
With our finger firmly on the pulse of filmmaking, we are thrilled to unveil Pomfort’s newest development at IBC 2023: a new desktop application to succeed with the multifaceted tasks of professional video playback on set. Our team showcases the latest development status at the Pomfort booth (Hall 12, A38). Make sure to drop by for a demo!
The initial spark came from multiple requests by filmmaking professionals expressing their desire for a Pomfort-style video playback software – easily approachable, reliable, and flexible – that would also cover other important, untreated needs. Listening to the industry voices, we embarked on an extensive research and development journey.
The outcome is a next-generation on-set playback system meticulously crafted to balance both simplicity and functionality. It’s dedicated to the playback operator’s role to provide a fast and reliable source of real-time feedback. It also aims to improve the playback experience for all creative positions on set.
An innovative slot concept allows for quick interaction for all everyday use cases but offers a multitude of configurations and routing options under the hood. Leveraging the powerful Apple silicon technology renders it a dependable workhorse for any size production, from small to large setups with multiple cameras. Once fully released, users can choose between temporary licenses or yearly subscriptions, which can be easily tracked and managed on multiple computers with a free Pomfort Account.
A beta version will be available several weeks after IBC. Curious to get your hands on it? Sign up below for the beta! We are looking forward to hearing your first experiences and feedback.
Brief Overview
✅ Stay on top of all signals! The application boasts a flexible, transparent, and powerful routing and compositing engine for any size production from small to large, multiple camera setups.
✅ Empower your director and crew to the utmost extent! Quickly create tailored output configurations with multiple live and playback feeds, different layouts, and video filters to support all the different roles on set.
✅ Stay ahead of the curve and hold everything together! Easily create synced group recordings using timecode and provide synced playback. Constantly add metadata and set multiple shared in and out ranges during recording.
✅ Never miss a single recording! Rely on auto-record configurations for a single camera’s live signal or create group recordings of multiple inputs, including synced audio signals.
✅ Supply requested recordings within seconds! Take advantage of a comprehensive shot library for fast retrievability and use the dedicated in-recording navigation to whiz to any requested section efficiently.
✅ Provide stable signals at all times! Few things are more frustrating on set than everyone waiting for video playback. Our new application serves as a reliable companion with a rock-solid and rapid performance based on cutting-edge Apple Silicon.
Sign Up For Beta Now!
Be among the first to test the upcoming beta and get involved with the future development! How can we best support your work? We’re curious to hear your thoughts and feedback!
Fill in the form to stay tuned on the beta release.
Explore in Greater Detail
Innovative Slots Concept
With a focus on transparency and flexibility, the central user interface is designed around slots. That concept is adopted from Livegrade, Pomfort’s well-proven live grading application for multi-camera setups, but modified to address the specific challenges of video playback more conveniently. Easily manage and route live and playback signals to various destinations, ensuring seamless traceability of actions. The tool offers various slot types and modes, allowing you to present single or multiple live and playback signals, compare signals with different layouts, and apply filters or composites to customize monitoring for specific purposes or audiences. This guarantees that all creatives on set can easily access the content they need to focus on, telling the story effectively.
Group Recordings and Playback
It all comes down to speed and precision on set. Our playback application provides you with a variety of smart clip controls and automation features to help you save valuable time. Bank on the auto-record option triggered by the record flag embedded in SDI signals to not miss any recording. More than one camera involved? Easily create synced group recordings when shooting with multiple cameras. Set in and out points already during recording to mark specific sections to only playback the relevant parts. Even if the camera keeps rolling for several actions within a single take, we’ve got you covered with the option to add multiple ranges. On top, quickly arm or unarm slots, if a camera won’t be rolling for the next recording. New clips are auto-loaded for instant playback of timecode-synced group recordings. Control them with industry-standard JKL controls and additionally cycle easily through the multiple in and out ranges you’ve set before.
Comprehensive Shot Library
Rely on Pomfort’s proven shot library concept to organize the tons of recordings thoroughly during a project. It allows for customized table layouts and helps you to create meaningful structures for fast retrievability. Search the library by text, clip ratings, or flags. Track and edit valuable shot metadata for either single or multiple clips in a detail-view. Global metadata such as slate info, can be easily edited and applied to multiple clips in one step.
Also benefit from the innovative Smart Groups concept to organize clips using an automatic, customizable outline assembled by metadata. Once found, scan a recorded clip or multiple clips in a collection view with a dedicated skimming feature to find requested actions for review on the spot.
Device and Controller Integrations
Our playback system seamlessly integrates with your current workflows and more, enabling smooth transitions and process optimization. Take complete control of the application with Stream Deck controller actions. Use your trusted AJA and Blackmagic Video I/O devices and SDI Video routers. The interactive router control panel simplifies the tedious process of signal management, adds transparency and flexibility. Create multiple video routing configurations that can be triggered by your Stream Deck or automations based on a specific event. For instance, ensure the lowest possible latency for your director when switching from playback to live mode by automatically triggering the appropriate routing configuration.