Image from “Path of Souls” finished in 4k; courtesy High Definition Pictures and Gary Jackemuk, colorist.

Versatile Distribution Services (VDS), a leading distributor specializing in integrated solutions for the media and entertainment industry, today announced exclusive 4K and 2K turnkey workstations that feature ASSIMILATE’s SCRATCH® Digital Intermediate Software running on HP Z820 workstations in North America and Latin America. The SCRATCH systems enable digital cinema and broadcast artists to generate dailies, conform, color-correct, and complete the finishing of features, documentaries, videos, and episodic TV within a real-time, integrated, user-friendly workflow.

VDS has leveraged the collective experience of industry leaders in 4K, such as ASSIMILATE, HP, Fusion IO, AJA and Bluefish444, to build systems that remove much of the trial and error when configuring the appropriate CPU, RAM, graphics and storage for popular 4K projectors, displays and output.

“At Digital Arts (www.digital-arts.net), we launched New York City’s first true 4K grading theater,” said Axel Ericson, Founder of Digital Arts. “We designed it with the best technologies in order to redefine new standards in film post production. The theater includes world-class brands and products, such as the Christie 4K 4220 projector and Meyer Sound 7.1 Acheron speakers. As leaders in the 4K landscape, we chose ASSIMILATE SCRATCH and Bluefish444 for 4K DI because of its real-time 4K workflow capabilities without the cost of traditional big-iron systems. We’re really excited to learn about the new turnkeys from VDS and ASSIMILATE, because they take a lot of the trial and error out of configuring 4K workflows. This is what the market needs in order to widen the 4K user base.”

Z820 SCRATCH by ASSIMILATE and Versatile Distribution Services

• Fast, Powerful, and Expandable Workstations. HP Z820 Workstations set a new standard for performance and expandability. Featuring the latest Intel Xeon processors, massively scalable RAM, and five third-gen PCI Express slots, the Z820 is ideal for creative professionals at the top of their game.
   
• 4K/2K and HD Configurations. The SCRATCH Z820 turnkey systems are available in 2K/4K and HD configurations jam-packed with RAM, top-of-the-line NVIDIA graphics and storage options from HP, Fusion-IO and other leading manufacturers.
   
• 4K HD-SDI and 12-bit HD-SDI Preview.  4K HD-SDI preview with AJA’s Kona 3G and full 12-bit HD-SDI preview with Bluefish444’s Epoch|4K SuperNova video card allows artists to preview images in the highest possible bit depth.
   
• Optimized Integration. Versatile Distribution Services’ integration experts have experience optimizing the graphics and storage in SCRATCH systems for a range of high-performance DI and finishing environments including Christie and Sony 4K projectors and Eizo, Christie and Sharp 4K monitors. VDS tests each 4K and 2K turnkey system in a simulated film and broadcast environment before it ships.

Complete Your Suite. High-performance storage, color critical displays, and other qualified peripherals can be added to complete any turnkey configuration.

“Versatile Distribution Services specializes in turnkey solutions and workflows as opposed to just products,” said Jason Quast, managing director at VDS. “We’re excited to be the exclusive distributor of the SCRATCH turnkey solutions in North America and Latin America.  VDS and our resellers have always been at the leading edge of the media and entertainment industry, and we believe the market is now rapidly moving to 4K workflows. These turnkey real-time systems have the needed horsepower — at the right price point — to effectively facilitate the industry’s transition to 4K.”

“SCRATCH and SCRATCH Lab have gained rapid momentum throughout the world because they deliver unparalleled price-performance to on-set professionals and post-production artists,” said Steve Bannerman, vice-president of marketing, ASSIMILATE. “SCRATCH has been at the epicenter of 4K since 2007, and we’re excited to take the lead in driving the broad adoption of high-resolution workflows. Versatile Distribution Services’ optimized integration of 4K and 2K solutions, combined with their deep understanding of high-end systems and workflows, provide SCRATCH customers with the best possible creative experience.

Availability
The Z820 4K and 2K SCRATCH turnkey systems from ASSIMILATE and Versatile Distribution Services are available immediately. For more information, please visit http://www.versatiledistributionservices.com/ASSIMILATE.php.

About Versatile Distribution Services
Based in Marlboro, MA, Versatile Distribution Services, a division of Versatile Communications, Inc., is a channel partner, solutions provider, and distributor specializing in the media and entertainment industry. Versatile Distribution Services supplies reseller channel partners with HP workstations optimized for Avid, Adobe, ASSIMILATE, and Grass Valley as well as other broadcast and post solutions, including HP DreamColor Displays and high-performance storage. For more information, visit www.versatiledistributionservices.com.

ASSIMILATE’s SCRATCH Digital Workflow Tools
ASSIMILATE’s SCRATCH end-to-end data workflow tools – from dailies, to conform, color-grading, compositing, and through to finishing – and SCRATCH Lab, a robust dailies or VFX review digital pipeline, deliver the industry’s most comprehensive toolset for data-centric digital cinema and episodic television productions for 2D and 3D stereo projects. Both products support multiple formats, including ARRI RAW, Sony F65 and F55, Phantom, and Canon 5D, as well as enhanced support for RED ONE, RED ONE MX, SCARLET, and EPIC at all resolutions. For the latest feature film and TV credits, pricing, and sales, visit www.assimilateinc.com.

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