DVS and Ascent Media create "Virtual Telecine"

DVS Digital Video, Inc and Ascent Media Group have announced a method for enhancing the HD-digital-intermediate (DI) workflow in the post production environment.

The newly installed uncompressed HDStation 2U disk recorder units from DVS provide multiple concurrent real-time HD in and output for Ascent’s 17TB SGI TP-9500 SAN system. Working with the “virtual telecine” is up to four times faster than previous systems, the companies said.

With DVS and SGI cooperation, Ascent Media Group in Burbank, has created a “virtual telecine” around their SAN system. This encompasses the entire post process including non-linear mastering —from transfer to the final product—through real-time and concurrent execution of multiple processes.

First, the telecine scans the film and outputs digitized uncompressed HD in real time. Then, writing directly to the SAN disk array, the “virtual telecine” captures the HD data in real time so that quality control, color correction and digital restoration can all access the material via the real-time HD-SDI I/O loop provided by DVS HDStation 2U units. This nonlinear mastering and the multiple concurrent access provide for massive operational time savings.

“The throughput of data in our new system allows more time for critical artistic decisions,” said Kevin Sanders, Ascent’s director of engineering. “For a major HD-DI facility like Ascent it is essential to have this concurrent real-time access to uncompressed HD files on a SAN. With the DVS installation we are now able to achieve a real efficient workflow.”

For more information visit www.4mc.com.

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