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Last week’s premiere event celebrating the newly released Live Aid DVD featured DTS surround sound at many of the cinemas participating in the screenings.

Marking the launch of the new Live Aid DVD box set, cinemas across Europe, including locations in London, Zurich, Milan, Rome, Vienna, Hamburg and Berlin, featured screenings of a specially prepared compilation from the set. Many of those theatres chose to deliver the premiere in 5.1-channel DTS Digital Surround using the DTS XD10 Cinema Media Player, thereby providing the ultimate combined audio and visual experience for their audiences.

The remarkable four-disc Live Aid DVD was released on 8th November by Warner Vision International. The DVD contains over 10 hours of historic footage from the live concerts held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia in 1985. Not only was this an unforgettable event with an extraordinary line-up of performing artists, it also led to over $140 million being raised for the Band Aid Trust, which used the money to help to save lives of those affected by famine in Africa.

Including excerpts from the DVD, such as artist performances, television interviews and documentaries, the event took the audience back in time to what the media had described at the time as “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

David Pope, Director Business Development, CSS and Preshow at DTS,explains: “The 24-bit DTS audio added to the realism of the concert, bringing the sounds of the crowd alive and recreating the atmosphere of this unforgettable event. It is a great honour for DTS to be part of this and we would like to thank Christie Projectors and On Sight for helping us at the event in London.”

“Our cinemas offer the ideal venue to bring a live concert to life,” adds Oliver Pasch, Director Technical Operations CinemaxX. “Thanks to the Weischer Mediengruppe and their OneDCN-preshow-system, we were able to use an HD Projector and the DTS XD10 Cinema Media Player to provide DTS’ high-quality multi-channel audio, thrilling the German CinemaxX audiences with a unique, big screen experience.”

Paul Schofield, Sound & Projection Manager, Odeon also comments, “I was delighted with the customer response to our latest alternative presentation. The quality of the Live Aid footage, shot in the mid eighties, was truly amazing. The energy and excitement of this momentous and historical event truly ‘rocked’ our packed cinema audience. The DTS sound, via the XD10 Cinema Media Processor, not only captured perfectly the mood of the original event, but demonstrated how beneficial surrounding the audience with digital sound can be.”

Fans can recreate the same experience in their own homes as the DVD release also features a DTS soundtrack. Proceeds from the sale of the DVD will be donated to the Band Aid Trust. VAT on this and the Band Aid Single, to be released on 28 November, will also be refunded to the charity.

Engineered to deliver up to 10 channels of scalable digital surround sound (expandable to 16 channels), the XD10 Cinema Media Player is an expandable media solution for pre-show and feature film presentation. The XD10 is compatible with both traditional film playback and emerging D-Cinema applications. An internal hard drive is used as the film sound signal source, while two DVD drives enable download of film sound information to the hard drive. Giving distributors and exhibitors the flexibility of storing either multiple languages of one title or multiple titles, the XD10 will automatically load and store a multitude of film soundtracks. The XD10 can also deliver high definition video for alternative content applications and provide networking and pre-show programming functionality for integration of audio and video playback.

Three Leader LV5700 multi-standard HD/SD waveform monitors have been purchased by Copenhagen-based PrimeVision and installed in HD30.com, one of the world’s largest HD mobile production trucks.

The instruments are housed in the CCU area supporting 1080i Sony HDC950 cameras.

*PrimeVision averages more then 200 EFP projects per year. The latest addition to its OB fleet, HD30.com is a no-compromise mobile production facility with an 80-input Sony MVS8000 vision mix/effects desk, Studer Vista 8 audio console, HDCAM VTRs and EVS LSM disk servers. Six months from concept to completion, the 64 square metre vehicle made its exhibition debut on the OB campus at IBC2004 in September and was field-proven during coverage of the Copenhagen Grand Prix, Athens Olympics and a variety of productions in many European countries.

HD30.com’s CCU area is large by normal OB standards but space becomes critical when the control team is handling 30 incoming camera feeds. The Leader LV5700 combines HD-SDI and SD-SDI waveform monitoring and vectorscope capabilities in a single compact and reliable unit with a clear readout and easily accessible controls.

Flemming Rosenkrantz, Commercial Director, PrimeVision A/S, comments:

“A central feature in the choice of these units was Leader’s unique equivalent-cable-length measurement system which is a standard feature of all LV5700 instruments. This is particularly valuable in HD environments where long-run cables must be checked to ensure that incoming digital feeds are robust.”

HD30.com’s CCU area is large by normal OB standards but space becomes critical when the control team is handling 30 incoming camera feeds. The Leader LV5700 combines HD-SDI and SD-SDI waveform monitoring and vectorscope capabilities in a single compact and reliable unit with a clear readout and easily accessible controls.

