RED Feature Film profiled on KCRA 3 News

Our affiliated RED ONE feature film "Sensored" has been profiled by KCRA 3 news in Sacramento.

KCRA 3 Profile on Sensored

Brother Blog

In my attempts to find new ways to completely avoid work altogether, I navigated over and read some of Tyler Berry's posts at his blog, Mountain Peaks and Metadata.

Tyler writes very well and his posts are entertaining. We just completed an in-depth demonstration of RED and workflow for the folks at CBS yesterday, and Tyler posted up some tidbits from the visit.

Take a look - its a fun read.

Mountain Peaks and Metadata by Tyler Berry

tl

Macworld Special: AJA IO HD

Get a great price on an AJA Io HD--our Macworld Special--for only $3189 while supplies last through Macworld.

Here are some facts about the Io HD:

- 10-bit 4:2:2 full-raster HD over Firewire 800
- Apple ProRes 422 and Apple ProRes 422 HQ Codec hardware integration — SD, HD 720/1080, full-raster 10-bit 4:2:2, realtime

- Up/down/cross-conversion, 10-bit, realtime, in hardware
- SD-SDI and HD-SDI input/output (x2)
- Component input/output (SD and HD)
- Composite and S-video input/output
- HDMI video w/2-channel audio input/output
- Embedded SDI 8-channel audio input/output
- AES/EBU 8-channel unbalanced audio input/output (BNC)
- Analog 4-channel balanced audio input/output (XLR)
- Analog 2-channel unbalanced audio output (RCA)
- Genlock, terminated with buffered output
- RS-422 machine control
- LTC Timecode input/output
- All-new AJA-developed QuickTime driver software
- Core Audio support
- 3-year International Warranty and Support
- No proprietary cables!
- Designed specifically for Apple Final Cut Studio 2 on Mac OS X

Besides Io HD's completely unique Apple ProRes 422 hardware implementation, Io HD can also be used with DVCProHD and uncompressed workflows!

These other HD codecs can be used with the Io HD via software encoding/decoding. The Io HD can be used to capture to DVCProHD compression when used in combination with the MacPro series of Apple desktop computers; these computers provide sufficient processing power to software encode to DVCProHD compression in realtime. MacBookPro computers with attached SATA or FW800 drives via ExpressCard/34 and a minimum of 2GB of memory are also able to capture and playback DVCProHD material in 1080 and 720 formats. Uncompressed 10-bit 4:2:2 and Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 QuickTime playback is supported when using MacPro desktop computers along with the Io HD. (An adequate disk array for uncompressed HD playback is of course required.)

Io HD supports:

- Apple ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ, SD and HD, 720 and 1080 formats, ingest and playout (natively)
- DVCProHD, 720 and 1080 formats, ingest and playout (CPU-based)
- Uncompressed HD, 720 and 1080 formats, playout (CPU-based)
- Uncompressed SD, 525/625 formats, ingest and playout (natively)
- DV, 525/625 formats, ingest and playout (CPU-based)
- DVCPro, 625 format, ingest and playout (CPU-based)
- DVCPro50, 525/625 formats, ingest and playout (CPU-based)

You can place orders for AJA IO HD here:

Order AJA IO HD from Silverado

RED Training in SF - 4k finishing using FCP and SCRATCH - Jan. 24th

Silverado is hosting a RED 4k finishing class next week in San Francisco.

RED 4k Finishing with FCP and SCRATCH

The training is free, but space is limited due to the venue.

You can get all the details on the link above. If you are interested in learning about SCRATCH and how it works with FCP, I really recommend you come.

We'll have a full RED ONE system setup and can go directly from camera, to FCP, and then to SCRATCH.

ALSO! We'll be showing a complete field portable tapeless archive and backup system that fits in an airline carry-on case. RAID 1 and LTO-3 tape backup--in one box!

If you have any questions that the link doesn't answer, please contact me directly at the e-mail address below.

Torrey
-----------------------------------------------
Torrey Loomis
President & CEO - Silverado Systems, Inc.
Outfitter to the World's Foremost Apple Professionals
2600 East Bidwell Street, Suite 280
Folsom, CA 95630
(916) 760-0032 • FAX (916) 404-5258
tloomis@silverado.cc
http://www.Silverado.cc

Yeah...we toot our own horn around here...

