by Lidia Paulinska | Dec 3, 2016
December 2016, NAMM – The 32nd NAMM TEC Awards nominees for upcoming Winter NAMM were announced. The celebration of the winners in 23 categories of Outstanding Technical and 8 categories of Outstanding Creative Achievements will take place during the in Anaheim on Saturday, January 21, 2017. The TEC Awards are recognition of the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind sound recordings, live performances, films, television and video games. More info at www.tecawards.org and congratulation for the nominees.
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Amplification Hardware – Studio & Sound Reinforcement: Crown – XLS DriveCore 2, d&b Audiotechnik – 30D, dbx – DriveRack VENU360 Series, JBL – M-Patch, Lab.gruppen – E Series, Powersoft – Deva HD
Ancillary Equipment: Antelope Audio – OCX HD, Antelope Audio – 10MX, Dangerous Music – 2-BUS+, Little Labs – Monotor, Radial Engineering – DiNET TX & RX Dante direct boxes, Rupert Neve Designs – RNHP: Precision Headphone Amplifer
Audio Apps & Hardware/Peripherals for Smartphones/Tablets: Antelope Audio – Satori Remote, Avid – Pro Tools | Dock, iConnectivity – iConnectAUDIO2+, Moog Music – Model 15 App, Radial Engineering – BT-Pro, Sennheiser – Wireless System Remote
Audio Education Technology: EarMaster – Pro 6, Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group – Recording Unhinged, iZotope – Pro Audio Essentials , JBL – SpeakerPro, Neumann – Neumann in the Home Studio, NYU Music Experience Design Lab – Groove Pizza
Computer Audio Hardware: Antelope Audio – Orion32+, Apogee – Symphony I/O Mk II, Prism Sound – Callia, Focusrite – Red 4Pre, PreSonus – Studio 192 26×32 USB Interface, Universal Audio – Apollo Twin USB Interface
DJ Production Technology – Hardware/Software: American Audio – VM55 Controller, Denon – DJ MCX8000, Native Instruments – TRAKTOR Kontrol S5 controller, Numark – CDmix USB, Rane – MP2014 mixer, Reloop – Mixtour 2 mixer/controller
Headphone / Earpiece Technology: AKG – K182, Audio-Technica – ATH-M50xMG, Sennheiser – HD 25 Plus, Shure – KSE1500 Electrostatic Earphone System, Ultimate Ears Pro – UE Pro Reference Remastered, Waves – Nx Virtual Mix Room Plugin
Large Format Console Technology: Allen & Heath – dLive Series, AMS Neve – Neve 88RS, Avid – S6L, DiGiCo – Stealth Core2 , Solid State Logic – System T, Yamaha – Rivage PM10
Microphone Preamplifiers: AMS Neve – Neve 1073DPX, Antelope Audio – MP8D, Chandler Limited – TG Microphone Cassette, Grace, Design – m108 remote mic preamp / ADC, Kush Audio – Omega, Radial Engineering – Jensen Twin-Servo 500
Microphones – Recording: Aston – Spirit, Blue Microphones – Bottle Mic Locker, Bock Audio – U195, Lauten Audio – LA-320, Luke Audio – AL-X767, Mojave Audio – MA-1000 Signature Series, Schoeps – ORTF-3D
Microphones – Sound Reinforcement: AKG – C7, Audio-Technica – ATM230, Countryman – A3 podium mic, DPA Microphones – d:facto 4018VL, Electro-Voice – ND Series, Shure – KSM8 Dualdyne
Musical Instrument Amplification & Effects: Antelope Audio – Zen Tour, Blackstar – Artist Series, Line 6 – Firehawk 1500, Radial Engineering – JDX Direct-Drive, Softube – Marshall JMP 2203, Tech 21 – Bass Fly Rig
Musical Instrument Hardware: Casio – GP-400, Dave Smith Instruments – OB-6 Synthesizer, Korg – Minilogue, Line 6 – Helix / Helix Rack, Moog Music – Mother-32, Novation – Circuit Synthesizer / Drum Machine
Musical Instrument Software: IK Multimedia – Miroslav Philharmonik 2, Output – Exhale, PPG – Phonem, PreSonus – Notion 6 Music Notation Software, Softube – Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962, Tracktion – BioTek Organic Synthesizer
Signal Processing Hardware: A Designs – Hammer 2, Antelope Audio – Goliath, Chandler Limited – RS124 Compressor, Manley – Nu Mu, Warm Audio – WA-2A Tube Opto Compressor, CEDAR Audio Ltd – CEDAR DNS 2 Dialogue Noise Suppressor
Signal Processing Hardware (500 Series Modules): API – 512V, BAE – 1066DL, Bettermaker – C502V, dbx – 555, elysia – karacter 500, Phoenix Audio – Tilt Tone Channel/500
Signal Processing Software (Dynamics / EQ / Utilities): Empirical Labs – Arousor, iZotope – Ozone 7 Advanced, iZotope – RX 5 Audio Editor, McDSP – 6050 Ultimate Channel Strip, SPL – Transient Designer Plus, Waves – Greg Wells Signature Series
