Blackmagic Design has announced Blackmagic Cloud Live Sync, a new live media sync feature in Blackmagic Cloud that allows media to appear in the DaVinci Resolve bin as the camera records so editors can work while the camera is rolling.
Blackmagic Cloud Live Sync Key Features
- Live syncs up to Blackmagic Cloud the moment recording starts.
- Within seconds the media shows up in the DaVinci Resolve bin.
- Edit and color correct as the camera records.
- No faster way to get media on air for broadcast news.
- Allows remote color grading of shots, syncing back on set in real time.
According to Blackmagic Design, within a few seconds, editors can see media arriving in real time and start editing, even while the camera continues to record. For broadcast workflows this looks to be an interesting solution where the editors can see and edit with media, seconds after it’s been recorded in a camera, from any location globally. In saying that, systems like LiveU, AviWest, etc, have been able to exactly this, but in a slightly different way.
Blackmagic Cloud live sync has the ability when using the latest Blackmagic cameras, such as the Cinema Camera 6K, PYXIS, URSA Cine and URSA Broadcast G2, to record a full resolution HD proxy in H.264. These files are live synced to Blackmagic Cloud as they are recorded, and then also live synced down to all DaVinci Resolve workstations that are connected to the same cloud project. All you need to do is connect to the project and everything happens automatically.
On the camera side, a user logs into Blackmagic Cloud and selects a DaVinci Resolve project before recording. That way, when the recording starts, the live syncing happens on all connected DaVinci Resolve workstations. Editors can edit while colorists color correct. If customers have multiple cameras recording at the same time, then the new multi sync feature will show all cameras in a multi view, so the editor can pick the best angle.
This workflow is similar to live streaming into edit software. If the user starts playing, the playback will never end as the media is syncing into the viewer just in front of the play head. The editor can see the play indicator jump back as each segment of clip arrives and the clip continues to grow in length. Plus the clip icon in the bin will show a red record indicator to show this clip is still recording on the remote camera.
This means when a camera starts recording, a remote DaVinci Resolve system can start editing and color correcting as the scene is shot, then a DaVinci system back on set can see the color grade the moment the camera stops rolling. It means you don’t need a complex color grading setup on set, as a post production facility can do it on a large DaVinci panel with color accurate monitoring. Then the on set DaVinci Resolve system can be used for playback of these color graded shots the moment the shot has been completed. It’s concurrent post production and shooting, where both happen on the same shot at the same time.
For news workflows, a camera such as URSA Broadcast G2 can start recording and syncing into the editing system the moment an event starts to unfold. The editor doesn’t have to wait for the camera to stop recording, as they can edit a news segment the moment the camera starts rolling, getting the segment to air in seconds.
If a broadcaster wants to get the media to air as it records, they just have to go back a few seconds in the DaVinci Resolve viewer and press play. DaVinci Resolve will then play back the media as it arrives in a very similar way to live streaming. DaVinci Resolve becomes the media decoder and player.
Availability & Price
The new Blackmagic Cloud live sync feature will be public beta in mid June as a free download for Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K and Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2.
What is interesting is that the Blackmagic Camera app for iPhone will include this feature in an update in the coming weeks. This live sync will also be added to other cameras such as Blackmagic PYXIS 6K and Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K shortly. This update to Blackmagic Cloud will be included free with current Blackmagic Cloud media sync plans. There will be no additional costs.
