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Despite industry fears of reduced attendance and tight budgets, NAB2003 turned out to be a solid outing. With an expansive show floor filled with innovative new products from a number of manufacturers, it was an ideal year to launch our inaugural Government Video Salute awards. Our editorial team combed the aisles for the best new products for government video professionals, and here's what we found.
Apple... Final Cut Pro 4
 An upgrade is an upgrade is an upgrade. And then there's Final Cut Pro 4. Frankly, two new applications alone are worth the prize. LiveType provides more than 150 pre-configured (yet customizable) animated fonts, effects, and templates. And Soundtrack allows users to create their own music using royalty-free audio loops that automatically match tempo and key in real time. With 300 other new features, including improved video processing, a new batch transcoding tool, and Cinema Tools thrown in for good measure, FCP 4 is not your typical upgrade.
Avid... DNA Family
 Avid's new family of digital nonlinear accelerators (DNA) are specifically designed for media processing. Built to maximize the performance of Avid|DS editing software, the big daddy of the bunch is Nitris, which supports up to 10-bit uncompressed HD formats. Adrenaline isn't exactly a slouch, either the new driving force for Media Composer and NewsCutter can stream uncompressed SD video over a IEEE-1394 connection. And Avid Mojo is a compact, portable solution for laptop DV editing that provides several real-time features. Now that's some powerful genetic engineering.
Bodelin... ProPrompter PocketPC Package
 Whether your reporter would rather read his story than check his notebook on camera, or you just know your untrained talent will never make it through his script without some help, the ProPrompter PocketPC is a great solution. It's small, lightweight, and uses an included PocketPC PDA as its source. That means you can make changes to the script in the field without a problem. Better yet, it means your boss can make changes and e-mail them to you on the set. The system comes complete with the camera-mounted mirror system, PocketPC and prompting software, and even a keyboard and mouse.
Broadcast Pix... Broadcast Pix Studio
 Back in my day, a switcher was a box with buttons on it. But these kids today are using that new-fangled mouse contraption and a GUI. Broadcast Pix Studio keeps everyone happy. This studio-in-a-workstation is built around a tactile control panel, but also includes a duplicate software control panel that can be controlled over the Web. And it has multiple redundancies to keep you on the air, which makes your engineer happy. The rapture continues with the included Inscriber CG, Pinnacle DVE, still store, and 10-bit video processing. City commission meetings, student newscasts, and other live productions will never be the same.
Canon... DIGISUPER 100xs
 For SD or HD productions, the Canon DIGISUPER 100xs is the first triple-digit zoom lens and the longest on the market. Already purchased by a number of HD mobile production units, it's an ideal lens for sports coverage and some military applications. It includes Canon's built-in image stabilizing system, Shift-IS, to minimize camera shake.
Chyron... SOLO
 It's not just a portable CG, it's a portable Chyron. The SOLO system includes a laptop PC (with Lyric or CAL software) and a separate 3-pound unit that houses a PCMCIA card for CG and squeezeback. Its two video inputs (plus background) allow for squeeze and tease promos, as well as opens and other show graphics.
CineForm... Carlsbad Technology
 If you build it, they will come. And they will need to edit. CineForm has taken a proactive stance on the impending explosion of HD videographers that will no doubt result from JVC's new JY-HD10U HD camcorder. Its Carlsbad Technology software allows editors to capture directly from the new camcorder and edit HD in real time using Adobe Premiere 6.5, complete with transitions, titles, and effects.
Fujinon... XA101x8.9BESM
 To paraphrase This Is Spinal Tap, it's one more. In this case, it's a 101x lens that's designed for live events and assorted government projects. At 8.9, it's the widest triple-digit lens available. The new XA101x8.9BESM features multiple moving zoom groups, which minimizes field curvature and reduces the size and weight of the unit. Plus, macro and focus fade for the lens can be remote controlled on wide shots.
Global Translation and VITAC... TranslateTV
 Tucked away in a quiet corner of the show floor, this software-based godsend sends an important message and in several languages. Without a live, human translator, TranslateTV decodes English closed captions in real time, then translates the text stream and re-encodes the messages in another caption field. Your captioned programs can be instantly translated into eight different languages, including French, German, Japanese, and Spanish, which makes it ideal for reaching non-English speaking viewers. Mucho cool.
Grass Valley... C2IP
 This product almost had to win by default. After all, when was the last time any manufacturer made such a bold leap forward in camera control? Compatible with Grass Valley's LDK Series of cameras, the Ethernet-based C2IP (camera control over IP network) can remotely control up to 99 cameras. With one control panel (small in size so it's great for trucks), you can adjust iris, gain, and other parameters for one camera, or make one adjustment that affects a bank of cameras.
