Video Labs Adds Digital Media Capacity with Purchase of another Final Cut HD Suite

Video Labs, the 33-year old Rockville, MD based media services firm has added another Final Cut Pro HD editing suite to its significant media manipulation and distribution capabilities. While the company is supporting its customers with disc authoring (including Blu-ray), caption encoding, duplication/ replication, HD conversions, digital file transcoding and media packaging, Video Labs continues to be at the forefront of creative firms that support virtually every media format in the world. Now, Video Labs has increased its capacity to provide enhanced creative services and support digital media sources (be it archiving or file creation).

Major editorial houses choose Final Cut as their editing tool and Video Labs is part of that group. Final Cut Pro delivers high-performance HD/digital non-linear editing, native support for virtually any video format and facility class interoperability. The workflow extends to other Final Cut studio applications. Working as an individual or within a team environment, Final Cut provides for multiple creative options and technical control.

Of main interest to the Video Labs team is Final Cuts ability to enable a quick and efficient work environment. These characteristics ultimately lead to project deadlines being met with consistency and of significant importance, cost effective editorial solutions for high quality programs. With the Final Cut Studio 3 and AJA’s Kona capture card, Video Labs is able to ingest/output video to/from virtually any source.

Media formats/sources now being used at Video Labs to support its clients authoring/editing, duplication and mastering needs includes Blu-ray, DVD, CD, HDCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPRO HD EX, HDV, PROHD, Digital Betacam, Betacam SP, Beta SX, IMX, DVCAM, mini DV, DLT, et al.

With the addition of another Final Cut editing solution, Video Labs continues their commitment to invest in technology and media content and distribution capability. With its increase in capacity, Video Labs enhanced solutions now offers its clientele the widest range of Videotape/Broadcast duplication, High Definition conversions, International standards conversion, DVD/Blu-ray/CD duplication/replication, authoring, SpoTTrac encoding, non-linear editing, media packaging, distribution and digital media delivery. Video Labs continues to offer its clientele the best in customer service and project management.
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For more information, please contact Video Labs at 301-217-0000 or reach Video Labs on the web at http://www.videolabs.net/ or via email - mailto:sales@videolabs.net/mweiss@videolabs.net .

QR Not ER

If ER stands for emergency room, what does that have to do with QR? And what is QR? I'm glad you asked. QR, or quick response, as reported in Wikipedia, is a specific matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code), readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. Information encoded can be text, URL or other data.

QR codes storing addresses and URLs may appear on magazines, signs, buses, business cards, or on just about any object which users might need information. Users with a camera phone containing the correct reader application can scan an image of some QR Code to display text, contact information, connect to a wireless network, or open a web page in the phone's browser.

What does this all have to do with media services? Another good question from the peanut gallery. Think about this...................your looking for as much exposure as possible for a beautifully produced PSA. Sure, SpoTTrac encoding will enable Nielsen to track airplay. However, if more than just TV viewers were able to learn about your PSA, wouldn't you cherish the extra attention? Of course you would. Adding a QR code to PSA materials will grab the extra viewership you're seeking.

It's simple, really. By request, Video Labs can add a QR code to your disc, label, insert, wrap, whatever. This QR code will then link to your website of choice. Adding this QR code will enable you to capture an audience consisting of millions of mobile users. Simple, inexpensive and an effective way to bring added attention to your message.

Uses for QR codes...............

- Add to the face of an audio disc and users will learn how to buy more of your music.
- Place on a DVD wrap which holds a documentary and your audience will have another means to peek behind the scenes.
- Apply to a corporate message and give co-workers or clients a chance to better understand recent activities within your organization.
- Situate a code on to a piece of art and the viewer of that piece can link to a narrator describing what inspired the artist.

Focused on your media? Yep. That's why you partner with Video Labs.

Contact Video Labs today and we'll get you set up with QR.

Use All Forms Of Media To Communicate

Let Your Message Evolve. . .

Communicating Your Message
At Video Labs, we love it when a customer stops by to regale us with nostalgic tales of the good old VHS days. The typical comment is, "Can you believe we used to work with VHS?"

