Halcyon Digital

Digital Media Specialists

We do data. video. DIT. workflow. streaming. camera. wireless. HDR. rentals. Teradek. RED. Arri. 4K. QTake. colour. playback. transcodes. dailies. 4G.

We're a digital media specialist company - meaning we consult on anything from working with the latest digital cameras through to devising the best post production pipeline for you. We have a wide range of gear to assist with your productions, and our crew know all of it inside and out.

We're based in Auckland, New Zealand, but have supplied equipment and crew to jobs across the country as well as overseas.

So if you're looking for a DIT, video split operator, data wrangler, or just want to talk through your different workflow options, give us a call. 

Stuff we've worked on

Video

Monitors

We carry a wide selection of monitors ranging from large video village monitors to compact handheld directors monitors. We also have specialist options including built-in recording, daylight-viewable, HDR, and OLED monitors.

All our monitors can be battery powered and we have custom-built trolleys for easily moving them around set.

SmallHD 1703 P3X

  • 17" IPS LCD
  • 1000 nits
  • great for director
$200/day

SmallHD 2403 HDR

  • 24" IPS LCD
  • 1000 nits
  • great for agency
$250/day

SmallHD 702

  • 7" OLED
  • 300 nits
  • great for on-camera
$100/day

SmallHD 703

  • 7" LTPS LCD
  • 2200 nits
  • ultra-bright even in daylight
$150/day

SmallHD 703 Bolt

  • 7" IPS LCD
  • 3000 nits
  • Teradek wireless handheld
$200/day

SmallHD Cine 24

  • 24" IPS LCD
  • 1350 nits
  • 4K resolution
$250/day

Sony PVM-1741

  • 17" OLED
  • 10-bit panel
  • incredible colour
$200/day

Sony PVM-2541

  • 25" OLED
  • 10-bit panel
  • incredible colour
$280/day

Wireless

From 90m to 3km, zero delay to web-based streaming, there's no doubt we have a wireless kit to suit your situation.

We carry the complete range of Teradek Bolt zero-delay wireless systems, including the new Bolt 4K series. We also offer the Teradek Serv & Link system for wifi-based streaming to iPads and mobile devices on set.

Teradek Bolt 1000

  • 300m range
  • 1Tx + 1Rx
  • solid mid-range option
$300/day

Teradek Bolt 3000

  • 900m range
  • 1Tx + 1Rx
  • industry standard
$400/day

Teradek Bolt 500

  • 150m range
  • 1Tx + 2Rx
  • affordable option
$200/day

Teradek Link

  • 300m range
  • Create WiFi network
  • Enhance Serv Pros
$50/day

Teradek Serv Pro

  • 180m Range
  • Stream to iPads
  • Wifi Connectivity
$100/day

Playback

We carry various playback solutions for either basic standalone use on a set without a video operator, or fully-featured solutions for use by our experienced video operators. If in doubt contact us to discuss what solution would be best for your production.

QTake Pix240 Odyssey 7Q+

Qtake

The industry standard in high end video playback QTake software is in use world wide on pretty much every major Feature and TV Show.

QTake allows comprehensive cataloging and playback of each take and synchronous playback between multiple cameras. No matter if a shot was filmed on the first day it will be possible to recall it instantly on the last day of a multi month productions.

Other features include live compositing, editing and live colour grading.

We have designed our QTake kits to be shippable inside an SKB case and completely battery powered if required.

PIX240

The Video Devices PIX240 is the the workhorse of the PIX family. Capable of format conversion and recording HD-SDI or HDMI signals the PIX240 is our go-to clamshell recorder where portability is key. 

The large playback controls and jog wheel help navigating between clips and the large storage capacity can store whole blocks of Drama shoots if needed.

The PIX240 can be mounted on any of our trolleys under a monitor or can be easily rigged in odd spaces that other playback devices cannot.

Odyssey 7Q+

...

