Blog
Best in Broadcast 2020
When you’re looking for the best tech in broadcast, you ask the experts. News networks across the world use GSS gimbals to capture the latest in current events.
Time and time again, our clients choose GSS Cineflex gimbals for their:
Lightweight and compact size
Rock-solid stabilization at the end of the lens
Stabilized look down in a smaller and lighter package
Fast installation
Reliability - they just work
Best Churchill Navigation moving maps integration in the industry, with Geo Pointing capabilities and adjustable heading for perfectly aligned maps
Still not convinced? Check out some of our clients with their ships and gimbal systems!
WKMG, via Parker Brown, Orlando, FL.
WLS, Chicago, IL.
WSVN, Miami, FL.
KTVU, via Ruben Campos, San Francisco, CA.
WKMG, Orlando, FL.
WPXI, via Ruben Campos, Pittsburgh, PA.
WCBS, New York, NY.
WABC, New York, NY.
GSS at Cine Gear 2019
Cine Gear 2019 was a success yet again! Paramount Studios was an incredible venue to meet and greet both new and familiar faces. As always, we are so grateful to be part of this talented community. It was such a pleasure to catch up with friends and show off GSS tech in Los Angeles!
We can’t give enough thanks to Nathan Garofalos of Incline Dynamic Outlet, Patrick Longman from Active Camera Systems, and both Rob Drewett and Adam Sculthrop from Motion Impossible for the booth support. There’s nothing like working alongside friends and true experts in the field.
We’ll see you next year!
NAB 2019
We’re relishing in the success of this year’s National Association of Broadcasters Show! Thank you to everyone who visited our booth. This was definitely the most exciting NAB Show for GSS to date.
If you didn’t attend, you missed out on some major showstoppers at our booth! It was a privilege showing off our systems alongside our talented partners and clients, including the Sony HDC-P50 4K broadcast camera, the Canon 45X 4K and Fujinon 46X 4K broadcast lenses, and the XD Motion X Fly Vertical and Tethered Drone. Of course, Incline Dynamic Outlet’s incredible Huracam camera car raced in and took everyone’s breath away.
We also had the opportunity to bring out our 2001 original Cineflex V14. Our gimbals have come a long way, and this design has truly stood the test of time. This system marked the beginning of the Cineflex legacy and still continues today in our broadcast line of products!
This year continues to look bright! What are we excited for? Expect to see low-light broadcast cameras and augmented reality overlays change the game even further for live sports and electronic news gathering market segments.
If you couldn’t make this year’s NAB Show, we know we’ll see you at NAB 2020! Stay in-the-know by signing up for our email list below!
The Clients of GSS
What does it take to create the incredible documentaries you watch on The BBC, Discovery Channel and more? It starts with the best tech, outstanding customer service and state-of-the-art designs from a dedicated team. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to these client testimonials from the most talented crews in the aerial cinematography industry.
“They are a step above...”
It’s all about the problem-solving abilities for Aerial Photographer Christian Turner from the US Air Force and Media Fusion. Our high-quality gimbal designs and 24/7 customer service speak for themselves, allowing Christian Turner to continue to capture the fastest aircraft around.
"It just made sense."
Emmy-winning Aerial Cameraman Skip Margetts of Helimedia wanted a partnership, not a sales pitch. With the ability to interchange cameras and lenses, Helimedia has created stunning footage on the Cape Town front for movies like Chappie (2015) and District 9 (2009) for over a decade.
“GSS is a group of excellence."
For IDO Aerials Co-Owner and Director of Photography Nathan Garofalos, accountability and consistency are crucial, and we can understand why. Since 2014, Incline Dynamic Outlet has created footage for the industry's biggest filmmakers: National Geographic, Warner Bros. Pictures and more.
“GSS has definitely set the bar high.”
Aerial Photographer Chris Higgins of the Edwards Air Force Base says his relationship with the GSS team boosts productivity. That engaging customer service really counts and makes a difference when he’s taking on the skies and capturing footage at jet speed.
"They care about my success."
Just like Winged Vision Founder Bob Mikkelson said, we do what others won't. Our partnership helps him capture awesome sporting event coverage of NASCAR, NHL, NFL and more. With stable footage, he gets in on the action both from land and in the air.
"GSS is a partner who we trust, and it works."
