NAB 2011: Fast Forward Video Debuting sideKick HD Camera

At the 2011 NAB Show, Fast Forward Video will demonstrate an array of its award-winning DVR solutions, each designed with customer requirements in mind and built to the demanding specifications of today’s media operations. The latest example is the sideKick HD, a multiformat, straight-to-edit camera-mountable DVR.

“From the beginning, our customers have had significant input into the design and development of our products — and more than anything else, this philosophy has enabled Fast Forward Video to become the industry-leading provider of DVR solutions. Attendees at the 2011 NAB Show will experience our customer-centric approach first-hand through solutions such as the sideKick HD, which incorporates the flexibility producers expect while satisfying the demands of post-production editors,” said Paul DeKeyser, founder of Fast Forward Video.

Making its debut at the 2011 NAB Show, Fast Forward Video’s (FFV) new sideKick HD is a versatile recording solution designed to ease production workflow and satisfy the demands of both producers and post-production editors. The camera-mountable sideKick HD captures video directly from HD/SDI or HDMI outputs at bit rates up to 220 Mbit/s, with 4:2:2 sampling and 10-bit resolution in multiple codecs starting with ProRes on removable 2.5-inch SSD drives. Recording directly to high-quality NLE formats eliminates time-consuming transcoding, which can degrade image quality. The sideKick HD also provides a 4.3-inch on-board confidence monitor, which offers playback options including scrub and jog capabilities.

2011 NAB Show attendees may enter a drawing to win a sideKick HD by stopping by the Fast Forward Video booth and filling out a raffle ticket.

For high-end recording and playback, Fast Forward Video’s Omega HD digital video recorder (DVR) can record either SD or HD video with JPEG2000 compression and up to 100 Mbit/s. Using the Omega HD recorder, users can simultaneously record, play, and store multiple SD and HD video files and create video clips, loops, and playlists using the simple-touch front panel. These features make the Omega HD an ideal solution for graphics, key and fill, station automation, commercial insertion, and instant replay applications.

A common fixture in mobile broadcasting vehicles for key and fill applications, the Omega HD can also provide a powerful and fully integrated alternative to high-end instant replay servers and is a popular choice for the growing demand for synchronized playback of dual video streams for stereoscopic 3-D applications.

Also on display at the 2011 NAB Show will be the HD3, a highly versatile and compact all-in-one digital video recorder (DVR) designed specifically for on-set motion picture and television production. Packing state-of-the-art DVR and controller technology with an integral HD monitor in a hard portable case, the HD3 features JPEG2000 compression for optimal HD and SD image quality. Like the Omega HD, the HD3 is available in either single- or dual-channel configurations, delivering all the advantages of HD images and the random-access non-linear benefits of solid state or hard disk drives. The system features a high-quality third-party monitor and uses removable, hot-swappable 2.5-inch SATA drives that are compatible with Fast Forward Video’s complete HD line of products.

The Micron HD digital video recorder (DVR) is a cost-effective, yet highly powerful solution for record and playback with an MSRP of only $4995. The Micron HD, coupled with a controller, provides an expanded feature set that makes it a comprehensive tool for budget-conscious broadcasters. This single-rack unit records HD and SD using high-quality JPEG2000 compression at speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, making it an excellent replacement for SD-only DVRs and analog tape decks. The Micron HD offers up to eight hours of record time and is fully compatible with all of Fast Forward Video’s (FFV) HD products.