Sony updates the Venice and FX9 cameras and its professional 4K HDR monitors

It also expands its portfolio of Ci cloud-based content management and collaboration tools with an enhanced hybrid asset management solution, unifying Ci and NavigatorX, as well as the new Media Analytics Portal.

Sony has virtually presented new products and solutions developed in collaboration with the media industry, which will make different creative visions a reality.

Key aspects include major improvements to the Venice digital cinema camera and the Sony FX9 full frame camcorder, and updates to their professional 4K HDR monitors. Sony also expands its portfolio of tools content management and collaboration based on cloud Ci with a hybrid and enhanced asset management solution, which unifies Ci and NavigatorX, as well as the new Media Analytics Portal.

In terms of capture, the PXW-Z450 2/3” 4K shoulder camcorder will be available starting in August in a kit that will include an 18x 4K zoom, viewfinder and microphone.

Meanwhile, the PXW-Z1901 and PXW-Z280 compact 4K handheld camcorders will be enhanced by adding FHD RTMP/RTMPS streaming capability. This will allow users to live stream and upload material to video content sharing sites and social media platforms quickly, anytime, anywhere.

Configuration Master Unit

Also new is the master configuration unit. MSU-3500 and MSU-3000 a control panel for camera configuration and maintenance. Both units are equipped with a new 7-inch WVGA LCD touch panel that provides greater visibility to the user. The MSU-3500 has a vertical orientation and a half-rack width, while the MSU-3000 has a full-rack width and a horizontal orientation. Both will be available in the third quarter of 2020.

Sony has also announced the unit PDW-U4, which will be available from January 2021, is a portable and easy-to-use disk drive, with capacities up to 128 GB (recordable) and 100 GB (rewritable), supporting Professional Disc XDCAM 1, 2, 3 and 4 layer media.

By adopting the 4-channel DCHS (Dual Channel Head System) drive, the PDW-U4 drive achieves file transfer speeds approximately 2 times (read) and 1.7 times (write)2 faster than the current PDW-U2 drive. The PDW-U4 offers a fast workflow for ingesting camera-recorded files and archiving the final edit.

If HDR

With the continued growth in demand for HDR content, Sony is fully committed to supporting the HDR format across its portfolio of professional solutions.

He SR Live workflow focuses on creating the best Live HDR and SDR programs simultaneously using a single production unit. Sony HDC cameras capture settings and send them throughout the production process. This allows the SDR production to be perfectly replicated with the artist's exact intention. Only HDR signals need to be switched and routed, eliminating the need to bring in separate production staff to handle SDR signals.

SR Live metadata now supported on converter unit for HDR production HDRC-4000 and on the server PWS-4500. Starting in Q3 2020, they will also be supported on Sony live production systems, such as HDC series system cameras with CCU recording capability.

Additionally, file-based production systems such as professional camcorders PXW-Z750, PXW-Z450 y PXW-X40033, will support SR Live metadata using Catalyst Prepare application software by the end of 2020.

Sony has also announced that it will offer optional HD HDR license CBKZ-SLHL1 for the camera PXW-X400. This is an advanced 2/3" shoulder camcorder, recording in a variety of broadcast-quality formats. Thanks to its balanced weight, low power consumption and flexible networking features, the PXW-X400 camcorder is a versatile tool for outdoor production. Starting in July 2020, the optional CBKZ-SLHL1 software license will add HDR 1080 60p/50p recording capability to the model.

As announced earlier this year, the 4K HDR image monitors next generation PVM-X2400 (24″) y PVM-X1800 (18.4″) feature TRIMASTER technology and achieve a luminance level of 1000 cd/m2 in completely white areas and a 100% match with the color gamut of the Trimaster HX BVM-HX310 master monitor, ensuring color accuracy from production to post-production. After the official launch scheduled for July 2020, an optional future upgrade is planned to be offered in March 2021, which will improve the monitors even further by adding internal HDR to SDR and 4K-HD conversion.

On the other hand, to meet the growing demand for 4K HDR production tools, the XVS series mixer now supports HDR conversion. Sony will also offer two new mixing and effects panels: the XKS-8215 for the XVS-9000/8000 mixer and the XKS-7215 for the XVS-7000 mixer. The new panels offer four fully functional keyers per ME in 4K, with resizers, chroma key and layer priority. HDR conversion support and these new panels will be available in early 2021.

