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Reliable Data, Part 3
Here are some ideas to make you consider what could happen if you don’t pay attention to keeping your data safe
Michael Guncheon
Over a series of posts (that you can find here and here), I have talked about keeping your footage safe during post. Most discussions on data safekeeping are about multiple location backups and long-term archiving. While all of that is very important, I have concentrated on thinking about data safety during an edit. What would happen if you lost footage... Read more

Reliable Data, Part 2
Using RAID to protect your footage
Michael Guncheon
In part 1 of this post, I differentiated between archiving footage from a shoot and keeping footage safe during post. I wanted to get editors to think about what would happen if you lost your media. More importantly, consider how media loss could affect the deadline. How long will it take to get back up and operational? It’s certainly something... Read more

New Digital Tools From Apple for Photographers, Filmmakers And Creatives
A thoroughly redesigned Apple iPad Pro tops exciting announcements at Apple's latest special event
By Terry Sullivan
Earlier today, in a packed theater at the Brooklyn Museum of Music in New York City, Apple unveiled three new pieces of computer hardware that will no doubt be of interest to anyone involved in creating photos, videos and multimedia. The new products include a new Apple iPad Pro tablet, Air laptop and Mac Mini. The most prominent for creatives of all... Read more

Reliable Data, Part 1
How safe is your data during post?
Michael Guncheon
I recently wrote about my experiences testing out G-Technology’s G-Speed Shuttle SSD and how it offers various RAID configurations. It started a discussion with a colleague about how we each handle our data to make sure it’s there when we need it. Of course, everybody has their own requirements. And if you’re working on movie, television... Read more

New York Shows Highlight New Audio, Video And VR-Related Products
New York City hosted two trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Center that had a variety of products of interest to filmmakers, DPs and cinematographers
By Terry Sullivan
This week, New York City hosted two trade shows at the Jacob Javits Center that had a variety of products of interest to filmmakers, DPs and cinematographers. The first was the NAB-NYC show, hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters and featured some products of note, but most were services focused on high-end streaming. The second was the AES NY Connect Show, which runs from Oct. 17-20, and was focused on professional and enthusiast-level audio. It also featured a vast array of hardware and software, although most were targeted at musicians. [[ blackmagic pocket cam .jpg ]] Blackmagic’s Pocket Cinema Camera 4K For months, Filmmakers have been anticipating Blackmagic’s Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, but have only been able to see videos. At NAB NYC, they were finally able to see it in action. It’s a compact-sized interchangeable-lens camera that comes with a 4/3-size sensor, large-5-inch touchscreen, wide-dynamic range, and dual native ISO up to 25,600. According to the specs, the camera can also record onto standard SD/UHS-II or CFast 2.0 cards in RAW and ProRes at up to 120 frames per second. At the show, there were Blackmagic product managers using it on the floor in a very compact form, but the one that was intriguing was the elaborate setup here, which included adapters to accept much large lenses. The company was also doing demos of DaVinci Resolve Studio, its high-end color grading software. [[ davinci.jpg ]] [[ zoom H3 VR.jpg ]] Zoom dives into VR Audio Zoom is company, which for years, has made audio recorders for consumers, but more recently has produced products for filmmakers on a tight budget, like the Zoom F8 and F4. But at the show, the company was also showcasing the H3 VR, which is an audio unit designed to capture audio used with VR experiences and is scheduled to come to market in 2019. According to the company, the unit will have “a built-in Ambisonics mic array offering flexible 360° audio capture as well as integrated Ambisonics A-to-B conversion, eliminating the need for external processing. The device goes well beyond VR applications, and is additionally geared towards sound recordists, audio engineers, and content creators in music, audio-for-video, game audio, and AR production.” It’s expected to sell for around $350, which is inexpensive audio solution for VR. [[ sound-devioce-mixPre10T.jpg –]] Firmware Upgrade to Allow Portable Audio Recorders from Sound Devices to Capture VR Audio Cinematographers looking for solid, reliable audio recorders in a small form factor have trusted Sound Devices, particular its MixPre series. At the show, the company said the versatile recorders would soon be more versatile: According to the company, and in collaboration with Sennheiser’s VR partnership program, at IBC, Sound Devices MixPre-6 and MixPre-10T recorders will be able to capture VR audio. The press release notes that “with their new Ambisonics Plugin and paired with Sennheiser’s AMBEO VR mic, this combination will offer the full spatial audio experience for virtual reality (VR) video.” The MixPre-6 and MixPre-10T will be the first portable recorders from Sound Devices to exclusively feature onboard Ambisonics to binaural decoding.
Blackmagic’s Pocket Cinema Camera 4K This week, New York City hosted two trade shows at the Jacob K. Javits Center that had a variety of products of interest to filmmakers, DPs and cinematographers. The first was NAB Show New York, hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters and featured some products of note, but most were services focused... Read more

