Geekazine

This year at NAB, Blackmagic Design released a bunch of updated products. From 8K Studio ATEM boxes, to full control panels, and even a keyboard that was designed for production and editing. I talked with Bob, and we went down the line.

Of course, I was more focued on cameras, and with the release of the Pocket Cinema 4K, interested in the accessories they have to offer.

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 4K Battery Pack

This accessory allows for up to 2 hours of production time. The pack is similar to a Canon pack – remove the door, and slide the battery shoe in. The pack now will take the Sony MP-F750 style battery, but will also accept two.

The door on the pack is on the side, so if you’re camera is on a tripod, you don’t have to remove the camera to change batteries.

The battery grip will be out in Aug for $245. Pre-Order Here.

URSA Mini 4.6K G2

If you’re looking to improve your video, Blackmagic Design has the new G2 coming soon. It’s got a 4.6K HDR CMOS sensor, which can do up to 120 fps (or 3000 fps in 1080p). 15 stops of dynamic range at 32000 ISO, and records on 2 x CFast 2.0 card slots or 2 x SDXC UHS-II card slots.

This mini 4.6K G2 records RAW 12-bit, ProRes 4444XQ 4:4:4 10-bit, ProRes 422HQ 4:2:2 10-bit, or through USB or SDI outputs to a recorder or streaming device.

The base unit will be coming out this fall, and MSRP is $5,995. Pre-Order Here.

Davinci Resolve 16 and New Editor Keyboard

Getting excited over a keyboard is tough, but Blackmagic Design created excitement with this one. The price is $1,000, but is meant for one thing – editing video with DaVinci Resolve.

This all metal design keyboard includes replaceable parts for easy fixes, high-quality keys, premium search wheel, and hand rest.

The MSRP is $995, and will be out soon Pre-Order Here.

DaVinci Resolve 16 added new workflows to make editing with the new keyboard a breeze. The “Cut Page” helps expedite the editing process.

Other features include 8K editing, color correction, Fusion VFX, Fairlight Audio, and dual timelines.

DaVinci Resolve is $299 and runs on Mac and Windows. Buy Resolve Here.

While at Cine Gear 2019, I stopped by Electronic Theater Controls (ETC) to check out the Augment3d programming environment. This is a way for theater A/V geeks and live concert crews to plan, and control their lights, quick and easy.

Augment3d

By using AI from the smartphone, it can pick up what light you are looking at. Point the camera at the light, and you can even gain control of it’s functionality. Move it around, change color, or turn it off altogether.

The app will be updated with ARFR (or IRFR), in which you scan the light via barcode recognition, through the wand feature. Scanning the code will connect the device with Augment3d, so it can recognize lights. You can then move lights around, or have them snap into key postitions.

You will also be able to scan the emitting light at the floor, and the app will know which fixture it is coming from.

Eos v3.0 (ETC’s lighting software) adds Augment3d to the system. They took a page from the video game platform, 3D modeled the lighting environment, and gave it the same functionality… well, minus the zombies, monsters, and first-person shooters.

This update will be shipping out in Fall 2019. For more information, check out the ETC FAQ page.

Special shout out to founder Fred Foster, who passed away in February of this year. RIP.

I have been a fan of Elgato Stream Deck for a while. I purchased my first deck last year – the LCD buttons giving you a clear idea of what you are choosing helps out a lot when you’re trying to run your own video, create content, play a game, and more.

Pair it with some open source software, and this is your new alternate keyboard for whatever you need to do.

About Elgato Stream Deck XL

At the heart of this system is the Elgato Stream Deck XL. A 32 button controller that you can set up however you need it. Whether it’s simple hotkey control, sending out a command, a social media tweet, and more commands, the stream deck can do it.

The unit was originally made for gamers needing specialty keys, and Twitch users for one-button control of their channel. Since

The XL comes with a stand, and a detachable USB-C to USB-A cable. Setup is straightforward – simply install the software from Elgato, then run it in the background on PC or Mac (and even an open-source Linux distro).

Adding Companion

Companion from Bitfocus.io is an open source software that utilizes stream deck’s plugin SDK. It not only allows you to create actions and chains of commands on your computer, it also connects to a wide array of other devices (and even computers) to control.

