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| Quantum A-Series Firmware Update Available |
| Posted: 9/11/08 |
Quantum has now released a new version of firmware for all A-Series standalone (tabletop) drive systems including the SDLT600A and the LTO-3A. This new version includes improvements in reliability and stability as well as improvements to the user interface. Version 3.0 firmware can be downloaded from the Quantum web site (www.quantum.com) by selecting: Service and Support > Product Information > Standalone Tape Drives > and your model as appropriate, either
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page and select "Download Now" for the "V3.0.7 Server Firmware" and install it per the instructions in the attached release notes. |
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| Just Released! Apple ProRes QuickTime Decoder Software |
| Posted: 8/29/08 |
The Apple ProRes QuickTime Decoder software allows both Mac and Windows users to play Apple ProRes files through QuickTime. Apple ProRes is a visually lossless format that provides uncompressed HD quality at SD data rates. It is an excellent choice for mastering and can easily be transcoded to distribution formats like H.264. With new support for playback on both Mac and Windows computers, Apple ProRes can also be used for review and approval of Final Cut Studio sequences. Click here for the free download. |
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| The Digital Transition and Your Wireless Mics |
| By Steve “Wolfie” Browender |
| Posted: 8/28/08 |
We’re all well aware of the digital television transition coming in February 2009 and what to do to be ready. After all, publicity about the phasing out of analog broadcasting has been growing for close to a year. Being “in the biz,” our understanding of the transition and its fallout is clear.Or is it? You may not know that some of the UHF wireless mics you are using right now could face serious interference as a result of the transition to digital TV. The frequencies between 746 to 806 MHz -television channels 62, 63, 68 and 69-have been reassigned by the FCC to emergency services providers like police, fire and ambulance services. As a result, you could be in the middle of an interview or company meeting when your audio is overwhelmed by a 911 dispatcher sending out the cops to break up a rush hour fight in the I-94 median. Fortunately you have several options and a few months to deal with this impending problem. The first but most risky proposition is to stick with your current wireless system and hope for the best. This is an option only if you always win at the tables in Vegas or if your audio quality is not critical to you or your clients. The second alternative is to get the mic system converted to a new frequency range. Many manufacturers will modify the transmitter and receiver while others will update only the receiver and require the purchase of a new, matching transmitter. In either case, the cost will come close to that of a new system. The final and most convenient way to avoid interference problems is to purchase a new wireless system in the UHF Channels 30- 33 or 40-45 ranges. Major manufacturers such as Lectrosonics, Sennheiser, Shure and Sony are selling wireless systems that operate in these frequency ranges. Be aware, however, because many are still selling transmitters and receivers in the soon-to-be-reassigned frequency ranges. Contact your Z Systems’ account manager if you have additional questions about the digital transition and wireless mic systems. Sources used in researching this article: www.washingtonpost.com |
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| Introducing Avid™ DS v10 |
| Posted: 8/27/08 |
Inspire creativity Hi-res made easy Stop conforming. Start performing. A worldwide, world-class community Note: Some features require DS version 10. Avid DS v10 is planned to ship in September 2008. |
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Z Systems is Proud to Sponsor  |
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| Posted: 8/1/08 | |
SAVE is a national non-profit organization based in Minneapolis. Their focus is public awareness and education regarding the symptoms of depression and warning signs of suicide because education is the key to prevention. At the same time, when a loss has occurred, they also want to provide resources and support to the family, friends and community. |
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| Matching the Sony EX-1 with more costly Broadcast Cameras | |
| Posted: 7/2/08 | |
Check out this article (written by our very own amazing George Walkey) on matching the Sony EX-1 with more costly Broadcast Camera's. George is the best in town at matching these cameras. Give him a call to get your cameras perfectly calibrated. You'll love the results. |
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| Avid Ships New Products | |
| Posted: 6/12/08 | |
Avid Technology, Inc. announced the worldwide availability of its new HD editing systems and VideoRAID® solutions. New editing and storage configurations available today include:
New Support Pricing Avid is now offering aggressive new support pricing on all of its next-generation HD editing systems as well as its DS Nitris system. The new support packages are designed to deliver greater value to customers with the addition of new features such as technical alerts, monthly quicktips and advanced parts replacement on hardware. Further, customers who purchase a support contract when they purchase any new Media Composer, NewsCutter, Symphony or DS Nitris product will receive a 15% savings on the price of the contract. To be eligible, contracts must range from one to three years and be purchased between June 1 and December 31, 2008. Avid has also designed a number of specially-priced support packages for educational institutions, which begin as low as $99 USMSRP, per year. For more information on support packages and pricing, contact Avid sales or a local reseller. Avid Unity and Interplay Upgrades In addition to the new editing lineup and VideoRAID offerings, Avid has also announced as upgrades to the following systems:
Avid Interplay 1.4 which now offers a full-screen media player window and increased metadata capabilities such as customized drop down menus as well as a new 64 bit Media Indexer for higher performance indexing. |
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| Avid Liquid to Avid Media Composer Upgrade Promotion | |
| Posted: 5/29/08 | |
