Crest Digital
Encyclopedia
Crest Digital is a privately owned company specializing in post production and DVD/CD replication. Crest Digital provides editing
, DVD
and Blu-Ray authoring, digital asset management
, audio mixing
, language dubbing
and subtitling, and DVD/CD optical media replication services. Clients include major film and television studios, software companies, record labels, airlines and industrial clients from around the world.
and cable TV industries. Language dubbing and subtitling, restoration, editing, sub-mastering, and videotape duplication services were later added. In the 1990s, CD and DVD replication, DVD encoding, menu design and authoring services were offered and a new optical media manufacturing plant was built in Hollywood in 1996. By 2000, Crest National was named #22 of the "The 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Los Angeles.
Crest National was given the task of restoring the original Cinerama
negative for “How the West Was Won
" in 2000 and built their own screening room, complete with three authentic Cinerama projectors, a seven-track sound system and 146-degree curved screen, in order to complete the projects.” Crest National acquired Anaheim-based Concord Disc Manufacturing Corp. in 2004, doubling the size of their CD/DVD replication operation and quadrupling their packaging capabilities. Crest National rebranded as Crest Digital in 2006 and expanded their operations into China in 2007, partnering with China Film Group
and building a 15,000 square meter state-of-the-art DVD and CD manufacturing facility outside Beijing.
Crest Digital has been the country's majority provider of in-flight movies to airlines since the 1970s. They provide editing-for-content, captioning, encoding, and dubbing and subtitling services in over 65 languages to all the major airlines. In 2009 Crest Digital launched a new division called Fl'air, offering customized audio and video programming to airlines with all content and programming services provided exclusively by DMX Inc.
Crest Digital is one of only three Class ‘A' DVD Verification Laboratories, and one of only two Class ‘A' HD-DVD Laboratories approved by the DVD Forum in North America.
Ron Stein, son of Crest Digital's founders, is the president and CEO of the almost 50-year-old company.
for the hearing impaired direct for home video cassette and videodisc release was introduced by Crest Digital in 1984. The company introduced the world's first 65/70mm flying spot scanner film transfer system, “Ultrascan 70TM” in 1991. In 2002, the first Cineglyph HD large-format telecine was introduced. Royal Philips Electronics and Crest Digital partnered in May 2002 to develop and install the first Super Audio CD
(SACD) hybrid disc production line in the country at Crest Digital's Hollywood facilities, with a production capacity of 3 million discs per year. Crest Digital also did the first MPEG encoding for in-flight films.
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-Ray authoring, digital asset management
Digital asset management
Digital asset management consists of management tasks and decisions surrounding the ingestion, annotation, cataloguing, storage, retrieval and distribution of digital assets...
, audio mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, language dubbing
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
and subtitling, and DVD/CD optical media replication services. Clients include major film and television studios, software companies, record labels, airlines and industrial clients from around the world.
History
Crest Digital was founded in 1961 by Maurice Stein, a former camera store owner and color timer, and his wife Jeanne. Originally named Crest National Film Laboratories, the company's services first included developing original 35mm and 16mm film negative, release printing and film restoration. During the 1970s and 1980s, Crest National expanded into the world of video and began to service the in-flight entertainmentIn-flight Entertainment
In-flight entertainment refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. In 1936, the airship Hindenburg offered passengers a piano, lounge, dining room, smoking room, and bar during the 2½ day flight between Europe and America...
and cable TV industries. Language dubbing and subtitling, restoration, editing, sub-mastering, and videotape duplication services were later added. In the 1990s, CD and DVD replication, DVD encoding, menu design and authoring services were offered and a new optical media manufacturing plant was built in Hollywood in 1996. By 2000, Crest National was named #22 of the "The 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in Los Angeles.
Crest National was given the task of restoring the original Cinerama
Cinerama
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc. It is also the trademarked name for the corporation which was formed to market it...
negative for “How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won may refer to:* How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won * How the West Was Won...
" in 2000 and built their own screening room, complete with three authentic Cinerama projectors, a seven-track sound system and 146-degree curved screen, in order to complete the projects.” Crest National acquired Anaheim-based Concord Disc Manufacturing Corp. in 2004, doubling the size of their CD/DVD replication operation and quadrupling their packaging capabilities. Crest National rebranded as Crest Digital in 2006 and expanded their operations into China in 2007, partnering with China Film Group
China Film Group
China Film Group Corporation , abbreviated as CFGC, is the largest and most influential state-run film enterprise in China.-History:The predecessor China Film Corporation was established in 1949...
and building a 15,000 square meter state-of-the-art DVD and CD manufacturing facility outside Beijing.
Crest Digital has been the country's majority provider of in-flight movies to airlines since the 1970s. They provide editing-for-content, captioning, encoding, and dubbing and subtitling services in over 65 languages to all the major airlines. In 2009 Crest Digital launched a new division called Fl'air, offering customized audio and video programming to airlines with all content and programming services provided exclusively by DMX Inc.
Crest Digital is one of only three Class ‘A' DVD Verification Laboratories, and one of only two Class ‘A' HD-DVD Laboratories approved by the DVD Forum in North America.
Ron Stein, son of Crest Digital's founders, is the president and CEO of the almost 50-year-old company.
Firsts (partial list)
In 1963, Crest Digital developed the first 35/32 printing equipment for use in motion picture labs. The first closed captioningClosed captioning
Closed captioning is the process of displaying text on a television, video screen or other visual display to provide additional or interpretive information to individuals who wish to access it...
for the hearing impaired direct for home video cassette and videodisc release was introduced by Crest Digital in 1984. The company introduced the world's first 65/70mm flying spot scanner film transfer system, “Ultrascan 70TM” in 1991. In 2002, the first Cineglyph HD large-format telecine was introduced. Royal Philips Electronics and Crest Digital partnered in May 2002 to develop and install the first Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
(SACD) hybrid disc production line in the country at Crest Digital's Hollywood facilities, with a production capacity of 3 million discs per year. Crest Digital also did the first MPEG encoding for in-flight films.
Awards
- American Society of Cinematography 1994
- Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Women of Distinction Award to Crest Digital Executive Vice President Lorraine Stein Ross 2000
- Golden Image Awards 2002
- Microsoft Premier Vendor Award 2004
- Specialty Graphics Imaging Association Continuity Award 2004
- Saturn Awards: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Specialty Graphics Imaging Association Division: CD 2004
- Hollywood Arts Council Charlie Award, Industry Founders Award 2004
- Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Association International-Golden Image Competition (SGIA) Division: CDs 2001
- World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Crest Digital CEO Ron Stein 2009