Broadcasting l Education l Entertainment l Government | HealthcareHome Theater | Hotels l Houses of Worship l Network Operations Centers
Presentation Facil it ies l Private Transportation l Retail | Whole Home
Creative OutletBROADCAST INGWhether you are viewing a live newscast, listening to the radio,
or watching a movie, the advanced control and automation
features of AMX are used to manage every second. Today’s
fastest growing media affiliates and largest film studios
incorporate AMX technology as a way to maximize the return on
investment by optimizing their time in such rapid-fire, pressure-
packed environments.
Powerful AMX Control Systems and user-friendly AMX Touch
Panels facilitate peak efficiency and achieve broadcast quality
without compromising overall production or creativity. Within
the walls of the media control room and film
screening/editing/dubbing stages, AMX makes a significant
contribution that can be reflected in Nielson ratings and box
office results – two areas in which AMX control has assisted in
yielding big numbers.
The next time you marvel at the special effects and animation of
a high-budget production, consider all the work that went into
creating these amazing visuals. Hours upon hours of computer
graphic development. A variety of post production equipment
designed to review daily filming. And, of course, AMX
integration to bring it all together to quickly and effectively
analyze each frame and edit audio. This kind of emphasis by
the directors and producers on giving the audience something
new and jaw-dropping requires our leading control technology
behind the scenes from day one.
The amount of media formats available can be mind-boggling.
Daily television newscasts and radio broadcasts, as well as
movie releases throughout the year, represent a conglomerate
of digital, video, tape, satellite, print and Internet media.
AMX provides advanced yet easy-to-understand control
capabilities designed to effectively manage the consistency of
all content plus the seamless flow of different video and film.
The proper organization and editing of each media format is a
priority. Accuracy is a must. Harnessing AMX technology to
integrate the surrounding equipment, necessary to perform the
many tasks of production, remains vital. AMX takes
sophisticated electronics and lessens the learning curve. One-
touch automation boosts overall reliability, minimizing possible
downtime by tracking the status of each device 24 hours a day.
Think of broadcasting as a race. One that relies heavily upon
perfect timing. Not only to reach your audience first but with the
latest, most accurate information, exhilarating images and
intense sounds. At the touch of a button on your AMX Touch
Panel, fine adjustments are made to audio/video signals, cued
tapes, recorded broadcasts, time tracking, pre-timed segments,
teleprompter scripts and camera angles. Maximum results,
minimal effort, thanks to AMX.
Broadcast Exhibition Stands
Camera Control
Dubbing Suites
Edit Suites
Effects Coordination
Graphic Suites
Outside Broadcast Vehicles
Radio Studios
Switching Centers
Television Studios
20th Century Fox Post Production Facilities
20th Century Fox boasts a remarkable history that spans eight
decades, making it one of the premier major movie studios in
the world. Yet before the opening movie credits, before taking a
seat, even before purchasing tickets, there is the behind-the-
scenes magic of editing and dubbing. At the Fox Studios Post
Production Services Facilities in Los Angeles, AMX Control
Systems and Touch Panels play a leading role in bringing
together the surrounding screening room and re-recording
technology. AMX helps to put the final touches on the movie as
a whole. And that usually makes the difference between a
popular film and a $100 million blockbuster.
SO MANY POSSIBILITIESWithin any of the four screening rooms and three feature
dubbing stages at Fox Studios, AMX control transforms high
pressure into high production. "These rooms at Fox are the
most advanced, high end rooms in Los Angeles," said Steve
Sutter, Founder of Sand Hill Media (Berkeley, CA), the
exclusive integration company for this high profile project
and long-time AMX Dealer. "They have every film, video and
digital format available, the latest video projectors, custom
modified film projectors, linkage to remote locations, high-
end everything. It can get complicated with so many pieces
of equipment, so many switches, so many possibilities. It's
insane at times. To have to screen a movie or to mix it with
all of this gear in front of you, without AMX, you are bound to
make mistakes more frequently. Once the people at Fox
became accustomed to using AMX to automate the
processes, they no longer even think of walking into a room
without this level of integration. They have visited other
screening rooms in town and leave
wondering how those other studios
exist without AMX."
AMX EVERYWHEREAlthough this is not the only post production facility in Los
Angeles running a control system or automation, Fox
Studios represents the most comprehensive installation of
AMX technology. Over the course of three years, from 1999
to 2002, Sand Hill Media integrated the screening rooms
and mixing stages with AMX Axcess Control Systems, 10.4"
and 5.5" Touch Panels. "Most studios do this kind of thing
in little jumps," Sutter said. "They build a little at a time. At
Fox, they committed to everything, to put AMX everywhere."
That includes:
Four Screening Rooms — Two AMX 10.4" Color Active Flush
Mounted Touch Panels. One positioned in the middle of the
theater for end-user convenience and another mounted in the
back booth area. Plus two AMX 5.5" Touch Panels.
Three Feature Dubbing Stages — One AMX 10.4" Color
Active Touch Panel custom modified to fit into the console's
woodwork. Three AMX 5.5" Touch Panels in the booth.
