Instamic has a Kickstarter



Instamic and Instamic ProInstamic is a tiny, portable, microphone that you can stick onto things. It is described as “the smartest, smallest, and most affordable microphone and audio recorder that’s easy to operate.” It has a Kickstarter that has been 235% funded (at the time I am writing this blog). There are 22 days left in the Kickstarter.

The Instamic is being compared to the GoPro because both are extremely simple to use. The Kickstarter says “What the GoPro did for cameras, Instamic is doing for microphones”. You can charge the Instamic on any USB port via a USB 2.0 connector. It turns on with a single touch. There is a free app that you can download and sync with your Instamic via Blue tooth 4.0. Just like that, you are ready to record. Instamic is compatible with both iPhone and Android. It is possible to trigger recording to start via the smartphone app.

The Instamic is a good choice for situations when you cannot use booms, lav/lapel mics, or other gear. It’s small, and can blend right into whatever you decide to attach it to. The Kickstarter shows it on a person’s shirt, attached to an amp, and a person sticking the Instamic onto the back of his car. It also has a lanyard clip that enables a person to wear the Instamic on their neck or wrist. It allows for hands-free recording.

The Instamic Go is splash-proof (but it cannot be submerged in water). It has mono and dual mono recording modes. You can use it to record for 4 hours in mono or 2 hours in dual mono. The Instamic Pro is waterproof up to 5 feet underwater. It has mono, dual mono, and stereo recording modes. You can record with it for 4 hours in mono or 2 hours in either dual mono or stereo.

Both versions of the Instamic have a battery that lasts for 4 hours, or 3.5 hours with Bluetooth. The batter is an internal Li-ion rechargeable battery, which can be charged via USB Cable. It uses Bluetooth 4.0. Both versions of Instamic have 2GB internal memory.


Zylight Has New Lighting Products at NAB



Zylight LogoZylight has been providing industry-leading lighting products for television, film, and theatrical production since 2003. And the company is still going strong, arriving at this year’s NAB with some cool new lighting solutions in tow.

Jeff Hamel from Zylight visited with Don Baine to talk about some of these new products. Principal among them is the new Zylight Newz lighting system. Newz is designed specifically for electronic news gathering and it has been beta tested for for over six months by French TV producers. Newz is meant to replace Zylight’s workhorse Z90 light. Newz features a compact design but it’s still a very versatile and powerful piece of kit. It has two onboard dials that allow for full control of dimness and output color.


Teradek Has Many Video Encoding Solutions at NAB



Teradek logoIf you face any kind of challenge in terms of your video production rig/workflow, Teradek probably has a product or two that’ll help you out.

Topher Delancy from Teradek came by to chat with Don Baine and show off some cool devices. First up was the VidiU Mini which is a streaming video encoder that can work with a GoPro camera or any other HDMI video source. Next up was the VidiU Pro which is a versatile encoder that can bond multiple Internet connections (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB) into one big pipe to maximize remote connections. Last but not least, Topher talked about Teradek’s full-featured iPad video production suite that can be used to overlay text, graphics, chromakey, titles and more onto live video from multiple cameras, then send that video to any major CDN.


PESA Brings a New Video Streaming Service to NAB



PESA logoIt might seem like live video streaming is truly ubiquitous in 2015. But there are still many hurdles to overcome for video producers. Fortunately, companies like PESA are out there designing new products and services to help bridge the gap.

Don Baine got to speak with Christopher Thomas and Howard Sutton from PESA. Christopher talked about PESA’s new broadcast video routers that are designed to integrate flawlessly with a number of different video products, including those made by NewTek, Datavideo, and Livestream.

Then Howard took over to demonstrate PESA’s new cloud-based video control offering. This service will allow producers at remote location (such as sporting events) to send their video signals to the cloud where PESA can help with troubleshooting problems like video lag and sync, then push that video to CDN’s for live distribution.

 


The Sidefinder has a Built In Monitor



SmallHD logoDon Baine Introduced Wes Phillips, CEO of SmallHD. The company makes monitors that sit on top of cameras. They talked about the Sidefinder, which is described as the ultimate HD viewfinder.

The Sidefinder is the highest resolution third party viewfinder in the world. It has a resolution of over 720p. It’s 1366 x 768 through the viewfinder.