Paul Vos, elQuip BV managing director, adds:

“The LV5700 has an exceptionally wide feature-set including vector display and audio lissajous on a high quality integral XGA TFT LCD screen. It also offers high operational stability and compact front-panel dimensions, making it ideal for HD mobile production and live OB applications. It can handle a wide range of HD-SDI video formats and both SD-SDI systems.”

Analytical capabilities of the LV5700 include transmission error detection, gamut error detection, data dump display and voice control packet analysis. Video sampling rate can be switched automatically between 74.25 and 74.25/1.001 MHz in HD mode or to 13.5 MHz SD. An optional Eye Pattern Module offers selectable display modes that encompass eye patterns, jitter and jitter-plus-histogram.

When linked to Leader’s award-winning FS3018 Lighting Monitor via a wireless PDA, the LV5700 allows remote viewing of digitally-sourced picture, waveform, colour vectors and status data. Any spot on the picture can be selected via the PDA’s cursor controls for numeric analysis of percentage YRGB colour component levels.

“A central feature in the choice of these units was Leader’s unique equivalent-cable-length measurement system which is a standard feature of all LV5700 instruments. This is particularly valuable in HD environments where long-run cables must be checked to ensure that incoming digital feeds are robust.”

Robert Halperin has retired from Avid Technology’s board of directors, effective November 8, 2004. With his retirement, Halperin, who served as chairman of the board of directors from 1999 to 2004, completes a 13-year term of service on Avid’s board.

“Bob’s leadership and guidance have been a tremendous influence on Avid’s success throughout the years,” said David Krall, Avid’s president and chief executive officer. “His visionary insight has been instrumental in helping Avid to establish and sustain its position as the world-leading manufacturer of digital nonlinear media creation, management, and distribution solutions for film, video, audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals. We are extremely grateful for the contributions Bob has made to our business, and our management team and board of directors will carry Bob’s wisdom and business principles with us well into the future.”

Nancy Hawthorne, who succeeded Halperin as chairman of Avid’s board of directors in May 2004, said, “As a member of the board since the early years of Avid, Bob Halperin played an important role in the company’s major business milestones, such as the acquisition of Digidesign in 1995. More recently, as chairman, Bob helped guide Avid through the three-year plan that culminated in the successful launch of the Avid DNA product family. As he brings his distinguished tenure at Avid to a close, Bob leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service and leadership, and a management team committed to furthering the company’s success in the media production industries.”

Halperin said, “When I joined Avid’s board of directors in 1991, the company was a close-knit startup that was just beginning to come to grips with the runaway success of its flagship product, the revolutionary Media Composer video editing workstation. Since then, Avid has grown exponentially and matured into the world’s leading provider of digital nonlinear content creation solutions for a wide range of industries. Despite the many changes that have taken place in those industries over the years, Avid has never wavered from its tradition of excellence and innovation, and I have no doubt that the current management team’s commitment to these principles will ensure the company’s continued success.”

In addition to his role on Avid’s board of directors, Halperin, served at Raychem Corporation since shortly after the company was founded in 1957, rising to the position of president. Following his retirement from that post in 1990, Halperin served as vice chairman of Raychem’s board until 1994. Halperin has also served as chairman of the board of directors of Vitria Technology, Inc.

Having celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2003, ATG Broadcast commemorated 2004 by moving into double-size premises near its former headquarters in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

The new 1,150 square metre facility at 1 Iceni Court, Icknield Way, incorporates 500 square metres of prefabrication space, five times larger than the previous prefabrication hall. Planning rooms and open-plan offices are located on the upper floor.

ATG Broadcast Sales Director Alan Pimm explain the background to the move which was completed just after IBC 2004:

“Our business has grown significantly in the past three years as ATG Broadcast consolidates its reputation for delivering systems combining high-technology and high-reliability. The new premises equip us to handle very large contracts or a group of parallel projects. A fully air-conditioned building was essential, both for client comfort and staff efficiency. Heavy demand for ATG-manufactured equipment also created a need for increased product assembly and testing resources.

“The first of several major projects this year was a Central Storage and Archive system forming the heart of the new Broadcast Centre at White City. Our clear technical understanding of BBC Broadcast’s requirements enabled us to propose a system that comprehensively met initial requirements and is easily scaleable to meet future demands.

“TV4 Sweden commissioned us to provide facilities for a new movie channel: TV4 Film. This project centred on the expansion of routing and output chain infrastructure installed for TV4 Sport which went on air in January 2003. TV4’s main studio is a showpiece in itself, being open to public view from the reception area at the network’s Stockholm headquarters. Our detailed knowledge of Omnibus automation together with careful pre-planning enabled this project to run very smoothly.