Adobe Brings Full Photoshop To iPad And Announces Other Creative Cloud Updates
Adobe unveiled a slew of updates to many Creative Cloud apps and launched several new digital-imaging, video and multimedia apps
By Terry Sullivan
Adobe Brings Full Photoshop To iPad And Announces Other Creative Cloud Updates
Earlier today, Adobe unveiled a slew of updates to many Creative Cloud apps and launched several new digital-imaging, video and multimedia apps, as well. The new updates and releases coincide with Adobe MAX, the company’s annual event taking place in Los Angeles this week. Here are two that will be of particular interest to photographers, filmmakers... Read more

Take Your Mobile Video Shooting To The Next Level With FiLMiC Pro
FiLMiC Pro is an incredibly powerful video shooting app for your mobile device taking your camera way beyond its native capabilities
PhotoJoseph
FiLMiC Pro is an incredibly powerful video shooting app for your mobile device taking your camera way beyond its native capabilities. Frame rates from 24p to 240p, resolutions from 720p to 4K, timelapse, audio control, Log capture and so much more make this a must-have app for any filmmaker. You can manually adjust white balance and save presets. Adjust... Read more

Footage In The Fast Lane?
Hands on with the super-fast G-Speed Shuttle SSD
Michael Guncheon
From a storage perspective, editors (or at least this editor) are always asking for more space and more speed. G-Technology has delivered a product that answers both of those requests: The G-Speed Shuttle SSD. I saw a unit at NAB and have been waiting to give one a test run. Recently, G-Technology sent me an 8 TB unit to try out. I was able to put it... Read more

Do NOT Do This With Your LUMIX GH5!
There's a combination of settings you can put a LUMIX GH5 or GH5S into that will actually NOT record when you hit the red button. It’s obscure, but it’s possible. Learn how to get there so you know how NOT to go there.
PhotoJoseph
The LUMIX GH5 and GH5S are phenomenal cameras. You can record up to 4K30p 422 10-bit or 4K60p 420 8-bit internally. And if you want to record the best of both—4K60p 422 10-bit, this requires an external recorder. This is amazing! However, if you enable that, then connect an HDMI monitor (not a recorder), there’s one more setting you can enable... Read more

Where To Begin? Part II
It’s not just about big venues
Michael Guncheon
Last time I talked about how your audience will start viewing your edit. I brought up concerns about whether they’ll pay attention: How a movie theater experience is geared toward settling down an audience and getting them ready to watch, but how other large venues might require your help getting the audience’s attention. Many of you might have... Read more

Where To Begin?
It seems like a simple question, but is it?
Michael Guncheon
While it is popular to inject the term “storytelling” into every aspect of filmmaking, I’ll skip it and instead focus on my job as an editor—communicating a message to an audience. Sometimes that message involves storytelling, and sometimes it doesn’t. Terminology aside, what’s critical is creating a piece of content that works. And... Read more

The Myth Of 4K, Part II
Shoot wide, compose later. Or just compose?
Michael Guncheon
Last time, I talked about correcting somebody’s misconception about 2k versus HD. I listened to their idea of shooting 2K with their new 4K camera instead of HD so they could “push in.” They didn’t want to shoot 4K and use a lot more storage. I’ll admit, I was pretty pleased with myself as I explained the difference between HD and 2K. Instead... Read more
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