New Streamlined Architecture Makes Grass Valley Spirit DataCine From Thomson More Affordable Than Ever Before
Electronics Redesign Significantly Reduces Prices for the Industry's Most Popular Digital Intermediate Film Scanner
The electronics with the Spirit frame have been totally redesigned, resulting in a reduction in the number of boards. The new electronics deliver precisely the same matchless high quality performance that the industry has relied on for more than a decade, as well as meeting the latest environmental standards. The changes have also resulted in significantly lower manufacturing costs, savings which are being passed on to customers both for new machines and for many upgrades for existing Spirit 2K and Spirit 4K systems, such as HD compatibility and a new data interface board.
"With this latest version of Spirit, we are delivering the same high-quality functionality, as well as the benefits of the latest off-the-shelf IT networking and interface components," said Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President, Broadcast and Professional Solutions for the Grass Valley business within Thomson. "Spirit has long been hailed worldwide by the post production and digital intermediate industries because its ability to scan film in real time is a massive boost to workflow and operational costs. By reducing the capital cost too we are making the commercial case for Spirit and film-based production even more compelling."
With more than 350 units installed worldwide, the Grass Valley Spirit line, which includes both the Spirit 2K and 4K DataCine systems as well as the newly introduced Spirit HD DataCine system, has become the industry standard for high-resolution film and video transfers. With its comprehensive feature set and acclaimed imaging technology, the Spirit DataCine offers cinematography professionals native 2k scanning in real time and true 4k scanning at up to 7.5 frames a second, with internal image processing at a minimum of 16 bit depth, even at 4k resolution.
The new version of the Spirit DataCine can be seen at NAB2007 in Las Vegas, April 16 to 19. The Spirit display, including the new Spirit HD, will be part of the Grass Valley post production specialist booth, SL2020 in the lower South Hall. Details of the new pricing will be announced at NAB.
About the Spirit DataCine
The Grass Valley Spirit DataCine supports Super 35 mm, Academy 35 mm 3-perf, 4-perf, and 8-perf (VistaVision) as well as Standard and Super 16 mm film stocks. It also includes an advanced internal imaging subsystem, designed by engineers at Eastman-Kodak; 4k/2k six-vector color processing; 4k/2k film grain reduction functionality; and full compatibility with all major graphics, compositing, and other post production systems.
Prices for the Grass Valley Spirit HD start from $698,000. Prices for the Spirit 2K start from $888,000 and from $1,041,000 for the Spirit 4K.
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