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Snell & Wilcox Debuts Upgrades to Kahuna Production Switcher and IMPAKT DVE (21/2/2008)

Revolutionary "Fluid Effects" wraps live video around animated models in DVE for the first time

Snell & Wilcox is introducing a series of major enhancements for the multi-award winning Kahuna SD/HD multiformat production switcher at the 2008 NAB Show, including powerful new DVE capabilities. Additional enhancements to the Kahuna platform include a quadrupling of the system's clip stores, enhanced third party integration capabilities, VDCP control interfacing, and a series of new auxiliary panels.

IMPAKT, Kahuna's integrated 3D DVE effects option, has been dramatically improved with the introduction of a series of new DVE models as well as a revolutionary new technology called "fluid effects," that dramatically enhances creativity and transition power.

Kahuna's new Fluid Effects bring a new level of power and sophistication to live production environments. Fluid Effects enable live video to be wrapped onto virtually any 3D model without the need for rendering in an external device. Traditionally, it has been necessary to render video material and the 3D model together on a separate external 3D graphics unit, and then import the resulting file into a live production environment. With the new Fluid Effects option, virtually any 3D model can be imported into Kahuna, and the system can wrap any live video source on the model in real time. This functionality enables operators to bring a new level of sophistication and effects power to live production environments.

Also new at the 2008 NAB Show is IMPAKT DVE Models Version 4. These include film effects, global lighting, flag waves, and window blind effects to IMPAKT's DVE portfolio. With these enhancements, Kahuna operators can now apply more than 30 film effects including bold, faded, or sepia color; scratch damage and blemishes; tint variations; and damaged projector effects such as gate tension and weave. The global lighting is a surface effect that enables the operator to control light as it falls across multiple tiles in a 3D effects model and change the light source to simulate different types of light, such as a flashlight or lantern, and different light shapes. The flag waving effects simulate wind blowing on flags from various directions, and the window blind effects create the appearance of horizontal or vertical window blinds on the image. These new DVE models join a rich portfolio of effects and effects models already available through the IMPAKT 3D DVE option to Kahuna.

Additional Enhancements to Kahuna

Snell & Wilcox is also introducing the following Kahuna upgrades and enhancement at the 2008 NAB Show:

* Clip store memory is being quadrupled in size ÷ now holding up to 200 seconds of video clips and audio content in each M/E. That equals in each M/E about 8,000 frames in SD and 2000 frames in HD.

* Kahuna Manager is being enhanced to ease integration of the switcher into third-party systems. It is being enhanced to support the .FBX format for the offline transfer of fluid effects. Clip and audio management are now easier, as are the import and export of files with third-party gear.

* Third-party control interfaces are being improved. There are VDCP control interfaces for server products such as EVS XT[2] and Thomson Grass Valley K2 product lines.

* Preview Aux Panels have been incorporated for greater visibility and ease of operation offering highly visible source selection of three levels of mnemonics. There are panels to match any Kahuna control surface.

The Snell & Wilcox Kahuna is the first production switcher to offer simultaneous SD and HD operations in the same mainframe with the same control panel. It is also the first switcher to enable the seamless integration of SD sources into HD productions without outboard upconversion. This functionality, enabled by the company's unique FormatFusion technology, makes Kahuna a future-proof solution for broadcasters seeking to make a smooth and controlled transition to HDTV operations.

Kahuna's extraordinary flexibility enables users to work initially in SD-only or HD-only mode, and then upgrade to simultaneous multiformat SD/HD operation whenever they choose. It not only provides unparalleled operational flexibility, but also delivers tremendous cost savings to users. Kahuna is a versatile solution for any emerging multiformat user, from the smallest broadcast station to the mobile remote truck to the network operations center.

www.snellwilcox.com  

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