Data

DIT

Our custom-built data management kits range from the ultra-portable Sparrow up to the heavy-duty Condor. We can supply some kits on a dry-hire basis, while others require a Halcyon data wrangler or DIT to operate.

We can handle offloading and transcoding nearly every type of media, and keep a copy of your files securely on our in-house storage system for 30 days after the shoot date.

Condor

  • Offloads + Transcodes
  • 32TB of Storage
$450/day

Kestrel

  • Offloads + Transcodes
  • 6TB of Storage
$250/day

Sparrow

  • Portable offload station
  • 4TB of Storage
$200/day

Media

With large-format cameras such as the Arri Alexa LF becoming more and more popular, slow storage media just doesn't cut it any more. We offer fast SSD and RAID drive options for quick offload of even massive 4K & RAW camera files.

Discounted rates are available for long-term rentals.

LTO Tapes

  • LTO 6 - 2.5TB
  • LTO 7 - 6TB
  • LTO 8 - 12TB
POA

Stardom DR2-TB2

  • 8TB Raid 0
  • Rushes Shuttle Drive
  • Thunderbolt 2
POA

Stardom i310-SB3

  • 2TB HDD
  • Rushes Shuttle Drive
  • USB 3.0 & eSATA
POA

LTO archival

LTO Tapes are the preferred method of long term archival with a life expectancy of 30 years far outstripping normal hard drives which are prone to failure after only a few years.

With the advent of LTFS it's never been more affordable to archive your projects during or after production to tape and we have the hardware and software to do so.

 

Remote

Remote

Remote - introduction

Solutions for a connected set

With COVID-19 impacting film & TV productions around the world, we are all faced with finding a new way to work in a changed environment. Requirements like physical distancing and remote working might seem incompatible with standard film set practices, but with small tweaks to how we do things (along with the application of cutting-edge technology) we can create an environment that is just as productive as before while also maintaining safety protocols.

We call this the connected set.

Below we lay out some of the ways we can help your productions stay safe while staying productive, through the use of cloud streaming & communications, on-set internet infrastructure, and telepresence systems. Some of this can also be applied to post-production, through systems such as remote viewing for editing & grading.

With 10 years’ experience working in DIT & video, we’re ideally positioned to tackle the challenge of connecting the set in a time of isolation and distance, and developing new solutions as the situation changes and develops.

Streaming

For a typical production in the past, we would have set up a dedicated video village where the client/agency (on TVCs) or crew (on films & drama) can watch a real-time feed from the camera. Moving this off-site and/or splitting up the individuals is one of the easiest and fastest ways to lower the amount of people on set, as well as reduce close-contact between them.

Using cloud streaming we can transmit video from up to 4 cameras securely over the internet to multiple off-site viewers at their home or workplace in near real-time.

We can also distribute this video feed wirelessly on-set to individual phones & tablets, effectively giving everyone their own personal screen and reducing the need for people to huddle together around monitors.

Remote - Internet

Internet

With so much relying on the link between set and the internet, it’s important to have a fast and stable connection. For locations where a fibre hookup isn’t available or is unreliable, we can offer a 4G bonded wireless system. This spreads the outgoing internet traffic over several different mobile providers, before recombining it at a secure off-site server and then forwarding on to the internet.

To further enhance internet stability on set we can offer a variety of wifi infrastructure options, from mesh access points (many wifi hotspots that spread the load between them) to a strong point-to-point link (for beaming a connection over long distances to/from a remote location).

Remote - Communications

Comms

To enable communication and collaboration whilst in an isolated off-site environment, we can provide a secure voice comms network. Each off-site user can access the system from their phone or computer, and talk in real-time with everyone else easily and securely.

Taking this one step further, we can bridge this voice network into the on-set radio network, allowing near-instant communications between people off-site and those on-set, without needing to juggle multiple forms of contact (txt, phone calls, Zoom, etc).

A typical use case might have an off-site producer able to pass notes quickly and privately to another producer or AD on-set, whilst still plugged into a conversation with other off-site creatives & clients.

