|
|
Washington DCNovember 2006The SMPTE DC Section convened at Discovery Channelís Creative Technical Center in Silver Spring, MD on November 16, 2006 for a presentation on HD workflow and a look at this vast facility. Tony Cole, Discovery VP of Engineering, introduced the plant which comprises over sixty SD and HD Avid edit suites, four audio post rooms, a dual SD/HD studio and control room, two central equipment areas, tape library and numerous support offices. Primary functions at DCTC include program reversioning and cut-to-clock editing, incoming and outgoing QC, promo editing, and HD surround mixing. Peter Riordan, VP of Production, followed with a presentation on HD workflow issues and Discovery standards. Beginning with a brief introduction of HD scanning formats, the presentation continued through Discoveryís requirements for handling aspect ratio and 4:3 protection, audio tracks, acquisition tape formats and deliverables. Follow-up questions also addressed issues such as HD routing and future file-based workflow. Following
the presentation attendees broke into several groups for facility tours.
Constructed in a former department store building, the DCTC interior
features unusual room and hallway layouts and open ceilings that reach
three stories in some places. Integration was by Communications
Engineering, Inc., which co-sponsored the meeting refreshments along with
Avid Technology. Many thanks to them and the DCTC staff for their
hospitality!
Discovery's Clayton Dutton discusses editing with
attendees
Discovery's Peter Riordan at lectern
Peter Riordan, Tony Cole and DC Section Chair Karl Kuhn |
