It's the most wonderful time of year. Yes, I'm referring to ProductionHUB's 2021 Awards of Excellence! You would think that after all this time putting the Awards of Excellence list together would be easy, right? Oh boy, not even close to easy. But that’s the way we want it.
Just as in years past, our award recipients earned their place on this year's list due to their innovative technology and creativity. Products are always chosen on merit and innovative design. Each was carefully selected to represent the best of the best. The selection process wasn’t easy—it never is—but in the end we feel our ProductionHUB 2021 Awards of Excellence winners list was well worth the wait. We hope you’ll agree!
The 2021 Awards of Excellence Winners are:
AJA Video Systems - AJA Bridge|LIVE
AJA is always in the running for an AoE Award of some kind and this year is no different. BRIDGE LIVE is a broadcast-quality, low-latency turnkey system for Remote Production (REMI), Multi-Channel Video Contribution, Remote Collaboration, Direct to Audience Streaming and Multi Bit Rate/Format Delivery.
Equipped with 12G-SDI I/O plus the power and flexibility to enable real-time bi-directional encoding, decoding and transcoding for critical UHD and HD workflows, BRIDGE LIVE is an essential part of any modern live video production toolkit.
ARRI - ARRI AMIRA Live
If you were to ask any number of cinematographers about cinema cameras ARRI is always near the top of their wish list. The ARRI AMIRA Live takes ARRI in a whole new direction. ARRI has a version of its AMIRA, called the AMIRA Live, for live television and studio production. The camera gives a new look and feel to live productions. The AMIRA Live uses the ALEV III S35 sensor (which is also used in the ALEXA), giving around 14 stops of dynamic range. It can both record images in-camera or be used to transmit live as part of a full multi-camera studio set.
Atomos - AtomX Cast
Building off their enormous success in the monitor recorder space, Atomos unleashes the AtomX Cast. Live Switching & Streaming for Ninja V with AtomX CAST. AtomX CAST is a modular companion for the Atomos Ninja V monitor-recorder that uses the AtomX expansion port on the Ninja V to transform it into an advanced multi-input switcher.
The combination of the Ninja V and AtomX CAST becomes the Ninja CAST, a fully functional stand-alone switcher, multiview monitor and broadcast quality recorder that does not require a computer to function. With a high quality 5” HDR touchscreen monitor, 4 x HDMI inputs and physical buttons, the Ninja CAST is the ultimate portable live switching and streaming solution.
Blackmagic Design - Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2
If I told you how much Blackmagic Design has grown over the years you might not believe me. With the new Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2, Blackmagic Design proves that it marches to the beat of its own drum.
The new Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 is an incredibly powerful camera designed for both traditional and online broadcasters. The three cameras in one design allows it to work as a 4K production camera, a 4K studio camera or a 6K digital film camera! You can record to common SD cards, UHS-II cards, CFast 2.0 cards or external USB disks, using common file formats such as H.265, ProRes and Blackmagic RAW.
Canon - Dual Fisheye Lens
When it comes to innovation in cameras, lenses or technology, there are not too many companies that can compare to Canon. As part of the EOS VR System, this lens paired with the EOS R5 updated with firmware 1.5.0 or higher and with one of Canon's VR software solutions you can create immersive 3D that can be experienced when viewed on compatible head mount displays including the Oculus Quest 2 and more.
Viewers will be able to take in the scene with a vivid, wide field of view by simply moving their head. This is the world's first digital interchangeable lens that can capture stereoscopic 3D 180° VR imagery to a single image sensor.
LiveU - LiveU LU800 Pro4
The LU800 Pro4Is one of those innovative products that really caught our eye.
The LU800 combines multi-camera production and mission-critical transmission with superior video and audio capabilities in a native 5G unit. As reliable as satellite/fiber, the LU800 offers a highly cost-effective solution for complex remote productions.
Marshall Electronics - Marshall CV568 w/Global Shutter and Genlock
On a cool factor of 1-10, the Marshall CV568 w/Global Shutter scores a 12. Built like a brick but with fantastic imaging, the Marshall CV568 w/Global Shutter has to be in the conversation for just about any sports, commercial, or active entertainment shoot.
The miniature HD Camera with Global Shutter and Genlock Sync features is built around an impressive 1/1.8" Sony global sensor with 25% larger pixels and interchangeable M12 lens mount (comes with a 4.4mm - 84°) making this one of the most capable POV cameras in the miniature camera lineup.
Mo-sys - mo-sys vp pro XR
Mo-Sys VP Pro XR is specifically designed to allow directors, cinematographers and focus pullers use of traditional shooting techniques within virtual productions, improving the output image quality.