Signal Processing Software (Effects): Eventide – Tverb, iZotope – VocalSynth, Melodyne – Studio 4, Softube – Fix Flanger and Doubler, Soundtoys – 5, Universal Audio – Fender ’55 Tweed Deluxe Plug-In
Small Format Console Technology: Allen & Heath – Chrome Qu Series, Lawo – Sapphire Compact, Mackie – AXIS Mixing System, Solid State Logic – Sigma Delta, Waves – LV1 Live Mixer, Yamaha – CL/QL V4.0
Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers: Bose Professional – F1 Flexible Array, EAW – Anna, JBL – EON ONE, Meyer Sound – MJF-208 Stage Monitor, PreSonus – ULT Series , VUE Audiotechnik – al-12
Studio Monitors: Augspurger – Solo12MF, Dynaudio – LYD Series, Focal – Trio6 Be, Genelec – 8340A IP SAM, JBL – LSR7 Series, Ocean Way Audio – HR4
Wireless Technology: Audio-Technica – ATW-T1006 Boundary Mic Transmitter , Lectrosonics – Venue 2 Receiver System, MIPRO – ACT 2400 Series, Neutrik – Xirium Pro, Sennheiser – Evolution Wireless G3 A-1 Band, Line 6 – Relay G10
Workstation Technology / Recording Devices: Avid – Pro Tools 12.3, Celemony – Melodyne Studio 4, MOTU – Digital Performer 9.1, PreSonus – Studio One 3.2 Professional , Steinberg – Cubase 8.5, Tracktion – T7
Outstanding Creative Achievement
Film Sound Production: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Bridge of Spies, Star Trek Beyond, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian
Interactive Entertainment Sound Production: Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Fallout 4, Star Wars: Battlefront, Uncharted 4 A Thief’s End, World of Warcraft: Legion
Record Production – Album: Blackstar, David Bowie, A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay, Culcha Vulcha, Snarky Puppy, Crosseyed Heart, Keith Richards, Hamilton, An American Musical, various artists
Record Production – Single: Blackstar, David Bowie, Can’t Stop the Feeling! Justin Timberlake, Empty, Garbage, Hello, Adele, Stare, Prince
Remote Production – Recording or Broadcast: 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, 58th GRAMMY Awards, 70th Annual Tony Awards, 88th Academy Awards, Superbowl halftime with Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars
Studio Design Project: Boston Symphony Orchestra Control Room, Deadmau5 Mau5trap, Man Made Music, Valenzo Studios, VSL Synchron Stage
Television Sound Production: Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot, The Walking Dead, Vikings
Tour/Event Sound Production: Adele Live 2016, Dave Matthews Band 2016 Summer Tour, One on One Tour – Paul McCartney, Radiohead 2016 World Tour, Rock Paper Scissors North American Tour – Sting and Peter Gabriel
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 21, 2016
Pepcom, October – On Thursday, October 27 Pepcom hosted its Holiday Spectacular press only event at Metreon City View in San Francisco. Over 50 companies were showing the season’s hottest new products and services. Last week Holiday Gift Guide produced by Roadway Media www.roadway.media was on the air on Comcast channel 27 and AT&T Uverse channel 99. Now is available at:
http://roadway.media/bright-blue-innovation/episode-5-pepcom-sf-holiday-spectactular-2016/
by Lidia Paulinska | Nov 21, 2016
October, SMPTE – At the first day of Centennial SMPTE ATC conference three speakers: Paul Debevec, Co-Chairman of Science and Technology Council, George Joblove, Co-Chairman and Jack Holm, Co-Author of Science and Technology Council SSL Project Committee presented the challenges and issues in color rendering using the solid state lighting (SSL) along with a solution – a Cinematographic Spectral Similarity Index. The new color index is based upon the similarity of a luminaire’s spectrum to a reference spectrum that eliminates the need for any assumption of the specific observer or camera spectral sensitivity.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science and Technology Council has investigated the issue the last few years. The AMPAS project was presented at SMPTE Tech Conference in 2009 (“State of Solid State Lighting”), at NAB conference in 2011 (“Chromatic Chaos: Implications of Newly Introduced Forms of Stagelight”) and again at SMPTE in 2013 (“Color Predictor Tool”). “The Experiment” conducted in 2010 showed that luminaire spectral power distribution affects skin tone, makeup, costumes, props, and sets. It showed differences in color for 4 different sources despite all of them being at the same color temperature.