One Video Transfer / Editing Department — Multiple AMX
5.5" Touch Panels positioned in the equipment rack to help
control video systems audio routing.
Less than six months after the project's completion, Sand Hill
Media has already returned to the Fox Studios lot in an effort to
handle a series of upgrades — at the request of studio
executives, of course. This natural evolution leads to NetLinx,
PRESSURE , WHAT PRESSURE?NAME20th Century Fox Digital Film Post Production Facilities
LOCATIONLos Angeles, CA.
AMX DEALERSand Hill Media
PROJECT MANAGERSSteve Sutter & Jeff Henderson
INTEGRATED MANUFACTURERS EQUIPMENTAMS Neve, BGW Pro Audio, Cisco, Dolby, JBL,Kinetone, Simplex, Tascam
AMX PRODUCT FAMILIESNetLinx & Axcess
OVERVIEWBehind the scenes, before a movie’s release,AMX control plays a major role in the filmediting and dubbing process at the 20thCentury Fox Post Production Facilities in LosAngeles. AMX NetLinx and Axcess ControlSystems, plus numerous AMX Touch Panels,automate four separate screening rooms, threefeature dubbing stages and one videotransfer/editing department.
HIGHLIGHTRealizing the need to keep careful watch of events and dialogue on the screen during the editing and dubbing process, Sand HillMedia developed a device that communicatesand operates in conjunction with the AMXTouch Panel: The Sand Hill Media UniversalJog/Shuttle. It looks like an oversized radioknob and allows the booth operator to manageframe-by-frame editing and voice-overs. The Jog/Shuttle’s movements, recognized byan AMX Touch Panel, provide heads-up controlthat is easy to use and familiar with all media formats.
application profile
20TH CENTURY FOXLOS ANGELES, CA
the most capable family of control products from AMX. "They
love it so much that they came to me and said, 'All this stuff is
great. What else can you do that is just as great because we
want to be there,'" said Sutter. "It is a very competitive industry,
so Fox has to be at the edge of technology in order to sell their
facilities to directors and producers." In fact, many movie
production companies and well established directors and
producers come to Fox because they prefer the technology and
features offered by the Post Production Facilities. It has become
the defacto home of Director Steven Spielberg for post
production of his Dreamworks films, according to Sutter.
SCREENING ROOM MAGICEnter studio executives, ready to videoconference with a
director filming at a remote location and preview the day's
takes. The operator in the booth already knows to dim the
lights to a certain level, to activate the microphones mounted
in the ceiling, and bring in the the video feed on cue. This
expert operator must switch the proper electronics quickly,
accurately, and in the right order. A moment ago, the
screening room sat silent. Suddenly, it is alive with moving
images and sound. "The stress level goes way up," Sutter
explained. "So has the reliability thanks to AMX. These film
screenings, videoconferences and other presentations come
off without any worries and the downtime is negligible.
Whether Rupert Murdoch (owner of media conglomerate
News Corporation Ltd. that includes 20th Century Fox) or a
famous actor (like Ben Affleck, who has starred in such
blockbuster movies as "Daredevil" and "The Sum Of All
Fears") walks into the room, the increase in tension is worth
it because AMX makes it all work right."
ADDRESS2004 Yolo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707-2639
PHONEMain Line: 510-527-7258
WEBSITEwww.sandhillmedia.com
BUSINESS FOCUSSand Hill Media handles systems design,
project management, and the integration of
media system projects, specializing in
feature film and broadcast post-production
as well as highly customized corporate
media and networking systems. The
company can provide a host of design
services from architectural, mechanical,
furniture and electric to sophisticated digital
systems. In addition, Sand Hill Media offers
strategic business consulting services
relating to technical systems design, cost,
usage and economics.
ESTABLISHED1997
Sand Hill Media Founder Steve Sutter
Dealer Spotlight
Sand Hill Media
Sand Hill Media Universal Jog/Shuttle
ARGENTINA • AUSTRALIA • BRAZIL • BELGIUM • CANADA • CHINA • ENGLAND • FRANCE • GERMANY • GREECE • HONG KONG • INDIA • INDONESIA • ITALY • JAPAN
LEBANON • MALAYSIA • MEXICO • NETHERLANDS • NEW ZEALAND • PHILIPPINES • PORTUGAL • RUSSIA • SINGAPORE • SPAIN • SWITZERLAND • THAILAND • TURKEY • USA
ATLANTA • BOSTON • CHICAGO • CLEVELAND • DALLAS • DENVER • INDIANAPOLIS • LOS ANGELES • MINNEAPOLIS • PHILADELPHIA • PHOENIX • PORTLAND • SPOKANE • TAMPA
3000 RESEARCH DRIVE, R ICHARDSON, TX 75082 • 800.222.0193 • 469.624.8000 • +1.469.624.7400 • 469.624.7153 fax • www.amx.com
©20
03 A
MX
Cor
pora
tion.
All
right
s re
serv
ed.
AM
Xan
d th
e A
MX
logo
are
all
trad
emar
ks o
f A
MX
Cor
pora
tion.
AM
Xre
serv
es t
he r
ight
to
alte
r sp
ecifi
catio
ns w
ithou
t no
tice
at a
ny t
ime.