Alexander Brozek of CAMCAT-Systems agrees. GSS takes the time to answer questions. CAMCAT takes the European market by storm, taking on the 2017 British Golf Open and more with their remote-controlled cable system designed for aerial footage captures.
“It’s cutting edge, state of the art.”
Straight from Rogue Aviation Co-Owner Matt Barnes and Creative Director and Aerial Cinematographer Cory Hill, GSS is a family. Rogue Aviation has shot aerial work for The Mint 400 race and Pacific Flight Aviation flight school, and has been featured in commercial ads for all kinds of businesses and brands, like DuPont, BMW, and even in music videos!
Our amazing clients are the reason we do what we do. The art they continue to create inspires us to consistently innovate our gimbals for the best service and quality available.
See more testimonials here.
The GSS Cinema Pro+ captures United Arab Emirates National Day
Here’s one way to celebrate! In honor of December’s United Arab Emirates National Day and the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, an aircraft formation flew over Dubai in a spirit of unity, captured by a GSS Cinema Pro+!
In a collaboration between Navigation Films and Blue Sky’s Peter Degerfeldt, the plane formation, complete with eleven aircraft from Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia and the Al Fursan Air Display Team, showcased color and teamwork in a course chartered by Sheikh Zayed. From the vantage point of an L39 Jet via the Baltic Bees, the video soared over Dubai and aircraft emblazoned with “Year of Zayed.”
The video, directed by Mike Charlton and produced by Akash Kingston, contains jet footage by Peter Degerfeldt and GSS technician Vicky Degerfeldt. Thanks to the Baltic Bees team members Valery Sobolev, Anatolij LIsenkov and Artyom Soloduha, this incredible fleet came to life.
UAE National Day celebrates the joining of the seven emirates in 1971 and the first president, Sheikh Zayed, typically celebrated with fireworks and air shows.
This was an amazing capture by Blue Sky Aerials and Navigation Films. We are so proud to see our technology used in ways that continue to push and innovate the filming industry!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see more.
Award-Winning Teton Gravity Research
Last year, Teton Gravity Research created an awesome new project with their Cinema Pro+ and took home Powder’s Movie of the Year Award.
Their film Far Out goes global, from the Albanian Alps to Girdwood, Alaska. What do the world’s most wild mountain ranges have to offer? More than 30 of the most daring bike, ski and snowboard athletes find out. This epic chronicle took one of the coveted awards during Powder Magazine’s 19th Annual Powder Awards in December, an event which honors the best athletes and artists in the ski community.
Check out the trailer for Far Out below.
We are a proud sponsor of this film. As we have seen time and time again with dozens of the team’s incredible films, TGR never fails to deliver. Our client’s amazing work inspires us to push gimbal technology to new levels so they can achieve new perspectives.
A huge congrats to the TGR crew on this awesome win!
What will TGR create next? Be the first to know by following us on Instagram and Facebook!
Inter BEE 2018
GSS had a successful trip to Inter BEE 2018 last month, Japan’s annual broadcast electronic conference and exhibition. Totsu International, our sales partner for the Japanese market, shared our advanced gimbal technologies with the Japanese broadcast audience.
GSS Japan Sales & Support Partner Totsu International President Akira Ito, Koichi Ogata and Takeshi Sasadate.
Totsu International has represented Cineflex and GSS products in the law enforcement, government, broadcast and production markets for over a decade. Their experience and knowledge of the industry has allowed us to grow our presence and market share in Japan. At this year’s Inter BEE, we showcased our Cineflex Broadcast series gimbals specifically tailored for the Japanese market, the GSS Cineflex Premier and Cineflex T2.
Customers had a chance to try out our gimbal at the Totsu booth.
Inter Bee, formerly named the Broadcast Equipment Exhibition, has showcased the latest in broadcast electronics in Tokyo since 1965. It was a privilege to attend alongside some of the world’s most advanced technology. It has continued to be a great opportunity to share our systems.
Learn more about our Cineflex Broadcast systems here.
GSS 5-Axis Gimbals: Best of Broadcast
If you’re part of the broadcast industry, you know how crucial a small, lightweight gimbal is. Whether you’re traveling with your system or operating at high speeds, you’ll need a gimbal that can keep up. Between aerodynamics and the light weight, the Cineflex Series sets the bar for five-axis systems, making it the prime choice for your broadcast filming needs.
