tv-bay questions

Bob Pank#

Author: Bob Pank#

Published 1st February 2011


Name & Title?
Ben Holmes, Owner and Senior Editor
Who are you? (about yourself and EditOut)
We're a specialist edit company focusing on editing for Outside Broadcast, as well as some corporate work.
What do you do? What does EditOut do?
My day-to-day work is as a VT and edit supervisor, producing packages for live TV broadcasts. Edit Out supplies Final Cut Pro systems worldwide to facilitate this, giving productions a rugged, reliable and quick onsite solution. All our systems include an extensive software setup including Adobe Creative Suite, and we use Blackmagic Multibridge for I/O - which I think is the most reliable solution on the market.
Tell me a little about your previous experience, what you've worked on and with up to your current position?
I started working as a VT operator at BSkyB, and spent a number of years as an EVS Operator for Sky Sports, as well as EVS specialists Editec. I trained as an FCP editor in 2001. I've been lucky enough to work on every major sporting event in the world, from the Olympics down. I started Edit Out in 2008, and this year, we have supplied facilities for broadcast on the Superbowl, US Open Tennis and the Ryder Cup.
What specific project(s) do you have in the works?
Currently, I'm working with Sky Sports on the Darts World Championships in London. Early 2011 includes content creation for UEFA (in partnership with Skibbly Media) and the Superbowl in Dallas in February.
What technology are you working with?
Each of my edit kits consists of two flight cases containing Blackmagic’s Multibridge Pro, Mac Pro tower, 23” Cinema Display, wireless keyboard and mouse, in addition to external shared storage as required.
As we have to integrate the edit into any situation, including OB vehicles and temporary structures, we need to have complete flexibility for input, output and monitoring - that's why we use the Multibridge Pro so we can monitor in HDMI, HD-SDI or whatever is available at the best possible quality.
However, this year I’ve noticed an explosion in tapeless workflows, as some broadcasters like Sky move over to EVS-produced IP director systems to manage media on site. This allows us to send highlights footage and camera isos very quickly to both AVID and FCP suites on site, and create better highlights and opening/closing packages. It's a massive step forward for time-critical editing.
What new products/technology are you looking forward to the most?
It's an exciting time for post software, with excellent new products from AVID and Adobe. I'm hoping Apple will step up to the plate in 2011 - FCP has for a long time been the most stable and quickest NLE - now I'd like to see the power in newer computers harnessed better. I'm also spending more time in 3D broadcast - I look forward to better 3D edit solutions next year.
During your career in post what was the biggest “turning point” into new technology?
The launch of Final Cut Pro kick started a post revolution. Without it, smaller companies would never have been able to enter and thrive in the market as Edit Out has.
What is your favourite / least favourite things about working in post?
I love the collaboration of editing, and the adrenaline rush of finishing an edit needed for broadcast seconds later. I hate the travel - although it beats sitting in an edit suite in an office!
What gets you out of bed in the morning to go to work?
When your place of work is next to the first tee at the Ryder Cup or in the stadium on Superbowl Sunday, it's not too hard to get motivated! Sometimes this can be the greatest job in the world - and you never know when you get up how the day will end.

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