IP Production

Sony has delivered IP Live production systems for over 100 live broadcast studios and location vehicles to customers including TVA Group y NFL Network. Updates to several of the IP Live solutions will deliver new efficiency and ROI features to broadcasters around the world.

The company has made important contributions to the development of production systems based on open standards. For example, in the event Joint Task Force on Networked Media (JT-NM), which took place in March 2020, Sony confirmed that its IP Live production ecosystem complies with the latest standards, SMPTE ST 2110 and AMWA NMOS, offering its customers true interoperability to create the most advanced and future-focused systems using IP technology.

In addition, it has updated the SDI-IP conversion boards NXLK-IP50Y/IP51Y that follow SMPTE ST2110 standards and have the ability to convert HD, 4K, SDI and IP video signals. Being compatible with ST 2110-20/30/40 transmission formats and offering very low latency signal conversion, they are ideal for integration into IP Live real-time production environments. In September 2020, an upgrade will be coming to SDR/HDR upconversion and downconversion licenses to add color correction. The new licenses, which will support audio delay capability, will be available at the same time.

Cloud operations

Sony has developed a variety of services that leverage the use of the cloud to optimize production, editing and delivery workflows. Latest service updates include platform improvement Ci Media Cloud.

Designed to consolidate diverse systems and redundant file transfers into a single unified platform, Ci plans to release updates in May 2020, including the launch of Ci Catalog. Ci Catalog optimizes the asset management of large media companies and improves the management of finished assets by optimizing the work of marketing, sales, distribution and archiving teams.

Starting in June 2020, Sony will offer a hybrid asset solution world class that will be unlike anything the industry has seen. Customers will be able to manage content on any installation or in the cloud.

Regarding the use of artificial intelligence in media workflows. The cloud-based solution Media Analytics Portal Sony recently launched supports content creators with its various AI analytics models and services, including object recognition and voice-to-text commands through a single web portal.

It also integrates perfectly with Ci Media Cloud Services, XDCAM air y Media Backbone NavigatorX. Whether used for sports content management or program production, Media Analytics Portal improves media workflows by increasing metadata and automating media processes for greater efficiency and productivity. Availability is expected for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Venice and FX9 update

Throughout 2020, Sony will expand the capabilities of the Venice and FX9 full-frame cinema cameras to offer more expressive and usable possibilities for cinematographers and their collaborators in production and post-production tasks.

Venice will offer more monitoring options and high frame rate and the FX9 camera expands the filming and recording capabilities for content creators.

Since its launch in 2017, the Venice has been used to capture more than 200 premieres broadcast on TV, cable and streaming, including The Plot Against America from HBO and sixteen other series released during the months of March and April 2020.

Firmware version 6.0 will allow file import Advanced Rendering Transform (.art) that improve image quality monitoring and viewing options on set. These .art files can be generated through Sony's RAW Viewer software or from users' own 3D LUT files. Additionally, Sony is collaborating with Technicolor and its award-winning color scientists to create a new “look library” for the Venice camera, which is available online as a resource for creatives who want quick access to key camera looks. Technicolor, inspired by its cinematographic history.

Another improvement included in the Venice camera firmware version 6.0 is the ability to film with a second line of frames of the user. This allows cinematographers to more easily take advantage of the Venice camera's large sensor, and shoot material for horizontal and vertical distribution in the same composition.

The new firmware also includes information about the girosensor en metadatos por lo que los datos Tilt & Roll de la cámara pueden ser consultados por los equipos de efectos visuales.

As for the FX9 camera, it launched last year, 2019, to bring full-frame images closer to independent productions, “run and gun” style, and documentaries. Using the form factor, ergonomics and workflow of Sony's FS7 and FS7II cameras, this full frame camera brings together the color science technologies of Venice cameras and autofocus (AF) technologies of Sony's Alpha interchangeable lens cameras for creators who want a smaller rig.

FX9 camera firmware version 2.0 supports the 4K 60p/50p recording via supersampling technology from a 5K cropped area of ​​the image from a full-frame 6K sensor. Version 2.0 also supports outputting 16-bit 4K RAW signals to an external recorder with the optional XDCA-FX9 accessory. This additional bit depth, in addition to the camera's internal 10-bit recording, is ideal for projects requiring more intensive post-production tasks.

Additionally, FX9 camera firmware version 2.0 will expand the camera's functionality with Eye AF technology and touch panel functions for focus control and menu settings in the viewfinder.

The Venice camera firmware version 6.0 is scheduled for release in November 2020, and the FX9 camera version 2.0 is scheduled for release in October 2020.

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