TODD-AO BUILDS WITH EDIFIS BRICK

Todd-AO Co UK, one of Britain's most active transmission and duplication facilities, has purchased an Edifis Brick digital disk recording system at its Camden Town premises. To be installed in Todd-AO's master control room, the Brick will be equipped with six hours of uncompressed 4:2:2 component video and audio storage and Gearbox functionality. The Edifis system will enable Todd-AO to produce trailer reels for feature tapes and DVDs with greater speed and efficiency than was possible using previous video-tape-based equipment techniques.

Michael Ashley, Head of Operations for Todd-AO associate company Liberty Livewire Media Services (UK) explains: "Creating a trailer from a group of clips can easily take an hour using traditional video tape assembly. This can be accomplished in a third of the time using on- screen cut-and-paste of files stored on Brick's internal disk drives to produce a clip list in the required playout running order. Tape shuttling is eliminated and the entire task becomes much less laborious."

Todd-AO UK Chief Engineer Chris Clarke adds: "The Edifis Brick and Gearbox combination provides exactly the solution we were seeking for programme reversioning. Besides being faster than any video-tape based system, it eliminates the cost and down-time associated with VT head replacement greatly reduces the wear an tear on our source tapes. Edifis has a proven record both for its the reliability of its products and for the high standard of its technical support."

Designed as a direct replacement for one or more video tape recorders, Brick offers instant access to clips of any length and allows them to be can be played out in any order. Playlist editing tools allow clips to be trimmed or edited and total runtimes to be visualised. Integral features include a mixer and compositor, interpolated slow- motion, serial digital interface, six GPI inputs and outputs, RS-422 9- pin control port, HTML-based interface and AES/EBU Audio. Storage capacity is expandable up to 24 hours in 4 U.

The Gearbox option chosen by Todd-AO reduces load times, processes EDLs and sharply increases the efficiency and productivity of a master control room. Gearbox is designed to maximise the productivity of creative staff in versioning clips, dubbing, storing pre-formed inserts such as colour bars and tone, archiving, playout and recording programme with closed caption text. Gearbox can be switched instantly to record material and allows the operator to assign a project name with an unspecified duration.

Edifis (www.edifis.com) was formed in July 1997 and is located at the centre of Britain's Silicon Valley. The company has achieved a high reputation for large-capacity uncompressed digital video and audio systems meeting film, post-production and broadcast requirements worldwide. Edifis hardware and software are independent of third- party computer manufacturers or operating systems, allowing highly reliable products to be produced at cost-effective prices to meet the rigours of outside broadcasting and for on-air transmission.

Contacts for further information:

Richard Lilley, Edifis Ltd
Tel +44 (0) 1189 712 279
Email richard@edifis.com