Today is a day in which I start a milestone in my career. So I decided to take a short reflection of the times at EVS and put them on paper (or digital bits of sorts).
It began in 1999, my early days at EVS, supporting customers and training. As a freelancer for EVS, I supported some of the initial growth, and helped get customers up-to-speed on the new form of technology entering the mobile trucks and productions.
Shortly thereafter, I moved frm the freelance role to full time, and moved my new life and to-be-wife, to New Jersey and joined EVS in late 2000.
Early days of Xfile
One of the best joys of my roles at EVS, was to help bring new products, workflows and solutions to market. The world was changing, from tape melts and linear backups of media to videotape… and looking towards a new way of managing high density media movements.
I was part of the original efforts to launch the XFile into the market. From bringing prototypes of a 2U chassis to dozens of shows, and engaging with users about new ideas in am emerging category at the time, of going every more tapeless.
Bringing Production Asset Management in Live Sports & Broadcast Centers
As my friend Chris Strong reminded me last night… we brought new Proof of concepts using an existing product at the time, the Airbox, to serve evolving content needs for linear editing using Disk Recorders as sources. With the ability to harness a cluster of EVS servers doing replays, we could bring access to content to an editor and provide rapid turn around for Golf. In years later, this would transform into the launch of a new product line of known as the IPDirector.
As time would move one, we would transform the core of how biug events, broadcast centers and the high paced world of live sports was executed… including domains like the Super Bowl, US Open Tennis, X-Games, World Cup, Nascar, and too many to list.
Built a new HD future for the market.
I was honored to be a part of the team who launched the HD-XT server into the market, serving the growing demand for 720p and 1080i emerging standards.
As broadcasters were transforming into new video standards, and service providers were scrambling to figure out how they would server the need, we saw the market shift, and positioned EVS ahead of the demand by supporting all HD formats emerging. This change was one of exciting times, and the ability for me to visit almost every new HD truck and production in the market, and help bring new solutions to the problems our industry faced… was humbling and remarkable.
Break down the walls of Native NLE exchange of media
Establishing EVS as one of the market leaders who solves the problems of File sharing to NLE editors in the market, we brought new ways of looking at native formats. Focusing on how to build partnerships with AVID, and support the native DNxHD codec to speed the time to air.
Launching Spotbox into the market
With my EVS colleagues, and one of many great developers like Marc Beckers (to name one of many) We changed the way a Technical Director performed live graphic elements like transitions and fill/key promos on-air.
With the speed of EVS, and the ability to listen to the customer needs… we filled a gap and provided a ‘sportbox’ solution, which would overtime become of of the US market and beyond, a new foundation of live execution.
Helping to lead ideas and agility
As I could keep recalling all of the historical moments… I will take a break from the topic to summarize one of the aspects in which I enjoyed the most.
Some of the most fruitful time at EVS came through the discussions, and the ability to present ideas and think of new ways to solve problems. Whether it was in new products, or new processes, or just new ways to look at the market. The collaboration at EVS and the ability to continually look inward and outward at market forces and how to solve problems… it was a real pleasure to be part of these teams.
As time went on, I was afforded opportunities inside EVS to engage with Global teams around the world. As they gave me the trust and the task to communicate EVS vision, roadmap and to help capture inbound ideas, I was fortunate enough to be part of a larger world than my US beginnings.
Video Content Production, Products and Design Thinking 