News Stories

NAB: Fordela Launches World’s First Cloud-Based 3D Video Management Platform

4.11.2011

[Press Release]

Fordela Corporation, a leader in enterprise media management and delivery, today announced the latest release of its award-winning Media Platform, Ambassador™. Now available for content producers, distributors and publishers of 3D video, Fordela’s Ambassador provides the world’s first cloud-based, automated and integrated 3D video management solution. Ambassador is also available to manufacturers of 3D hardware as an OEM/white-label solution.

Fordela’s cloud-based solution is being showcased at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas (April 11-14) in the NVIDIA booth #SL2728 (South Hall) of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Fordela’s Media Platform supports both 2D and 3D video management for applications including Video On-Demand, Virtual Screening Rooms and Content Collaboration Portals.   3D video content can now be easily managed and delivered from the cloud to any connected 3D enabled device.

Key features include:

  • Supports market leading NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ technology and 3D video streaming which is featured at NVIDIA’s online 3D community, www.3DVisionLive.com
  • 3D frame-packing and management in the cloud on Microsoft Azure or Amazon EC2
  • Transcoding with Microsoft Expression Pro in the Microsoft Azure Cloud providing GPU-accelerated h.264 encoding using NVIDIA® CUDA™ technology
  • Microsoft Media Platform Player Framework with NVIDIA 3D Vision video player plugin
  • Digital Rights Management using Microsoft PlayReady via BuyDRM KeyOS
  • Adaptive bit rate streaming leveraging Microsoft IIS Smooth Streaming technology
  • Full support for white-label and reseller configuration

 

“With Ambassador we are delivering the first integrated, automated cloud-based solution for 3D video content management to internet connected devices,” said Fordela’s CEO Ron Spector.  “Our platform has brought together a powerful network of technologies from NVIDIA, Microsoft, Amazon, and Akamai, to provide a seamless way to manage and deliver 3D video.”

“Working with Fordela to integrate Ambassador into 3DVisionLive.com has created the world’s best place to watch 3D videos on the web,” said Jon Barad, senior business development manager at NVIDIA. “Fordela makes it possible for us to quickly and easily manage and deliver high-quality, premium 3D content to all of our 3D Vision users around the world.”

Product Support and Availability:

The Fordela Solution with Ambassador is available now.

More information about the Fordela Solution and Ambassador is available at http://www.fordela.com.

Tweet this:  Fordela Launches World’s First Cloud-Based, Integrated 3D Video Management Platform. Follow Fordela on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/fordela

See the original post here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fordela-launches-worlds-first-cloud-based-3d-video-management-platform-119588039.html

 

NAB: Canon Upgrades Its’ 3D Video Cameras – Full Details Revealed

4.9.2011

[By Dave Gales, www.gadgetsandtechnologynews.com]

Canon today announced significant enhancements to its Canon XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders including the ability to configure two units for 3D HD video capture. Canon’s new firmware upgrades the XF300-series camcorders to include Canon’s 3D Assist Function that allows two units to be easily set up for 3D HD video, as well as an updated Scan Reverse function, Double Slot Recording for instantaneous backup, and the option to disable Relay Recording. Canon will be demonstrating a range of professional applications for the Canon XF305 and XF300, including the new prototype firmware, at the company’s booth C4325, at the 2011 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in the Las Vegas Convention Centre, 11th-14th April 2011.

[Philip Lelyveld comment: MSRP $7,999 each camera]

  • New Firmware Enables 3D HD Video Capture Assist and a Host of New Features

3D Shooting Capability with Axis Shift
Canon’s 3D Assist Function facilitates the setup of two XF305 or XF300 Professional Camcorders when used together to capture 3D HD video. The new firmware includes the ability to perform OIS Lens Shift to aid in optically aligning two XF305 or XF300 camcorders and a Focal Length Guide to display the zoom position of each camera in relation to each other and help calibrate zoom settings. This adjustment can be done through the menu system while the camcorders are mounted to a rig or tripod.  Once aligned, the amount of the angle-of-view change is displayed after zoom adjustment, preventing camera misalignment and simplifying adjustment.  This is similar to the 3D shooting functionality found in the Canon’s XF105 and XF100 model professional camcorders.

Scan Reverse for 3D Rigs
The new firmware updates the Scan Reverse functionality of XF300-series camcorders to allow for recorded images to be flipped on the horizontal axis, vertical axis, or both simultaneously to facilitate recording with 3D mirror rigs.

Double-Slot Recording
This new function allows the camcorders to record footage simultaneously to both card slots for instant backup of important footage and files.  Ideal for use in production environments to ensure multiple copies are secured for each take.

Relay Recording On/Off
Relay Recording, an innovative feature to aid ease of use, where footage is seamlessly recorded to the second CF card as the first fills up, can now be turned off to prevent capture data from automatically being recorded to the second card. This allows the second card to be protected from recording and used only when designated or to allow the user to only copy or back up select takes to the card.

About the XF 305 and XF 300
The XF300-series camcorders employ the XF Codec, an MPEG-2 4:2:2 50Mbps codec for native 1920 x 1080 HD video recording onto affordable, universally available Compact Flash (CF) cards. Uniting video, audio and metadata into a single file, the Canon XF305 and XF300 use an MXF (Material eXchange Format) File Wrapper, a widely supported open-source format, to maximize compatibility with existing industry infrastructure and non-linear editing (NLE) systems.

The Canon XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders include a genuine Canon 18x HD L-series lens, three Canon developed and designed native 1920 x 1080 CMOS image sensors, and Canon’s own XF Codec that delivers the extreme colour detail required for accurate chroma-keying, colour-grading and compositing for digital filmmaking.  In addition, the XF305 model features industry-standard HD-SDI output, genlock, and SMPTE time code (in/out) terminals for multi-camera, broadcasting or 3D production.

The new firmware is expected to be available for download from in Q3 2011.

 

See the original story here: http://www.gadgetsandtechnologynews.com/canon-upgrades-its-3d-video-cameras-full-details-revealed/2812537/

 

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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