Apple Computer - is well known for excellent engineering and that has never been more apparent than inside the multi-core Intel architecture inside the newest Mac Pro dubbed Nehalem. As a government contractor I have the honor of providing products and services within my specialties. Mac systems for video production is one of those areas. I just finished rocking out two (2) systems which are loaded to the gills. I’d like to tell you where they are going, but if I told you I’d have to kill ME!

Two identical systems to the one I have in my own studio and so I was entrusted to configure them for the military with components and software that would make anyone squeal with glee. Did I mention 16GB of RAM? Ya, that too, however this system has three RAM channels and share across all processors. Adding RAM to slot 4 will reduce the bandwidth speed on channel three and the RAM in slot four by half.  This can be a negative for programs like Color, Motion, but the full rack-o-RAM is a positive for running multiple programs at the same time. I will be curious to performed the bench tests with 12GB; my system has 16GB installed.  Get the scoop from the source:  “INTEL”

R U Looking for more MAC stuff? Use the search!

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Phantom HD GOLD - A camera specifically designed for demanding cinematographer.

Vision Research introduces the second-generation Phantom® HD GOLD. There are over 100 Phantoms in constant demand at major rental houses.

This camera is not a high-speed camera in the traditional sense, but an instrument that gives the cinematographer 35mm depth of field either at HD or 2K resolutions with stunning results. The Phantom HD GOLD combines the visual quality of high-definition imaging with ultra-high frame rates in a exquisite specialty camera.

When it’s TOO FAST TO SEE, TOO IMPORTANT TO NOT SEE.
A sense of time: Combine 35mm visual quality with super fast frame rates and extremely fast exposure and you’ve got a single camera for all shooting needs.

• 555 @ 2048 x 2048 true 2K
• 1,029 fps @ 2048 x 1104 (2k 1.85)
• 1052 fps @ 1920 x 1080
• 1500 fps @ 1280 x 720
• 4,410 fps @ 256 x 256 (scientific)
• Selectable 8- 10- 12- 14-bit pixel depth
• Six micro-second shutter
• On-camera controls

When your imaging requirement is a feature film or network broadcasting of rapidly moving sport events, commercials, music videos, nature documentary, monitoring a rocket launch, or innovative creative work on a specialty film project, the flexible and virtually limitless control of the Phantom will provide unforgettable, unmatched footage. Accepts 35mm PL-mount lenses and can use a Nikon F-mount.

Phantom HD GOLD allows any frame rate, from 1 to 1,000, in increments of one. Shift the frame rate to move the scene into a futuristic viewpoint. Or shift the frame rate a lot and the scene becomes a long-passing moment in ultra- slow motion. The camera’s shutter is variable to 1/500,000 of a second to combine with radically adjustable framing rates for seamless control of the duration, speed and time of a story element. The Phantom can be configured for “live” broadcast , NFL, or studio production with continuous video outputs (720p, 1080p, 1080i). Multiple triggering and recording modes are tailored to application including pre-roll.

See recent projects captured with a Phantom [ jump to view ]

The Phantom HD GOLD is available with 32 Gigabytes of internal memory, but this is just the start of methods to capture and store work. Hot-swappable, non-volatile, solid state recorders; Phantom CineMags, are low profile modules that mount snugly to the top of the camera body to store 256 or 512 Gigabytes each.

Serious Cinema Spoken Here!

Thank you for visiting HD2O. We recently hit a milestone worthy of mention. This blog we call a FLOG (floating log) has more than 100 visits per day averaged over the month of July. Better yet most visits are long, meaning folks like you are not just looking at the pictures. LOL The videos are not bad either, maybe that’s it?

We established the goal of 100 anticipating our audience would enjoy the quality over quantity. From our small but mighty team here is a big red wet kiss to say thank you. Bookmark us!

P.S.> Try the search and tag cloud to dig through our history and archives. There are 119 posts in 9 categories focused on Ocean, Earth, Ecology, and some of the technology we use to bring these awesome video in HD.

Get our video! (for cryin’ out loud) Click ? HD2O ? and get 67 minutes of unbelievable Ocean-scapes and many animals who call the coral reef home. The music is a spectacular original soundtrack, scored to the motion of the ocean AND IT LOOPS! Plus we added a five minute bonus track featuring the therapy dolphins from Island Dolphin Care that you have to see to believe.

