Again, please accept our apologies for completely missing the month of July in FACTORY NEWS.

As explained in an earlier post, we were just too doggone busy to do anything else but just fill orders – we even had to employ (to use the term loosely) the so-called quote/unquote “creatives” from our so-called Art and Writing Departments – yeah, we put those idio oh, sorry, change that – those so-called brainy types to work downstairs on the Factory Floor – filling orders every day in July – well, sorta filling orders – I mean they’re all brain and no brawn that group – and well, we need brawn down there to … what? What was that? We have a quote coming in from Ernie [The Attorney]? Well, OK … putt’em through …

Yes, thank you – I’d like to take a moment, on behalf of senior management, to apologize to our loyal clients for our ‘radio silence’ during the 31 days of July – hang on … [Doris … July has 31 days, right?] Ah, yes … the 31 days of silence in July. I assure you, as busy as we ever get down there on the Factory Floor, now and in the future, we will always find a way to communicate our feelings to you, within the limits of the law, of course, and keep you apprised of our progress. The great demand that you have created for us has taken more resources than originally imagined – we’ve maintained a steady stride but, in July, at a slower pace. Although we appreciated the help of the ‘artists’ and ‘writers’ during the crunch time, we probably would have been better off having them stay upstairs doing whatever they do … and now, in August, as we pick-up the pace, I’m glad to announce that these creatives will be working on getting new messages out to you, with greater consistency and at a much faster pace. [Doris, do you think I’ve said the word “pace” too many times in this speech?] … Yes, well, it’s back to work and, as always, if I don’t see you on The Factory Floor, I’ll see you in court!

– Ernest Lee-Lyle Littygate, Esq

Well, thanks, Ernie – we’re so glad to have you as our attorney, legal counsel, third baseman of the softball team and corporate spokesperson. 

Well, like the man said – it’s back to work and, here’s to our best summer, yet – lots of great stuff happening down there and, don’t worry – we’ll keep you posted!

Hang on … it’s NOT about us, here, at The Factory! This wasn’t one of our tests …

BUT, it’s a great article that we enjoyed and felt the need to share with you. And, as you read it, put this note in the back of your mind: 

Factory Optic is developing a PrestonMDR Server to work directly with Unreal Engine 4.27 – we will keep you posted on our progress – so, as always, WATCH THIS SPACE!

– Freddy, The Foreman

Now, on to the article … recently, Epic Games and filmmakers’ collective Bullitt assembled a team to test out the latest in-camera VFX toolset, part of the extensive suite of virtual production tools in the upcoming Unreal Engine 4.27 release. To put each of the new tools through their paces, they created a short test piece to mimic a production workflow.

The production test capitalized on new workflows that enable dynamic lighting and background changes on-set with minimal downtime, together with multi-camera and traveling vehicle shoots. 

The project used twin NVIDIA Quadro A6000 GPUs. 

The test team was able to produce final pixels in just four days – a demonstration of the efficiency and creative freedom the toolset offers.

That was the TEASER … Now, here’s the ARTICLE (click on image below)

“Hey … you getting time code outta there?“

“OK, if you are going to use that tone with me, I’m going to stop this big-rig and you’re going to get a TIME OUT, Mister!”

– Angry Factory Driver

Hang on – maybe we got our wires crossed, here … We’re talking about Time Code – and, specifically, seeing if any given device is generating it – or not. No need to wonder anymore … Factory Optic introduces its latest production tool … A LOW COST tester device that takes timecode (all SMPTE formats) in on BNC, and power in on USB-C and clearly displays the TC – drop-frame, with a semicolon. 

… and it’s called

“TIME OUT”

Yet another simple and useful tool of the trade from Factory Optic. Oh, and did we mention that it is a LOW COST solution? 

Timecode rates: 

23.976, 24, 25, 29.97(DF/NDF) and 30(DF/NDF). SMPTE 12M-2008

Timecode Input:

  Connector: BNC

  Impedance: 10k ohm

  Signal: 2Vp-p

Power Input:

  Connector: USB-C (UFP, no data)

  Voltage: 5V

Size: 

..22mm x 24mm x 82.5mm

See the FACT SHEET HERE

Now, get back in the truck – we have a long way to go!

Yes, we are all fairly certain that you’ve noticed our big, wide EMPTY “July” section – no posts – no news … no NOTHING.

Okay! Okay! We get it … we get it! Sheesh! Rub it in our faces, why don’t you? We were all downstairs helping Freddy [The Foreman] to get the orders out and, as a result of that effort, there was NO marketing, NO press releases or public relations … and certainly NO snappy, clever and witty articles written and/or published … was there? Well, hopefully, now you will appreciate our little contribution to the BIG machine … and going forward – unless we are pressed to go back downstairs again – we pledge to get back on track with the very best of our clever and witty news releases and case studies … every month, from now on … OKAY?

– Disgruntled member of The Writing Staff

Well, for the record, please note that there was plenty of activity and lots of news – it’s just that the entire Factory was on double-platinum overtime all month to try to keep up with the demand! That’s right, we even had to draft our near-useless art department and writing department – mandated that they put down their pens and pencils and head straight on down to the Factory Floor, grab a hard hat and get busy! That’s right – EVERYONE was involved in the task of getting product out the door! And everyone did their part to help meet the demand.

With the SYNCRO-LINK line catching on and getting rave reviews, we realized that we needed to step it up to keep production ahead of the other non-SYNCRO-LINK projects building up in the pipeline. And, although our team of so-called artists and writers aren’t really career ‘line-level’ workers, they did their best to contribute helping hands while staying well out of the way of the real ‘hard hats’ …

With  everything back on track now, they are preparing to release some current news and backlogged articles so, as we say in TV:

“Please stand by …”

Working hard … and … Hardly working … at the Factory, July 2021