Pipeline Communications Blog

Huntsville, Alabama – February 29, 2012 – PESA has expanded its PESA PRO line of professional AV routers with the new PRO-3GSDI-1616 Routing Switcher. It supports all common SMPTE and ITU standard serial digital video signals, as well as embedded audio and other ancillary data required for HD-SDI and DVB/ASI broadcast sources. For digital cinema high definition video distribution requirements, it can be configured to switch SMPTE 372M dual-link HD-SDI in configurations up to 8×8.

The PRO-3GSDI-1616 supports standard data rates from 50Mbps to 3Gbps and video transports up to 1080p/60. All inputs are auto-equalized. With standard SMPTE formatted outputs, each signal is auto-sensed and re-clocked to the appropriate transport stream. Signals can be re-clocked up to 100m for 1080p/60. For non-standard formats, re-clocking circuitry can be set to bypass mode. Two independent reference inputs allow easy selection of genlock from a black burst or tri-level sync source.

Two models are available: the PRO-3GSDI-1616-C and the PRO-3GSDI-1616-PB, which includes a local pushbutton control panel. Both models feature an internal power supply and can have multiple remote control panels added via an Ethernet interface.

The PRO-3GSDI-1616’s compact 1 RU frame design features front load, hot swappable card sets, and includes space for an optional redundant power supply and controller module. It is also compatible with PESA’s Cattrax™ graphical user control interface. Cattrax is an intuitive GUI control system that supports comprehensive configuration, diagnostics, and monitoring of the PRO-3GSDI-1616 as well as the full line of PESA router frames. The software is installed on a host PC running the Windows^® operating system and communicates via an Ethernet port located on each router.

Positioned at a more competitive price point, the PESA PRO line includes several new features that make it an attractive package for small to mid-size video switching environments. The PESA PRO line is ideal for SD-SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G-SDI switching applications in digital cinema, telemedicine, O&P, high-end presentation rooms, satellite imaging, military command centers, and simulation/visualization environments.

“With almost four decades of proven performance in high-quality broadcast switching products, PESA continues to innovate with cost effective products like the PRO-3GSDI-1616,” said Dan Holland, PESA vice president of product marketing. “It’s loaded with features normally found in larger router systems, but it fits perfectly in small to mid-size venues where rack space is at a premium.”

The PRO-3GSDI-1616 has an MSRP of $5,995 and is available now.

About PESA

As a leading provider of audio/video connectivity, PESA offers a wide selection of routing switchers, matrix switchers, extenders, converters, media extenders, and signal processing gear to support government, military, industrial, commercial, broadcast and mobile truck applications. PESA offers one of the widest ranges of AV products – from large scale fiber optic routing to single-point CAT-5 DVI extenders – each with the integrity and innovative high performance technology expected from PESA. Our products are available around the world from a leading team of channel partners offering local support and installation and all of our products are supported by 24/7 technical support. To learn more about our technologies and services visit www.pesa.com. PESA is located in Huntsville, Alabama with regional offices throughout the United States.

All products mentioned herein are trademarked property of their respective owners.

Press Contact

Mark J. Pescatore

Pipeline Communications

561-531-3106

mark@pipecomm.com

Company Contact

Dan Holland
VP, Product Marketing
256-726-9200
dholland@pesa.com

Fort Lee, N.J. – FOR-A Corporation of America, a leading manufacturer of video and audio systems for the broadcast and professional video industries, announces that Bahakel Communications in Charlotte, NC, is using six FOR-A MBP-100SX MXF clip servers to store and convert MXF (XDCAM compatible) files for HD-SDI video play out during live newscasts for WCCB-FOX Charlotte and WOLO-ABC Columbia.

The clip servers, which reside in the station’s News Engineering room, replaced a bank of HDCAM tape machines.  FOX Charlotte’s news editors—working in nonlinear video editing suites in multiple cities—now wrap their finished news stories in MXF and transfer them as files over a high-speed data network.  Once downloaded onto the clip servers, the news director organizes them using the companion touchscreen into a “rundown” of stories that playout to air during the station’s newscasts.

“The FOR-A clip servers are far more cost-effective than broadcast video servers for tapeless news playout,” said Bob Davis, Director of Engineering and Operations for Bahakel Communications, a Charlotte, NC-based communications company that owns television and radio stations primarily in the Southeastern U.S.   “Tapeless local news playout, as well as the ability to exchange news stories as files with other group members, helps us streamline our workflow and maximize our production efforts and resources.  Operational efficiency was a big motivating factor in our buying decision, along with reliability and great support.”

