Autodesk laid out its NAB plans today. One might expect a relatively quiet NAB from the 3D/visual effects company that’s responsible for Maya, 3ds Max, and the Smoke/Flame/Flint/Inferno/Toxik series of high-end visual effects and finishing tools.

After all, IBC in September was the venue for the release of the company’s 2008 versions of the aforementioned VFX/finishing software. But as Mark Petit, SVC of Media & Entertainment for Autodesk said, “It’s not about thinking different but acting faster.” This six-month release cycle might be difficult to maintain, but Petit noted that at NAB 2008, the company will begin to shape next year’s versions in “behind-the-scenes meetings” at the show.

So what’s new for the 2009 line, which will be available at the end of the month? A few highlights: Smoke 2009 gets a new tree-based compositing workflow called Batch FX, designed to pump up the finishing platform’s visual effects chops and to open up the workflow between the editing timeline and effects. Smoke also gets a new, lower price tag that’s aimed at mid-tier post and broadcast facilities: systems now start at $64,000 (including storage).

Toxik 2008 Extension 1 adds a new Pixel Expression Language (PXL), which is designed to make it easier for compositors to created customized new effects (such as warping, blur, transitions) without getting into C++ coding or building a plug-in from the ground up.

Meanwhile, good news for broadcasters and other folks who have quick turnaround times and need to work with material immediately: Inferno, Flame, and Flint 2009 all now can input Panasonic P2 MXF files and “common professional QuickTime codecs.”