Ikegami... HDL-40 (CMOS Version)
 Ikegami is the second company with the vision to bring Rockwell Scientific's ProCamHD CMOS chip to market. Fair is fair both companies debuted their HD cameras at NAB2003, so both get kudos for embracing the latest imaging technology. CMOS chips notwithstanding, the 4-pound box camera boasts some rather impressive features, including auto electronic shutter and time lapse capabilities.
JVC... HD-CMOS
 And here's the first company with the vision to bring Rockwell Scientific's ProCamHD CMOS chip to market. The HD-CMOS box camera features an industry standard B4 lens mount, which makes it ideal for microscopes, telescopes, and other scientific applications. It's also the right fit for HD lenses, so the HD-CMOS can be used for unmanned camera operations in sports, teleconferencing, and security.
JVC... JY-HD10U
 I hate it when pompous magazine editors make dramatic claims about some little product that's going to change the world. That said, this new camcorder from JVC is going to change the world. Why? Because it brings HD to the masses. Granted, it's a 1-CCD camcorder, but it provides an HD acquisition solution for less than $5,000. It records in native 16:9 with MPEG-2 compression for HD, and also records in SD (4:3 with DV compression), all on mini-DV stock. Film schools, the military, independent videographers, and even some small market television stations are sure to make the move to HD with this camcorder. And when even low-budget facilities can afford HD, it's the beginning of the end for SD.
Leader Instruments... FS3018 Lighting Monitor
 Don't let the name fool you. This nifty application is more than a lighting monitor brings test and measurement information to your PDA. The FS3018 software allows communication between your PDA and Leader's LV5700 Multi-SDI Monitor, so you can monitor the camera picture and get waveform, vector, RGB, and other measurements in the palm of your hand.
Lectrosonics... MM 400A Digital Hybrid Wireless Miniature Transmitter
 I like tools that the talent can't break. That's what so impressive about this new mini-transmitter from Lectrosonics. Oh sure, it's not indestructible, but the waterproof, aluminum housing is built to withstand extreme conditions. Plus, inside its ruggedized exterior beats a heart of pure audio gold. It combines 24-bit digital audio with an analog FM radio link for extended range and outstanding sound.
Microwave Radio Communications... QuikVue
 Customers may not exactly be lining up in droves for portable wireless transmitters yet, but the time is coming. Imagine no more running cable from the truck for a live shot. Instead, let COFDM technology provide the freedom to get the shot and get out. Microwave Radio Communications (MRC) is selling more of its solution, called the Reporter, to law enforcement and the military than to broadcasters. And at NAB2003, the company introduced QuikVue, a portable monitor solution, to compliment the system. It's a full-featured, battery-powered COFDM receiver that includes a built-in LCD monitor. The rugged unit is ideal for mobile surveillance during potentially hazardous situations.
Multidyne... HYDRA-8000 Series
 In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a nine-headed water serpent that Heracles had to slay. Of course, after thousands of years of evolution, it would probably have 768 heads today. After all, Multidyne's HYDRA-8000 can support up to 768 signals, including video, audio, data, intercom, and telephone, over one tactical cable. Designed for military, surveillance, sports, field, and fixed installations, the modular system is available with a four-slot, 1 RU tray or 10-slot, 3 RU tray, and can use a variety of Multidyne cards for customized applications.
Panasonic... Solid-State Memory Card Acquisition Technology
 The best kept bombshell of NAB2003, Panasonic unveiled two working prototypes of its new solid-state secure digital (SD) memory card acquisition technology, which records on reusable memory cards. The technology uses DVCPRO compression schemes, so the technology will fit into existing infrastructure. And the recording device features no moving parts, which makes it attractive for use by the military in extreme environmental conditions. Perhaps most impressive, though, is that the system has enough bandwidth for HD acquisition, once larger capacity SD cards are available.
Panoramadtv MONFlex... LCD Video Monitors
 Panaoramadtv, the video division of Wohler Technologies, has brought flexibility to rack-mounted LCD monitors. Each monitor features an adjustable gooseneck, so you always get the best viewing angle for your environment. Plus, you can have a variety of screen sizes (up to a 7-inch, 16:9 monitor) on the same unit, and they're hot swappable. One more thing: The MONFlex takes up only 1 RU. That's a lot of flexibility for a small piece of real estate.