The cool thing about the Sidefinder is that it has a five inch monitor built in. The monitor can flip out so that you can see a full HD view of your screen. The monitor has a 1920 x 1080 resolution picture. The Sidefinder is a true hybrid device: it is a high end electronic viewfinder and a high end full size on camera monitor in one.

The Sidefinder has a crisp, clear, image. Its pixel density prevents pixelization when magnified by the optics. The pixel density on the display is higher than the iPhone 6. The Sidefinder can connect to anything that uses 3G, HD/SDi or lower. It can also do HDMI.


Next Computing Builds Custom Computers for Broadcasters at NAB



Next Computing LogoThere are a lot of options out there for producers when it comes to gear. That includes the computers they use. Sometimes, buying off-the-shelf machines does the job. But many times, it doesn’t. That’s where Next Computing comes in.

Aaron Sherman from Next Computing came by to talk with Don Baine about what Next Computing does. He explained that, even tho Next has designed and built computers for many companies you’ve probably heard of, you may not have been aware that Next was even involved. That’s because Next Computing specializes in building custom computers that meet the specialized needs of broadcasters and media producers.

The next time some cool new piece of broadcasting hardware hits the market, regardless of whose name is on the box, it may have actually be designed by Next Computing all along.


Don Baine Interviews Niki Mustain from Schneider Optics



Schneider Optics logoNiki Mustain, from Schneider Optics, was interviewed by Don Baine. They discussed the new additions to the iPro Lens system.

Their iPro Lens system now includes the 6 and 6+ case. They teamed up with Element Case in order to create a more rugged case that is video and photo centric. Another reason they went with Element Case is because it is really critical that their lenses are being placed over the iPhone lens and that it stays perfectly centered.

The mini-input on the side of the case allows you easily screw in a handle. The handle is light and is where the lenses are stored when they are not in use. You can also add 1/4-20” threads on either side of the case. The cases for the 6 and 6+ range in price from $30.00 to $75.00.

They have five lenses to choose from, that range in price from $39.00 to $99.00. Those lenses include Macro Lens, Super Wide Lens, Wide Lens, Fisheye Lens, and 2X Tele Lens. You can buy the lenses individually and select the ones you need.

One of the cool things about the iPro Lens system is that as you upgrade your phones, you only need to buy the case. The lenses continue from phone to phone.


NewBlueFX Debuts new Titler Pro 4 application at NAB



NewBlueFX logoWhen it comes to video titling, special effects and enhancements, nobody does it better than NewBlueFX. The company has had a long standing with video producers across all platforms.

At this year’s NAB, Travis White from NewBlueFX sat down to have a chat with Don Baine about the company’s latest creation, Titler Pro 4. Travis said that the newest Titler Pro was built on an entirely new engine with much better performance. He also said that the application can run as a plugin and should be compatible with most major video editing suites (Apple, Avid, etc.). Titler Pro has many new features. For example, the program can now import PSD files to be used in animations. Titler Pro also now offers support for Open FX.

Titler Pro offers three different versions as varying price points, depending on the needs of video producers.


Fuji Has 4K 2/3 Lenses at NAB



Fuji Film LogoFujinon is a well respected manufacturer of camera lenses. Fujinon was recently tied more heavily to its parent company, Fuji Film. It’s a small change in name only. The Fuji folks are still hard at work creating new top of the line products.

Thom Calabro from Fuji Film stopped by to speak with Don Baine about Fuji Film’s latest 4K lenses. These lenses were designed with 2/3 sized camera bodies in mind. The company has developed both handheld and box lenses that were on display in the Sony, Hitachi and Grass Valley booths at NAB.

These new 4K lenses are built sturdy and will last for years. They also use Fuji Film’s new high transmittance encoding to ensure the best image reproduction.


MXL Shows Off Prototype Mini Mixer at NAB



MXL LogoOn-the-spot media production can be tricky. There’s a lot of moving parts to consider; cameras, microphones, mixers, and all of their accessories. Traditionally, crews would head out with all kinds of bags and cases to haul their gear. But more and more, people are producing with smaller rigs like mobile phones or tablets.

Perry Goldstein of Marshall Electronics stopped by Don Baine’s booth to talk about audio production. While he was there, he broke out a prototype device made by MXL called the Mini Mixer. The device has four independent 1/8″ TRS inputs for microphones with separate gain controls. Output options include a standard analog connector as well as USB for connecting to a computer or mobile device. The Mini Mixer can be powered by two AA batteries or the USB bus.

No information is available yet as to when this product will be available for purchase.