The MBP-100SX, which is a compact, 1-rack-unit MXF clip server, supports Sony’s XDCAM, XDCAM HD and XDCAM HD422 compatible MXF files.  The control software displays thumbnail images on a PC monitor or touch panel that lets users confirm the content and metadata of recorded clips at a glance.   It outputs MXF files as HD/SD-SDI baseband video, with up to eight channels of embedded audio.

“The MBP-100SX clip server was designed to provide a bridge between IT and MXF file-based workflows and the HD/SD-SDI baseband video world, as well as playout to air,” said Pedro Silvestre, sales director for FOR-A Corp. of America.  “We’re extremely pleased that Bahakel has chosen our clip servers as an innovative, cost-effective way to streamline its tapeless news production workflow.”

About FOR-A

FOR-A is a major manufacturer and distributor of video and audio systems to the broadcast, postproduction and professional video markets. For more information about FOR-A’s product line, call 201-944-1120 or visit our web site at www.for-a.com.

Billerica, Massachusetts –  Broadcast Pix™ today announced that the Department of Communication at Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila, Philippines, recently renovated its video production facilities with a Granite™ 1000 Video Control Center. The new Broadcast Pix system is part of an upgrade to HD production for FEU’s television production classes.

While Granite has been primarily used for class productions, there are plans to produce a live cable broadcast during the upcoming semester. According to Babsie Morabe, associate professor, FEU Department of Communication, students like the new system, which replaced an aging Videonics switcher. “The industry is moving toward HD production,” he noted, “and the students need to be armed so that when they apply for a production job, they are already well versed in HD.”

Located in the Arts Building, the new production studio is housed in a space that had been previously used as a stockroom. Solid Video Corporation in Makati City, Philippines, supplied and installed the Granite system, and FEU began using it for classes in 2011. The upgrade also included new Sony HD cameras in the studio and HD control room monitors.

Budget was a primary consideration in choosing Broadcast Pix, but Morabe said the university’s technical team was also impressed by its functionality. For example, FEU relies on Fluent-View™, Broadcast Pix’s built-in, customizable multi-view to provide images and status information for cameras, clips, graphics, and key layers. “We don’t need a lot of monitors anymore,” Morabe explained. “It’s very efficient.”

Morabe also praised the other integrated tools, including the Harris Inscriber GS CG. “It is a very powerful tool for video mixing and live broadcast integration,” he added. “It greatly improved our productions, since we can come up with real-time graphics anytime.”

About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in live video production systems. Its Video Control Centers™ empower operators with patented techniques that combine cameras, clips and graphics to create compelling live video. The integration of a multi-format switcher, clip store, graphics system with a Harris or Chyron CG, and device controls provides the lowest cost of ownership at a fraction of the cost of a conventional control room to buy, staff and operate. Systems range from compact systems controlled by a touch-screen or voice-automation to sophisticated 2 M/E control panels. Customers include leading broadcast, corporate, education, religious, government, webcast, entertainment and mobile studios in more than 110 countries. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.

Broadcast Pix, Granite, Fluent, and Video Control Centers are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patented.

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 Wayne, N.J. – FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Optical Devices Division has announced the opening of a new lens service center in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  In partnership with FUJIFILM, Trevisan’s Lens and Camera Service, Ltda — its premiere agent in Brazil – opened the new service center on January 31, 2012.

While Trevisan’s already operates a lens service center in partnership with FUJIFILM North America Corporation in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the decision to open the second location in Rio de Janeiro was motivated by a desire to better serve its existing customer’s growing demand for FUJINON lenses and an expanding customer base in Brazil.

The company also anticipates further demand for FUJINON HDTV broadcast lenses and timely lens repair stemming from several high-profile sporting events being hosted by Brazil including: the FIFA Confederations Cup, June 2013; the  FIFA World Cup Brazil, June 2014; and the  Summer Olympics, August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

“Broadcasters and production companies from around the world will converge on Rio de Janeiro and other Brazilian venues to provide live coverage of these prestigious, international competitions,” said Mr. Toshi Tanaka, division president, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Optical Services Division.  “Since broadcast networks and truck companies strive for flawless equipment performance during World Cup and Olympic games, it’s imperative that we have a local service center ready to respond to their needs. We’re extremely pleased to partner with Trevisan’s to provide local sales and service dedicated to our rapidly expanding customer base in and around Rio de Janeiro.”

