Equipment

Digital end-to-end for highest quality

Unlike some production companies, Visual Reality Productions uses only high quality professional digital cameras and editing equipment.

Video capture is via Panasonic DV200 cameras (or equivalent) which use a format called DVC Pro. These cameras all have three CCDs (colour chips) for broadcast-quality colour and definition and the ability to capture images in a variety of light conditions, as well as other controls which aren't available on consumer video cameras - even the higher-end "semi professional" units. These are the same cameras you'll see being used by TV news crews. These units cost between AU$15,000 and $30,000 (depending on lenses and other features) compared with the domestic models which cost perhaps a tenth of that -- and you do get what you pay for.

If a multiple camera shoot is required -- such as at a conference, concert, or live-to-tape studio production -- Visual Reality maintains digital integrity by mixing video via a Panasonic MX70 digital vision switcher. This is a combination of a 2-bus 8-input switcher, multi-function video effects unit, and audio mixer and provides high-quality 4:2:2:4 digital component signal processing. Effectively, this means Visual Reality can easily handle a four camera shoot, with special video effects, all in real time. If required, an additional multi channel stereo sound mixer can handle additional audio inputs. An MX70 will set you back over $6,000.

Single camera shoots are usually recorded to DVC Pro tape (a fully digital format) while multi-input recording is usually captured to a Sony DSR DR1000 recorder. This doesn't use tape -- up to six hours of digital video signal goes straight to a hard drive. The DSR DR1000 can simultaneously record and playback, allowing a recording to be available immediately for playback without interruption. It can also transfer at high speed with no loss of quality - so copying a six hour recording doesn't have to take six hours! In addition, the unit offers variable playback of +/- 2 times normal speed and Dynamic Motion Control (DMC), providing noiseless faster or slower than real time recording. This unit retails for around $8,500.

Once the video is captured it's transferred via a Firewire network to our PowerMac G5 or Powerbook G4 portable computers, where it's edited using Final Cut Pro. This offers a vast library of real time transitions, filters and effects, as well as absolutely precise control over your finished production. During post production any colour and gamma correction, sound equalisation and special effects such as chroma keying are added. Integrated applications such as LiveType allow for titles, effects and animations to be added quickly and easily without incurring substantial additional costs.

When your production is complete, it can be produced on any professional tape format (including Betacam SP and Digital Betacam), DVD -- complete with titles, menus and special features if required, or VHS tape. Visual Reality has high speed DVD duplication equipment, so orders for large quantities of DVDs are easily filled.

In addition, Visual Reality has a range of professional ancillary equipment -- microphones (both wired and radio), booms, lighting, reflectors, cabling, and even a complete video wall.

We also hire out some of our equipment to qualified operators.

Contact us for more information.