BVE To Offer Fresh Remedies

4K to hit the industry roots: George Jarrett predicts that small cameras and end-to-end UHD workflows will be the big subjects at Broadcast Video Expo. Visitors will want to know how to shoot, finish and deliver 4K content.

Broadcast Video Expo has become an important event, attracting 15,000 people, of which fewer than 20% visit IBC and very few attend NAB. Several thousand are freelancers. What makes it unique is the desire to learn to earn, as identified last year when 5,142 individuals attended one or more seminars and the session visit counter came up with the incredible figure of 11,500.
These impressive stats were provided by program director Eve Harper, who said: "Our post-show surveys indicated that the more seminars a visitor attended, the higher their level of satisfaction."
What is the overall editorial plan behind all the sessions lined up for this year?
"As an exhibition, BVE covers the whole broadcast production chain, evolving as the industry does, and it's important that the range of theatres and associated seminars we put on reflect that. From cinematography & lighting to postproduction to the connected world, the seminars span conception to consumption," said Harper.
"To build the agendas we conduct in-depth research with both people that have visited BVE and those that have not, to understand the challenges the industry is facing, what keeps people awake at night about their job, what would make their job easier and who the industry figures are that they want to hear from most," she added.
The new venue (the ExCeL) is more conducive both to the exhibition and future growth, and to the seminar theatres. So a second year at ExCel should dispel the apprehension felt by many in 2013. What particular seminar subjects did i2i get asked for?
"A huge number of themes came out of the research, but those that came up most frequently were: UHD as an end-to-end workflow and the impacts on acquisition, production, post and broadcast; turning digital disruption into multiplatform success as a broadcaster and content owner; new opportunities for content owners to reach their audience, meaning understanding and capitalising on content rights; the impact and opportunities of the cloud in post production and broadcasting; moving towards end-to-end IP by mobilising non-traditional networks and new technologies; and, utilising new technologies in production," said Harper.
This last one includes innovative and miniature camera equipment, which will be a huge factor on the show floor along with all the elements of UHD indicated. Other key areas set for the conference are: how developments in online viewing change the rules of production, knowing what content commissioners want, working hell's sandwich of decreasing budgets and increasing time constraints, lighting techniques, and making the right camera choice. Like IBC and NAB before it, 4K will be on everyone's lips as the enthusiasts start to outnumber the doubters.

Small cameras and UHD to dominate the show
Panasonic will major on six products, the most eye-catching of which will be the BT-4LH310, a 31-inch 4K LCD production monitor for deploying at 4K image production worksites. It has 4096x2160 resolution and DCI (P3) colour gamut inside an aluminium frame, and represents a big first for Panasonic.
The big hit from NAB, the 20-inch 4K Toughpad, will puzzle and intrigue people because it is the required four times 1080p and has desktop level processing power via Windows 8.1 Pro. The options include an optical natural handwriting pen that yields 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity. 
Fans of P2 will know about microP2 cards (32 and 64 Gb/s) and whether they really are 40% cheaper. Password protection as laid down by the camera is also a recent advance.
Product three will be the AJ-PX270, introduced as the first handheld camera recorder to feature the AVC-ULTRA codecs, built-in microP2 slots and wireless LAN connection. It also has a compact 22x zoom lens, 1/3 type 3MOS sensor, on-screen level gauge, and OLED viewfinder.
The AJ-PX5000G is an ENG camera recorder that features the AVC-ULTRA codec family (the AVC LongG50/25 codec as well as the AVC-Intra200 codec). It gives the user built-in microP2 slots, dual codec recording and 3G/4G and wired/ wireless LAN network capabilities.
AJ-PD500 is a half-rack size recorder that offers AVC-ULTRA support for everything from mastering-level image quality to low-bit-rate transmission, plus network solutions and microP2 slots. The AK-HC3500A HD camera system with optical fiber transmission is aimed at high-end broadcast work in the areas of shooting live relays and producing a wide variety of TV shows.
Sony has committed a load of 4K technologies to the show, starting with the production tools PXW-Z100, NEX-FS700R and NEX-FS700RH. The camera that stirs most interest might be the 4K Handycam AX100E, which is one quarter of the size of the FDR-AX1E and weighs two thirds less.  
It has a back-illuminated 1.0-type Exmor R CMOS sensor and captures Ultra HD images (3840 x 2160 pixels). The sensor links to the BIONZ X processor, which gives the user area-specific noise reduction and detail reproduction tools.
The key features are the progressive 25p recording, the Zeiss 12X optical zoom lens, the dual video recording function (best quality video plus ready-to-share MP4 files), and wireless connection to phone, tablet or TV. Whilst it has some professional appeal it is twinned for consumer purposes to Sony's 4K Bravia TV line.
The PXW-Z100 is a professional cousin to the FDR-AX1E, and together they identify with Sony's effort to push 4K across all market segments. The NEX-FS700R and FS700RH add to the mix, but the F-series large sensor cameras PMW-F5 and PMW-F55 remain Sony's top 4K cameras.
After its European debut at IBC 2013, the UK will get the chance to judge Sony's cloud production service Ci. The demo will focus on enabling content storage, editing and management via the cloud, through 3G, 4G, LTE or WiFi Internet connections. Expect some new tools that add to the Ci RoughCut, Ci AudioReview and Ci VideoReview. Also making their UK debuts will be the Hybrid Digital Processing UWP-D wireless microphone series, re-designed LCD monitors under the LMD-A banner offering 24, 22, and 17-inch models, and the NXCAM HXR-NX3 professional handheld HD camcorder with built-in WiFi technology.
JVC Professional will be of few exhibitors to launch something brand new (and unspecified in advance). Known products you can expect will be fronted by the GY-HM650 camcorder, with its live streaming capabilities. The GY-HM70 is a cost-effective camcorder for event videographers.
"BVE is the second largest event in our industry in Europe and forms an important part of our marketing plan this year, especially as we are launching new products," said JVC marketing manager Liz Cox.
"With acquisition, production, post and broadcast customers all visiting the show, we appreciate the opportunity to showcase our camcorders, monitors and studio systems. BVE provides us with a platform for valuable discussions with both our experienced end-users and those just entering into our dynamic industry."
Read George's article in the online edition of RFV here.
(IT/JP)