May 2006 Archives
Popwire announces a new and more versatile offering of it's server based media compression software, Compression Engine. With the introduction of Compression Engine version 4, Popwire is acknowledging requests from customers for increased options of choice.
Here are details about the new options for Compression Engine:
Compression Engine 4.0 Lite is the ideal choice for entry-level customers that produce content for web distribution and have one server that does media coding for a smaller workgroup. Compression Engine 4.0 Lite is the ideal companion to both Final Cut Pro and web-tv production with the support of formats such as DV, MP3, Flash, WMV-9, MPEG-4 and H.264 Base Line.
Compression Engine 4.0 Standard is the number one choice for customers who work with DVD authoring and production. Compression Engine 4.0 Standard adds capacity for Event Action scripts for system integration and automation. The number of formats supported in the Standard edition is greater than in Compression Engine 4.0 Lite. with support for formats such as DVCPro 25/50/100, BlackMagic, Cinewave, 3GPP, 3GPP2, and MPEG-2.
Compression Engine 4.0 Pro is the ultimate server based media coding solution. With functionality to build large clusters of servers coding massive numbers of media files, the Popwire Split&Stitch technology provides customers with a distributed media coding solution. With an unprecedented format support for standards such as 3GPP multi bitrate, transport streams for H.264 High Profile and MPEG-2, Sorenson Video, GXF, MXF and IMX and support for high availability make this the only choice for the true professional with professional demands.
Get additional details about Compression Engine 4.0 Lite, Standard and Pro
Akamai is one of the streaming media leaders and is setting a positive example for students and companies. The Akamai Foundation recently announced a commitment to fund significant programs of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), including a national college scholarship program for high school students.
The Akamai Foundation, established in 2000 by Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) and funded solely through donations from Akamai employees and individuals outside the company, promotes mathematics education in grades K-12 and the pursuit of excellence in mathematics to encourage America's next generation of technology innovators.
At the U.S.A. Mathematics Olympiad awards ceremony in Washington D.C., the Akamai Foundation presented Akamai Scholarships to the top three winners of this year's competition, the most prestigious math competition in the country for high school students. Brian Lawrence will receive $20,000, Alex Zhai will receive $15,000, and Yufei Zhao will receive $10,000. These top three scorers are among the country's most talented high school mathematicians. By awarding Akamai Scholarships, the Foundation hopes to encourage these and other students to continue their pursuit of mathematics education.
Akamai is a global leader in distributed computing solutions and services, helping organizations grow their online businesses without growing their IT infrastructures. The company created the world's largest and most widely used on-demand distributed computing platform, with more than 18,000 servers in nearly 1,000 networks in 70 countries.
Learn more about Akamai and their technology for improving streaming media delivery
The well recognized Streaming Media conferences that regularly take place in the U.S. on the West and East Coast will take center stage in Europe. The conferences provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions and get feedback from key individuals in the Streaming Media space. The can also attend panel discussions and find out about the latest tools and technology surrounding Streaming Media. Streaming Media East and West IS the place to be for Streaming Media. Now that the Streaming Media conference is heading to the Copthorne Tara Hotel in London in the form of Streaming Media Europe, the UK is in for a treat.
The conference includes 6 tracks:
- Industry Trends and Development
- Tools and Technology
- Enterprise Streaming in Practice
- Streaming for Corporate Communications
- Streaming in Government, News and Education
- Exploring the Potential
The event is perfect for CIOs, Intranet Managers, IS Managers, Government officials, Broadcast media executives, Streaming media industry professionals and others.
