Beware the attack of the anachronisms!

During a recent translation/localization project for a major NLE manufacturer, my friend Rubén Abruña and I ran into a conundrum when debating with our client about how a few words should be translated. Among them was the word Slate, which Rubén and I (and everyone else we personally know in Spain and Latin America) had called Pizarra. We were quite shocked when our client told us that they wanted to use the word Claqueta, which actually corresponds with the word Clapstick. For us, the difference between a Slate and a Clapstick were clear: A Slate just shows information. While a Clapstick may show information, it always has a sound-producing “clapper” which was created to facilitate synchronizing audio and video in post. In fact, as far as we are concerned, both Clapstick and Claqueta are onomatopoeia, or words that were created to imitate the sound created by the device. For that reason, Rubén and I were quite clear about why we called a Slate as a Pizarra, and a Clapstick as a Claqueta. However, I began to discuss this with industry colleagues in Latin America/Spain, delve into the etymologies of each term, and discovered that —whether we like it or not, even Slate (Pizarra) is an anachronism.

Audio options for hybrid cameras: a study by P3Pictures

Jon Fairhurst of P3Pictures has done quite a study on audio options for hybrid cameras. Although P3Pictures uses a Canon 5D Mark II for its testing, at least some of their conclusions could apply to other hybrid cameras, including the Canon 7D, Panasonic Lumix GH1, and others yet to be released. P3Pictures’ goal with these scientific tests is to find the most professional quality sound, with mid-priced equipment. In all tests, P3Pictures uses the M-Audio Microtrack II, Zoom H4n, BeachTek DXA-5D, and the juicedLink CX 231. The first test is done with a closely placed shotgun mic. The second test uses a camera-mounted shotgun. The third test is with a wireless lavaliere microphone. Part 4 is foley recording, and Part 5 explores the noise floor of each option. Part 6 are P3Pictures’ conclusions. Here come the videos…

Kodak’s Zi8: a first look at a sub-US$180 HD camera which may leave you speechless

Ever since I first saw Kodak’s announcement about the new Zi8 HD camera, I was intrigued. Yes, this camera costs less than US$180. I mentioned it to my friend Jorge González of Acquest Multimedia here in Miami, and to make a long story short, he bought one as soon as they began shipping. Jorge doesn’t usually buy such inexpensive cameras. His “other” HD camera is a Panasonic AG-HPX500, which you may know is a 2/3” model which lists for US$14,000 without lens. Later in this article you’ll see our impressions, plus Jorge’s first quick test shot with the Kodak Zi8.

Apple & Sanyo embrace new homophonic video format: iFrame

On October 13, 2009, Apple posted a tech bulletin about their new iFrame video format. On that same day, Sanyo sent out a press release about two new Sanyo cameras which support this new homophonic video format. Although I an intrigued by the new format, I am disturbed by their choice of this homophonic, heterographic term, as you will see ahead in this TecnoLinguistic article.

AJA’s new KiPro is the 10-bit, 4:2:2 recorder that many pro videographers really needed

Many of our readers may have first heard about AJA’s KiPro back on April 20, 2009, when I published a “first look” after AJA’s announcement at NAB. A few months have passed, and KiPro is now available for purchase. I received an evaluation unit from AJA and found it to work flawlessly with its current feature set. Following are the details of the product, my observations, target market, and wish list.

Hitler upset about the Canon 7D? Or just jealous?

Philip Bloom has really outdone him with this spoof on the feelings of owners and potential owners of the Panasonic Lumix GH1, Canon D7, and Canon 5D MK II hybrid cameras. This video contains so many inside jokes that I am not sure how many of our readers will get all of them, but if you have been covering the evolution of these new hybrid cameras, you’ll appreciate it. This is based upon a scene that Philip Bloom borrowed from the film Downfall. Here’s the video.

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