Matrox MXO2 LE Professional HDMI, SDI, and analog I/O for MacBook Pro and Mac Pro

Available for Hire immediately, Production:av has the ideal Digital and Analogue Input and Output device for the capturing video straight to the timeline in Final Cut. The Matrox MXO2 LE enables the capture of video and audio directly to the computer, from HD/SD-SDI, YUV, Y/C and CV, cross convert it and provide simultaneous output to the computer and on the MXO2’s outputs for monitoring.

Hire Prices:

• £100/day
• £300/Week

All prices exclude VAT. Please contact Production:av on 0845 37 000 24 for more information or a quotation.

• 2.8GHz Processor
• 4 GB Ram
• 500GB HDD
• 1920×1200 native resolution on NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics Card
• 2560 x 1600 on NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT Graphics Card
• USB2.0, Firewire 800, Express 34, Gigabit Network, Audio Ports
• Mini Display Port (Adaptors to VGA and DVI Supplied)

Now availalbe for hire from Production:av Ltd is the 17" Macbook Pro.

The Macbook Pro’s come loaded with the following Software:

• Apple OSX 10.6
• Keynote 09
• Final Cut Studio
• Windows 7 on VMWare Fusion
• Powerpoint
• Microsoft Office

The Macbook Pro is perfect for delivering HD to our HD screens and switching systems. Coupled with the Matrox MXO2 LE it is ideal for capturing Full HD content from our AV-HS400 vision mixer, and editing it with the content from the Sony PMW-EX3 cameras.

Hire Prices:

• £200/Day
• £600/Week

Contact our hire desk for a specific quote on 0845 37 000 24, or info@productionav.co.uk

The EX3 has a range of multiple features that make it ideal for a range of purposes such as live event capture, IMAG and film creation. The EX3 boasts an impressive feature set including:

• HD/SD SDI Output
• Recording to removable media cards, with the ability to span across the two media slots,
• Interchangeable Lenses with 1/2″ and 1/3″ options
• Genlock and Timecode I/O
• Large Viewfinder/LCD monitor
• Monitor Video Output
• Full HD and SD recording modes
• Full Manual Control over all settings
• Audio input on XLR

Sony PMW-EX3 Full HD Camera

The EX3 is ideal for use as either a shoulder mounted camera, handheld or mounted on our Manfrotto Tripods.

As Standard our Hire Kits include:

• Sony PMW-EX3 Camera,
• Standard Lens,
• 2 batteries and charger,
• Zoom Demand
• 2 x 32GB SDHC Memory Cards in Express 34 Adaptors

Contact our hire department for a specific quotation either by email, or telephone on local rate 0845 37 000 24

Panasonic AV-HS400

The AV-HS400 is a native HD-SDI vision mixer, capable of working at either HD or SD levels. As standard 4 HD/SD-SDI inputs (with a built in Loop Out) are provided, with 2 PGM outputs, and a further assignable output. The mixer automatically generates a Multiview Output, reducing the number of monitors required on site.

Additional boards are available to enable the vision mixer to accept component and computer sources, with the ability to upscale these inputs to HD resolutions. There are also options to provide downscaled outputs.

The AV-HS400 also sits alongside our Barco HD projection and Switching equipment, which when combined with our Sony PMW-EX3 Cameras allows for an end to end Full HD work flow.

Contact our Hire department for a quote either by email or local rate telephone on 0845 37 000 24.

Some of the team from Production:av went along to have a look at the new products and services on offer, with the aim of coming away with some new tools to help us meet our clients needs more effectively.

The Show

ISE spans across multiple halls at the RAI, giving a chance for Systems Integrators and AV specialists to see product ranges from all the major manufacturers such as Extron, Kramer, Barco, NEC, Mitsubishi and many more. With it’s size it’s hard to see everything in 1 day, so I’d recommend going for two days. We spent day 1 going from stand to stand to see what was available before returning to those that we needed to see more of. With the RAI being well connected to the city, it’s easy to get value accommodation away from the show and still not spend too long travelling.

There we several areas we went to look at:

Digital Signage.

This is a market that is continuing to expand, with more vendors entering the market with their products. There isn’t a huge variation – essentially there are media player type units (Onelan being one such manufacturer) which are often network-able, software solutions such as Nexus On Demands solution, and then integrated solutions in to screens such as those from Phillips. There didn’t really appear to be any groundbreaking releases, but more that products were becoming more mature and stable. We certainly liked the feature set of the Onelan products.

Projection

There were a few new projection products. Projectiondesign’s new remote light source projectors have clear benefits for use in meeting rooms where projector noise is not ideal, and also makes changing lamps easier in projectors that might be mounted in inaccessible places.

Christie Digital Launched the Microtile – a 10″x16″ rear projection LED driven DLP projection cube, that works to about a 720×540 resolution, with a very thin bezel, beating the new crop of ‘Seamless’ LCD’s.  Utilising the ‘ECU’ they can be stacked and tiled in a multitude of shapes. It’s great idea, and looks brilliant, with the LED’s giving a great colour range, but I’m unsure that it’s going to take much work from Seamless LCD’s. It takes about 4 tiles to be a simillar size to a 42″ LCD, but each tile is about twice the price of a single LCD…. I’m also not convinced that the rigging has been thought through properly, but once we get an onsite demo, then we may be convinced otherwise.