Paul Blaise from Blaise Media just sent us a very nice letter.

Its awesome when the extraordinary trust that people place in you is vindicated by their incredible leaps in performance and productivity after an installation like this.

If you have an opportunity to stop by Blaise Media, ask Paul to show you their edit suite. And if you need work done in the Sacramento area, Blaise and crew are immensely talented at production and post.


tl

Apple...could you take a look at Time Machine?

I got to work this morning and found this funny item on my desktop.

I was at a bit of a loss...

tl

Huge Apple demo and trainer sale...

We have a ton of nearly brand-new Apple and other gear that we use as demo machines and trainers here at the office and at various trade shows.

Since we rotate these machines constantly, we have recently updated our Fire Sale page with all of our latest offers.

Silverado's Fire Sale page

We have gear from the following:

Apple
Qlogic
G-Tech
Miranda
Panasonic

Additionally, all items are an additional 10% off when picking up locally here at the office.

You can contact me at tloomis@silverado.cc or Tyler Berry at tyler@silverado.cc if you have any questions about any of the gear.

tl

Leopard OS X 10.5 Compatible AJA Drivers Now Available

Received from AJA earlier today:

"We are pleased to announce the immediate availability of Leopard-compatible AJA drivers for all current KONA products, and for the Io HD. "

"The KONA 5.0 drivers (KONA 3, KONA 3X, KONA LH/LHe, KONA LS/LSE and KONA 2) and the Io HD driver version 1.1 are now available for download from the AJA website at the following URLs:"

http://www.aja.com/html/support_kona3_swd.html

http://www.aja.com/html/support_konaLHe_swd.html

http://www.aja.com/html/support_konaLSe_swd.html

http://www.aja.com/html/support_kona2_swd.html

http://www.aja.com/html/support_Io_swd.html

"The latest AJA drivers, in addition to Leopard OS X 10.5 compatibility, also offer Easy Setups for the 720/50p format now supported in Final Cut Pro 6.0.2, as well as various other improvements."

tl

Cooke Optics Announces Lenses for RED ONE Camera

From Studio Daily:

"Starting in January, Cooke Optics will offer four standard Cooke S4/i lenses for the Red One camera that provide focal lengths from 15mm through 100mm and are engraved with red lettering. Called the Cooke RED Set, the new digital-cinematography lenses incorporate metadata capture technology that can be read directly by the contacts of the RED camera lens mount. The Cooke RED Set includes: the S4/ 15-40mm, T2.0 CXX Zoom Lens; S4/ 50mm, T2.0 Prime Lens; S4/ 75mm, T2.0 Prime Lens; and S4/ 100mm, T2.0 Prime Lens."

More info here

tl

REDCINE and Final Cut Studio REDCODE Plugin

Resent from RED...

Two great new downloads are on RED.com/support today: Final Cut Studio 2 REDCODE Plugin and beta REDCINE!

Final Cut Studio 2 REDCODE Plugin: The new REDCODE RAW codec supports RT playback in Final Cut Pro 6.0.2 and editing of the QuickTime Reference movies generated in camera. Also, this codec allows you to play REDCODE RAW movies directly from QuickTime Player or other QuickTime-enabled application.

If you have the previous RED QuickTime Plugin (1.2.1), please make sure you upgrade to the FCS 2 REDCODE plugin (1.5.0) as it gives you the functionality of 1.2.1 along with the new FCS 2 support.

Beta REDCINE: Open RED REDCODE™ RAW (.R3D) video. Do 1st light color correction. Export to any number of output options. More information (including REDCINE tutorials) can be found on REDUSER.NET: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5898

Here are the direct links to the tutorials:

http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/interface_overview.mov
http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/project_settings.mov
http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/shot_settings.mov
http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/color_settings.mov
http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/output_settings.mov
http://red.cachefly.net/redcine/library.mov

tl

AJA IO HD Unboxing and Setup

We just got the new AJA IO H today. Setup couldn't have been easier.













Shipped from AJA via Fedex...













