LONDON—The Vitec Group has acquired LED lighting technology provider Quasar Science, which will become part of the company’s Production Solutions Division. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Quasar Science, which develops linear and tubular LED lighting for cinematic applications and TV, will join Litepanels as part of the division.

“Quasar Science products are highly complementary to our Litepanels brand,” said Nicola Dal Toso, chief executive, Vitec Production Solutions. “There are growth opportunities to sell Quasar Science products through our global sales and distribution network, and to utilize their expertise and network to grow our Litepanels business in the cine market. Quasar Science will also benefit from Vitec’s marketing, manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.”

Los Angeles-based Quasar Science has developed lights that have proven to be popular with professional cinematographers, videographers and photographers due the affordability and quality of its products as well as its customer support, the company said.

“This acquisition is in line with Vitec’s strategy to drive growth by increasing our addressable markets and expanding our higher technology capabilities,” said Vitec Group CEO Stephen Bird.

“Having the well-respected Quasar team within our portfolio, with their flair for new product development, on-set experience and industry networks, will enhance our position as a leading player in the growing LED lighting for broadcast and cine market.”

Quasar Science was founded in 2012 by four partners with extensive experience as studio lighting technicians. Co-founders Steven Strong, Evans Brown, Jay Yowler and Ray Gonzales will remain with the company and continue to lead the team.

“As working professionals in cinematography, our intimate knowledge of filmmaking and content creation has enabled us to build Quasar Science into one of the industry’s most innovative brands,” said Quasar Science CEO Steve Strong. “We've developed a unique range of versatile lighting solutions that are not only popular with lighting professionals, but with artists of all kinds.”

“Joining the Vitec Group, with its renowned expertise in products for imaging and global markets, will elevate Quasar Science to a higher level of performance and introduce our technology to a wider audience,” he said.

More information is available on the Vitec Group and Quasar Science websites.

WASHINGTON--The Vitec Group has announced its product lineup for the Government Video Expo, Nov. 27-29 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Highlighting the company’s booth will be the Vinten/Sachtler flowtech100 Carbon-Fiber Tripod, the newest addition to the company’s flowtech carbon-fiber tripod range. Compatible with all major 100mm fluid heads, flowtech100 supports a payload of up to 30 kilograms (66 pounds), making it the ideal tripod for electronic newsgathering, field production, and a wide range of commercial, educational, and documentary productions.

Like its predecessor, flowtech75, flowtech100 is based on an exclusive carbon-fiber technology that includes the world's fastest-deploying tripod legs, according to Vitec. With unique quick-release brakes conveniently located at the top of the tripod, the flowtech100 legs can be deployed simultaneously and adjust automatically to the ground's surface—saving operators from having to bend over and manually adjust multiple brakes on each leg. The exceptional torsional stiffness of flowtech100 ensures that the tripod will not twist during camera-panning movements.

For power solutions, attendees can check out the Anton/Bauer Dionic XT Battery Series, available in both V-Mount and Gold Mount. The high-performing and compact Dionic XT is a 14V Li-ion battery that delivers up to 12A of continuous power. It’s available in two models — the Dionic XT90 and the Dionic XT150 — and features ultra-high-strength ABS and rubber construction that cushions and protects the battery and ensures industry-standard performance. Dionic XT batteries work with Anton/Bauer's complete line of battery charging systems and are also cross-compatible with competing brands' charging systems and offer superior performance for powering accessories such as portable LED lighting.

For lighting, the company will highlight its Litepanels Gemini 2x1 Soft Panel, that allows for quick setup to produce true, flicker-free, full-spectrum white light for any frame rate, shutter angle, or intensity, making it ideal for live broadcasts.

Gemini enables lighting professionals to "go bold" by lighting with any color in the 360-degree color spectrum. The light's most recent firmware update includes new special effects, new gel modes, and advanced fan operation. An all-new lighting effects mode offers dynamic effects ranging from emergency lights, lightning, and fire to pulsing, square, and strobe. Gemini eliminates the need for color correction by offering full-spectrum white light that's perfect for lighting public speakers and on-air talent. The versatile Gemini's lightweight design allows the light to be rigged virtually anywhere, requiring less cabling because the power supply is built in.

Also from LitePanels is the Astra LED Panel, the company’s next gen version of its original 1x1 panel. The Astra 3X and 6X models feature a 50 percent increase in output, making them three and six times brighter than the original Astra. The Astra Soft Bi-Color provides flattering, diffused lighting for a soft, wraparound light quality.

The Astra Bi-Focus Daylight is the newest addition to the popular Astra family, giving users the ability to adjust from a 48-degree flood to a 15-degree concentration of light with the turn of a dial. Astra's high-performance LEDs and optics provide professional lighting designers with accurate color temperatures, high CRI/TLCI color rendering, and beautiful light quality. The Astra family's modular design features optional DMX and Bluetooth communication modules, along with V-Mount or Gold Mount battery plates for mobile power when AC power is not available.

Attendees can also check out the latest developments in Autoscript’s Intelligent Prompting range. The industry's first teleprompting system designed around an IP-enabled workflow, Intelligent Prompting can also accommodate video workflows. These developments include additional features within Autoscript's premier prompting software, WinPlus-IP, that build even greater redundancy and reliability into Intelligent Prompting deployments.

Also at GV Expo 2018, Autoscript will highlight its IPS range including the all-IP prompting monitor, EVO-IPS, andWinPlus-IPS software, a simple but powerful prompting application for smaller productions. The combination of WinPlus-IPS and EVO-IPS packages the power of Intelligent Prompting into a cost-effective, easy-to-install, and easy-to-use solution that's perfect for smaller IP-based studios, corporate and educational productions, and government-sponsored broadcasts.