For Trevisan’s, this new regional service center presents a chance to expand support for its existing customer base. “We’re always looking to strengthen our interaction and availability to our clientele,” explained Estefano Trevisan, president, Trevisan’s Lens and Camera Service, Ltda. “Teaming up with a company so well known for its outstanding service and customer loyalty in a city with such a vibrant video production industry is a wonderful opportunity. We’re looking forward to extending our reach even further into the production community in Rio.”

About Fujifilm
FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division sells consumer and commercial photographic products and services including film, one-time-use cameras, online photo services and fulfillment, digital printing equipment and service. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras. The Motion Picture Division provides motion picture film, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides binoculars, and optical lenses for closed circuit television, videography, cinematography, broadcast and industrial markets. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. markets a range of Fujifilm products and services. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 16 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2010, and in the year ended March 31, 2011, had global revenues of $25.8 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 86 yen to the dollar.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

FUJIFILM Optical Devices Division, 10 High Point Drive, Wayne, New Jersey 07470. Phone: 973-633-5600. Fax: 973-633-5216. Web site:www.FUJINON.com

SEATAC, WA, February 23, 2012 — Professional video and audio systems integration firm ABS (Advanced Broadcast Solutions), in collaboration with Experience Church.tv®, will present the Audio, Visual, Lighting Conference and Expo (AVL Expo) on Friday, March 9, 2012, at Experience Church in Puyallup, Wash. The one-day conference, specifically designed for the worship community, will feature educational sessions, panel discussions, and an exhibit hall with a select group of vendors that meet the needs of AV practitioners and church pastors. 

“At AVL Expo, we speak the language and propose solutions that small to medium-sized churches relate to,” said Dennis Cummins, Pastor at Experience Church.tv. “The Northwest seems to be isolated from a lot of the amazing trade and tech shows in Orlando, Houston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. I know of many pastors that have limited budgets who cannot afford to fly volunteers across the country to gain this information, which is so desperately needed.”

Conference sessions will address a number of important topics, including cameras, image magnification (I-MAG), lighting and staging, streaming, and live and broadcast audio mixing. Mobile video will be a particular area of focus during AVL Expo. Cummins said churches often fall behind technology trends, but mobile video is too important to ignore.

“In order to make a mobile app appealing to the end user, creating compelling content is going to be a necessity. This requires the right tools and training in applying audio, video, and lighting tools,” he explained. “While many of the AVL sessions will be reinforcement and added layers from previous sessions, the information gained will be applied to mobile video applications.”

“Experience Church.tv is an excellent example of a ministry that has embraced audio and video technology with great success,” said Mark Siegel, President of ABS. “This is our fourth AVL Expo together, and we hope the show will continue to inspire smaller congregations to maximize their use of AV technology cost effectively.”

Courtesy of ABS, registration is free for the first two people registered from each church, and complimentary lunch will be provided. Additional attendees will be permitted based on availability, but space is limited. For more information and registration information, please visit www.avlexpo.com.

About ABS:

Based in SeaTac, WA, ABS (Advanced Broadcast Solutions) delivers customized, technologically superior solutions for broadcast, corporate, house of worship, entertainment, government, and educational facilities – from design and integration to installation and support services. Since 1982, its experienced technical staff has installed more than 200 systems for clients including Fisher Communications, Cowles California Media, Real Networks, Cisco Systems, and Microsoft Studios. For more information, call 206-870-0244 or visit www.advancedbroadcastsolutions.com.

Upgrades Include Touch-Screen Control, Voice-Automated Control, Virtual Sets and Automated Graphics 

Billerica, Massachusetts – February 23, 2012 – Broadcast Pix™ today introduced its Video Control Center™ 3.0 software for its Granite™ and Mica™ Video Control Centers. The new 3.0 software features the first optimized production control on a touch-screen, first voice-automation control of switching and graphics, powerful virtual sets that anyone can customize, and automated, dual-channel graphics that include Daktronics scoreboard integration. The company will ship 3.0 in March, and will demonstrate all of its features at the 2012 NAB Show (Booth SL6424), which runs April 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Video Control Center 3.0 provides more production control than ever to help our customers create great live video,” said Ken Swanton, CEO of Broadcast Pix. “Not every TD prefers a traditional control panel – for many, our new comprehensive touch-screen controls are a more intuitive way to switch. We’ve also added support for VOX, our truly revolutionary product for voice-automated video production. Our virtual sets enable anyone to create their own look. And our new graphics automation is great for elections and sports, and it includes Daktronics integration.”