The software also runs in the background, but it’s interface is web-driven. Set up the interface with the stream deck, or use the emulator and web interface to control the buttons. Add an instance from the list of many to control another device. I set up my PTZOptics camera to the deck for not only movement control, but pre-set button control as well.

Right now (6-2019), Companion 1.3.0 only allows for 15 button control, with 3 for pagination to turn 12 buttons into 1,188. When you assign the other buttons via Stream Deck, you get a very versitile tool.

Using VICREO listener to Control Another Computer

VICREO is another open source software that allows you to control another PC or Mac. Install the listener software on the computer you want to control, and make sure the firewall will accept connections from port 10001.

The interface can send hotkey commands, string commands, three key commands (like Ctrl-Alt-Del), and more. I have NewBlueFX Titler Live on an Intel NUC, which allows me to bring up graphics, lower 3rds, and whatever else I can hotkey.

Pros/Cons of Stream Deck

While it’s gotten better in the last year I’ve owned a stream deck, there is still issues where buttons don’t trigger upon first press. When you use hotkeys, you might see strange typings on your computer. For example, If I am using a browser window, and press a hotkey (say Ctrl – S), the browser address bar might start typing “S”.

One enhancement I suggest is to have a USB-A port on the side of the unit. I would love to connect my 15-key stream deck without using another USB port on the computer.

Other than that, I don’t see any real issues with the device. It’s a great addition to my streaming abilities, and saves me a lot of time. The whole device takes up very little resource on the computer (AMD Ryzen 7 system),

While at Infocomm, I got to check out the Sony Edge Video Analytics system – along with certain Sony cameras, you can  overlay, and replace whatever you need. 

The REA-C1000 device connects to a computer to do the magic. The presenter is in front of a white board, but a presentation is what you see. No chroma-key background needed. Further, you don’t need to worry of the color of your clothing, as it doesn’t matter to the device.

You can also set up the whiteboard to overlay the presenter. In this case, Edge picks up the drawings, then overlays the information over you. You can make the image opaque, or more dominant. 

Edge REA-C1000 can present in 4k, and can also be used with PTZ cameras using auto tracking. 

This device won’t be available until Fall, and no prices have been given. For more information, check out Sony’s webpage.

There are always things I would love to take on the road with me. My coffee maker, my bed, my guitar. But I can take my office chair with me using Cozy Roadie. 

This is a foldable office chair that collapses into it’s own SKB case. The 85 lb (with case) system can be sent via FedEx, and in some cases, taken on a plane with you. 

The idea simply is if you are on the road, this can help you avoid sitting in hard, broken, and uncomfortable chairs. In some jobs, this can really be uncomfortable. 

These chairs also can be used by venues, and packed away when not needed. 

Prices start at $799. For more information, check out CozyRoadie.com.

If you’re looking for a cheap, but good sounding USB microphone for podcasting, Twitch, live streaming, or another need, check out the Tonor Q9. Today, I’ll unbox, then do initial first-testing of the device. 

About the Tonor Q9 USB Microphone

This is a condenser mic with a cardioid polar pattern. It’s a side-address microphone, so you will sound muffled if you try to talk from another angle. This USB mic is 16 bit rate, but can handle frequencies from 20Hz to 20 GHz. You can record sample rates of 44.1kHz-48kHz.  

On the side is a volume + and – button system. Hold the button down to mute the microphone. 

What’s in the Tonor Q9 Box

In this package, you get the microphone, shock mount, scissor arm boom stand (with clamp), and a x pop filter. Connect to PC or Mac with the USB-B cable (also included)

Connection and Use

I had this microphone up and running within 10 minutes. all parts came together fairly easy. The xpop filter was the most fickle, because it has an adjustable gooseneck that might need to be re-adjusted from time to time. 

First Thoughts Review

In the video, I switched between my headset microphone, and the Tonor. Keep in mind, there is no audio adjustment on the Tonor (but I do think I need to re-dial my main microphone). Upon first impressions, I could hear a nice, crisp sound. I also heard the low end as I talked, so overall, first impressions were positive. 

What I don’t like about the Tonor Q9

This is actually a problem with many USB microphones with a button system. When you press the buttons, you touch the mic. That could bring on extra pops. It’s best to set the mic, then leave it alone. The pops are minimal (you’ll hear in the video), so for gamers, this will work well. 

