Aardcase

filed in News on Feb.13, 2006

From Embedded Systems Engineering

Part of the technology for creating “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit”, was Aardcase, a custom-developped computer that was also used for Chicken Run.

Aardman demanded a highly robust product that could be easily transported – including being wheeled over the cobbled paths near their office – so Sight Systems designed a custom vibration-resistant solution to ensure that the computer would stand up to this rough treatment.
Capturing the images from upto 30 cameras directly to hard disk, it allows the animators to check the minute changes made from one frame to the next in real time. Aardcase is a single board based PC from Sightsystems with a passive backplane in a ruggedised 6U 19″ rack mount case. The system includes a video capture PCI card, an optical drive for storing captured film, and two hard drives: video is stored on a high-performance SCSI drive while the operating system and sofware are help on a cost-effective ATA drive.

In addition to the video inputs, the system also provides a 12V supply to power the cameras.


Installed software includes the Perception Video Recorder from DPS as well as a custom video assist and digital video frame store developed by Aardman that helps the animators plan character movements on screen, and allows them to check the frame currently being shot with those already completed to ensure continuity.

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Archivist appointed

filed in News, People on Jan.27, 2006

Following on from the very successful annual dinner, and a visit to the STOIC studio, an Archivist has been nominated, seconded and press-ganged into existance – Doug Makhija.
His job is to digitise various crusty U-matic tapes and distribute as DVD.
9 tapes were kindly lent by John at Stoic for the first wave. Alan has produced a working U-matic player, model VP-5030, and Doug has the necessary digitiser hardware. Donations of blank DVDVideo-Rs would be appreciated.

The tapes selected are as follows:
Motor Show 91
Part Bimbo Part Beefcake Part 1
Part Bimbo Part Beefcake Part 2
Part Bimbo Part Beefcake Master Edit
Funnies + other bits 89/90
Funnies Dump tape Vol1 from 70’s
DLR Documentary
Hypnotism 91
Sabbatical Promo 90 (marked “not for broadcast”!!)

Also underway is the infamous “Chairman embarrasment tape” featuring Jon Denham.

A special section of this website is being prepared to track progress of digitising and take requests for additional material. Visits to the Union Bar STOIC studio will be necessary for extra tapes to be borrowed.

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Videoforum 2006

filed in News on Jan.14, 2006

7-9 Feb Earls Court 2
“The UK’s event for production, post, new media and streaming”
www.videoforum.co.uk

VideoForum is the annual technology event for everyone involved in creating and distributing TV programmes and video content.
Now in its 15th year, VideoForum features:

 

  • Comprehensive Production & Post technology exhibition – camcorders and production tools, lighting and sound equipment, editing and effects systems
  • Huge range of software, hardware and services for DVD authoring and replication
  • Over 140 free seminars on topics ranging from studio lighting to the broadcast use of DV & HDV
  • New features dedicated to IPTV and mobile media
  • And much, much more!

 

 

Plus, after their successful launch last year, VideoForum will again see the co-location of TV Tech, the UK’s technical event for Post and Television…

…and i-deliver, an area of the show dedicated to the distribution of rich media over every kind of network.

 

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Christmas Dinner (in January as usual)

filed in News on Dec.10, 2005

Annual Christmas Dinner will be held on Saturday 14th January at the usual venue, The Rembrandt Hotel, Knightsbridge. The dinner will be a carvery, and is priced at 20 pounds per head.
Again this year we will be having a “Christmas” dinner shared with Croc Club (IC Radio). Thanks to Croc Club for making the arrangements. Please send your bookings through to both Alan via the bodgers email and to [email protected]

Dinner will be at 8:30pm, with pre-dinner drinks being held beforehand in the Hoop and Toy from 7:30pm, nearest tube is South Kensington.

Hoop and Toy
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=SW72HQ

Rembrant
http://www.sarova.co.uk/hotelcollection/rembrandt/map.cfm

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Congratulations to Rex

filed in People on Dec.04, 2005

Rex and Jeanette gave birth to their second baby boy Saturday 3rd December 05.


Poor old Rex missed watching a re-run of Harry Potter to greet his new son Thomas into the world. Pictures at : http://www.wickham.org.uk/thomas

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