Got the Post NAB Blues? Here’s a recap of our top takeaways from NAB Show 2023

We had a blast at the 2023 NAB Show in Las Vegas! Our team had the chance to mingle with the cream of the crop in broadcast, media and entertainment (M&E), and we were completely inspired by the incredible minds we encountered. To top it off, our excitement went through the roof when LucidLink was recognized as a winner of TVTech’s Best of Show Awards and a NAB Product of the Year recipient for the second year running!

NAB has witnessed the industry’s evolution since its inception in 1923, including the recent whirlwind of change across the industry that has deeply impacted the way creatives work. With the pandemic serving as a catalyst, the M&E world has shifted gears, placing technology front and center. At this year’s NAB, companies showcased cutting-edge technologies that demonstrated the significance of studios, production teams, broadcasters, creatives, and networks being adaptive and prepared for change in the rapidly evolving M&E landscape. Watch our on-demand sessions here.

During our action-packed time, our team experienced so many major innovations that were and still are the talk of the show. Here’s a deeper look at our 2023 NAB takeaways!

1. The Cloud is the future, and the future is now.

The 2023 NAB Show left no doubt that the cloud’s impact on the M&E industry is here to stay. The event served as a showcase for the latest advancements with cloud-based tools, illustrating the industry’s interest in harnessing the power of cloud technology and emphasizing its crucial role in driving the future of M&E.

There was a strong presence of cloud-based collaboration, production, and storage tools on the expo floor. This further reinforced the notion that the cloud is now a critical component in the M&E industry’s evolution. Sessions and keynotes emphasized the adoption of cloud technologies, with presentations from leading tech companies and industry leaders who shared their success stories and insights.

A standout moment for cloud tech at NAB was a keynote session featuring the creative team behind the Oscar-winning animated short film, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” alongside LucidLink. During the session, attendees enjoyed a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how the film’s team of over 120 creatives from more than 15 countries relied on LucidLink’s cloud-based solution for seamless global collaboration. By working together using LucidLink’s Filespace technology during the height of pandemic lockdowns, they managed to create one of the first-ever Academy Award-winning films produced by an entirely remote team. 

For companies struggling to understand the financial value of cloud adoption and the challenges of purchasing and integrating it into existing models like on-premises storage, LucidLink presented a fresh perspective. An approach enabling a gradual, cost-effective transition to cloud services, which earned favorable responses from the attendees. Watch the full session below:

2. Collaborative tools that integrate with intention are a game-changer.

Another prominent trend at NAB was the increasing presence of next-gen collaborative tools integrating seamlessly into existing, mature production pipelines, enabling creatives to focus on their core competencies. These innovations aim to eliminate tedious tasks from the production to post-production workflow, allowing teams to work more in parallel and concentrate on the artistic aspects of their work.

In particular, brands like Frame.io, FUJIFILM, Teradek, and Sony are embracing camera-to-cloud technology, making it an impressive example of how next-gen tools can streamline production. By enabling direct transmission of footage from cameras to cloud-based storage, camera-to-cloud technology is one example of how these emerging tools can help lessen or even eliminate the need for conventional transfer and sync workflows, thus accelerating the production pipeline and improving collaboration among teams, even when they are dispersed and working from different locations.

Integrating traditional front-end creative tools with advanced technologies like camera-to-cloud significantly streamlines the production process, from shooting to editing. This reduces time-consuming tasks and minimizes the need for manual intervention while also making it more secure and inexpensive to get data where it needs to be for the next step in the workflow. This allows creative professionals to focus on pushing the boundaries of storytelling and visual artistry. As witnessed at NAB, the industry’s increasing adoption of collaborative technologies and more widespread cloud acceptance is poised to revolutionize how M&E professionals work, fostering innovation and boosting productivity across the board.

3. AI generators and editing tools are making editors smile more.

Yet another fascinating trend at NAB was the emergence of AI-powered generators and editing tools that revolutionize the post-production landscape. Cutting-edge technologies like Open AI’s ChatGPT and Midjourney are some of the tools that leverage artificial intelligence to automate content, enhance creativity, and optimize workflows, to make the lives of editors and creative teams easier.

Text-based editing tools, in particular, have gained traction for their ability to consolidate the editing process. These tools enable editors to quickly locate and modify specific portions of their content by generating editable text transcripts from video and audio files. This innovative approach saves time and effort, allowing post-production professionals to focus on refining their storytelling and delivering top-notch results.

Adobe, which won an Award of Excellence at NAB, showcased its Premiere Pro text-based editing technology that uses the latest AI to automatically transcribe source media. The product garnered significant attention and highlighted the growing importance of AI-powered tools in M&E as a trend expected to shape post-production’s future.

Technology must fuel M&E creatives’ future potential.

The 2023 NAB Show was a treasure trove of innovations featuring cloud-based solutions, cutting-edge collaborative technologies, and AI-powered editing tools, all set to revolutionize the workflows of production and post-production teams. Keeping up with the ever-changing M&E trends is essential for organizations who want to stay ahead in this fast-paced arena. Because of our deep commitment to supporting creatives, LucidLink knows how vital it is to equip M&E pros with the right mix of tools and technology.

Our cloud-based solution enhances connectivity and efficiency for teams everywhere and is designed to enable hybrid and remote workflows that include each of the trends shared in this article. As the industry keeps evolving, we’re excited to stay on the cutting edge, share insights, and be part of the exciting future of creative workflows. Ready to empower your creative workflow? Here’s your 14-day free trial.