We know, we know. Things were so simple back then. These days the media landscape is a vast frontier with many options for communicating your message - online delivery, webinar, social media, high definition videotape, and, of course, optical discs like Blu-ray, DVD and CD. Planning a marketing strategy in this changing economy can be a challenge. So, how should you spend your valuable marketing dollars to convey your message and effectively hit the target audience? Which screen is the best for your message?

Good News - There are Many Eggs for All the Baskets
The American appetite for consuming media has never been greater - Nielsen reports that the average user logged 140 hours of TV, 27 hours of Internet and 3 hours of mobile screen time per month; 57% of consumers reported watching TV while simultaneously online at least once a month. Industry experts have a name for it - "The Three Screens" - TV, computer and mobile device. Based on that, smart marketing includes a comprehensive approach - one version for each screen. Thus, your strategy to convey an important message would be served best by using
multiple media formats, increasing your chances of reaching the audience.

Industry Update - Discs Get You Noticed!
Not so fast! Slow down ! Don't pull the plug on discs yet! While some might say that online delivery of corporate presentations offers the most cost-effective approach, consider some of these recent industry studies.

> For video, DVD is still an industry standard for quality, accessibility and ease of use. While it's been thrilling to see the increase in quality of web-related video, viewing can still be compromised by slow to intermittent connection speeds. In addition, it's difficult to determine if the viewer has proper software to view your video for optimal quality and functionality.

> Standards of quality for online hosting sites have increased as these sites have started to generate revenue from ad sales. Still, most sites restrict video into a browser window where it may sit side-by-side with plenty of other 'stuff' - all of which distract and detract from your message. For educational and training materials, you'll want to keep your viewer's attention as long as possible.

> Industry research indicates that cross-platform users will opt for the'best screen available' when given a choice, making their selection based on quality of screen experience, convenience and availability. Sales of HD TVs are still strong despite the slow consumer market for electronics.

> High quality packaging for disc media offers you an additional opportunity to enhance your message, providing a tangible look and feel. Social media messaging and emails can be easily lost and overlooked in the onslaught of messages that are received but a hard copy disc, nicely presented, may stay on someone's desk with your message front and center.

Communication Connection
The staff at Video Labs advises clients to consider all factors when communicating messages. Before settling on a particular type of media, consider the audience and what action is being asked of them. Video Labs will work with you to ensure the most effective forms of media are being used to communicate your message.

http://www.videolabs.net/
(800)800-8240
(301)217-0000
sales@videolabs.net
15237 Display Court
Rockville, MD 20850

Video Labs Welcomes the DTV Evolution

Despite setbacks, the latest industry news predicts that the DTV 'big switch' will be flipped on June 12, 2009 (www.nab.org). High- quality digital television will be more readily accessible across the country and, at the same time, broadcasters will have more High Definition capabilities. While many are already accustomed to the optimal viewing experience of digital television, this transition still presents a milestone in our industry. At Video Labs, we're here to help you be ready for the "Evolution" of broadcast delivery.

SpoTTrac DigitalCertified for Nielsen Tracking Services
Video Labs has added a Nielsen-certified SpoTTrac Digital encoding system to its host of broadcast services, replacing the outdated analog Sigma encoder. Producers, advertisers and broadcasters have long relied on Nielsen Tracking Services to verify audience exposure to its messages. With SpoTTrac Digital, we'll help you make the transition to TV's next big milestone. SpoTTrac Digital features the latest tracking mechanism for PSAs and commercials - an embedded watermark in the audio that transfers to all formats including broadcast tapes, DVDs and even digital video files (like Quicktime files for the web). During the real-time encoding process, SpoTTrac Digital embeds Nielsen's patented ID into both the video and audio content and does not affect the quality. As an extra efficiency, Nielsen's tracking information is sent automatically via the Internet for overnite reporting.

High Definition Closed CaptioningIt's an HD World We Live In
What's next, you might ask? You guessed it - captioning and subtitling for High Definition formats. Our new HD captioning encoder has been polished, tested and is presently ensuring broadcast projects are fitted for HD closed captioning. We chose the HDE-3000 from Link Electronics as it meets with the strictest requirements for broadcast while also allowing us to insert slates, bugs, TV rating icons and subtitling. Count on us to support you with captioning services for 1080i, 1080p, 1080sf and 720p HD deliverables as well as captioning services for all your standard definition tape formats, DVD and web-based compressions.