Linux Workstation
HP x1100 — Linux: One recurring complaint about Linux has been its lack of support. When the open-source OS falters, who do you call for help? HP assumes that responsibility with its x1100 — Linux workstation. The company preloads, preconfigures, and fully supports Red Hat Linux 7.1. The x1100 runs on Pentium 4 processors and Intel's latest 845D chipset, enabling the use of Double Data Rate 266 memory, which HP claims delivers performance comparable to that of higher-cost RDRAM systems. Single 1.7GHz, 1.9GHz, 2.0GHz, or 2.2GHz processors are available. Mass storage is expandable up to 160GB IDE or 146GB SCSI. OpenGL support facilitates animation. Price: Not available. (Palo Alto, Calif.; 800-452-4844; www.hp.com)
Automatic Tracking
2d3 Boujou for Linux: Boujou has become almost industry-standard in Hollywood for automated tracking of objects and other image features. Tracking follows specified features — even when they're obscured by low lighting, atmospheric effects, or temporary obstructions — so computer-generated images can be inserted. The company claims its software renders unnecessary on-set markers, lighting restrictions, and the limiting of camera moves. At this year's NAB, 2d3 released a scaled-down VE version of its popular application, and also Linux ports for both VE and its new full-featured Boujou 2. Boujou VE, designed for TV production, integrates with 3ds max and After Effects for both 2D compositing and 3D animation work. Price: Not available. (Lake Forest, Calif.; 949-472-9140; www.boujou.com)
Disc-Based ENG
Hitachi DVD-RAM recorder: This device docks to any Z-series Hitachi camcorder, or to most other manufacturers' cameras, to allow tapeless recording. Building on the positive reaction to the single-chip, disc-based DZ-MV100A (introduced at last year's NAB), the company makes a stronger play at the professional market, now facilitating three-CCD capture to DVD-RAM disc. The recording unit can handle one hour of MPEG-2 video, and users can edit the video and add transitional effects in-camera with built-in software. This capability makes the device suitable for field news applications. Outside of the camera, NLE support for the recorder is forthcoming via plug-ins. Price: Less than $6,000. (Woodbury, N.Y.; 516-682-4429; www.hdal.com)
Interactive Pen Display
Wacom Cintiq 18sx: Acknowledging that its 15in. interactive pen display monitor was too small for many video artists, Wacom increased the viewing area by about 50% for this new 18.1in. version. The pressure-sensitive, 24-bit LCD monitor allows video painters and compositors to draw directly on the screen with a response time of 27 milliseconds. The Cintiq's new battery-free pen, with 512 levels of pressure, features a more effective grip surface. The unit gets a new 360-degree swivel mount to facilitate collaboration. Users can also disconnect the display from the mount and set the 18sx on their laps. A single-cable system combines power, video, and tablet communications into a single conductor. Price: $3,499.95. (Vancouver, Wash.; 800-922-6613; www.wacom.com)
Field Teleprompter
Telescript Ultimate Field/ENG Teleprompter system: This display system is designed for easy assembly and portable operation. Telescript's FPS-120 Field/ENG flat-panel teleprompter, a 12in., 13lb. LCD unit, is the basis of the system. Quick Mount technology keeps the mounting system to just two pieces. Also included with the new system is a hood, a standard Hi-Bright monitor with patented anti-reflective glass, and full vertical and horizontal adjustment controls. The whole teleprompter system travels in a custom-built case that includes cutouts for every system component and two protective glass slots. Price: Not available. (Norwood, N.J.; 201-767-6733; www.telescript.com)
Compositing and Editing
Media 100 844/X: Four years in the making, the 844/X is Media 100's attempt to triangulate the upper and lower ends of the compositing market, while also integrating editing functionality to serve pros who wear multiple hats. The company aims the new system at producers of short-form broadcast work. With true 10-bit architecture, the 844/X processes eight uncompressed streams — four video and four motion alphakeys — in realtime. Video processing is progressive, and streams are automatically deinterlaced upon acquisition. The system is based on the Media 100-designed GenesisEngine, three PCI cards that act electrically as one board, which sustains 420MBps throughput. Price: Starts at $65,995. (Marlboro, Mass.; 508-460-1600; www.media100.com)
Linux-Based Compositing
Interactive Effects Piranha: This compositing application now brings its effects, paint, and rotoscoping tools to the Linux community. The resolution-independent, hardware-accelerated package is optimized to take full advantage of OpenGL-accelerated graphics cards. Piranha for Linux includes many of the core features found in the SGI-based Piranha HD package, such as image-processing filters, color-correction tools, and transform and warp effects. Also included are the tools of Interactive Effects' Amazon Paint, a full 16-bit-per-channel program that also had a Linux version introduced at this year's NAB. Price: Not available. (Los Angeles; 310-998-8364; www.ifx.com)
DCC Workstation