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Avid is offering all existing registered users of Avid Liquid 7 an opportunity to trade up their Liquid software to the latest Avid Media Composer 3.0 software. As a reward for their loyalty, Liquid Pro customers are being offered the chance to roll the entire cost of their original Liquid 7 purchase forward towards the purchase of Media Composer software. This means that their original USD$1000 investment is entirely protected. They can continue to use and make money with their copy of Avid Liquid but now they can use that same USD$1000 as a discount on Media Composer 3.0. Promotion runs through September 30, 2008 |
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| Upcoming Events | |
| Posted: 5/15/08 | |
Have an idea for a show you would like to see? Shoot us an email and let us know. |
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Service and Rental Departments Take Delivery of a new HD Waveform Monitor / Vectorscope. Posted: 5/13/08 |
| After years of research and a thorough scouring of the floor at NAB this year, we’ve decided to add Astro Systems (link) to our product mix. George thought that the WM-3208 was hands down the best portable HD Waveform Monitoring solution out there. His reasons were: (see George). This product line is available for sale, rental, and our own service techs will be using it to tweak your HD gear to make it look its finest! | |
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Editshare Posted: 4/1/08 |
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One of our self-imposed tasks at NAB was to investigate some of the 3rd party shared storage solutions that are on the market. Don’t get us wrong – in an all Apple or all Avid environment, their respective solutions probably still reign supreme, but a lot of our customers don’t have the luxury of such a homogenous situation. There is a need in the market to support multiple OS platforms and software apps in a robust and ‘yeah, we can do that’ sort of situation. Additionally, shared storage has to be cost effective in order to bring value to the organization that invests in it. At NAB, we looked at a lot of different products, and thought that Editshare has really come a long way from its inception however many years ago. Here is a quick blurb on them – please feel free to call and discuss with your account manger. EditShare is more than shared storage – it is workflow and collaboration tools for creative teams.
And this is just the beginning. |
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Final Cut Server Is Now Shipping! Posted: 4/14/08 |
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Media asset management and workflow automation software designed for the unique needs of film and video professionals. Whether you work in a production boutique or a global news network, you can use Final Cut Server to free up more time for creative work. Final Cut Server can automatically manage thousands of assets, execute dozens of routine production tasks, and keep every member of your team in sync. Now shipping! Call your sales manager at 952.974.3140 or email us to order. |
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Avid NAB 2008 Recap Posted:4/14/08 |
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Avid introduced a whole new line of editors at NAB. Three new products you should know about:
Click here to read John and Steve's take on what Avid had to offer us at NAB. |
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Lower Price for Avid Media Composer Soft; XpressPro to be Discontinued Posted:3/29/08 |
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Avid has made several important announcements regarding their software-based editing platforms.
This is an excellent time to get into Media Composer, whether you are upgrading from Xpress Pro or purchasing new. Call your Z Systems’ account manager for help with your purchase of Media Composer Soft or the Xpress Pro to Media Composer Soft upgrade. |
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Sony Announces High End XDCAM HD Camera and Deck |
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 Sony will round out the XDCAM family with high-end additions that include two premium products: The PDW-700 camcorder and the PDW-HD1500 deck. They will offer striking quality HD recording at a data rate of up to 50 Mb/s using the MPEG HD422 compression technology. The PDW-700 is equipped with three 2/3-inch type CCDs - a newly developed “Power HAD™ FX” progressive CCD with 1920 x 1080 effective pixels, which can handle 1080i as well as 720p recording. Stunning-quality HD images can be captured by this high-resolution CCD and advanced digital signal processing. The PDW-HD1500 is a half-rack-wide recording deck equipped with a range of interfaces including HD-SDI, SD-SDI, i.LINK, and Ethernet. This will be ideal for both video-based installations and file-based nonlinear operations. |
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Apple Introduces Xsan 2 |
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| Check out this news release about XSAN 2 by clicking here. | |
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Free Software download from Panasonic
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Click here for an interesting free download on some software from Panasonic that sounds kind of cool… Key features of this download:
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New Release of Avid Editor Software Posted: 2/18/08 |
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| These new software releases are being made available early next week to customers with a valid Avid Support contract. Click here for more details. | |
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| Introducing Sony's PMW-EX1 Full HD Handheld Camcorder | |
Product Overview: Get a FREE second 8GB SxS™ ExpressCard™, at no additional charge with your purchase of the PMW-EX1 from Z Systems. Click here: www.sony.com/xdcamex/customer to request your free card. This innovative camera is now shipping. Suggested retail price is $7,790. Give us a call today for our current pricing. To reserve yours now call us at 952-974-3140 or email sales@zsyst.com. |
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Now Available-Panasonic's New Addition to the P2 Family,the AG-HPG10. |
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This new compact unit is loaded with great 'in the field' functions including:
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Give us a call to order your new AG-HPG10 or email us at sales@zsyst.com To learn more about all the Features of this P2 gear, contact us or click here. Go to top. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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