Our 5-axis gimbals offer increased ground clearance and a roomier internal space for a wider range of camera and lens in a small but mighty package. Consistent travelers and creative camera operators prefer this for its optimal aerodynamics, increased aircraft mounting options and the ability to ship as excess baggage.
Our 5-Axis systems use VectorSteering™ to avoid automatic gimbal lock. New mechanical and software design allows a wider range of motion than anything seen before. There’s a reason the GSS Cineflex series is the preferred gimbal of its class; its capabilities are unmatched.
View the entire Cineflex Series here.
GSS Goes to Amsterdam!
GSS ended September with an incredible IBC experience in Amsterdam. We met with some of our amazing customers and industry leaders from the broadcast and production market segments worldwide. We’re eager for our newest customers to receive their own GSS systems and excited for future customers to join this growing client base over the next six months.
Our booth, shared with our friends and client XD Motion, offered the European market a first look our new Cineflex Pro and Cinema Mini platforms along with a display of a Cinema Pro+ with RED camera and Angenieux Optimo 12:1 lens. Visitors were amazed at the Cinema Mini’s powerhouse abilities in such a small size; it can integrate today’s most popular cameras like the Sony 4K Broadcast, Grass Valley 4K, Sony P43, Arri Alexa Mini and Red Weapon with big lenses like the Canon 45x, Fujinon 46X, and Canon 50-1000mm at only about 70 pounds with no camera repackaging or modifications! This successful weekend allowed us to really prove both the Cineflex Pro and Cinema Mini systems are sized perfectly for our customer base.
The future of aerial technology is bright. The new, professional broadcast 4K cameras and 4K lenses from Canon and Fujinon will capture unparalleled image quality not yet seen in gimbal applications. We are already delivering 4K broadcast camera and lens solutions and expect this trend to take off.
Beyond The Helicopter: GSS Custom Design Services
Gimbals should go above and beyond the standard helicopter. When your project requires ground rigging from a ship or truck, as filmed during Deadliest Catch or a Teton Gravity Research project, a custom design should be within reach.
“We have mounted the C520 (Cinema Pro+) on cars, trucks, boats and small 4-wheel drive vehicles,” says Co-Founder, Executive Producer & Co-Director of Teton Gravity Research, Todd Jones.
“You can have it on a truck in the morning and move it onto a helicopter in under an hour.”
Decades of experience allow GSS engineers to develop gimbal systems which accommodate custom designs. We design every model with room for modifications as camera and lens technologies change and integrate systems to your needs.
After purchasing your gimbal, contact GSS who, along with companies including Paradigm SRP LLC, can develop unique systems fitted for your production, surveillance or broadcast needs.
Contact us about your custom design today!
From Old to New: A Look at Stabilized Improvements with Churchill Navigation
At GSS, we always look to evolve and improve. At our core, we are engineers that love to create, test and improve our gimbals and technologies to provide the highest quality and latest advancements that integrate with our gimbals. As we analyze old footage, we are proud to see how far our stabilized gimbals have come and are able to offer the best solution for IMU integration.
In this clip, we compared the original solution, External Novatel IMU, to the new, GSS Internal IMU. Both flights featured identical paths over Philadelphia and used Churchill Navigation’s BEAR mapping system with a GSS Cineflex series broadcast gimbal. Notice the incredible stabilization improvements; the street names no longer shake or bounce, and instead, glide smoothly.
What is IMU?
An IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit, detects linear acceleration using an accelerometer and rotational rate using gyroscopes. It reports pitch, roll and yaw status on a continual basis.
We use IMU data as part of an Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). The GSS INS uses the IMU measurements to calculate attitude, angular rates, linear velocity and position relative to a global reference frame. GSS IMU/INS reports the video’s location to Churchill for a live mapping overlay. An accurate IMU data feed results in a stable mapping overlay, as you see in this video.
Learn more about our development of our in-house INS here.
For more information on integrating GSS’s IMU with your system, contact us here.
For more information about our Cineflex Broadcast Series, click here.
The GSS Cinema Pro+
The GSS Cinema Pro+, formerly known as the C520, is the smallest and lightest gimbal in its class and supports the most popular cameras and lenses in the marketplace. This gimbal goes above and beyond competitors with fast installation time, a weather-sealed shell and the ability to house today’s most popular camera and lens configurations.