“We look forward to showing GV Expo 2018 attendees how all of our lighting, camera support, prompting, and mobile power solutions can help them create and capture the video content they desire while giving them the flexibility and durability they need," said Paul Dudeck, Vice President, Sales, Americas, Vitec Production Solutions.

Vitec Group will be in Booth 691. Click here to register for the 2018 GV Expo. 

BRUNSWICK, OHIO—The BEAT (Brunswick Educational Access Television) is an award-winning program run almost entirely by middle and high school students. Since 2000, more than 500 students grades 6–12 have written news stories, conducted on-camera interviews, edited, shot, and directed more than 2,000 programs that air on Educational Access Channel 22. In 2011, the students began to take over management of the station.

What started out as primarily a video program—with students working solely behind the camera—has become a training ground to learn about every aspect of production. Our students must be proficient behind the camera, be good storytellers and write/produce stories, and be comfortable in front of the camera. In return, they get real-world experience before they leave high school.

Since The BEAT is sponsor-supported and receives no funds from the city or school district, we work hard to build relationships. That’s why our partnership with The Vitec Group and its brands is so special. In fact, Vitec brand Vinten was one of the companies that helped us get started years ago by donating a tripod—and the donations have kept coming. Our entire studio and all on-location gear came from our relationship with Vinten, and to this day we only use Vinten and Sachtler tripods—seven in total.

The Vinten tripods are a perfect fit for our studio cameras—JVC ProHD 750s with On-Q accessories—because they can handle the extra weight. Meanwhile, we use Sachtler tripods with a variety of cameras for multicamera sports production, concerts, single-camera shoots to gather news and footage, you name it. With Sachtler and Vinten tripods, we have gear that’s very flexible in any location. We can easily drop the tripod down, set up very quickly, and start panning, tilting, and zooming to grab quick camera shots. With lesser equipment, we would have to compensate for the pans, tilts, and movements, something I don’t want our students to have to do. Thanks to Sachtler and Vinten, we’re not only training students to shoot good video, but we’re giving them gear that supports them as they learn.

I’m amazed at how durable the Vinten and Sachtler tripods are—they’ve been through years of use with no breaks. The durability and reliability have really paid off in the form of no repair or replacement costs. Furthermore, knowing how to use and care for high-end, industry-standard equipment looks great on students’ resumes.

We’re drawn to The Vitec Group and look to them first before we purchase any gear. They are tomorrow’s video professionals, after all, and the Vitec Group always has their backs.

John Wasylko is video program advisor for Channel 22, Brunswick Educational Access Television (The BEAT). He may be contacted atjwasylko@bcsoh.org.

For more information please visitwww.vitecgroup.com.

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AMSTERDAM—The Vitec Group plans to showcase products that cover multiple areas of the broadcast industry at its booth during IBC 2017 from its subsidiary companies. Products from Sachtler, Autoscript, Vinten, Litepanels and Anton/Bauer are expected.

Sachtler’s contribution to the show will be its Ace XL fluid head, the latest addition to the Sachtler Ace range that adds an additional 2 kilograms of payload capacity than the previous Ace L model. The Ace KL is designed for digital cine-style cameras and features professional drag and intuitive operation.

Autoscript Intelligent Prompting

Intelligent Prompting, the IP-enabled, end-to-end system that allows devices to be located anywhere, from Autoscript will make its European debut at the show. A new foot control feature for Intelligent Prompting will be part of the display as well. In addition, Autoscript will show its new EVO-IP monitor, which includes Ethernet connection for receiving data from software and controller for translation into video.

Vinten will use the IBC show to showcase a trio of its products for robotic cameras. The Vantage is a compact and lightweight robotic camera head with the ability to customize the camera and lens. There is also the μVRC controller, a companion piece to the Vantage that provides versatility and flexibility for video capture.

The next-gen Astra 3X and 6X LED lights from Litepanels will also be at the show. Based on the Astra 1x1 panel, the Astra 3X and 6X feature provide a reported 50 percent increase in output with reduced power consumption. Both models are available in daylight or tunable bicolor models and feature high CRI and TLCI for color reproduction. Litepanels’ daylight-balanced Sola 4+ and Sola 6+ Fresnel lights are also set to be displayed, which offer a 120 percent and 50 percent increase in output, respectively, over their previous models while producing full-spectrum, direct illumination.

Anton/Bauer’s presentation at the show will be its new LPD Discharger, which is capable of discharging up to four 90wh batteries in about three hours.

The Vitec Group will house all these companies and products at its booth, 12.E65, during IBC 2017, which takes place Sept. 15-19 in Amsterdam.

SUNNYVALE, CALIF.—The Vitec Group has added another company to its roster with the acquisition of camera accessory manufacturer Wooden Camera. The Texas-based company will join Teradek, SmallHD, Paralinx and Offhollywood as part of Vitec Groups’ Creative Solutions business unit.

Founded by Ryan and Elizabeth Schorman in 2011, Wooden Camera has supplied products that include the A-box, which is able to convert the 3.5mm audio output on a Red Epic to XLR. Wooden also makes baseplates, matte boxes, power distribution and cages, all from its Dallas facility.

“Like Teradek, SmallHD, Offhollywood and Paralinx, Wooden Camera is a young, innovative company whose fresh ideas not only make creating content easier, but more affordable,” said Nicol Verheem, CEO of Vitec’s Creative Solutions.