Avid Training, in conjunction with Product Management, has launched a partnership with Lynda.com that gets them out into the industry with market exposure and competitive training. They are starting the partnership with a focus on Media Composer 5.0 and plan to expand it across Pro Tools, Sibelius and Studio over time. The first partnership endeavor is a 2-hour online training video - Avid Media Composer 5 Getting Started. In it, author and Avid Certified Instructor Steve Holyhead explores the tools and techniques for producing great looking video, as well as the basics of high definition media formats. Exercise files accompany the course.

Avid Media Composer 5 Getting Started is freely available to the public. It will ship in-the-box with the new release of Avid Media Composer.

We here at Z Systems, inc. want to make you aware of some items that were stolen from us. Click here to view a listing of stolen item including MacBook Pro's, Sony HandyCam's and Dell Monitors.

To download the free firmware upgrade for your Sony EX1 or EX3 camera, click on this link.
From there, click on the "XDCAM EX Firmware Upgrade" and choose the correct download for your application. This upgrade will enable the EX1 and EX3 cameras to run the new, lower cost SxS-1 card.

Z FEST - Z Systems Winter Film Festival
The Z Fest Film Festival was a rousing success! Click the link below to check out all the winners and the photos. Winning videos will be posted soon.
Click here to see the films.

Click here to view the photos.

The use of your wireless microphone systems could become illegal later this year. That's because a Federal Communications Commission ruling issued in February 2010 makes the use of any wireless microphone system operating in the 700 MHz bank (channel 52-69) after June 12, 2010 illegal. According to the FCC's web site, "failure to comply with this FCC requirement may lead to civil and/or criminal penalties. This will be determined by the FCC and law enforcement on a case by case basis."

This announcement is the latest fallout of the transition from the analog to digital spectrum for broadcasters. You can find additional information about this major change, including whether or not you mic system operates in the 700 MHz by clicking here.

New wireless mic frequencies were established as part of the June 12, 2009 digital conversion, at which time the 700 MHz band was divided into three parts. Emergency services like police and fire were given the lower frequencies; other frequencies were auctioned off to telecom companies for advanced wireless services (AWS) and the third piece is slated for a future auction.

After last June's transition, wireless mic systems operating on the 700 MHz band remain legal and operational (and will through June 12, 2010) but subject to interference from emergency transmission. The FCC's recent ruling will remove the legality of using older 700 MHz mic systems. The FCC ruling will not affect wireless mic systems in the VHF band. Z Systems has new wireless microphone systems that meet FCC requirements to fit any budget and need, including Sony, Lectroconics and Sennheiser.

Some wireless mic systems can be retrofitted to the new frequency spectrum. Z Systems will help you decide whether it makes sense to retrofit you wireless systems or replace it.

Professional shooters looking for a reasonably priced hand-held camera have another option with the introduction of Sony's first NXCam. The HXR-NX5U's three "Exmore" CMOS sensors produce full 1920x1080 HD (as well as 1080/24P and 720/60P and MPEG-2 SD) at up to 24 Mbps.

Other Professional features included in the HXR-NX5U are HD/SDI and HDMI outputs, two-channel PCM audio, built-in GPS, SMPTE time code I/O and upgradable 60i/50i recording via the AVCHD Codec.

The 20X optical "G-Lens", the same high-quality lends used on Sony's HVR-Z5U, includes three optical neutral density filters. The NXCam can record on class 4 or higher SD/SDHC memory cards, Memory Stick Pro Duo cards or on the HXR-FMU128 optional 128GB flash memory unit for more than 11 hours of recording time.

The HXR-NX5U camera and the HXR-FMU128 flash memory unit are now available. The NX5U is priced at $4,950 MSRP and the flash memory unit is $800 MSRP. Contact your account manager at Z Systems for more information.

Snow Leopard for Avid Editing Systems
Avid is pleased to announce Mac OS X 10.6.2 Snow Leopard support for Mac OS-based Media Composer® 4.x and Symphony™ 4.x, as well as Avid Unity ISIS® and Avid Unity MediaNetwork. The new editing software releases are required to take advantage of this operating system.

Click here for all the details.

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XDCAM HD 422 700/1500 and 800/1600 Feature Summary

As Sony continues to improve its XDCAM HD 422 line, it gets a little confusing, so we’ve boiled down some of their collateral into this email as a quick reference to the differences and upgrades with the 700 / 1500 and the 800/1600.   Here goes…

You probably know that Sony has rev’d the software and some of the hardware options for the 700 / 1500. 
The new common features for the PDW-700 (camcorder) and PDW-HD1500 (deck) are:

1. 23.98p format support by Options
2. Mix Format Recording
3. Clip Continuous Recording
4. Upload/Download Clips via FTP
5. Single Clip Playback

New features for PDW-700 only are:

1. Proxy Recording on USB Memory
2. ATW (Auto Tracing White-balance) Hold
3. FAN Motor Slow Down Mode

New features for PDW-HD1500 only are:

1. Manual Frame Sync
2. Closed Caption translation from SD(EIA-608) to HD(EIA-708) while up-conversion recording
3. SNMP

Here is some info on the 24P feature on both cameras…
24P Feature Details (PDWF-800 and PDW-700 w/ option CBKZ-FC02):

1. 23.98p format
1. Available in the recording formats of MPEG HD422 and MPEG HD as a standard feature.
1. Not available in SD formats.
2. There is no 24.00p.
3. For 720, pull-down recording into 59.94p is only available as that of current PDW-700.
2. 2-3 pull-down output:
1. There is no 2-3 pull-down output for 1080 although SD output is available by 2-3 pull-down process for monitoring purpose. 

