With each new technology transition—from SD to HD to 4K— remote production truck companies in the U.S. have been at the forefront, providing clients with the latest production tools to expand their production capabilities and make live sports and entertainment telecasts the best they can be.
For the remote powering of cameras, lights and other production peripherals the key challenge has always been the need for ever-faster battery charging times.
The waitress in the New York City coffee shop placed her brand new $6,000-plus camcorder on the table where I had been expecting my breakfast.
Spinning disk (HDD) and flash storage (SSD) drives are nearly the same cost these days, so it’s no surprise that broadcasters are turning increasingly to SSDs for long-term storage of our most critical media files. But did you know that SSDs and camera memory cards should be powered up from time to time, to maintain a high writing speed and reliable data storage?
This year at IBC, you will be able to comfortably sit in an 8K living room and enjoy a video broadcast so clear that it will make you lose yourself in a truly immersive experience that practically seems 3-D. This 8K setup will be brought to you by NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster that is leading ultra-high definition (UHD) technology development. Its super-high-vision channel held the world’s first 8K TV satellite broadcast in 2016 at the Rio Olympics, and plans to provide full 8K coverage of the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 have already been announced.
SD memory cards may all look the same, but as any experienced user knows there are now a myriad of different types of cards at a range of prices — all defined by complex terminology on each card. It has become essential for buyers to learn what all the jargon means. Here’s a guide.
On one of my first media jobs, the manager put a sign on the wall that said: “A clean kit is a happy kit.” What he meant, of course, was to label recorded tapes, re-charge spent batteries, keep things in their place and make sure all cables are properly wound and ready to go. Good advice, except I’m amazed at the number of people who ignore this advice.
The HPA Retreat took place in February in Palm Springs, CA. Part 1 of this two-part series can be found in the link at the end of this article.