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A couple quick videos showing the modular design, quality engineering, and ease of access inside our brand new Mac Pro 8-core Nehalen machine. [Click the image to see this machine on Apple's web site.]

• Yes it is super fast when compared to our former workstation.
• No you cannot have the old machine. Macs don’t retire.

The machine formerly known as “The G5″ has plenty of life now serving as our audio workstation, so our audio workstation is capable of posting HD should we need it, while providing a nice step up in sound design.

• Each clip is a bit over two minutes.
• It’s a GREEN machine, very energy efficient.

 

 Mac Pro 8-core look inside: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Mac Pro upgrade and install: Play Now | Play in Popup

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Sadly, I report the tug boat “Captain Diane” is no longer in Key West. Tug boat use has slipped as new propulsion technology is used to land and launch giant cruise ships. Of course tugs are always used for salvage, distress, and disaster at sea. It is the Captain Diane that answered the call if the US Coast Guard got in a jam.

She’s being inspected in Miami for possible/ probable sale. Here’s a shot of the graveyard. She’s not ready for that yet. Not even close. She’s a former USCG icebreaker, converted into a power tug. With 9-foot props she could pull an island if necessary, and that’s where she is headed for a busier port of call. I hope to see her again one day, perhaps in Nassau. In the mean time, and I mean Greenwich Mean time; here’s a clip. Unfortunately the original HD content was corrupted and lost so I don’t have anything but this web video. I spent an entire week aboard the Captain Diane.

Each day I found myself praying for a shipwreck or just a simple pull or push into a dock would have been nice. That week in 2007 she was welded to the dock. I slept like a baby, dove like a seal. This also means we will miss out riding alongside Captain Dave for the sinking of the Vandenberg. Unfortunately the sinking has been postponed due to funding. That last million or two are the hardest… I guess. Plus this is hurricane season. Safety first.

Tribute to the tugboat “Captain Diane”.

Last year I broke down and got my wife a new camera, which I use all the time. She loves it when she gets the chance. As a video guy I had to do, and did research on the camera market only to find at that time, Casio had just released the EX-Z1000 [in my opinion] the best camera by a wide margin. $300 bought 10-MPix and color accuracy. That’s worth the money, but this little Casio had way more. It’s still an awesome camera.

Now comes the future: Casio Elimim EX-F1 It isn’t perfect yet, but don’t discount Casio as a player. This gadget is HOT, it shoots 300, 600 or 1200 fps and encodes them on the fly to an H.264 file at 30 frames per second. 1:10 ratio means one second equals 10 seconds of footage or SUPER SLO-MO. There is an excellent review at gizmodo. com that I suggest reading for the pros, cons, and future of this invention. Don’t be surprised to find the future of imagery at the end of that camera link! Click either camera for details, click the review for results.

Regards,

Paul

VIDEO P R E S S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Las Vegas Company Takes HD Down Deep Video attached…

LAS VEGAS, NV – Paul Dymon films, inc signs underwater cameraflyer and pro dive instructor Joe Berg to their HD underwater team. His knowledge from both skill sets, video and scuba, helps showcase coral reefs and ocean animals. Berg is instrumental in showcasing “The Keys” as one of the great scuba location in the world. HD2O™ is shooting world class dive destinations fresh again in HD, the quality and format of a brand new generation.

Berg rounds out a team that includes a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer and former Navy rescue swimmer. “It’s no day in the park,” Berg says about shooting for Dymon. “The camera housing weighs about 60 pounds. The difficulty is propelling it in a smooth, fluid manor while maintaining neutral buoyancy.”
Following each shooting day the team gathers to review the content. “We no longer use video tape so clips are off-loaded as digital files to a drive system that is battery operable for total portability at sea. Sample clips can be compressed and uploaded on-the-spot for remote review and immediate client feedback from anywhere in the world. Back in Paul Dymon’s Las Vegas studio data is transferred onto a high-powered workstation for compositing, color correction, and eventually distribution.

DON’T MISS: “SHARKS COLLIDE” @ 2:00 minute mark

For highest quality images - videos are compressed with the H.264 codec.

Note: You need the latest Flash Player upgrade to play with these sharks!

The link above will analyze your version of Flash and offer the appropriate upgrade path.

Here is a peek into his collection of his shark footage.