The characteristics of Spectral Similarity Index (SSI) that is a solution for that issue are following:
- it defines how close a test spectrum is to a reference spectrum (e.g. tungsten),
- does not assume a spectral sensitivity for the camera/film/eye,
- single value representing quality of curve fit,
- index is easy to understand
- easy to include on luminaire/lamp packaging and literature.
The presenters explained the technical aspects of SSI but the final message is that the index yields a confidence factor, where a high score implies predictable color rendition for cinematography, and a moderate score implies possible color rendition challenges. The look of the image and the color of the things on the large screen for cinema, and now with the addition of HDR (high dynamic range) and WCG (wide color gamut) being available on home television screens, means color rendition for projects is once again at the forefront of the content creators vision.
by Lidia Paulinska | Oct 12, 2016
Fathom events, October – Offered for a single-evening engagement at select US theaters on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, Fathom Events presented Mel Brooks’ 1974 horror movie parody Young Frankenstein, starring Gene Wilder in the title role. The wonderful supporting cast included Teri Garr as the doctor’s fetching (very) personal Inga, Cloris Leachman as the evil Frau Blucher (at the very mention of her name, horses become hysterical), Marty Feldman as the devious bug-eyed hunchback, Peter Boyle as the Creature (IT’S ALIVE!!), Madeline Kahn as the horny up-tight socialite, and Kenneth Mars as the one-eyed, one-armed police inspector. Gene Hackman makes a brief cameo appearance as Harold, the blind old recluse.
This delightful film is a hilarious parody of the flood of classic horror film adaptations of Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein that were produced by Universal in the 1930’s. Shot in black and white to evoke the proper atmosphere, Brooks even employs the original lab equipment props used in the 1931 Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and features 1930’s style opening credits and period scene transitions such as iris outs, wipes, and fades to black. Young Frankenstein was a box-office smash and critically considered be one of the greatest film comedies of all time, ranking number 13 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 funniest American movies.
The story involves the respectable Dr. Frankenstein, a physician played by Wilder, who inherits his infamous mad-scientist great-grandfather’s castle in Transylvania and of course that’s where the fun begins. Dr. Frankenstein decides to follow in his mad great-grandfather’s footsteps and re-animate the dead. He ultimately succeeds. “IT’S ALIVE!!”
Arriving at the Transylvania train station, Dr. Frankenstein is met by a hunchbacked, bug-eyed servant named Igor (Marty Feldman). Frankenstein insists his name be pronounced “Fronken-steen,” so Igor insists his name be pronounced “Eye-gor.” A beautiful young assistant by the name of Inga (Teri Garr) is assigned to Frankenstein and when they arrive at the castle, the doctor comments favorably about the size of the door knockers and Inga thanks him, thinking he’s complimenting her anatomy. The movie is full of visual and word gags like this. When Igor asks the Doctor to follow him, he says “Walk this way,” and Frankenstein obediently limps along behind him. The doctor at one point suggests to Igor he can do something about his hump to which Igor replies “What hump.” And much to the doctor’s astonishment, Igor’s hump also seems to inexplicably switch from one side of back to the other. More hilarious moments include the top hat and tails song and dance routine performed to “Puttin on the Ritz” reminiscent of Fred Astaire with Dr. Frankenstein and the Creature singing and dancing in perfectly synchronized vaudeville style.