Multitouch

Is everywhere! Apple have probalby helped to bring this technology to the fore with the iPhone and now the iPad, but many others are working to create large visuals solutions that embrace the technology. I think the two high lights for me were the NEC Multi-Touch ability of it’s 70 Series Projection Cube. The ability to scale google maps on a large screen, and across the seams was impressive.

The other impressive option was the Multi Touch rear projection film that enables Multi Touch for shop fronts and other display scenarios. Although the demonstration unit was a proof of concept rather than finished product it worked well. They hope to have large areas (2m Diagonal and above) available around 2nd quarter 2010.

3D – LED, TV’s and Projection

Again, it looks like 2010 could be the year of 3D- I haven’t even got an HD ready TV at home yet! That said the slab of 3D LED that Video Equipment Rentals were demonstrating was pretty clever. The 3m viewing distance didn’t do it justice, but in an arena sized venue it must work a treat.

There were also a few different 3D systems in evidence. From those that use polarising or shuttered lenses to those that didn’t require glasses. I think there’s still work to be done on the 3D front – being a glasses wearer, I don’t want to have to wear another pair of glasses to watch TV. And when it comes to the systems that require no additional paraphernalia, there’s still work to be done, as I’m not somebody that can sit still for that long.

Other bits.

There were a few other bits that shone out – Yamaha’s Digital Video I/O boards which enable audio from the desk to be embedded/deembedded onto an SDI video feed (useful for sending Video/Audio over a single BNC to a remote room).

Then there is the Neutrik Optical Con Quad – a ruggedised 4 pole fibre connector connector, that combined with the relevant fibre cables will give a very robust system for the deployment of DVI and HDMI (and if you feel the need, Audio!) systems in the events sector.

Overall?

Would we go back? Yes. It’s a great way to see and compare equipment, and a good chance to find those useful bits that you need but didn’t know where to find them. It also gives a chance to catch up with the manufacturers, find out what’s new and potentially save some time compared to taking various hours out to chat with the reps.

Did we find the bits we were after? Yes. Keep an eye on the website for upcoming news about products and services that we’ll be bringing to you.

All in all, a worth while trip. See you at ISE 2011!

Customer feedback has been nothing but positive. Please pass on my thanks to all of the team that have supported us to date.”

Live Events Director at Dair. February 2010.

However, this approach was certainly not taken from our perspective. Providing the full production, from set to sound it was imperative every detail was taken care of for such an esteemed client.

Production:av was pleased to continue our great relationship with marketing communications agency Dair* to achieve this event.

Our high definition projection provided an excellent backdrop for the presentations and our d&b Audiotechnik system with digital control was employed ensuring the audio was discreet, tidy and to the highest standard. The set design was carried out in house. White PVC was chosen in order for pixel lines and moving heads to be used to colour the set, which gave fantastic results.

The Live Events co-ordinator at Dair* commented:

Both the AXA events team and the key event stakeholders mentioned what a great team we had on site, polite, helpful, professional, ready to help being just a few of the words used.

The event was a success from start to finish with everybody being exceptionally pleased with all aspects of the show. We look forward to operating on future events with this client.

Production:av provided experienced crew and technicians to deliver a switching system for the main venue bringing the Camera images, songwords and powerpoint together and feeding them to the house installed screens, and also to other venues across the site.

There were also several youth venues which required additional equipment over the installed house systems that Butlins provided. Production:av provided Video Systems comprising of Seamless Switchers for Kramer, Extron and Barco, sending signals to projection equipment from Christie and Plasma screens from Panasonic and NEC, as well as sound equipment from D&B Audiotechnik and Allen and Heath.

Production:av also provided a site wide radio system to enable the Executive Management Team and youth teams to communicate effectively.

The event was a success, with the technical systems performing as required delivering clean signals across the site. Our thanks go to the Organising team for involving Production:av for the second year of the event, and look forward to being involved next year.

The Capsule is a patented hardware and software solution allowing audio recordings to be transferred to multiple USB keys in real time as the event is happening.  The keys can also be pre-loaded with company advertising, presentations, graphics, and web-based links.

This solution allows delegates and audiences to walk away from an event or briefing with a USB key containing the recordings and media of the event they have just attended minutes earlier.  The USB key can then be plugged in to a computer, a welcome screen loads, and all recordings and information are available for viewing.

Andy Cook, business development manager comments, “we are proud to be launching this communication tool on a global scale and we will be offering a bespoke solution for clients, both in terms of rental of hardware, but also in creating the welcome screen and user interface which will can individually designed for clients.  This product has many applications including media briefings, music events, and corporate conferences”.

Production:av have a growing product and solutions portfolio, and have plans for further expansion in this area.  “Production:av aims to provide technology to clients allowing them to enhance their communication with customers, suppliers, and their industry”.

For more information, contact the team at Production:av on 0845 3700024, or head over to our web page.

www.productionav.co.uk

The candidate will be experienced, or willing to learn about all aspects of the High-End Audio Visual industry.

If you think you have the necessary skills and attitude, then please email careers@productionav.co.uk