VP Pro XR further builds upon Mo-Sys’ trusted VP Pro software, which integrates directly into the Unreal Engine Editor interface. The complete suite of real-time compositing tools can also record data for camera tracking, lens focus and zoom plus camera setting data for Arri Alexa and Sony Venice cameras.
OWC - Mercury Helios 3S+U.2 NVMe Interchange System Bundle
The holy trinity of data storage requirements in the production-to-lab workflow is transformed by the U.2 NVMe Interchange System and its application for the Mercury Helios 3S. By combining a locking drive bay and removable tray, the U.2 NVMe Interchange System turns the Mercury Helios 3S PCIe Expansion chassis (sold separately) into a time and money-saving swappable U.2 NVMe SSD storage solution for high-performance film production requirements.
The Panasonic Lumix BS1H Box Cinema Camera is a modular digital cinema camera with a small form-factor that bellies its full-frame sensor. It features a 24.2MP sensor, a Leica L lens mount, and a wide 14+-stop dynamic range to accommodate extreme lighting changes when recording in V-Log. It records video with resolutions up to 5.9K as well as C4K (4096 x 2160) and UHD4K, and it incorporates VariCam Look workflows.
Sony - VENICE 2
With the ink still wet on the press release, Sony comes storming out of the gate with the brand new VENICE 2. The Venice 2 builds on what is found in the original Venice —such as the color science, Dual Base ISO, and 8-stops of built-in neutral density (ND) filters—and focuses on a few areas of targeted improvement. It has a more compact design, internal recording, and the option for two different sensors: the new 8.6K sensor or the original 6K Venice Sensor.
Specifically with the new 8.6K sensor (8640 x 5760), Sony says that the Venice 2 offers 16-stops of total latitude in dynamic range, which is one more stop over the 6K sensor. The company says that combined with the color science of the original Venice, the new sensor can capture images and skin tones with excellent color separation and shadow detail.
Teradek - Teradek Wave
The Teradek Wave Touchscreen Smart Streaming Monitor-Encoder is currently the only livestreaming monitor built to handle everything from encoding and smart event creation, to network bonding, multi-streaming, and recording.
This 5-in-1 streaming monitor boasts a seven-inch daylight-viewable touchscreen display, which makes workflows more seamless and versatile than ever. It streams to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. Also, the Teradek Wave monitor’s new FlowOS project workflow lets you prepare numerous events before they occur.
Honorable Mentions:
Apple - MacBook Pro with M1Pro X or M1Pro
The Apple 16.2" MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip is the ultimate pro mobile workstation. This system features the Apple M1 Max 10-Core Chip, which provides the power and performance needed to handle your professional workflows. The 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR display features a 3456 x 2234 resolution, 1,000 nits of sustained brightness, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, P3 color gamut support, and more.
Breakthrough Filters - Cinema DFM
The Cinema DFM is an incredibly small, behind-the-lens filter system that is designed to deliver incredible color neutrality and speed. With DSMC2 , DSMC1 , KOMODO and RAPTOR compatibility, the same filters are interchangeable between different cameras. The core elements such as the front and rear flanges are machined from titanium, and the main body is machined from aluminum. The result is an ultralight, ultra-compact filter system.
BroadcastPix - MXHybridSwitcher
The feature rich, future proof and flexible MX Hybrid will serve the production needs of government, broadcast, live events, and visual radio users–well into the future with its hybrid input configuration and video format agnostic support.
iZotope - RX 9 RX Post Production Suite 6
Designed specifically for the demanding needs of post production professionals, RX 9 Advanced allows for full control over your audio with even further updates. The new version of Dialogue Isolate makes it easier than ever to extract clean dialogue from its environment, without artifacts, while the new Complex mode in Ambience Match seamlessly connects dialogue and ADR cuts with real background movement and textures—all with multichannel support up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2.
MRMC - Polymotion Chat
Polymotion Chat is a deployable automated camera tracking solution that allows an operator to automate up to six presenter and guest camera positions. Using limb and face detection software Polymotion Chat tracks subject movements and provides stable and natural-looking content. The camera agnostic automated subject tracking system is available for multiple broadcast and capture scenarios with 3 different solutions available: Pro, Studio, Broadcast.
Nikon - Nikon Z 9 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Nikon's first mirrorless flagship camera, the Z9, which brings a wealth of speed, resolution, and connectivity to its Z platform. Characterized by a professional-grade body, fast and intelligent autofocus performance, shooting up to 30 fps, and 8K video recording, the Z 9 is a well-rounded tool for working photographers and filmmakers.
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