Sony's Next Generation Unveiled At IBC

At IBC 2011, Sony has announced plans to develop a next generation video archive storage system, which includes a cartridge that houses 12 optical discs and a specialised drive unit.
Currently in the research and development stage, the Disc Archive Storage System will be introduced to the market in 2012.
Over the past few decades, movie studios, broadcasting networks and production houses across the world have accumulated a massive quantity of tape. To manage this growth, a reliable, easy-to-operate, cost effective archive system was required by the industry immediately.
Sony's Disk Archive Storage System offers a lower total cost of ownership through the use of long-life media, and includes inter-generational compatibility based on the same optical disc technology used in DVDs and Blu-rays.
The archive solution puts 12 media discs in a firm cartridge enabling data to be handled on a per-file basis by making the operating device recognise the system as a "single large volume storage unit" rather than by each individual disc. The cartridges are available in both a write-once format and a rewriteable format, with various capacity options from 300GB capacity up to 1.5TB available according to the customer's requirements.
And the new developments continue for Sony at IBC. As the Sony F65 sets tongues wagging, Top Teks have ordered 10 x F65 packages at IBC, just three days after the pricing and availability announcement.
Mike Thomas, Top Teks Managing Director, (pictured with Adam Fry) said: "The F65 opens up new digital cinematography opportunities for creative directors. This deal is important for us because not only does it strengthen our relationship with Sony, it allows us to expand our high end offering. We're already have customers interested in the F65 because, like us, they see it as the next step up to create truly stunning images."
The same package was bought by CVP at the launch of the show. This includes the Sony F65 camera
, Rotary Shutter
, SR-R4 SRMASTER dockable recorder (which docks directly with the F65), 256Gb SR memory card
, Viewfinder
 and SR-PC4 SRMASTER data transfer unit

.
Phil Baxter, Chief Executive Officer, CVP group, said: "CVP are committed to being the premier supplier to the digital cinematography market.
"Sony's new flagship F65 digital cinematography camera is a very exciting product to us because not only is it the most advanced and flexible camera system available but it's being brought to the market at a very competitive price."
He added: "We already have huge interest in F65 and have taken many provisional orders from rental companies and high end content producers in the commercial, drama and feature film markets who recognise that the F65 offers the flexibility of HD, 2K and True 4K image quality combined with Sony's legendary build quality, reliability and most crucially the added peace of mind of world-class technical and workflow support from CVP."
The Sony deal is available until the beginning of January 2012.
(BMcN/GK)