Sun Blade 2000: Sun's new play is for the “Personal Visualization Systems” market, which the company says falls between large-group visualization (e.g., Onyx-based systems) and workstation graphics. The Sun Blade 2000 weighs in with dual 64-bit, 1.05GHz UltraSPARC III Cu processors, which the company claims set a record for floating-point performance with a score of 827 SPECfp2000. Currently there's a dearth of video-production applications that run on Sun's Solaris OS, but the company claims that the growth in Linux-based products will lead to more Solaris-ported apps. That's because, says Sun, the processes of creating ports for Linux and Solaris are very similar. Price: Starts at $10,995. (Palo Alto, Calif.; 650-786-8075; www.sun.com)
Graphics & Special Effects
Graphics System
By Chyron
Duet LEX, Aprisa 200SX, Aprisa 3.0: The Duet LEX, which expands on the Duet LE, includes Lyric software and realtime 2D and 3D animation capabilities. Other features include a 4 RU chassis, Windows 2000 PCI-based architecture, 601 digital I/O, OpenGL graphics accelerator card, and for each channel a digital keyer with bypass, analog monitoring output, and GPIO. Chyron's four-channel Aprisa 200 includes an SX graphics replay option that enables playback of stills, text rolls, text crawls, and animated flipbooks over a clip with audio and key. Aprisa's version 3.0 includes the central database service (database processing and media traffic management for local caching), local Aprisa engine (core processing for video, audio, and communications on each Aprisa), Aprisa Client, Aprisa Director, and Aprisa MOS ActiveX. (Melville, N.Y.; 631-845-2000; www.chyron.com)
Video Editing
Editing Upgrade
By Panasonic
NewsByte50 2.0: This soft-ware upgrade to Panasonic's News-Byte50 DVCPRO/DVCPRO50 native nonlinear editing system offers such new features as DVCPRO/DVCPRO50 hybrid editing in the same sequence, configurable dual-monitor outputs, file (clip/sequence) exchange between NewsByte50s, EDL import and export, track lock editing, icon automatic update, and still picture caption. (Los Angeles; 323-436-3500; www.panasonic.com/broadcast)
Conversion Kit
By Sony
BKNW-26 16:9 LCD kit: This optional interface board is designed to add widescreen capabilities to the Betacam SX digital portable editors, such as the DNW-A25/A220/A225 series. It enables Betacam SX editors to display a widescreen 16:9 picture on their built-in LCD monitors without squeezing the picture. The kit allows these portable editors to interchange between content generated in 16:9 and 4:3. Price: $500. (Park Ridge, N.J.; 800-686-7669; www.sony.com/professional)
News Solution
By Pinnacle Systems
Vortex: Designed for local broadcast and network operations, this news system includes integrated capturing, editing, managing, storing, and playout. The Targa 3000-based Vortex platform features simultaneous DV 25 and MPEG-1 support. The Vortex Meta Data Controller (MDC) has an API for integration with third-party products, including leading automation and newsroom systems. The MDC enables all metadata associated with any activity (including proxies) to be captured and shared across the entire network in realtime. (Mountain View, Calif.; 650-526-1600; www.pinnacle sys.com)
Nonlinear Editing
By DPS
dpsVelocity 8.0: This newest version of dpsVelocity, a dual-stream realtime nonlinear editing system, is available as a fully integrated turnkey system or as a hardware/software bundle for installation in a Windows 2000 computer. Features of 8.0 include multicamera editing, realtime garbage mattes, interface enhancements, and multiple time-line support. (Chesapeake, Va.; 757-548-2300; www.dps.com)
Miscellaneous
Streaming Video
By VBrick Systems
VBStar: Locations without broadband connectivity can receive and view DVD-quality video with VBStar. This video system enables users to record live video from any source, save it to an internal disk as MPEG-2 video, and transfer it to VBStars located anywhere in the world via IP or ATM networks. The video can then be viewed on standard TV monitors and streamed to an unlimited number of PC desktops simultaneously. VBStar can store as many as 20 hours of video, and advanced features allow users to record one stream while viewing another. (Wallingford, Conn.; 203-265-0044; www.vbrick.com)
SDI Board
By Panasonic
AJ-YA152: This 50Mbps-compliant SDI board for Panasonic's AJ-HDR150 multiformat DVCPRO video server is designed to facilitate serial digital input and output of DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO. The board supports embedded audio and is compatible with AES/EBU audio. It features a slow-motion playback function and offers capabilities of writing and reading VBI signals, LTC input/output, timecode in/out (XLR), timecode superimpose display, and VITC and closed-caption support. (Los Angeles; 323-436-3500; www.panasonic.com/broadcast)
Production Tools
By Sony Broadcast
DeviceMonitor: The Device Monitor software is designed to extend the functionality of Sony's SystemWatch service, which uses Simple Network Management Protocol tools to remotely monitor the health and operation of customer equipment. Customers can use their PCs to check the status of their broadcast operations. And if the equipment needs service, the software automatically stores existing equipment settings and configures replacement units with the same settings. (Park Ridge, N.J.; 800-686-7669; www.sony.com/professional)