Weighing in at 85 pounds (without payload) and a width of 20 inches, this gimbal accommodates large cinema cameras and lenses for projects in all environments. The system has been used at sub-freezing temperatures above 24,000 feet in the Himalayas and in the sweltering heat in the Emirati desert. Unlike competitors, the Cinema Pro+ is completely sealed for safe operation in adverse climates.
Like all GSS gimbals, no gimbal tech is required for installation. Save time and money with our interchangeable systems, and swap between cameras like the Arri Alexa 65, Alexa SXT, Alexa LF, Sony Venice (and many others!) with hundreds of lens options within 30 minutes. This package can fly on a single pole mount, which will also save considerable time and money when compared to shipping, installing and using a dual pole mount.
With an expanded elevation of 30° to -205° from horizontal and six-axis of gyro-stabilized movement, the Cinema Pro+ has the most wide-ranging capabilities yet and may be operated in both standard and inverted mode. With VectorSteering™ look-down technology there is no gimbal lock.
Even with its large-scale capabilities, this gimbal still flies conveniently as excess baggage without ITAR or EAR export restrictions and easily breaks down to 70 lbs/32 kg per box in about one hour.
We have designed our future-proof open architecture systems to be compatible with upgrades as gimbal, camera and lens technologies evolve.
For all of the Cinema Pro+ details, check out the complete specs for more information about its expanded, interchangeable camera and lens options.
Download the complete specs here.
Aerial Camera Systems meets the Cineflex Pro +
GSS customer Aerial Camera Systems received their first GSS Cineflex Pro + this summer and inaugurated their new gimbal at this year’s Wimbledon Championships.
This system is contoured with the Grass Valley LDX-C86N Compact Camera and Canon CJ45 lens. For the first time, the Cineflex Pro + will help capture the legendary hoisted aerial shots of the All England Club in UHD/HDR. GSS’s newest customer has added to their state of the art gimbals and will now have the option of using their GSS Cineflex Pro + or Cineflex gimbals for various broadcast projects.
“We’re delighted to add the Cineflex Pro + to our inventory of stabilized gimbals. We’ve made some significant investments in equipment this year, recognizing the growing demand for 4K UHD formats.”
Operations Director Dave Whitlock
We look forward to the content ACS will release in the future with their new GSS gimbal, which will allow them to take on new payloads and revolutionize camera stability in the European market. ACS plans to use the Cineflex Pro + at upcoming sporting events this August.
Learn more about the Cineflex Pro + and all its capabilities here.
If you’re located in England, rent ACS gimbals and learn more about past projects from the Royal Wedding, Commonwealth Games and more at aerialcamerasystems.com.
The GSS Cineflex Pro Gimbal
Optimized for broadcast use, The Cineflex Pro is the smallest and lightest system in the world, weighing 35 lbs or 15.8 kgs plus payload, that can hold today's most popular Broadcast payloads!
The GSS Cineflex Pro is the only system in the world that can hold the following payloads without having to repackage:
- Sony P43 4K with 45x-46x (No camera repacking necessary)
- GV c86n 4K with 45-46x (No camera repacking necessary)
- Ikegami HDL-F3000 with 45x-46x (No camera repacking necessary)
- Sony HDCP-1/3 with 45x-46x (No camera repacking necessary)
(Other camera and lens options are available as well - ask us about yours!)
The Cineflex Pro is just one of the GSS 5-axis gimbals from the Cineflex Broadcast Series. The Cineflex Pro beats out competitors and is ideal for major-market ENG clients and live broadcast applications. Compatible with lighter helicopters like the Bell 505, Robinson R44 and R66, it is fully upgradeable and functions with existing air and ground mounts.
Take advantage of top features including VectorSteering™ look-down with no gimbal lock, isolated electronics for eliminated video noise and optional internal IMU for Geo-pointing with a moving map interface and Virtual Reality Overlays.
Its compact size of 13.8 inches wide and 19 inches tall combined with the small platform size allows this gimbal to be transported as excess baggage without ITAR or EAR export restrictions, making shipping easily accessible.
To learn more about the Cineflex Pro, click here to download and see the complete specs and features.