There’s a cause why AJA Ki Professional Extremely 12G and FS-HDR are staples in Funicular Goats’ stock: they’ve obtained such an awesome monitor file of being dependable. Learn the entire story shared by AJA about the way it’s gear is getting used.
With credit that span from credit span the Elton John live performance at Dodger Stadium, “The Weekend: Stay at SoFi Stadium” for HBO Max, in addition to comedy specials and the annual large sport, and extra, multi-camera cinematic manufacturing options store Funicular Goats turns heads, each for its noteworthy credentials and memorable title.
Since launching in 2019 with co-founding trio Morgan Kellum, James Coker, and Aaron Cooke on the helm, the corporate has rapidly established a stellar status throughout the stay occasion, broadcast, and streaming manufacturing communities. Its unmatched multi-camera gear, workflow, and technical administration experience is tapped for an array of initiatives, together with big-name live performance productions, the annual large sport halftime present, comedy specials, and extra. Funicular Goats embeds itself in each mission from starting to finish, utilizing a confirmed cinematic multi-camera workflow as a place to begin, which incorporates all the usual tech for transferring alerts all through the chain and stay grading – together with AJA equipment.
Usually, producers attain out to Funicular Goats straight relating to initiatives, however the firm additionally receives inquiries from tech managers, administrators, and DPs. Its staff works intently with all key mission stakeholders to plan a well-thought-out, multi-camera workflow design, and the encircling tech – together with cameras, comms, the engineering fly pack, cameras, wi-fi methods for the cameras, transmission (digital, broadcast, or satellite tv for pc) fiber infrastructure, and on-set monitoring options. Tasks common 10-20 cameras per present, however the staff has labored on initiatives involving as much as greater than 30 cameras.
To higher perceive the way it all works, nothing higher than to learn the data shared by AJA Video Methods concerning the real-world use of its gear by Funicular Goats to lift the bar for cinematic multi-camera manufacturing workflows. Right here is the story:
Throughout productions, Funicular Goats should handle totally different components and workflow refinement, however ninety p.c of the time, the mission calls for stay grading, which suggests AJA FS-HDR real-time HDR/WCG converters are on set. Working a digicam log feed by the FS-HDR permits the staff to realize a extra complete vary of RGB to construct a greater look than utilizing simply an RCP digicam management alone.
We love FS-HDR as a result of…
“Productions are sometimes searching for methods to execute their initiatives however aren’t sure tips on how to do it, in order that they lean on us. We advise them on tips on how to make it occur and assist them obtain the look they’re aiming for in essentially the most environment friendly approach,” shared Morgan. “We have now a snug historical past of doing exhibits in sure methods and utilizing particular instruments (like FS-HDR for stay shade grading and body sync), so we’ll lean into that, however we additionally determine tips on how to modify the workflow and our fly packs and fiber methods to go well with every shopper’s particular wants.”
Tasks usually require SDR supply, however Funicular Goats is seeing HDR requests develop, particularly for live performance productions and bigger scale occasion broadcasts. To this finish, FS-HDR has develop into a Swiss military knife for the staff. James shared, “We love FS-HDR, from its redundant energy to the truth that we are able to depend on it to do what it’s purported to with out fail. It has nice options for every little thing from embedding to border syncing and stay grading; it does all of it.”
FS-HDR additionally helps conversion wants throughout Funicular Goat initiatives. The staff may have to make use of it to assist step down a 12G-SDI or 6G-SDI feed from a cinema digicam to 1080 for viewing, in addition to for coloring and recording. The machine additionally permits body price conversion, which the staff will leverage when transferring from 24p to a broadcast customary for a truck workflow. They may convey again a log feed 23.98p that may hit their distribution amplifier (DA) and right into a switcher the place they minimize 23p. Out of the DA, that feed may go to the FS-HDR, the place they’ll then go 29.9p and elsewhere with it to a line minimize, and minimize 29.97p for broadcast.
We love our Ki Execs as a result of…
Along with stay grading, recording is crucial to Funicular Goats’ workflow designs. The staff usually completes 4K recordings with a cinema digicam, with a 1080 workflow out for a reference line for added flexibility. If delivering a 1080 mission, they’ll file the loaded or shade corrected 1080 information to AJA Ki Pro Ultra 12G ProRes and DNx recorders/gamers. This method ensures they’ve a grasp end of the mission in addition to the 4K log footage to work with. If footage is already shade corrected, Funicular Goats can do a web-based cleanup with these information or edit with them as properly. They might choose to make use of Ki Professional Extremely 12G as a quad HD recorder for 4 1080 feeds on one mission, or for backup 1080 recordings, ISOs of the cameras, or to create a number of copies of a program or a number of views on others. Generally, they’ll even do a 6G-SDI or 12G-SDI into the Ki Professional Extremely 12G. When they should hand off thumb drives with H.264 recordings after an occasion, they usually use AJA Ki Pro GO.
“We love our Ki Execs as a result of they’re so versatile; they provide us lots of choices and supply an economical solution to file in several flavors. We get edit prepared information that we are able to have our downloader dump onto a drive to be shared with manufacturing,” added Morgan. “AJA gear like Ki Professional Extremely 12G and FS-HDR are staples in our stock, and we use them on almost each present as a result of they’ve obtained such an awesome monitor file of being dependable. We additionally use of a ton of different AJA merchandise – every little thing from the KUMO 3232-12G routers, to the 12GDA and Hi5 Mini-Converters, throw down distribution amplifiers, and FS2 body syncs.”
Funicular Goats’ credit span the Elton John live performance at Dodger Stadium, “The Weekend: Stay at SoFi Stadium” for HBO Max, in addition to comedy specials and the annual large sport, and extra. For the large sport halftime present earlier this yr, Funicular Goats captured 29.97p from Sony VENICE 2 cameras. The feeds have been despatched to its manufacturing truck with an AJA KUMO 3232-12G router on-board. The feeds hit their distribution amplifiers first, and have been then despatched by the router and Funicular Goats’ 12 FS-HDRs, in addition to by 16 extra FS-HDRs on website, after which into the switcher and out for broadcast distribution. The FS-HDRs enabled the DIT crew to work with the log and HDR feeds and bounce them forwards and backwards whereas additionally supporting body syncing to lock all feeds with the principle program audio.
Whether or not servicing the halftime present manufacturing, a live performance, or a comedy particular, Funicular Goats excels at discovering modern methods to make use of new gear to assist shoppers meet and exceed their manufacturing objectives. Morgan concluded, “Our dedication to the expertise and craft shines by in the appear and feel of each mission. What will get me excited to return to work every day are the nice staff of individuals I work with and the truth that I get to play an element in influencing the appear and feel of those initiatives. Attending to play with cool gear from AJA gear usually is a bonus.”