“Dressed up like a million dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Super-duper.”
Mel Brooks addressed the Fathom Event audience at the conclusion of the screening and it was a delight to listen to him share aspects of his professional career with us. He considered Young Frankenstein to be his finest (though not his funniest) film as a writer-director. Interestingly, he felt his funniest film was Blazing Saddles (1974), followed by The Producers (1968) and then Young Frankenstein. However, as far as most audiences are concerned, they are all equally hilarious and our lives are richer because of them. We may have personal favorites, but thankfully we have a rich comic heritage from which to choose.
Aristotle wrote much in an attempt to define tragedy, but claimed he didn’t write about comedy because no one took it seriously. (Drum roll please: da da bum). Without realizing it, he was our first stand-up comic!
If someone tells us they don’t take us seriously, we should consider it a compliment. Mel Brooks would.
by Lidia Paulinska and Hugh McMahon
by Lidia Paulinska | Oct 4, 2016
September, CTIA – The last day of CTIA 2016 conference brought a very special guest as keynote speaker – Academy Award winner, Golden Globe winner and 10-time Grammy Award winner, singer and songwriter – John Legend. His fireside chat discussion with Chris Hercik, senior vice president of Creative + Content, The Foundry@ Time Inc. the musician talked about how he and his wife Chrissy Teigen are for the technology and how they fully embrace it. He loves to be connected. He gave insightful overview on a topic how mobile technology continues to impact music industry.
Hercik also brought the information that not many know about the musician. John Legend is also a philanthropist. He volunteered to help the survivors after the Hurricane Katrina and Haiti. Recently he was ranked number 6 on the “World’s Greatest Leaders” list for the most influential figures from around the world in business, philanthropy and arts. On that list are people like Bono and Pope Francis. Legend was awarded for his effort to reform United States school and prison systems. Musician established the Show Me Campaign, a non-profit organization, to break the poverty trough education. He is also involved in some other charity organizations such millennium Promise Alliance to help African villages.
He spoke about his personal life with wife Chrissy and shared what makes him up. My daughter Luna –answered Legend with laugh. Luna is just few month old. I love music, I love doing what I am doing, and hopefully it makes the world more interesting and more beautiful place – stated Legend – I am lucky that I can do it every day.
by Lidia Paulinska | Oct 3, 2016
September, CTIA – Chris Pearson, President of 5G Americas, told us in 1:1 interview during the CTIA conference that the focus on 5G is good because we need to be looking at the future and the things we need to do to stay connected. This includes providing more mobile broadband, more massive LTE, less latency and finally reliable communication. For the foundation of mobile broadband, 4G and 5G will be integrated together as well the incorporation, with a big role, of LTE Advance and LTE Advanced Pro. But there is some economic reality behind the adoption of the technology in that, if you are an operator, and you want to deploy 5G, you have to have a business case to spend hundreds of millions or billions to pay it back.
5G Americas advocate for more innovations and investments from the private sector to look at the best interests of the end customers. The customer can be consumer, enterprise or verticals inside IOT.
5G Americas is the voice of 5G and LTE for all the Americas. They work by supporting the ecosystem of mobile operators and vendors, working with government agencies, regulatory and standards bodies, as well as other global wireless organizations to promote the 5G & LTE technologies. They work in three (3) different areas:
First – Technical recommendations and facilitations. They don’t typically create standards but they are part of the process of education on the direction of the technology that they want. They also contribute their white papers with the associations around the world and governments around the world with focus on Americas region.
Second – They work on regulatory policy, that as Pearson admitted – become more and more important because of what 5G is going to be doing. 5G is getting to the other verticals and other areas such as: education, transportation and health care. He believes that 5G ecosystem should include and will include a regulatory aspect as it enters market already subject to regulatory control.
