- Lightricks Releases New AI Video Editing Tool: LTX Studio
- Sony Launches PDT-FP1: A 5G Portable Data Transmitter
- Shimbol Unveils M7 and Memory 7 Pro: 7-Inch HD Monitors with Recording
360 Seconds. Broadcast News & Commentary is a weekly program on Youtube about the latest equipment for broadcasting and film. Short, clear, informative. Explained by experts – practitioners directly working in the field of cinema and television.
Hosts: Philip Grossman, host and co-producer at Visionaries, and Maria Kholodova.
Production – TKT1957 LLC.
Airing on March 4, 2024.
Lightricks Releases New AI Video Editing Tool: LTX Studio
Maria: Lightricks, a company known for its AI-based filters, has launched a new product that is making waves in the realm of AI-generated video content. Named LTX Studio, this AI engine boasts an unparalleled level of user control over video creation, marking a significant advancement from existing tools.
Philip, can you break this down for us?
Philip: Sure. I’m sort of getting AI-fatigued with these products now. This one’s a little different in that it’s more of a—it’s not just a generative text-based solution. It does give you a bit more control over what you’re doing, but the rendered outputs, although they’re interesting, still have a very AI look to it that we’ve seen with the latest releases from OpenAI and such. The physics is a little bit off; they have a sort of cartoonish look to them. It’s getting better and better. Personally, I’d like to see these studios and products be able to generate content in a format that allows you to then take it into, say, Unreal Engine, or take it into After Effects, or to 3D Max or something and then manipulate it further. I think that would be a great tool for filmmakers.
I think the other thing that these tools really will be good at, and initially be used for, is storyboarding—getting the concepts down and really being able to see, you know, if I do it at this angle with the camera versus this angle, swap out the lenses, that it’ll give them tools really to help the creative process as opposed to replacing the creative process with just somebody rendering text. Because, remember, all of this stuff is algorithmic imitation; it’s just learning from things that have already been created and trying to synthesize them down into something. It’s never going to be something new, in terms of the way that things look, at least right now. That could always change. But I guess I’m glad to see the tools coming along. At the same time, they’re going to get overused early on—it’s just the nature of those types of products.
Sony Launches PDT-FP1: A 5G Portable Data Transmitter
Maria: All right, now moving on, Sony has unveiled the PDT-FP1, a cutting-edge, 5G-enabled portable data transmitter designed for field operations. It offers comprehensive support for a broad spectrum of 5G wave bands, including domestic and international frequencies, Sub6 communication, standalone 5G networks, and local 5G networks, facilitating rapid and reliable data transmission. So, Philip, can you talk to us about this?
Philip: Yeah, I guess Sony’s launch could be seen as a direct challenge to TVU and LiveU, who’ve dominated this space with their transmission packs. The PDT-FP1 is set to compete with those products, which feature multiple transmitters and allow for the use of cell cards, supporting up to four to six carriers for enhanced reliability. Sony’s device, though it doesn’t offer the same level of carrier diversity, includes multiple eSIMs, presenting an intriguing addition to the market. It democratizes high-level broadcasting capabilities, previously available only to news studios and large corporations, making them accessible to citizen journalists and smaller entities. The device is user-friendly, resembling a cellphone with an HDMI interface, which simplifies its operation.
I’m curious to see its adoption rate, considering the logistics involved in setting up the receiving end. Sony has attempted to simplify this process, potentially making the technology more accessible to educational institutions like schools and colleges, and facilitating remote broadcasting tasks that traditionally required more complex setups like microwave or satellite trucks, or bonded cellular networks. If anyone has the capability to revolutionize this field, it’s Sony.
Shimbol Unveils M7 and Memory 7 Pro: 7-Inch HD Monitors with Recording
Maria: Great, alright now moving on. Shimbol has expanded its product line with the introduction of two advanced on-camera monitors, the M7 and the M7 Pro. These monitors are notable for their 7-inch Full HD IPS touchscreens, boasting robust aluminum construction. The M7 Pro model elevates the standard set by the M7 with additional capabilities, including internal video recording. Philip, what are your thoughts on this?
Philip: I’m glad to see more vendors entering the small monitor market, especially in the five and seven-inch categories. The capabilities of these monitors match a lot of what’s already out there, which is great, including various integrated tools. From what I’ve read, the construction is pretty interesting. It’s made from aluminum, which is a step up from the less expensive models that tend to use various types of plastic materials. This all-metal construction, especially at its price point, is pretty amazing. It has HDMI and SDI inputs, which is fantastic.
The recording feature on the Pro model is quite interesting as well. It supports H.264 with the highest record rate at 25 megabits. While it’s great as a safety recorder, it’s not going to replace the Atomos and other dedicated recording devices that can record in ProRes and other high-quality codecs. However, it’s a great, inexpensive solution for the general filmmaker. I’m glad to see it.
Maria: That’s all the time we have today. Many thanks to our expert, Philip. And don’t forget to comment on the news we’ve discussed. See you next Monday at the same time!
360 Seconds. Broadcast News & Commentary
The weekly show, focusing on the latest products and solutions in the global TV and film industry, features insights and analysis from top experts. Released every Monday within the TKT1957 network, the program can be found on the YouTube channel, social media groups, and the tkt1957.com website.
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