“We modernised two video dubbing suites for BBC Post Production. This contract encompassed VT17 and VT18 on the second floor of Stage 5 at Television Centre in Wood Lane. Both suites are used for tape-to-tape copying between a variety of formats and are equipped to operate in or between 625 and 525-line standards. ATG Broadcast was chosen for its proven ability to handle system integration and refurbishment contracts reliably and within a very tight timeframe.

“We upgraded the BBC’s Newsround Digital studio and relocated it from Studio 2 at Television Centre to the East Tower. Located within the Children’s Post Production Village on the first floor, the new studio produces content for digital transmission on the CBBC channel. The project window was just five weeks from start to mid-August completion, including the design of purpose-built furniture. The result gave BBC Newsround Digital substantially improved technical resources.

“In October, we commenced a major new project for ITV Central. This will see the installation of two new studios in Birmingham and a greenfield-site newsroom in Nottingham. The objective is to provide studio facilities for both East and West Midlands regions in Birmingham. ATG has a particularly high reputation in and around Birmingham for its many successful projects in the English Midlands.

“The ATG Broadcast product range was complemented by the new SAM-E range of audio monitoring units feature eight stereo inputs, digital carrier auto-sensing and amplified stereo outputs. Three versions are available to suit applications in studio control rooms, edit suites, technical areas and mobile production vehicles. These designs have sold well, one of the first customers being Soho-based Frontier Post which ordered six units as part of a £500,000 expansion project. Four SAM-E and two half-rack-width SAM-E-T units were be supplied for incorporation into the company’s expanded editing facilities.

“We are watching the emerging HD market with interest. It will be very big business once the standards issues are sorted out and the cost of signal delivery comes down. For the present, there is plenty of life in SD.”

Latens and Amino have announced the integration of Latens Content & Revenue protection systems and Amino’s set-top box architecture.

The integration will provide IPTV operators with a proven and reliable system that combines next generation, software-based content protection with Amino’s cutting edge set-top box solutions. This joint solution ensures that content owners can be confident that their property is protected while the operator has the greatest possible flexibility in business models as well as reducing set-up and running costs. Initially, the integration will cover Amino’s AmiNET110 range of IPTV set-top boxes, but will expand to encompass PVR and home networking solutions.

“We’ve integrated our technology with Amino because, as a world-class technology provider, it’s crucial that we work with other world leaders, such as Amino, to make it even easier for operators choose our Content & Revenue Protection,” says Andy Mathieson, Director, Latens. “The Amino integration has progressed quickly and easily and I’m now looking forward to our first joint customer.”

“We believe that working with Latens makes a lot of sense as both companies provide solutions for IPTV that go beyond those of existing providers,” says Mike Greenall, VP Marketing of Amino. “A solution comprising our set-top box with a content & revenue protection system from Latens means that operators have the power and flexibility to deploy new services and business models without being hampered by legacy architectures.”

Latens Video Encryption Engine (VEE) and its Content & Revenue protection systems have been integrated with Entone’s StreamLiner Video Server software.

This combined solution provides digital cable and IPTV operators with a proven and reliable video-on-demand (VOD) system that protects an operator’s revenues and content owner’s rights. Crucially the solution provides operators with “never in the clear” security, which is increasingly a requirement specified in content owner’s contracts with operators.

“It became clear to us that without ‘never in the clear’ protection VOD operators would find it difficult to get access to A-list content, so we began designing our Video Encryption Engine to ensure that operators choosing our technology would have no problems showing the studios that their content is absolutely safe with our technology,” says Andy Mathieson, Director, Latens. “By integrating with Entone, we are broadening the market for both companies and enabling VOD operators to choose our innovative solutions, safe in the knowledge that they have been pre-integrated.”

This integration sees Latens Video Encryption Engine (VEE) and its Content and Revenue Protection systems integrated with Entone’s StreamLiner On-Demand Video Server, so that VOD content is encrypted at every point of the cable and IPTV delivery chain. Latens VEE is an efficient and scalable 1U rack unit that encrypts the content and passes the encrypted video to the Entone StreamLiner On-Demand platform for distribution to the consumer, where it is un-encrypted using Latens next-generation, client-based Secure Software Modules.

“We are pleased to have completed the integration with Latens. Both companies share a philosophy of providing powerful but simple to use and integrated solutions that protect our customers’ investment while keeping operational costs to a minimum,” said Tim Warren, CTO of Entone. ”The combination of Latens and Entone technologies provides a solution that exceeds customers expectations while minimizing cost and time to deploy.”