While Broadcast Pix is known for its innovative panels that control both video and file-based content, the new touch-screen controls enable operators to control all of these elements on surprisingly affordable touch-screens. New touch-screen friendly joystick and knobs control robotic cameras and picture-in-picture (PiP) box sizing, while new layering controls simplify placing content into key layers and moving them front to back. There are also new switcher transition controls and enhanced controls for selecting the built-in clip store, animation stores, and Harris or Chyron graphics system.

The new virtual set software enables up to eight cameras to have virtual backgrounds plus three key layers on top for PiP, titles, and animated logos. Up to 3 PiP boxes on an animated background can each contain a virtual set and any can be zoomed out to full screen. A simple eyedropper tool is used for chromakey setup. Broadcast Pix provides several backgrounds, but any photo can be used. Plus, the built-in image editor can crop and blur an image to simulate depth of field.

Video Control Center 3.0 also supports VOX™, the new voice-activated video production option that eliminates the need for an operator for some live productions. VOX adds advanced video-follow-audio capabilities by working with Broadcast Pix’s built-in Fluent™ Macros to select camera presets, roll clips and animations, add or remove graphics, and execute PiP compositions. VOX software enables complete control over timing, and a host override panel is included. VOX has been used to add video to radio station broadcasts, and is ideal for broadcasting meetings of all kinds on television, the internet or projection.

Also new for Video Control Center 3.0 is support for Fluent Rapid CG™ 2, the second generation of Broadcast Pix’s optional software that automatically integrates databases, RSS feeds, and custom action buttons into templates to streamline the creation of data-intensive CG graphics. A free upgrade for current Rapid CG customers, Fluent Rapid CG 2 delivers faster updates including clocks by-the-second, offers dual-channel capabilities to update two different on-air graphics at once, and supports EZNews news titles. Also announced today is support for Daktronics scoreboards, allowing all scoreboard elements to automatically update multiple Rapid CG templates at once. Supported scoreboards include baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball.

Other new Video Control Center 3.0 standard features include an integrated timer, which creates a countdown (or count up) of a show, so it is easy to keep track of how much time is left in a production; enhanced Sony camera control to support 12 cameras and 16 presets each; faster clip selection on AJA KiPro recorders; fade-to-black controls; multiple digital clocks; faster redraw time for customizing the Fluent-View; ViewCast streaming appliance control is now included; and some bug fixes are included in 3.0.

Broadcast Pix also announced a partnership with CyberTouch, a Newbury Park, Calif.-based company that designs and manufactures industrial touch-screen monitors, which provides premium touch-screens to Broadcast Pix customers in North America.

Video Control Center 3.0 is a free upgrade to all Granite and Mica customers, and a Beta version is available for download at www.broadcastpix.com. VOX is available now, with Daktronics support available in April.

About Broadcast Pix Broadcast Pix is the leader in live video production systems. Its Video Control Centers™ empower operators with patented controls that combine cameras, clips and graphics to create dynamic live video. Inside is an integrated multi-format switcher, clip store, graphics system with a Harris or Chyron CG, and device controls. It provides a low cost of ownership at a fraction of the cost of a conventional control room to buy, staff and operate. Systems range from compact units controlled by a touch-screen or voice-automation to sophisticated 2 M/E control panels. Customers include leading broadcast, webcast, projection, corporate, education, religious, government, entertainment and mobile studios in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.broadcastpix.com.

Broadcast Pix, Command Center Control, Fluent, Granite, Mica and VOX are trademarks of Broadcast Pix, Inc. Patented.

Strong Presence at Trade Show Combined with New Office in Dubai Demonstrate Importance of Middle East/Africa Market

Tokyo, Japan, February 22, 2012 – FOR-A Company Limited, a leading manufacturer of video and audio systems for the broadcast and professional video industries, announces that the company will have a strong presence at CABSAT 2012, the largest digital media and satellite expo in the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region.  This year’s trade show—taking place from February 28 through March 1, 2012 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the UAE—is expected to be the biggest since the annual conference began 18 years ago. Over 750 exhibitors have already registered to participate.

