CineGrid @ AES
This landmark demonstration represented the first real-time streaming of synchronized 2K/4K digital cinema and 24-channel uncompressed audio across a 10,000-mile virtual LAN. Originating from nodes in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tokyo, the high-fidelity streams were mixed live for an audience of industry leaders at the Letterman Digital Arts Center. The project proved the viability of extreme-scale telepresence and remote post-production for the future of digital theatrical distribution.
The technical program showcased the CineGrid philosophy of "networked extreme media" through four distinct acts, including interactive 4K telepresence and remote audio post-production. By leveraging uncompressed motion pictures and multi-channel spatialized audio, the event successfully simulated a globally distributed creative workflow. This research laid the groundwork for collaborative digital cinema specifications adopted by major Hollywood studios and international research institutions.
As part of the core planning and design team, I collaborated with engineers from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound to architect the audio-video infrastructure. My responsibilities included configuring remote uncompressed audio servers and local network routing to ensure ultra-low latency playback. During the live performance, I served as the lead technician for queuing and managing the 24-channel spatialized audio streams over IP.
About Todd
My research represents a formal inquiry into the friction between users and data. By architecting novel hardware and algorithms, these projects establish new benchmarks for how we visualize and interact with massive, multi-dimensional datasets.
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