Archive of the Product Updates Category

Got a nice demo today of the leaps and bounds being taken by The Foundry‘s new and upcoming versions of its Nuke compositing software (version 5.2 was unveiled this week at NAB, and 6.0 will come out later this year). Lots of improvements worth checking out.

But when the demo was over, Foundry guys gave me a little lesson in the context of product development work. They revealed they have come up with an impressive little, for lack of a better name right now, plug-in called Rolling Shutter which, as the name implies, is designed to help filmmakers address and smooth out artifacts that can occasionally pop out of bits of footage shot with CMOS-chip-based digital cameras. In a technology demo, the tool clearly eased blur and quiver in test frames impacted by the rolling shutter technology that is part of CMOS design. (It’s all very complicated, but as I understand it, the rolling shutter exposes different portions of the frame at different periods in time, and certain anomolies can crop up in frames or between frames under particular circumstances in such footage.) more

Press Release

Sound Devices announces the latest firmware updates for its best-selling 7-Series line of digital recorders—the 2.63 Firmware upgrade for the 702, 702T, 722, and 744T recorders and the 1.71 firmware upgrade for the 788T at this year’s NAB Show (Booth N6129). Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2009 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

Press Release

Matrox Video Products Group announced Matrox MXO2 Mini, a new version of the award-winning Matrox MXO2 I/O device. It can be used with Mac and PC laptop and desktop systems and popular applications including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and many more. It provides capture and playback of high definition video via HDMI and analog component; or NTSC and PAL via analog component S-Video, and composite. Users can convert standard definition videos to high definition, or vice versa, while capturing or playing out, using Matrox MXO2 Mini’s high-quality dedicated hardware scaler. Matrox MXO2 Mini turns an inexpensive HDMI screen into a professional-grade video monitor thanks to Matrox’s unique color calibration tool. This product also makes it easy to edit AVCHD footage by capturing into an edit-friendly compressed or uncompressed format. Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2009 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

Two weeks ago Red Giant Software announced version 2 of its Trapcode Particular and ToonIt plug-ins for Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple Motion, Adobe Premiere Pro, and Avid. ToonIt 2 is shipping; Particular 2 will ship this summer. Sean Safreed gave me a demo of both at Red Giant Software’s booth today.

ToonIt’s now in the position of competing with the native Cartoon effect in After Effects Creative Suite 4. So as one way to go beyond simple “cartoonification,” ToonIt 2 features new “natural media” effects such as simulated airbrush, bristle paint, gouache, and scratch board styles. There are also about 50 new presets, as well as a randomization button for settings, to give one’s creative process a kickstart. more

Press Release

Digital Rapids raised the bar for ease and efficiency in the digital distribution of media content, unveiling two new solutions for the delivery of media and data files between content owners, creators, collaborators, and distribution partners. New features in the Digital Rapids C2 data delivery software include support for unicast, multicast and hybrid distribution models, and a flexible architecture supporting dynamic deployments with exceptional cost-effectiveness. The new MediaMesh RX appliance, introduced today as a technology preview, receives and repurposes media and associated data from centralized distribution sources, forming the ideal endpoint for syndicated delivery of ad spots through long-form content to broadcast affiliates and distribution partners. Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2009 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

FOR-A Corporation, a leading manufacturer of video and audio systems for the broadcast and professional video industries, will introduce expanded input/output options for its VPS series of digital switchers, including the VPS-700 GINGA and the all-new VPS-715 GINGA 1.5 M/E switcher at NAB 2008 in Las Vegas from April 14-17, 2008 (Booth #SU5220). Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2008 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

When a company with a product line as big and deep as Autodesk makes its NAB presentation, you’ll forgive them for thinking like an auto company and describing the updated apps as their 2009 product lineup.

Trevor Boyer has already posted notes about Autodesk’s Sunday press conference. While each of the major products announced have plenty of notable and usable improvements, I’ll vote for lower price points and ability to work with compressed media as the most significant moves that herald future trends. Smoke 2009′s $64,000 tab for a turnkey hardware/software finishing machine–storage included–is a great breakthrough. For the first time, (fiscal) hope is offered to those many mid-level shops which blanch when faced with six-figure offerings from Autodesk, Quantel, et.al. (At present, this was described as an introductory price available through July 21, 2008. It’s a little unclear what happens after that; maybe if enough new buyers are attracted, the price will hold.) more

Duiker Research Corp., creator of the Color Symmetry plug-in suite, has announced Color Symmetry Version 1.5 with Universal Look Authoring. Color Symmetry is a complete solution for emulating film looks and handling color consistently within industry-standard animation, graphics, effects and post-production packages. Version 1.5 supports a growing number of post workflows and formats as well as today’s increasingly creative look development demands. Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2008 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

Building on the success of its acclaimed XL H1 High Definition (HD) camcorder, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging technology, has introduced the new shoulder mount XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders, which include new advanced features requested by professional users for improved operation and image control. Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2008 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room

AJA Video announced XENA 3.5, a new software upgrade to the company’s Windows-based line of video playback and capture cards. XENA 3.5 will provide real-time DVCPRO HD capture, playback and editing support in Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 as well as in AJA’s Machina stand-alone deck-control, playback and capture application. Read on at The Briefing Room

More 2008 NAB Show news from The Briefing Room