The package is $54, which the microphone alone is worth it. Add in all the features, and you have a great podcast mic, live streaming microphone, or more. 

Get the Tonor Q9 Mic Package here

I spent some time in the NewTek booth at NAB because there were a lot of updates with the company. The big news was that Vizrt acquired the company, so many questions needed answering from that. We also saw a new NDI Spark, and learned about their first sofware subscription solution. 

NewTek and Vizrt

Brian Olsen, VP of Product Management at NewTek, gave me the rundown on the new partnership. 

“We’re super excited about this acquisition. This makes us the largest company in this space dedicated to the IT-based video production, and software driven workflow. Obviously our push for the transition to IP through NDI and also SMPTE 2110 for Vizrt for broadcasters. We’re going to be able to do a lot of things we’ve always wanted to do much faster now.”

At this point, both companies will stay seperate. NewTek will be a wholy owned company. The partnership will leverage infrastructure, and combine products. NDI will also continue as it has in the past. 

NewTek Premium Access, VMC Software

Newtek updated the 410+, and brought out premium access. As a result, any Tricaster in the last 4 years can be part of this subscription model to receive the latest updates and features. A compatibility tool is available for download to verify your Tricaster can be eligible. This includes many great features in premium access for those who need the versatility.

The service is $99/month

NDI Spark Plus, Adobe Cloud Recording

Another feature of NDI coming is NDI recording. With this, you can ISO record, and with a plugin for Adobe, will sync video up for post production switching. The plugin will recognize timecode, so if a camera source is lost when working on post, a gap will appear until the source video returns. That way, the device holds onto the recordings for less resource needs for your computer.

With NDI, Newtek introduced the Spark Plus, a full NDI box with no latency issues (like with the HX). HDMI inputs, tally lights, and wired for in-studio use. $495 for 1080p60 and $595 for 4k30. Purchase Spark at B&H or through NewTek.

VMC Software for Your Hardware

This is a build-your-own box software subscription. Coming in 3 versions, the prices start at $999 a month, and you can pay month-by-month. You can scale and flex as production dictates. You can even virtualize your system. More information here

Azden is coming out with a new wireless microphone, and I got to see it at Cine Gear Expo 2019. This is a 2.4 GHz lavalier microphone that can be used up to 350 feet away.

Azden Pro-XR Sends 2 Wireless Signals

Azden is using a proprietary technology where it sends out 2 wireless signals at the same time. The idea is that if one breaks up, the other one will carry through. This allows for a clear signal with less chance for disruption. 

I walked around Studio 6 at Paramount Pictures to test it. I didn’t make it to 350 feet, but even on a wifi signal, 30 feet in a saturated area can be problematic. The video shows if I could send audio. 

The Pro-XR is expected out in the next month for $249. You can pre-order on B&H. You can also check out Azden.com

The folks at Litra have been working hard on their next generation LED light. The Litra Pro is a small, lightweight light that gives you enough light to record a video, use in emergency, or whatever you need. 

The LitraPro is a full spectrum, 1200LM Bi-Color LED light. This compact light allows for full adjustment. Color temperatures from 3000K to 6000K through a LCD panel and buttons on top. 

The light can also be controlled through Bluetooth, and a special app Litra developed. Pair lights, then make groups. That way, if you hang them up high, you won’t have to climb to adjust. 

The Litra Pro also has accessories. Softbox, barn doors, color filters, and even a honeycomb clip-on gives you control of your light. 

The LitraPro Bi-Color is $219 and available here, or check the website at Litra.com  

During NAB, I talked with Travis at NewBlueFX, who showed off a concept version of their software. In this version, you could connect up to 4 cameras, and add filters, scoreboards, overlays, and much more. 

NewBlueFX is add-on software for graphics, lower 3rds, scoreboards, and more for your live switching software or hardware. It works with NewTek Tricaster, Wirecast, vMix, OBS, and many other video switchers. 

This technology preview will most likely be a new product to the NewBlueFX line of software. Adding filters, color correction, and more to a video source. 

There is no price, and since this is just a preview, the final product might be different. Travis believes a closer-to-final version will be available in the fall of 2019. 

In the meantime, a new version of Titler Pro 7 will be released over the summer. For more information, check out NewBlueFX