Onto the PDW-F800 and what it alone can do…
The Features Unique to the PDW-F800 are:

1. Slow & Quick
2. Optical CC filter
3. Image Inverter
4. User Gamma
5. Focus Assist
6. Zebra/Marker output for HD-SDI 2
7. SD format (DVCAM/ IMX) support as a standard feature

Here are some details on these features:
Slow and Quick (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Available in progressive formats of MPEG HD422 1080 mode.
1. For the system frequencies of 23.98p, 25p, and 29.97p
1.  Not in Interlace, 720p, HD420, nor SD
2. Over cranking speed: up to x2.0 (i.e.1/2 slow speed)
1. 1/2 slow speed is the slowest, and it cannot go further even in 24p/25p mode.
2. Shooting speed can be set at every single frame between 1p to 48p/50p/60p.
1.  23.98p:                from 1p to 47.95p            at a frame step　
2.  25p:                      from 1p to 50p at a frame step
3.  29.97p:                from 1p to 59.94p            at a frame step

Optical CC Filter (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Optical CC Filter  (Dual Optical Filters)
1. As well as ND filter, CC filter is optical one unlike that of PDW-700.

CC Filter =>        A: Cross B: 3200K C: 4300K D: 6300K
ND Filter =>       1: Clear 2: 1/4ND 3: 1/16 ND 4: 1/64 ND

1. This is more flexible for production use.
1. It is possible to replace the optical filter with favorable one by customers.
2. No Electrical CC filter for F800

Image Inverter (PDW-F800 Only):

1. In the attachment with 2/3" cinema lens adaptor for ultra prime lens and anamorphic lens, the shot image can be inversed. (Same function of HKDW-905R for HDW-F900R)
1. Note that the Image Inverter can work only in the system frequencies of 1080 progressive mode, but not in 1080i, 720p, nor SD.

User Gamma (PDW-F800 Only):

1. Camera operator can change the gamma curve by using CVP Editor Ver.4.0 in addition to the current 4 types of Hyper Gamma settings. Same function with HDW-F900R and F23.

Focus Assist (PDW-F800 Only):

An Interesting Article from Avid...
An interesting Avid article:
http://www.studiodaily.com/filmandvideo/searchlist/11309.html
It’s about the Ellen DeGeneres Show’s switch from Avid, to Final Cut Pro, and back to Avid in just one season.
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Filmmakers Count On FUJINON Wide Angle Lens in Tight Spaces During "The Interrogation of Harry Wind" Shoot

WAYNE, NEW JERSEY, September 8, 2009 - Acclaimed filmmaker Marek Poray-Heywowski recently traveled to Switzerland to shoot The Interrogation of Harry Wind for Sunvision Filmatelier, with Fujinon's XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle lens mounted on a Sony PMW-EX3 camcorder. The spy thriller recently wrapped principal photography and is scheduled for release in early 2010.

The film, from Swiss director Pascal Verdosci, stars Sebastian Koch (The Lives of Others) and Klaus Maria Brandauer (Mephisto, Out Of Africa). Set in Zurich in the 1950s and based on a true story, Wind follows special agent Rappold (Brandauer), who, shortly before retirement, has to bring down influential Swiss businessman Harry Wind (Koch), accused of spying.

Principal photography was shot with a pair of Panavision cameras. The film's second unit was outfitted with the more lightweight Sony PMW-EX3 camcorder to shoot a sequence from a vintage 1950's helicopter. According to Poray-Heywowski, the wide angle adapter for the original lens caused distortions. The XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle Fujinon lens was selected based on a recommendation found within the camera's instruction manual.

"The distortions we were getting from the other lens due to the wide angle adapter were unacceptable, so we were pleased to see the incredible difference upon using the XS8x4AS-XB8 wide angle Fujinon lens," Poray-Heywowski explained. "It is really one of Fujinon's best kept secrets, and I consider it a wonderful treasure. We were able to intercut images shot with this lens with our original Panavision footage in spite of the equipment variation."

Poray-Heywowski said it is unusual to find such a pristine image in a lens designed with zoom construction. "The biggest surprise for everyone on set was how compact the lens was," he added. "The Fujinon lens is much shorter than the camera's original lens, plus wide angle adapter."

With the Fujinon lens, Poray-Heywowski was also able to shoot in an elevator shaft on location in Switzerland, thus avoiding the time and expense of employing a set designer to create one. "The Fujinon lens literally came to the rescue and made these shots possible," Poray said. "We were able to create a beautiful shot in a very small space without any fisheye effect. The lens created a perfect recta-linear image without bow lines that wide angle lenses tend to create."
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