Third – Education. They provide outreach with all wireless headquarters including industry media, industry analysts and a lot of influencers and government processes.
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 25, 2016
September, Fathom events – On Wednesday, September 14, Fathom Events presented “Snowden,” an expertly directed docu-drama by the incomparable Oliver Stone followed by a Live conversation with Edward Snowden (via the internet) and Oliver Stone and the two main actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley (live from NYC).
“Snowden” is the story of an idealistic young man by the name of Edward J. Snowden, probably the world’s most famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, whistle-blower, who worked for National Security Agency and the C.I.A. as a data analyst, and whose experiences with those organizations lead him to question some accepted truths about patriotism, one’s responsibility to one’s country, and to ultimately challenge the very essence of authority.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Snowden does a remarkably empathetic representation of a shy, intelligent idealist, drawn to government intelligence work out of a sincere desire to serve his country and the gradual and cinemagraphically nuanced transition he experiences at those agencies from an unquestioning data analyst to either a patriotic whistle-blower or traitor depending on one’s point of view. Stone’s interpretation of the events clearly supports the former.
In contrast to many of Stone’s earlier efforts, “Snowden” is a remarkably restrained and intelligent film in both cinematic and political terms…no rage against the system or beating the drum of justified revolution. Snowden is represented as a sincere and thoroughly rational idealist whom Stone frames within a world of divided loyalties, secrecy, and indications of astonishing world-altering power. We witness his ethical angst within a very effective restrained cinematic context. It’s a world of data, codes, and algorithms, a context within which Stone may in fact not be able to choose a course of unrestrained anger and leftist polemic as is typical in many of his earlier works.
Stone makes his case uncharacteristically a-political case with enormous skill, discretion, and restraint without the need to dazzle or enrage his audience. “Snowden” is a clear and honest dramatization of one of the more outstanding news events of the past several years and worthy of our attention.
by Tom P Kolodziejak | Sep 20, 2016
September, Fathom events – Picture Home Entertainment and Fathom Events bring “Labyrinth 30th Anniversary” to the big screen on September 11 at hundreds of theaters throughout the country to celebrate Jim Henson’s imaginative adventure.
“Labyrinth,” a children’s fantasy complete with extraordinary Muppet-type puppets, was produced by George Lucas in 1991 and featured David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. It was initially a critical and box office failure, costing $25 million to produce and grossing $12.5 million. Over the years, however, it became something of a cult favorite, enjoying a new audience ten years and beyond. In fact, the Fathom presentation enjoyed an enthusiastic standing-room-only screening on the evening of it’s presentation.
It was directed by Jim Henson who was the creator of the Muppets of TV’s groundbreaking “Sesame Street “ which first aired on PBS November 10, 1969 and is currently enjoying it’s 46th successful season and continues to feature many of Henson’s original Muppets, including Elmo and Oscar the Grouch.The film features a rather menacing and demonic-looking singing Wizard played by David Bowie who seems rather uncomfortable in the role, perhaps he had to share top billing with a bunch of puppets. The plot is a simple one dealing with the mis-adventures of 15-year-old Sarah in search of her baby brother Toby. Needless to say, it has a happy end.
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 13, 2016
Biotechnology, September 2016 – The opening keynote for Biotechnology conference in San Francisco this past June was a brilliant pairing of two speakers – Forensic pathologist Dr Bennet Omalu and famous actor Will Smith.
What brought them together? The answer is – cinema.
Both of them are the characters of the movie “Concussion” that was released at the end of 2015 and many claimed that it deserved an Oscar nomination. It is the story of Dr Bennet Omalu (portrayed by Will Smith in the movie) who discovered and described a disease called CTE – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy after a few dramatic accidents resulted in the early deaths of football players in Pittsburgh. For those who haven’t seen the movie I save writing a review, because it is worth going to see.
Dr Bennet Omalu talked on the stage about science for the sake of knowledge and the interrelationship of pure science and its faith. Will Smith talked about his reaction to the film. How he suddenly got concern about his son that likes to play football. Both men are very colorful characters. Omalu’s sense of humor and unstoppable laugh was dominating on the stage. Will Smith was talking about challenges in that role including Omalu’s accent and the laugh.