Box setup on the bench...













Software and cables--FW 800 and power













Still wrapped...













AJA IO HD...



















Connecting the back of the IO HD...













Connections on the back plane...













Next to the MacBook Pro...













Front panel...













Rear connectors













Setup with the MacBook Pro and the G-SATA from G-Tech













Added in the Panasonic 17" NTSC display...













720p24 looks great...













One monster little road system!

We currently have all systems sold. If you would like to order one, click here to place your order as we are expecting another 15-17 in about 2-3 weeks.

tl

RED ONE Rental Procedure

There has been a lot of questions about how the RED ONE rentals might work. This post will clarify everything.

All you need to get pre-qualified to rent #20 or #21 is in this packet here:

Silverado RED ONE Rental Paperwork

We need a few things before you can schedule a time:

1. Sign the paperwork and send it back to us via email or fax.
2. We need a photo ID and a company affiliation
3. We need an insurance certificate valid for the dates the camera will be used, showing Silverado as Add'l Insured and Loss Payee for $70,000 in equipment per camera.

If you don't have this insurance, call the folks at Complex Corporation here:

Complex Corporation

4. Three industry references who know your work and can vouch.

Folks--that's it. Once we have that in our possession, we can talk dates. You can "pencil" in dates at anytime, however the camera is not "reserved" until 50% deposit is made. Upon rental, 50% remainder will be due before the equipment departs the premises.

Our prices are posted in black and white on the first page of the PDF.

Interested in renting the camera? We are interested in you - call us at (916) 760-0032 or email to red@silverado.cc

Speaking of dates, our rental calendar's are listed here:

RED ONE #20 (Hobbes)

RED ONE #21 (Calvin)

AJA IO HD Confirmed to Ship September 24th

From AJA!!!

"We are very pleased to announce the target date for the first shipments the IoHD has been set for September 24th! Our engineers have been working very hard the last few weeks and are now putting the finishing touches on this exciting new product."

We have 20 IO HD's on order and you can order one here.

TL

TIFF files from Paranoid

Here are some tiff exports from the .r3d files. Allow some time for download.

The 2k files are 12mb and the 4k files are 48mb.

http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/Shooter-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/Shooter-4k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT-4k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT2-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT2-4k.tiff

Courtesy of Eric Maddox at http://www.ericmaddox.com

TIFF files from Paranoid

Here are some tiff exports from the .r3d files. Allow some time for download.

The 2k files are 12mb and the 4k files are 48mb.

http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/Shooter-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/Shooter-4k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT-4k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT2-2k.tiff
http://www.ericmaddox.com/media/FordGT2-4k.tiff

Courtesy of Eric Maddox at http://www.ericmaddox.com

Silverado's first RED footage from pilot PARANOID

Our test footage has been assembled into a small concept trailer that may evolve into something larger. However, for now we put a few scenes together that show daylight, sunset, interior, etc...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdnaSMNr-qw

This was a RED ONE camera test with serial #21. Shot in under two days and edited for 48 hours straight.

Mostly natural light was used. Some lighting needed for the interiors, but not much.

Kevin Haskin with KeJo Productions directed, Eric Maddox for the post work, and Brian Hamm as the director of photography.

http://www.kejopro.com

http://www.ericmaddox.com

http://www.brianhammfilms.com

We already know about the blown spots in the welder's arc and the sunlight scene... We didn't have enough time to fix them in AE before our event Friday.

Further, there are settings in the camera that would have prevented this and we know about that now.

This was posted on FCS 2, Mac Pro with 8 Gb, AJA Kona 3, REDAlert, and an eCinema DCM23 was used for critical color.

Yes--we have higher res and are evaluating where and when to post. It may be multiple mirrors, or released as a torrent. For now, you should drop by the office and see it on the eCinema...it looks AMAZING.

Also--introducing RED #3665 known as "Big Red." I know the OffHollywood guys had that cute little Dodge Charger, but check out our footage to see what a real car looks like. Ford GT40 is kinda how we roll out here...

:-)

Torrey
http://www.Silverado.cc
Blog at http://silveradosys.blogspot.com

RED ONE Availability

Got a call from RED last week...

