For those interested in numerology - and this is certainly the economic climate to be stroking crystal balls and looking in the bottom of teacups for inspiration - then the prevalence of the number 3 at this year's IBC might prove significant as it apparently represents communication and interaction. For the rest of us in the rational world it will be all about 3DTV and 3G.
Sexy it perhaps isn't, but this is the show where 3Gbps capability really hits the mainstream, with a host of manufacturers upgrading their infrastructure products to accommodate it. Whether now is the time to invest in 3G technology and take the hit on the additional cost is, of course, a slightly more complex argument. But with 1080p production an inevitability at some point in the not too distant future, it would be a brave decision to ignore it until the next upgrade cycle a few years hence.
With 3D in the cinemas now a given - and with the hype around it only set to increase in the run up to James Cameron's 'Avatar' being released - the attention at IBC firmly turns to 3DTV. 3D in the home has moved impressively from vapourware to Next Big Thing in the course of just over a year, with all major UK broadcasters undergoing trials and BSkyB being characteristically bullish about its forthcoming 3DTV offering which will use its existing HD set-top boxes. Unsurprisingly, there's a vast amount of activity surrounding the subject at the show - expect a bit of a bunfight over emerging standards for one thing - with Monday at the Conference pretty much being declared 3D day.
Elsewhere at the Conference, and an interesting theme that can be teased out of many of the show press releases, the green agenda is raising its head and starting to make a serious noise. 'What is the cost of not being green?' is one of the highlights on the Sunday, while on the same day also look out for a joint BSC/ASC masterclass on digital image quality which has the potential to upset a few manufacturers, who will then no doubt retire to Harry 'Derek Smalls' Shearer and his 'The making of unwigged and unplugged -Spinal Tap's 25th Anniversary movie' session to recover. Those declining to turn things up to 11 and looking for a bit more d-cinema substance can head to the free session being run by the European Digital Cinema Forum and the SMPTE that looks at some of the technical challenges of d-cinema in post production.
Probably as a reflection of the times there seem to be more of these free sessions than ever at the RAI this year. The three free 'What Caught My Eye' sessions cover workflow, mobile and multimedia and are invaluable for those pushed for time, while there are also a bunch of free training sessions over at the Training Zone in Hall 7.
Hall 7 is, of course, the post production hall, and usually manages to be the noisiest and most interesting one of the lot. The problem is that this year manufacturers are playing their cards closer to their chests than ever and much of what will be released there is under embargo until the doors open on Friday 11. And it's the same with the audio exhibitors in Hall 8 - lots of interesting stuff happening, but if we told you we'd be shot. Or, even worse, you would be.
So, for the moment, the headlines are that Da Vinci is introducing new colour grading/finishing products based on its C.O.R.E platform (stand 7.D08); IBC is hosting the European launch of Bright Systems' BrightDrive G2 file-based recording system (stand 7.J39); Cooke Optics is showing the first working prototype of its new Panchro By Cooke lens (stand 11.D10); the C10 HD is the name of the new compact digital audio console from SSL (stand 8.D83); the Foundry team will showcase its major updates to Nuke 6.0 and release NukeX, a brand new compositing application (stand 7.F28); P+S Technik will be showing three new 3D rigs (stand 11.E28); Calrec is launching the Artemis console (stand 8.B81); and Grass Valley has what it reckons is its strongest line-up for the show ever, stating that 'We've updated nearly everything!' (stand 1.D11).
For the rest, you'll just have to wait until the show itself. In some years, IBC has been very much like the oft-quoted maxim about the 60s - 'If you can remember it you weren't there'. This year is liable to be more restrained, but as a snapshot of an industry (hopefully) starting to emerge from recession, it really can't be beaten. See you at the RAI.
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