The film opened the public eyes at the challenges that players facing and shake the NFL world. Omalu who is dedicated to the science as investigating how the world works, and to this end, used his own money to investigate why the admired Steeler team football player Mike Webster, ended up his life alone, homeless and in unbearable pain. Omalu kept asking why that happened and why at so early an age. The road to acceptance of the discovery wasn’t easy but Omala believed and searched for truth no matter what.
As many attendees came being attracted by Will Smith presence they were taken by surprise and found Dr Bennet Omalu very interesting and compiling person.
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 9, 2016
IDF, September 2016 – At the Intel Developer Forum, while a lot of the discussion was on IoT and smart connections, Intel continued their technology advancement and development of multi-core processors for the consumer computer market. The company held a briefing to announce their 7th generation Core series microprocessor.
The new processors continued the take advantage of the new process technology. The processors use the Intel 14nm+ technology which is an updated and advanced version of the 14nm process released a short time back. This new process is about 12% faster than the standard 14nm process and allows for increased productivity in the design. The new process is not only faster but also lower power so the designs of the new PC’s using them can be thinner and lighter with longer battery life.
The higher density design on the 14nm+ process allowed for the addition of a new graphics engine to be built into the chip that will now support UHD 4K video without an additional external GPU card or chip. This will all the computers for be used for immersive applications such as VR, and high resolution movies.
This year, there are supposed to be over 100 designs from multiple manufacturers that will be released with the new core generation core processors. These designs now support new standard functions such as USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3, Windows Hello, a pen/stylus, and 4K display panels. These will enhance both gaming/entertainment and standard office productivity. The computers with the new processors, and supporting the new DDR4 DRAM memory and Flash memory storage solutions, are many times faster and more productive than a computer from as little as 5 years ago.
by Lidia Paulinska | Sep 6, 2016
Siggraph, July 2016 – The annual SIGGRAPH event is the meeting place for the academics, innovators, industry and professional media producers to meet and share their experiences. The commonality is the blending of the technology and engineering with the artistic vision that drive cinema, TV and advertising. To help realize these visions on a release schedule, the computers used had to change and became workstations.
Dell’s Precision Workstations had a lot of visibility at the SIGGRAPH 2016 show even though Dell did not have a booth on the show floor and the company did not introduce any new products. We living on providing solutions – said Molly Connolly, WW Industry Strategist, Media & Entertainment – We are looking for symbiotic microcosms. She confirmed that the company understands the balance with software professional community and also their customers. Her focus is on how we can engage with the community and listen what their needs are to make their workstations even better.
Dell’s workstation is a solution for the SIGGRAPH community.
The facts are that you don’t need the workstation if you are just running office and email but everyone who is creating visual and digital content, and those who are using the professional applications for creating the digital content; those professionals need system commonality, multi-processors with multiple cores, ECC memory, professional graphics compute capability, fast storage, fast IO & networking. All that workstation provides.
Workstation are for time critical applications and they are designed not to fail and require the user re-crate the content. If you running a 3 day rendering task, and you know that your film has to be in theaters in 8 weeks, the workstation is the solution for you. The same for broadcasting space. Broadcast cannot let the screen go dark or have the content interrupted.
Dell’s workstations for M&E Tech space enables the magic to happen – said Molly. Dell’s workstation has been used by the last five winner of Academy Awards for Visual Effects. Molly went on to state that – “We’ve been very fortunate. Dell precision workstation has been recognized as leader in performance.” This recognition has been for both the desktop and portable workstations.
This capability is what is driving Dell as one of the dominant platforms for the creation of VR content. The workstations are designed to support all the pieces needed for this new stereoscopic and 360 degree content marketplace, and are being quickly adopted as the computer of choice for the VR creators.
Looking at the process. Artists create the content – mostly at the workstation, they manage the content – typically on server, then they deliver the content and you enjoy it (or consume it). The workstations, with their fault tolerant design, construction for long hours of continuous operation and capacity for high performance computing allow this process to happen on a predictable schedule, freeing the artists to create their vision, rather than worry about the computing.