At its booth in Sheikh Saeed Hall 3-Stand S3-19, FOR-A Company Limited will showcase a wide range of products, two of which are being shown in the Middle East for the first time.

These two HD/SD products—both of which debuted at NAB 2011—include the HVS-4000HS digital video switcher and MFR-3232 routing switcher.  A multi-format production switcher available in 2, 2.5, or 3-M/E configurations, the HVS-4000HS integrates a DVE, multiviewer, up/down converter, video file support, and external device control, among other features.  Leveraging the format converter, the switcher can mix HD and SD signals up to 48 inputs and 24 outputs.   Also in the CABSAT booth will be the HVS-350HS HD/SD 1.5-M/E video switcher – a compact, three-rack unit switcher.

The MFR-3232 is FOR-A’s top of the line model in the MFR-5000 Series of multi-format routing switchers.  It scales from 16×16 in one rack-unit to the MFR-3232’s 32×32 capacity in a two rack-unit space.  MFR-3232 routers support tight integration with multiviewers as well as a built-in Web server, which provides external control using a browser.

The following products will also be on display at CABSAT:

•  FA-9500 multi-purpose signal processor, which serves as a frame synchronizer, up/down/cross/aspect converter, color corrector, and video optimizer, among other signal processing functions in 3G/HD/SD environments.
•   VFC-7000 HD Variable Frame Rate Camera capable of high-speed 700 fps HD recordings and slow motion replays
•  MV-3200 multiviewer, which provides 3G-SDI, HD-SDI, SD-SDI, analog composite and PC mixed input capability and free-layout window.
• LTR-100HS video archiving recorder, which provides LTO-5 recording for media server applications as well as file-based and long-term storage.
• VRCAM2 sensor-less live virtual studio system
• FVW-500HS HD/SD video writer

All of the products slated for display at CABSAT are new to the market and designed to offer maximum price performance in a compact solution suited to today’s multiformat, multistandard environment.

“We’re looking forward to meeting with broadcasters and video professionals at CABSAT 2012.  MEA is one of the fastest growing communications markets in the world,” said Mr. Hiro Tanoue, deputy senior general manager, Overseas Sales & Marketing, for FOR-A Company Limited.  “For this reason, we’re committed to having a very strong presence in the Middle East, both with our product showcase at CABSAT 2012 and with the opening of our new Dubai office.   We opened the Dubai office to provide responsive customer sales and technical support to broadcasters and other A/V professionals across the MEA region.”

About FOR-A

FOR-A is a major manufacturer and distributor of video and audio systems to the broadcast, postproduction and professional video markets. For more information about FOR-A’s product line, call +971 4 887 6712 or visit our web site at www.for-a.com.

WAYNE, NJ (February 22, 2012) – JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., has expanded its LoLux™ line of video security cameras with the TK-T2101RU, a cost-effective True Day/Night indoor analog mini dome security camera with integrated infrared LEDs for exceptional performance in a variety of low-light conditions.

With newly developed 10-bit digital signal processing and a 1/3-inch high resolution IT CCD, the analog TK-T2101RU provides 600 TV lines of resolution with a 52 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The 2.8-10.5mm variable focal lens is partially surrounded by 14 IR LEDs; in low light, sensitivity is 0.05 lux for color, 0.015 for black-and-white, and 0 lux with active IR LED.

“The combination of JVC’s innovative LoLux technology paired with built-in ‘no hassle’ IR LEDs delivers exceptional performance in low light – and it eliminates the need for costly additional lighting,” said Ian Scott, vice president, JVC Security Group. “As a result, it’s a more economical choice than some day/night cameras that require external light sources. Plus, it’s easy to install and requires less power to operate, which contributes to a lower total cost of ownership.”

The TK-T2101RU also features up to four areas of motion detection and up to eight zones of privacy masking, plus high light compensation (HLC) and back light compensation (BLC), automatic gain control, and digital noise reduction. Backed by a three-year limited warranty, the TK-T2101RU has a suggested list price of $280 and will be available for delivery in March.

ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., located in Wayne, New Jersey, is a leading supplier of IP network and analog security cameras, network video recorders, monitors, and management systems to the video security industry. Its V.Networks product line of has earned a solid reputation for quality and reliability, and provides superior picture quality for thousands of installations worldwide. For more information about this, or any other JVC professional product, contact JVC at (800)582-5825 or visit JVC’s Web site at pro.jvc.com.

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EMERYVILLE, CALIF.– Advanced Systems Group (ASG), a leading West Coast video and film integration firm, and B4M™ a Primestream® Company, a leader in complete media asset management and automation software, will present a free webinar, “Leap Into Your Asset Management,” on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at 10 a.m. PT.

The webinar will cover the how-to of managing operations from anywhere and the end-to-end workflows for media asset management, editing, social media publishing, archiving, and cloud production.  B4M will demonstrate the proven platform that enables intelligence, efficiency and power in world-class media operations such as CNN^®, NASCAR^®, CBS Sports^®, Disney^®, Thomson Reuters^®, NFL Network^®, and many more.  Attendees will learn how B4M’s FORK™ software allows them to control all their assets from any FORK environment.

“Asset management continues to be one of the biggest challenges in our industry, and the increasing numbers of recording formats and distribution platforms only makes things more complex,” said Dave Van Hoy, president of ASG. “B4M offers an intelligent, hardware-agnostic asset management solution that tailors to various broadcast, post-production, and government operations.”

For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit https://asgevents.webex.com/asgevents/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=935247409. To learn more about FORK, visit www.asgllc.com/products/b4m-fork.

About Primestream/B4M:

Primestream/B4M offers broadcast IT solutions that together form a seamless end-to-end platform for digital acquisition of live and file-based content, media asset management, editing, on-air graphics, logging, control room playback, smartphone and tablet video contribution, multiscreen live and on-demand streaming services, publishing to social media sites, and dynamic archiving. The company’s portfolio includes the FORK™ production suite, added in 2010 with the acquisition of Building4Media, as well as ControlStation™, CGX™, and Primestream Media Library™ (PML). Proven and in use by more than 300 broadcast operations in 40 countries, Primestream/B4M solutions allow users to produce better content faster, every day.

About ASG:

Advanced Systems Group LLC of Emeryville, Calif., with offices in the Bay Area and Southern California, has provided engineering, systems, integration, support and training to the broadcast, film, creative, and corporate video markets since 1997. With unmatched experience in Apple-based newsroom systems, shared storage, archiving, editing, finishing, and VFX systems, ASG has become one of largest installers of post-production and shared storage systems on the West Coast. The ASG team is highly focused on customer success, and has installed and supported more than 185 SANs, production, and post-production systems over the last six years. For more information, visit www.asgllc.com or call 510-654-8300.

Bergen, Norway, Vizrt Ltd. (Oslo Main List: VIZ)

At NAB 2012, Vizrt Ltd, will showcase its latest advances in live graphics, channel branding, video editing, interactive content, multi-platform distribution, live sports and graphics analysis. Vizrt will exhibit in Booth SL5605 during the NAB 2012 convention, being held from April 14-19^th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

What’s next for Vizrt

Get a glimpse of what the future of Vizrt has to offer at the What’s Next stand. Vizrt will show the latest innovations in newsroom content timing, IP streaming video output plus much more. Vizrt will also demonstrate the Viz Media Engine integration with Adobe Premiere allowing users to search and access video content directly in Premiere. Users will also be allowed to edit and overlay Vizrt graphics directly in the Premiere timeline.

The timing of video and graphics in the newsroom just got easier with innovations in Viz Content Pilot.  Users can also transcode real-time content with graphics embedded and adjusted for any mobile device type using device adapted graphics.

Vizrt’s real-time 3D rendering platform, Viz Engine can be expanded now to give live video input, multiple channel playout, DVE effects, vision mixer, internal chroma keying, and real-time compositing of videos and graphics making the Viz Engine truly a TV in a box.

Live Graphics Production

The latest version of Viz Trio, the world’s number one character generator (CG) and template graphics system, now has enhanced video content management support with the integration to Viz Media Engine. Retrieve HD video content and add videos as part of your Viz Trio graphics workflow.

Viz Content Pilot, Vizrt’s core graphics and video content solution, is now fully integrated with the Viz Media Engine video production solution. Journalists in the newsroom can search videos assets and edit videos directly from their desktops and build a newsroom playlist containing both graphics and video elements.

