French Firm AATON Endorses Maximum Throughput Sledgehammer

Maximum Throughput Inc., developer of multi-user media management and editing applications and high-performance media servers and storage solutions, announced that its Sledgehammer file server and real-time video device has been integrated, certified, and endorsed by AATON for use with its Keylink and InDawPass audio syncing solutions for telecine, digital dailies, and digital intermediate workflows.

A pioneer in post audio synchronization, AATON revolutionized the speed and accuracy with which filmed images can be synchronized with associated audio, and recorded onto DATs, Nagras, Cantar and other field audio recorders. The company’s technology has become the de facto standard for audio synchronization in film dailies, telecine, and digital intermediate workflows. AATON is based in Grenoble, France.

“Sledgehammer is now the only fully qualified ‘DDR’ that we recommend our customers use in conjunction with our audio syncing postproduction solutions,” said Alain Bellet, Keylink/Indaw product manager for AATON. “We’ve certified that the integration between Max-T’s Sledgehammer and our audio syncing workstations is robust enough to support today’s demanding telecine, film dailies, and digital intermediate workflows.”

AATON’s Keylink and InDawPass workstations are key members of a product family based upon AATON’s AatonCode time-marking system for film production. During the telecine process, after AatonCode and Keycode markings are read from the film, that data (describing the timecode, camera reel, camera speed, and other production details) is then recorded onto Sledgehammer. Sledgehammer serves as central storage for timecode data, HD/SD video, and audio. When connected to Keylink, Sledgehammer can record and playback RP201 3-line VITC (video timecode, Keycode, and audio timecode) in SDTV; and RP215 film VANC in HDTV.

When integrated with Sledgehammer, the AATON InDawPass performs accurate, automatic synchronization of each slated take’s picture and sound significantly faster than is possible with a manual audio matching process.

AATON’s InDawPass, which is the only dedicated audio-syncing system, is designed to handle all types of audio synchronization situations, including regular slate and digislate, as well as SD, HD, and 2K resolution imagery. It supports standard databases, such as ALE and FLEX; and performs as a video inserter for VITC, VANC, burn-in timecode windows and virtual slates.

Sledgehammer is both a high-performance NAS (Network Attached Storage) file server and a versatile video device with built-in media management and preparation tools. It is a network-shared media server, with different storage configurations and network connectivity options, designed to support demanding and custom post-production and broadcast infrastructure setups. With its real-time video I/O and control capabilities combined with robust file-sharing and media processing support, Sledgehammer is the most comprehensive infrastructure solution that can simultaneously accommodate tape-based and file-based acquisition and workflows.