Facilities

Facilities - Vehicles

Vehicles

Our custom-fitted vans can be configured as a camera or production vehicles, DIT/colour workstations, or used to transport VTR equipment without needing to pack everything down.

Each vehicle has independently-controllable internal lighting, as well as heavy-duty shelving and storage for equipment. We also have optional high-density battery systems for each vehicle, which means totally silent and uninterruptible power. No noisy generators - keep your soundie happy!

Toyota Hiace Mercedes Sprinter

Toyota Hiace

High-top ceiling clearance and 4WD means we can roll into any location and be unloaded fast, as well has having a mobile workstation to base out of.

Comes standard with a Honda 2k generator. Optional silent battery system also available.

Facilities - Camera

RED Helium 8k

When it comes to RED we are among some of the most experienced camera technicians and suppliers in the country. Our RED Helium 8K camera is one of the only available in New Zealand and is fully kitted with an Arri accessory package, as well as multiple lens mount and module options.

We can also provide support on RED shoots both during pre-production and production, offering detailed camera setup and training, camera troubleshooting, and assistance with data management and workflow. We carry various RED-specific tools and accessories, including the RED Rocket-X accelerator card.

Camera Modules RED Rocket-X

Camera

The RED Helium 8K camera utilises a Super35 sensor with around 16.5 stops of dynamic range, and holds the highest-ranked score for a camera sensor as tested by DXOmark. It can shoot up to 60 fps in full 8K, or 120 fps when dropped to 4K (and 240 fps at 2K).

We also have the philmColor creative LUT library designed specifically for RED DSMC2, so you can try out a variety of looks and treatments on your production.

Our standard rental kit is listed below. Additional media, modules, and accessories are available.

  • PL or Canon EF mount
  • 4.7" touch display
  • DSMC2 OLED EVF
  • 4 x 512GB REDmag minis
  • USB-C 3.1 card reader
  • carbon-fibre 'Weapon' body
  • Arri 19mm/15mm accessory kit
  • VLock plate with D-Box power distribution

Modules

We carry a range of RED DSMC2 modules for expanding and altering the camera's capabilities.

JETPACK-SDI replaces the standard battery back and offers DC power in, HD-SDI & aux power out, and sync and control ports. It also offers a Gig-E port for tethered recording and remote camera control. This module is perfect when using the camera in a helicopter gimbal pod such as the Shotover system, or when rigging a handheld gimbal and want to keep the weight down.

JETPACK-HDMI also replaces the standard battery back and offers DC power in, a locking HDMI video connector, plus USB power out & sync and control ports. This module is well-suited for drone setups where the wireless video downlink often only accepts HDMI signals.

RED Rocket-X

The RED Rocket-X accelerator card speeds up the decoding and processing of RED footage. Although originally developed and advertised as being capable of accelerating up to 6K footage, our tests have shown it also accelerates the processing of 8K footage by up to 2x the speed of standard GPU processing.

Our Rocket-X lives inside an external Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, so it can easily be moved from machine to machine, and a simple adapter makes it compatible with older Thunderbolt 2 machines as well.

Facilities - Inovativ-carts

Inovativ carts

Our on-set camera carts are some of the best in the business. Custom-built by Inovativ in the USA, and engineered with all sorts of helpful features: hydraulic disc brakes, fully collapsible, height adjustable and various modular add-ons. We currently have 2 cart variants:

Echo 36 Scout 31 EVO

Colour suite

Our on-site Colour Suite is available for dry hire or with a DIT or Colourist.

Utilise it on your next production in pre production for LUT creation, during production for near set dailies, or in post production for your final grade. Our suite and experienced operators can help you out at any stage.

Contact

If you have any questions or would like to rent some of our gear or hire some amazing crew, get in touch with us using the details below. Or drop in for a visit!

09 969 2253
contact@halcyondigital.co.nz
400C Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021