August 2015 CREATION 17
PPG gets creative with AJA Cion
Vancouver-based production company Pacific Producers Group ( PPG ) is keeping its studio stocked with an arsenal of 4K Ultra HD ( UHD ) gear for greater creative flexibility , including a new AJA Cion camera .
Operating out of Gak Studio , a video and photography studio where Shawn Serdar is partner , PPG provides multimedia services to industrial , government , legal and commercial clients .
Before using the Cion camera in-studio , Serdar took it out for a test-run to see if he could film as a one-man band . He revealed : “ I was shocked by how simple Cion was to set up and operate ; I could put it on a tripod with an ENG plate , release the lever and be shooting 4K ProRes 444 or ProRes 422 HQ on my shoulder in seconds . It ’ s a really practical and versatile camera .”
Cion is also equipped with built-in audio inputs , Serdar continued , so users do not require a separate audio recorder , while the ergonomics make it easy to handle .
He added : “ The camera worked
perfectly in a variety of environments — indoor and outdoor — giving me ready-to-edit footage right out of the camera .”
Cion made its first PPG project debut when vitamin manufacturer Natural Factors enlisted the production company to shoot a series of promotional videos earlier this year .
PPG , in collaboration with Oregon-based boutique creative agency Mountain Hut Media , set up shop at Gak to deliver a 20-minute video for Natural Factors ’ retailers , a two-minute promo for consumer , and a handful of audio takes for radio promotion .
Opting to use Cion for its incamera ProRes 444 recording capabilities , Serdar explained : “ With green screen production , you want to record in the codec that gives you the most colour information . By recording ProRes 444 with Cion , I knew we ’ d be able to get the highest quality colour information and bit depth in-camera ; it was an ideal set-up .”
For the Natural Factors project ,
Among the many projects undertaken by production company PPG , the AJA Cion camera was used to shoot a series of promotional videos for Natural Factors .
PPG had an on-set editor who was supposed to be the DI tech , but he did not have to , because PPG was able to transfer the footage from Cion quickly with Thunderbolt 2 , and use the ProRes files immediately in After Effects .
Since adopting Cion into PPG ’ s workflow , Serdar has seen a “ significant ” drop in the time required between production and delivery . The improvement was apparent while working on a shoot for another client , for which PPG captured event footage and edited it into a five-minute video montage on-site , in under an hour using a laptop .
“ With Cion , we ’ re saving about 40 % -50 % time on projects , because the ergonomics are great , the menu is straightforward and we can shoot and edit in ProRes without any transcoding . It ’ s a smart and efficient camera that delivers outstanding quality at a great price point ,” Serdar concluded . whoBuyswhat
■ Zhejiang TV moves towards integrated broadcast production with Lawo
The Lawo V __ pro8 offers ZJTV with enhanced functionality , including SDI embedding and de-embedding .
SGL has an established history serving the archive needs of broadcast facilities around the world .
SGL ’ s FlashNet fully integrates with PAM and MAM systems from leading industry partners , delivering a content management solution that fits all requirements .
SGL provides secure , future-proof business solutions that grow with your organisation .
Using audio and video technology from Lawo , Chinese broadcaster Zhejiang TV ( ZJTV ) recently undertook a facility renovation that saw the set-up of new 2,500sqm and 1,200sqm studios , which will facilite the annual production of shows such as Voice of China and Hurry Up , Brother .
Operated by the Zhejiang Radio & Television Group , one of China ’ s biggest TV networks , ZJTV has been using Lawo equipment for six years , having previously invested in a number of digital mixing systems . Currently , the broadcaster has committed to adding Lawo video units to its technical infrastructure .
A ZJTV spokesperson explained : “ We have been using Lawo audio products since 2009 , including mc ² 66 and mc ² 56 mixing consoles in our most major studios . We are very satisfied with their performance and reliability , and we believe that the IP-based
Lawo video products will give us the same quality of technology as well as Lawo ’ s after-sales service .”
The existing Lawo mixing consoles are installed in ZJTV ’ s main Concert Hall , as well as two studios in Hangzhou City . When complete , the new studios will incorporate a total of six Lawo V __ pro8 digital video processors . These eight-channel 1U rack-mount units combine both video and audio management in a single processor , translating into efficiency and operating security , along with reducedb space , wiring and costs .
According to ZJTV , its confidence in Lawo ’ s SDI embedding and de-embedding products also stems from Lawo ’ s use of Ravenna technology , developed for audio and video transport based on IP Layer 3 . This , said ZJTV , will help simplify the integration of broadcasters ’ audio and video systems in the future .
IBC
Booth 7 . J15a
T : + 61 415088619 | E : sales @ sglbroadcast . com W : sglbroadcast . com