Release dates for reservations #1-50 are tentatively scheduled for August 31st.

Once we take delivery of the units, we have our in-house testing team work these cameras over for two weeks and document everything we find.

Pending the results of testing, these cameras will be available immediately for rental.

tl

Sacramento Metro Apple Pro Video User Group meets this week

The Sacramento Metro Apple Pro Video Group will be meeting this Thursday, August 9th, at 6:00 PM in the large lecture hall at Folsom Lake College.

Networking will begin at 6 PM. At 6:30 PM we'll have an update from Silverado on upcoming new technology from RED, AJA, and Apple.

At 7 PM we'll have a few words from Larry Jordan who will be conducting Final Cut Studio training on Friday and Saturday.

Our main event of the evening will be a presentation by independent filmmaker Dent-de-Lion du Midi who is currently filming a fine art documentary named Portrait2
in San Francisco using a Redrock equipped HVX200.

Described as "a work of art about a work of art," Dandi's film details the process of creating a fine art painting from beginning to end by the artist Reiner.

Dandi will address the technical aspects of filming this piece using the Redrock and an assortment of Zeiss 35mm lenses. He will also talk about the personal sacrifices required to film this "labor of love" over the long period of time required to complete the initial production (timed to the production of the fine art piece by Reiner) and the requisite post-production.

Depending on equipment, we may also have a demonstration of the Jadoo fuel cell power system for production cameras.

We'll wrap the evening up at an eatery nearby and Silverado will pick up the tab on dessert.

Parking is free at Folsom Lake College for this event.

If you have any questions about the event, contact Torrey at tloomis@silverado.cc.

AJA IO HD available for pre-order

We have an allocation of 20 units in-bound around late August or early September.

Click to pre-order your AJA IO HD

Avid on the skids?

I've been thinking about this for some time, but recent events have made me even more certain that Avid--as a company--does not have long for this world in its current form.

Evidence Item 1 - Avid CFO resigns:

From Reuters "Avid Technology, Inc. announced in its Form 8-K that, Paul J. Milbury, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, notified the Company of his intention to resign his position effective March 2, 2007, and Joel Legon, Vice President and Corporate Controller will become Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company effective March 2, 2007."

Evidence Item 2 - Stock Guidance at NAB 2007.

Avid was so skittish about Apple's plans at NAB 2007 that they had to issue a stock guidance in advance warning about precipitous drops after any Apple announcements in Las Vegas.

Stock prices did drop almost 15% from April 26th to early May.

Evidence Item 3 - Avid CEO resigns

On July 16th CEO David Krall gave his two-weeks notice that he would step down from his position at the end of the month.

The stock--which had risen back to $38.01--traded recently around $30 representing a decline of 21% in just three weeks.

Evidence Item 4 - Avid axes 150 jobs

From the following:

http://www.studiodaily.com/main/news/8350.html

"Avid said yesterday that it would be cutting “approximately 150 positions primarily, but not exclusively, in the company’s Video business unit,” according to a release on its second quarter results."

"We are realigning the business to have a greater emphasis on selling storage, asset management, and, most importantly, services,” said Krall in a conference call yesterday to discuss the company's Q2 earnings. “Q2 was a record quarter in services, showing 38 percent growth over Q2 last year. In Europe, we more than doubled our service revenue year on year ... [but] product declines more than offset the increase in services in the U.S."

Summary

Product declines? Greater emphasis on storage and services? This sounds like the gutting of Avid's video focus and a transition to a commodity model that can leverage their storage expertise and back it up with costly services.

Put me on record--I don't think Avid has more than 3-4 years as an independent entity before they get bought up by someone else.

I don't think Apple would purchase them since they've been able to leverage other technology into Final Cut Studio over the last few years (Silicon Color, Nothing Real, Proximity, etc...) without needing any of Avid's intellectual property.

I could see Microsoft purchasing them, which would probably make Apple pretty happy since MS probably wouldn't be able to leverage the property very effectively. This could drive even more people to the Final Cut platform if users felt Microsoft/Avid wasn't going to be supported very well.

Just my opinion, but I think the writing is on the wall.

tl