Rockwell Scientific... ProCamHD
 I spent my March editorial singing the praises of CMOS chip technology, so it's only fitting that the company that's made the technology a viable player in the video industry be properly acknowledged. Congratulations to Rockwell Scientific for improving HD image acquisition (see previous mentions for Ikegami and JVC).
S.two... D.MAG
 Everyone wants HD footage, but the military and other government organizations aren't exactly known for their tender treatment of field gear. Now, D.MAG offers a rugged alternative for HD in the field. The portable system allows uncompressed 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 image acquisition, as well as six channels of digital audio. But the heart of the system is its most ingenious feature: removable disk magazines. You can fill one up with data, swap it out, and ship it to the edit suite, where it can be connected to your editing system and mounted in the rack for your convenience. Rugged, portable, brilliant.
Sigma Electronics... DATC Technology
 Nigel Spratling and his team at Sigma Electronics created Digital Audio Time Code (DATC) to address audio/video latency by developing timing data that doesn't use video frame rates for comparison. Instead, it inserts time information into 250 blocks per second of the AES audio signal. Put simply, it's a source of audio time code based on units of time, not video frame rates, so it's video system independent. I could try to sound impressive by throwing around some big engineering words at this point, but let's all just agree that Spratling is a genius and leave it at that.
Sony... Optical Disc Recording System
 Blue laser technology is finally ready for primetime, and it's not just for an isolated application. Sony wisely introduced a group of products two camcorders, a studio record deck, NLE companion deck, and a battery-powered portable deck that use the DVCAM and IMX codecs and offer i.LINK (IEEE-1394) interfaces. That means early adopters can start fresh with an entirely new system or seamlessly integrate the new components into current DVCAM or IMX operations.
Telex... RadioCom TR-825
 The newest innovative member of the RadioCom wireless intercom family, the RadioCom TR-825 belt pack takes wireless intercom to a whole new level of functionality. With its dual volume controls, you to listen to the show in one ear and monitor the control room in the other at different levels, or you can split one feed for stereo monitoring. Up to four of the frequency agile belt packs can be used with the Telex BTR-800 base station.
Vinten... Fibertec
 Truly innovative, Fibertec features channel legs instead of twin tubes. The result of this design is a more rigid tripod, which optimizes the drag of a pan and tilt head, minimizes spring-back at the end of a move, and reduces shake. But wait, there's more. Throw in a mid-level spreader for even more stability. Then add clamps that are not only flush to the tripod but are designed to minimize breakage from videographer abuse.
Virage News... Monitoring Solution
 Originally developed for the Department of Defense, Virage's system monitors world events by monitoring media reports. It automates the labor-intensive monitoring process by scheduling, capturing, encoding, and indexing television newscasts. With its built-in, multi-language speech recognition, as well as closed caption extraction and a host of other useful features, you can search, review, and playback relevant news packages through its Web-based interface. That means employees can spend less time watching the news and more time reviewing the right news.
MORE INFO
Apple
(800) MY-APPLE
www.apple.com
Avid
(800) 949-AVID
www.avid.com
Bodelin
(425) 558-4133
www.bodelin.com
Broadcast Pix
(781) 221-2144
www.broadcastpix.com
Canon
(516) 328-5000
www.usa.canon.com
Chyron
(631) 845-2000
www.chyron.com
CineForm
(760) 804-5905
www.cineform.com
Fujinon
(973) 633-5600
www.fujinon.com
Global Translation
(877) 861-4400
www.translatetv.com
Grass Valley
(503) 478-3000
www.thomson.grassvalley.com
Ikegami
(201) 368-9171
www.ikegami.com
JVC
(973) 317-5000
www.jvc.com/pro
Leader Instruments
(800) 645-5104
www.leaderusa.com
Lectrosonics
(800) 821-1121
www.lectrosonics.com
Microwave Radio Communications
(978) 671-5700
www.mrcbroadcast.com
Multidyne
(800) 4TV-TEST
www.multidyne.com
Panasonic
(800) 528-8601
www.panasonic.com/broadcast
Rockwell Scientific
(805) 373-4545
www.rockwellscientific.com
S.two
(949) 219-9990
www.stwo-corp.com
Sigma Electronics
(866) 569-2681
www.sigmaelectronics.com
Sony
(800) 686-SONY
www.sony.com/government
Telex
(800) 392-3497
www.telex.com
Vinten
(888) 284-6836
www.vinten.com
Virage
(650) 573-3210
www.virage.com
VITAC
(800) 278-4822
www.vitac.com
Wohler Technologies
(888) 5-WOHLER
www.wohler.com
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