Like music and sports, there is no better way to appreciate education (and truly make the most it) than live performance. If you are a hardcore fan of Jon Bon Jovi or Aston Villa Football Club (yes, American friends, I’m thinking about that soccer game!) like me, then you’ll understand perfectly what I mean: talent, passion and knowledge. I also could have mentioned sweat… which would have been far from stupid when you think about the bloody high temperature that triggers instant chaos inside the LVCC each day after 5pm (or would that be the cocktail hour?).
 
So, live education, what do we mean by that? Simply put, we are bringing all our talent, passion, emotion and knowledge to the stage at this year’s NAB show! This means that each and every NAB attendee will have the opportunity to hear the best educational presentations from Dalet Academy insiders, including our very own Stéphane Guez and Bruce Devlin, Geoff Stedman of Quantum and other great speakers from Adobe and our international partners.
 
As Dalet Academy subscribers know very well, knowledge is power, which is why we’ll be spreading the knowledge far and wide at this year’s show through engaging presentations on the theater. After each Dalet Academy session, there will be the opportunity to join a workshop to discuss the educational materials that have just been shared and explore the topic further with the speaker and other students. To participate, you’ll just need to pre-register and arrive sharp on time for the presentation. Before the presentation, a member of the Dalet Academy faculty will give you some notes and a series of probing points or questions. During the presentation you’re encouraged to consider these points, which, together with your own Q&A will form the framework of the workshop session that follows.
 
Oh… and all Dalet Academy “students” registering for and attending a presentation and workshop will be entered into a daily draw to win a cool Dalet Academy prize, such as a Fitbit Flex, a one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or a GoPro!
 
Here’s what’s on:
 
Bruce’s Shorts Live – 1pm & 4pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
 
At this year’s NAB Show, the Dalet Academy is taking its popular video series, “Bruce’s Shorts,” live to the show floor. Bruce Devlin, chief media scientist at Dalet also known as Mr. MXF, will be presenting two brand new episodes on the Dalet Academy Theater: “UHD, What’s it all about?” and “BPM, SOA & Web Services, 6 things you really need to know.” These presentations will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the show at 1pm and 4pm, respectively. Following each presentation will be a collaborative workshop where attendees can informally discuss the topic at hand, sharing industry insights and personal experiences.
 
FIMS Masterclasses – 2pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
 
With the upcoming version of Dalet Brio to offer support for FIMS (Framework for Interoperable Media Services), Dalet will be taking the opportunity to engage with the community and discuss what Dalet does around FIMS. Masterclasses will cover the FIMS capture service and it’s increasing importance in a hybrid SDI/IP world, as well as who benefits from FIMS and why. Led by Matthieu Fasani, product manager at Dalet, and Stephane Guez, CTO of Dalet, classes will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the show at 2pm, with a collaborative workshop following immediately afterward.
 
Best of the Blogs – 3pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
 
As a part of the exciting daily schedule in the Dalet Academy Theater, Dalet is turning one of the most popular blog posts into a live presentation, with Academy members deciding which one gets the live treatment. To narrow things down a bit, the voting will be based on the three most read blogs of the last 18 months:

1. Change Management – 4 things to consider when implementing a MAM: Kevin Savina discusses four simple steps to ensure your organization is on board when implementing a new media asset management system.
2. MXF AS02 and IMF: What’s the Difference and Can They Work Together? A lot has changed in the development of IMF in that time, but the topic remains increasingly relevant. A presentation from the Dean of the Dalet Academy, Mr. MXF himself, would bring this blog bang up to do.
3. Pictionary, Standards and MXF Interoperability: Ben Davenport explains the work of organizations around the globe to standardize on file delivery and exchange formats. He also hints at how he got a room full of people to play Pictionary during a serious presentation – something that could perhaps be repeated on the NAB show floor!

 
Keynotes – 5pm: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
 
The Dalet Academy keynotes are presented together with industry partners at 5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Attendees are invited to stay and network over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres after each presentation. Visitors who pre-register for these sessions will have the opportunity to win great prizes, such as a Fitbit, year-long subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or a GoPro HERO. Must be present to win.
 
Newsroom in the Cloud Pilot
 
At this year’s NAB, Dalet will be simulating a “newsroom in the cloud” scenario. Working with journalism and communications students from local universities, the mock production crews will be covering highlights from the NAB show floor using new cloud-based newsroom solutions from Dalet, shooting interviews with Blackmagic Design URSA production cameras.
 
A real-life case study exploring the cloud-based newsroom of the future, the broadcast simulation will help identify the real challenges that arise when working in the cloud, both from a technical as well as a human point of view. This proof-of-concept experiment aims to showcase a successful package ideal for small newsrooms that don’t have an NRCS; event-driven productions such as elections or sporting events; and newsroom extensions for freelancers. And keeping in line with the Dalet Academy mission, the project will serve as an educational activity for the students taking part.
 
Well, I think that’s about it! You now know everything about the Dalet Academy Live in Vegas! Don’t hesitate to further explore the schedule here and don’t forget to book your seat in advance, as our cozy theater won’t be able to accommodate all the Bon Jovi and Aston Villa FC fans…
 
See you in Vegas, or on academy.dalet.com if you prefer to enjoy education in your confortable armchair with an iced tea!