Comments encouraged. Here’s a picture of Joe’s office and studio in The Keys… LOL

By popular demand (one person suggested) we post Shaun White 2002 video for my X-gamer pal(s) around the globe. On YouTube this video has more than 36,000 views, 46 ratings 4 out of 5 stars, and favorited 83 times. So, KICK IT!

Here it is @ way better quality. Download the iTunes, iPhone version for FREE.

Let’s get real, fellow greenies. We can’t counter the carbon of 3rd world nations driving hi-bred cars.  Stacked against natural wonders of the world we won’t make a dent.  Hawaii’s volcanic activity, Mexico City’s volcano, and all the rest who’s names I don’t know. One moment in Nature can put out the sun for days, weeks, or an entire ice

Do you Flog?? You’re here so either you Flog or you are being Flogged. Whatever, you can use this code for $6.00 credit in our store. Download some HD clips for iTunes, grab the oceanic screen saver series, get the featured DVD at a great price. You can even combine other promotions. Because I’m too lazy there shall be No Restrictions.

FL399.792WW

Here’s the catch… (did you really think it was that easy?) You should feel compelled by our mindless generosity to tell a few friends about us and our non-profit causes. Why? Would you hand them six bucks for the heck of it? No? Tell ‘um about the discount… it’s the next best thing. If you comment on an article - bonus!

Jump to hd2o.tv

Support us so we can afford a better studio.

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One amazing day at Island Dolphin Care…

I find myself often questioning the intelligence of humans. The average person spends more time choosing a new car color than choosing a president. As a nation we’re loose ground to third world countries; we’re not too overly concerned. We’ll call it a ‘darn shame’ and toss money at it again. We sulk and sink into a great national depression if the home town b-ball team doesn’t bring home the prize. Forget having an open discussion on religion- unless you don’t mind being nailed to a wall. Just as radical are computer platform wars; I’ve been known to aggrevate a few lively discussions.

But animals are intelligent. Far more so than the average human is aware. I have seen proof in my life and have participated in the ‘development of animal intelligence’ training Service Dogs, Assistance Monkey, and I have most recently experienced Therapy Dolphins www.islanddolphincare.com And scientists claim they’ve barely scratching the surface. Science discovers amazing things about animals each year. Here is very interesting study to explore the intelligence of African elephants and to bolster our own ‘intelligence of animals’. LOL
Nature camera artist Martyn Colbeck treks alongside African elephants. His video documentary spans over 15-years and reveals the most stunning interactions not just of elephants, but of wild elephants accepting humans in their midst. , accepting him as one of the family. Can you imagine such an encounter? Lying with 15 sleeping elephants? The snoring? Colbeck watched and filmed a wild birth. You have to see this documentary come true in 2007. They demonstrate for him their astonishing feats of memory in the finding of water holes. The second half features the development of a baby, Ebony, in Nature’s daytime soap opera. The plot includes a kidnapping by a neighboring herd. You’ll have to tune in to find out what happens. As Colbeck states; and this is the guy who has studied, observed, and filmed 15 years, these African elephants exhibit community cooperation, group aggression and teamwork to accomplish family goals, family tenderness and party atmosphere, joy and sadness, but mostly intelligence.

Calling Martyn Colbeck only a cameraman is unlikely. His observations and documented elephant activities from forest to desert are unprecedented. His documentary a must see. Here’s a preview of the documentary on PBS Nature, see the Elephant preview dated 1/24/2008:

Interested readers can jump to: elephantconservation.org/ AND: nationalgeographic gorillas-weapons

I was so fortunate to spent four days with an Asian elephant and her crew. A group of California ranchers had her brought in as the very special guest of their annual round up. Day one: The sunrise directly behind as the elephant comes over the ridge with riders. The horses and men go wild and the sound rises from her footsteps to a roaring canyon. She paused for perhaps ten seconds. The trainer whispers, scratching some tiny piece of her. After a few more seconds we led her down into the valley. Day three: The ranchers do a trail ride. The elephant was disappointed when the trainers stopped her to the tree line. She wouldn’t have fit. That day we roamed the lush green valley in a small group. She would trumpet and listen for the horses to return. In that moment, it was amazing to be accepted (in a small way and for only four days) by that magnificent giant. There is nothing to explain her affection and care for me. I could see it in her eyes. Martyn Colbeck is a Hero for his cinematographic body of evidence.

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