REVIEW:  Fast Forward Video Sidekick HD Recorder/Monitor

PREFACE:  The ProRes Dilemma

Let’s start this review off by dispelling a long-held rumor.  I’m a PC guy, just always have been, and after reviewing just about every PC NLE at least once, I have settled on Adobe Premiere Pro (and the CS 5.5 suite) as my editor of choice.  Not too long ago, I had a freelance client that absolutely insisted on Apple ProRes files for the output of a project.  Unfortunately, Apple does not allow PCs to write ProRes files, and at the time PC’s couldn’t read them either.

Fast-forward a few months:  Imagine my dismay as I walked the aisles of NAB 2011, looking at all kinds of new recording devices from Aja, Atomos, Sound Devices and others that promised long recording times and transfer speeds – yet the catch was:  Only records in Apple ProRes.

So when I was offered the opportunity to review the Fast Forward Video Sidekick HD combination video recorder and camera-top monitor, I was distressed to think that I could shoot the footage, but couldn’t edit it.  So I put the question to my colleagues on the Vidpro listserv – can PC Premiere Pro play back ProRes?  My pal (and fellow Wisconsinite) Steve Oakley FTP’ed me a few Apple clips that seemed to work, so I went ahead and received the Sidekick HD.  And I can now say with 100% certainty – Adobe Premiere Pro 5.5 can play back Apple ProRes files, even happily combining them on the same timeline with just about any other type of clip you want to add – .AVI, .M2T, Photoshop files, Canon 50Mb, Sony 35Mb, After Effects comps, you name it.  (The theory is that the ProRes playback capability came along with one of the many Quicktime updates Apple shoots out.  Hey, who knew?)

The One Collaboration I Need Adobe To Make

Hey folks, been gone a while, but it’s fall and time to get back in the swing of things.  One of the interesting side-effects of writing for PVC is that I am on just about every PR person’s mail list.  Usually these missives are easy to toss to the side, but the other day I got one from Adobe, talking up their presence at IBC 2011 in Amsterdam (for the record, IBC is the international version of NAB, held in early September every year.)  As a long-time Premiere Pro and CS-suite convert, I paid a little bit more attention to this one than average.  Unfortunately, I neglected to save the URL, but the gist of it was this:

Today The GoPro Let Me Down

Regular readers of my mind-spillings might remember the Color-Correction Conundrum of a year ago, where I used the decidedly outdoor-color-balanced GoPro Hero HD as an accent camera for a choral concert in a church.  The lemon-yellow footage of the piano keyboard was brought to heel by help from the readers of this blog, and since I had such success last time, I figured I’d do it again.

Blackmagic Design at NAB 2011 Part 2

The extended death of tape continues.  Blackmagic Designs gives us a look at the Hyperdeck line.  Again, the audio is pretty rough, but the info is good enough to share.

Blackmagic Design at NAB2011 Part 1

Here’s a quick look at Blackmagic Davinci Resolve 8, including discussion of its new XML capabilities to ease the workflow with Final Cut Pro. A combination of a loud room and a hoarse throat doesn’t help the audio, but the info is good enough to share anyway.  Enjoy!

PVC NAB 2011: Topaz Labs

You know how hard you laughed when you watched “CSI” or any other cop show and the detective told the computer kid to “zoom in on that photo…and…enhance”?  This demo might just give you pause. Great looking software, too.

A Modest Proposal Regarding Editing Software

In the beginning, there was Avid…and it was OK. 

First Impressions From NAB 2011

It’s amazing how much I both look forward to - and simultaneously dread - coming to NAB. 

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