The Viz Virtual Studio is always a major part of NAB for Vizrt. This year we will show you how to engage the audience at home by letting them be part of your live newscast, triggering real-time rendered graphics from iPads with a second screen app. The Vizrt public show will run every half hour and will include on-air talent using the latest multi-touch screens, iPads, immersive graphics and real-time rendered content to tell a story with the most compelling tools around.

From Acquisition to Device-Adapted Video

Serving as the core of Vizrt’s multiplatform video distribution architecture is the Viz Media Engine - the central point for complete control over all assets – metadata, playlists, archive and storage. The Viz Media Engine is a digital management solution that includes tools to manage the entire multi-platform distribution process – from ingestion, transcoding and publishing content that’s automatically adapted for playout on TV, web, phones or other handheld devices.

“By covering the entire workflow – from camera ingest to final play-out on TV, web, and mobile devices, our Viz Media Engine covers broadcast, mobile and web in one workflow,” explained Petter Ole Jakobsen, CTO of Vizrt. “A complete video platform approach delivers dramatic benefits in terms of speed, quality and volume of video production. It can also be used with other archive systems without any manual file management required.”

Also in the booth will be the latest version of Viz Reporter for the iPhone, enabling live news gathering from the field. Viz Reporter is a fully integrated solution, from video recording on the mobile phone, live streaming directly from the phone, and playback on the back-end server. Videos can be edited, embedded with metadata and geo-tagged.

3D Sports Analysis

LiberoVision, fully acquired by Vizrt, will demonstrate the latest innovations in 3D sports analysis at Vizrt’s stand at NAB. LiberoVision sports analysis tools are now integrated into Vizrt’s general graphics and video workflow.

The newest version of LiberoVision’s Libero Highlight 4.5, includes the ability to embed virtual advertisements onto the live programming, iPad-enabled control of the LiberoVision annotator, 3D arrows, detection of camera angles used in American football, faster video processing, and a simplified user interface.

Multichannel play-out and channel branding

With Viz Multichannel, broadcasters can insert commercials on multiple channels in a fully automated way. It combines pre-scheduled, timecode-based playlist operations with the possibility of adding real-time 2D and 3D graphic effects and powerful branding capabilities.  It centralizes the entire workflow onto one desktop.

The newest version of Viz Multichannel will feature improved integration with Viz Trio, including new features such as multi-playlist support, faster playlist loading, integration with Viz Media Engine, support for timeline editors, and for setting up an external preview channel.

Over the top TV & and content distribution to all platforms

With Vimond Media Solutions’ integration with the Viz Media Engine and Escenic Content Engine, users now get a complete online video platform handling live streaming from mobiles, editors’ ingest, insertion of graphics and advertisements, automatic transcoding, and multiplatform content distribution, in addition to a full range of monetization VoD functionality, DRM adaption for multiple platforms, advanced geoblocking, reporting and business intelligence, and over-the-top (OTT) functionality.

Other highlights at this year’s Vizrt NAB booth:

Viz Weather 2.3

- Multiple radar and satellite sources used together in the same scenes

- Weather Alerts

- Faster playlist initialization

Viz World - New DigitalGlobe Online service allows access to global high-resolution imagery

- First Look option gives access to crisis event imagery from DigitalGlobe from inside Viz World

- Photoshop plugin that allows access to the Viz World server for the production of maps.

2D to 3D Conversion

SterGen, a strategic partner of Vizrt, will show its groundbreaking software for live 2D to stereoscopic 3D conversion. SterGen’s software can produce realtime 2D to 3D conversion on soccer with a result that surpasses regular 3D productions.

System Security

Viz Secure monitors both on-air and content preperation systems, provides continuous visual status updates, reports failures, suggests remedial and preventative actions to make sure your Vizrt envioronment is safe and functioning properly.

About Vizrt:

Vizrt provides real-time 3D graphics and asset management tools for the broadcast industry and media houses – from award-winning animations & maps to online publishing tools. Vizrt’s products are used by the world’s leading broadcasters and publishing houses, including: CNN, CBS, Fox, the BBC, BSkyB, ITN, ZDF, Star TV, Network 18, TV Today, CCTV, NHK, The Globe and Mail, Times Online, The Telegraph, and Welt Online.  Vizrt is a public company traded on the Oslo Main List: VIZ, ISIN: IL0010838154.

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