CINEVATION SHOWING REALTIME FILM RECORDER
LAS VEGAS - Germany's Cinevation brought its Cinevator-five realtime 2K film recorder/printer to this year's NAB show. Cinevator-five allows for digital intermediates to go directly to positive print film, including both digital and analog sound and subtitles - in realtime.
The system is designed to replace a traditional negative film recorder, a sound camera, a traditional film-printer and a subtitling machine. Going directly to print-film eliminates all the processes involving negative intermediate and the contact printing that might deteriorate the image and sound quality. Consequently, the quality of distribution copies made this way will be exceptionally good. This machine can also make negative intermediate, interpositive and negative sound film.
The Cinevator-five records negative and postives images directly onto the relevant Kodak, Fujifilm or Agfa negative intermediate film, interpositive or positive print film - in realtime. On print film, the image, the sound and the subtitles are printed simultaneously. Uncompressed 2K images are received through single/dual link DVI. HD resolution material is received through coaxial SDI inputs.
The system uses custom designed pin-registered film transport for high performance, superior stability and steadiness. Film loading is quick and easy thanks to custom designed film plates and a fully accessible film path. There is also automatic detection of loaded and remaining film length.
The unit's imaging engine is based on Texas Instruments' DLP technology. A patented LED illumination system guarantees full dynamic range, color fidelity with unsurpassed stability and an extremely long lifespan.
Users can operate the system via an LCD touch screen.
The Cinevator-five receives film-data in realtime through an SDI link or DVI input. Based on the film data available, recording or printing jobs are prepared on a job preparation workstation (a normal Desktop PC that is connected to the system). Sound and subtitle files are easily loaded through the job preparation work station. Sound is recorded from either Dolby CA-10R (via MO disk), DTS timecode generator or embedded sound on a disk recorder or VTR.
Once established, the recording or printing jobs are displayed to the operator on the LCD touch screen, so that the operator will just have to select the job or a complete reel (a sequence of jobs) to be recorded or printed after he has loaded and laced the film. After pressing "Start" the Cinevator-five runs on its own until the selected job or the film reel is completed. During exposure of film a self calibrating function is active, continuously making sure that brightness and colour balance from the LED light source are always kept at the intended values.