[Tech] Anthrocon Goes 4K

Freeze Badger (video director) and Retcon Dracat (lighting co-director) from the Anthrocon A/V team join Paradox (video operations) to discuss the plans for upgrading the live video workflow in AC's main events ballroom to 4K.

Freeze Badger (video director) and Retcon Dracat (lighting co-director) from the Anthrocon A/V team join Paradox (video operations) to discuss the plans for upgrading the live video workflow in AC’s main events ballroom to 4K. We go behind the scenes to cover the the motivations, practicality, difficulty and technical challenges of such a big upgrade.

You can check out the team’s proudest work so far: Anthrocon’s 2019 Floor Wars, as well as Paradox’s photo album of Anthrocon 2019.

FurCast is sponsored by Twin Tail Creations. Use coupon codes REDWOLF or BLUEFOX to save 15% on silicone products during checkout.

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Topics Discussed:

Anthrocon 2020 is totally happening… right?
Moving things to the next level as the fandom grows
As seen in a funny moment from BLFC 2018, when an A/V team is all furries the priorities tend to get interesting
Oddy is a good boy
Is 4K UHD even worth it? Ask Captain Disillusion.
Longevity of media seems to matter in our culture, as demonstrated in Ash & Ash’s documentary that pulls footage of furry cons from the 1980s
Why now?
AC’s 2018 Dance Comp got over a million views on YouTube
YouTube’s handling of 4K and The Algorithm™
4K data by itself isn’t an inherent quality boost unless you make sure to utilize it all the way
Anthrocon’s old cameras:

Panasonic AG-HPX170
Barely HD
Limited dynamic range
No CCU
Expensive ass storage media

Also had JVC GY-HM750 for a bit
Anthrocon’s new cameras:

Blackmagic Ursa Broadcast
Using some good B4 lenses
Way better dynamic range & tone mapping
12G-SDI
Remote CCU

Scaling 2160p59.94 in real time is hard
Decimator’s 12G-CROSS 4K is still backordered
Ballroom internet is pricey and sucks, but 4G LTE bonding sucks more
Stage lighting for video with Tungsten vs LED vs Arc Lamp
Explaining CRI in lighting
Using calibrated BT.709 / BT.1886 displays and scopes for quality control
Anyone wana donate a BVM-HX310 to us? Please?
How to nail focus in 4K
Lenses and sensor sizes in broadcast cameras
When things go wrong at the last minute