screens on select models to address the growing demand for 16:9 video. The high-end MiniDV models, the DCR-HC96 and DCR-HC46, are supplied with Handycam Station cradle, a tabletop cradle that charges the camcorders and connects them conveniently to a PC or television.
The top-of-the-line DCR-HC96 model offers advanced performance with its three-megapixel Advanced HAD CCD imager and Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens to capture vivid video and three-megapixel still images in both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios. The camcorder is equipped with a wide 2.7-inch Hybrid SwivelScreen Touch Panel LCD screen, built-in flash, an intelligent accessory shoe, and Memory Stick Duo media slot.
Sony's new DVD camcorder models:
Sony's new Hard Disk Drive camcorder:
Sony's new MiniDV camcorder models:
All models will be available online at Sonystyle.com/newcamcorders, at Sony Style retail stores (www.sonystyle.com/retail), and at authorized dealers nationwide.
Press release from Videomaker.com
Posted by MovingPicture at 03:03 PM
November 16, 2005
1-Day Video Streaming and Compression Seminar
GeniusDV has an upcoming Full Day Seminar on Video Streaming and Compression in Orlando, Florida. The class is a great 1-Day class to learn about all the confusing information surrounding streaming video. If you need to start adding videos to a website this is the class for you.
Participants will learn things like:
- Proper videography techniques for web video
- How to choose the right video and audio CODEC's
- How to add Streaming video to a website using EMBED and OBJECT tags
- Benefits and Disadvantages of providing download streaming videos
- Benefits and Disadvantages of providing real-time streaming videos
- Benefits of CBR, 1-Pass VBR and 2-Pass VBR compression
- How to export QuickTime Videos from a non-linear editor
Also, learn how to compress streaming videos to formats such as: Windows Media, QuickTime, Real Media, Flash, MPEG-4 and H.264. Software such as Sorenson Squeeze Compression Suite, Flip4Mac and Compression Master will be the featured in the class.
View the class summary and outline for the Video Streaming and Compression Seminar
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:42 PM
Canon Xl H1
Attention all indie filmakers, reality television and documentary producers, Canon has entered the HD 24p battle for supremacy with their new 1080i Xl H1.
Some of its features include:
- Uncompressed 1080i/60i HD-SDI output at 1.485 Gbps, allowing for multi-format external HD recording.
- A new HD Lens
- New Digic DV II Image Processor (the same CPU technology found in Canon's still cameras}.
- Customization for NTSC and PAL recording.
See the Canon Xl H1 specs side by side with the Panasonic HVX 200 and check out this new HD camera dressed in black!
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:22 PM
October 27, 2005
We're up and running
Not even Hurricane Wilma can stop the superlative service at Moving Picture!
Hope you all have made it safely through the Storm and your greatest worries are gas and electric. Moving Picture is completely up and running on our backup generators with full redundancy.
We have set up some additional Avids in our facility to handle post production needs for companies without power. If you need to finish up an edit, Avid support or an Avid Rental give us a call.
Call us at 954-522-1361, or 1-800-800-1361 for all your rental needs!
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:57 PM
October 18, 2005
Director's View Makes it Easy to Add Flash Videos On-line
There is a great and easy-to-use tool to add Flash streaming videos to a website. The tool is called Directors View and provides easy-to-build customizable video portals for your website. Directors View allows the ability to capture, compress and add Flash videos to your video portal.
This product is designed for the non-technical person that wants a simple way to get Flash streaming videos on-line. Directors View comes bundled with Sorenson Squeeze Flash MX. Sorenson Media provides high quality and easy to use compression tools for Streaming videos
Take a look at other Directors View features
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:41 PM
MTV-U provides Numerous Student Created Videos
A new website has emerged through MTV called MTV-U and it is designed as an On-line Streaming Portal for student-related content. The site gives students that have created home videos, campus productions, or anything else that is funny or interesting a place to showcase their videos. There are plenty of video channels to choose from. There is everything from interviews with celebrities, reality-type shows featuring students and video conferencing chats between different countries.
If you have some videos that you have been wanting to get on-line, now is your chance. MTV-U is looking for all types of video content.
Explore the video channels on the MTV-U website.
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:37 PM
October 11, 2005
View H.264 Streaming Content using QuickTime 7
It is a good time for people that view QuickTime streaming video content on the web to start upgrading their QuickTime software to the latest version, QuickTime 7. One of the greatest elements about this version update of the media player is the addition of the H.264 CODEC into the player. This will allow the viewing of H.264 streaming content.
Also, Quicktime 7 also has automatic bandwidth detection similar to Intelligent Streaming for Windows Media and Surestream for Real Media. Content providers will be able to embed profiles for different bit rates/data rates and the QuickTime 7 player will delivery a streaming video suitable for your internet connection. This is a great feature!
There is also a complete re-design of the media player that sports a new look and numerous additional features. The new QuickTime 7 player is definitely worth checking out.
Download QuickTime 7 by visiting Apple's website
Posted by MovingPicture at 05:28 PM
August 19, 2005
Welcome to the Moving Picture News
At Moving Picture we're committed to providing you with the latest information to help you with your production. That's why we're adding a whole new section to our website. Lots of news and how-tos on Sound, Lighting, Video Assist, and even Avid and Non-linear editing.
Stay tuned to this site, or subscribe to the RSS feed in your newsreader, and we'll keep you up to date!
Posted by DigitalBill at 04:40 PM