Get more information about Streaming Media Europe October 12-13, 2006 in London, UK
For all of you Avid and Final Cut Pro users, you'll be pleased to know that Panasonic is offering a free PDF packed full of operational information on their new HD wonder, the Panasonic HVX200. If you have never owned a camera of this grade before or if you are planning to buy this cam, you might seriously want to consider taking the time to read through this material. It's an amazingly powerful tool once you learn how to wield it. The PDF is sixty eight pages long and if Panasonic hasn't sold you on this camera yet, the information in this packet just might do the trick. You can choose from an NTSC or PAL manual by simply selecting your language preference and click on the center blue guide icon that is at the bottom of the webpage. HVX PDF
This set of 136 filters, transitions and generators support 24p, 25p 30p and are all designed to render at the subpixel level for smooth movement. A series of Final Cut Pro workshops and 68 softwipe patterns are also included in the package. Here's a taste of what you will find in CGM DVE Complete:
Filters: Morph, Clone Area, Bezier Matte, Text, Countdown, De-interlace, Highlights, Lows, Cube 3D, Squick, Star Effects
Transitions: Dip to Color Dissolve, Double Flip, Explode, Laser, Liquid Movie FX, MultiSlide, MultiSpin, PixelStorm
Itiva Digital Media, developers of high definition Internet video delivery technologies, has appointed Derek Lownsbrough to the post of Vice President, Engineering. Lownsbrough, whose experience includes six years at Packeteer, will lead the company's efforts in taking Itiva's Quantum Transport to commercial release.
"We're thrilled to add Derek and his expertise in Enterprise-class software to our team," said Itiva President Michel Billard. "His experience at Packeteer provides not only a strong understanding of Internet data flow but also a robust knowledge of best-in-class processes. We're delighted he's decided to apply his vast knowledge to the digital video delivery market, and specifically Itiva's team."
Derek Lownsbrough is an experienced Engineering Manager with more than 11 years building software and managing R&D teams. Prior to joining Itiva, Derek recently served as Software Development Manager with Packeteer. He holds a patent, System and Method for Efficiently Forwarding Client Requests from a Proxy Server, with additional patents pending.
"Itiva's unique in that it approaches video delivery as an opportunity to alleviate the bandwidth problem that online video delivery creates," said Mr. Lownsbrough. "I'm excited to be leading the team that brings to market Itiva's innovative solutions for rich media delivery to mass audiences over the Internet."
Itiva is in Beta with several companies, including HIP Digital and EMI Music Canada for music videos. Designed to help content providers deliver fast, high-quality, full-screen video over the Internet, Quantum Transport sets a new standard for affordability by combining the power of server-based and edge computing for a multicast effect.
For those that did not not get a chance to attend the Advanced Video Services: From Broadband to Wireless sessions at NAB, the MPEG Industry Forum now has the Powerpoint presentations available for those that are interested in viewing the data. The event was sponsored by the Internet Streaming Media Alliance and the MPEG Industry Forum.
The following presentations are available for download:
- Set Top Boxes: Past, Present, and Future
- Introduction to the MediaHub Solutions Network
- Declassifying Content Security
- MPEGIF Standards Update
- ISMA Update
- Home Choice
- The IPTV Ecosystem: Delivering A New Content Experience
Get details about upcoming events and activities as it relates to the MPEG Forum and their members
Network Foundation Technologies, LLC (NFT), a leading developer of Internet streaming technologies, announced that William J. Macdonald, co-creator and executive producer of the Golden Globes nominated HBO series "Rome" will advise NFT as it propels Internet broadcasting into mainstream entertainment.
"We are honored to have Bill Macdonald join NFT, and we will immediately benefit from Bill's talent for turning unique ideas into entertainment blockbusters that reward viewers and investors alike," said Marcus Morton, president and co-founder of NFT. "Bill shares our belief that NFT's Internet broadcasting technology will spark the next wave of entertainment innovation - simple, low-cost distribution of audio and video content, not just from the studios and networks, but from amateur entertainers and content providers as well. With NFT's platform, it's a brand new ball game for entertainers, content providers, advertisers and viewers.
Macdonald, co-founder of London-based Templar Entertainment, has produced a host of hits including, "The Saint," "One Man's Hero," "Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders," "Molly," "Jade," and he co-produced the blockbuster, "Sliver." Macdonald's films have featured Hollywood stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, Harvey Keitel, Sharon Stone, Jodi Foster, and Val Kilmer, to name a few.
"NFT's impact will be similar to that of color TV - it so profoundly enhances the way we receive and enjoy entertainment that demand for online programming and content should skyrocket," Macdonald said. "The goal of everyone in entertainment, whether professional or amateur, is to have our creations seen by as many people as possible. With Internet broadcasting from NFT, millions of viewers can be brought together with the click of a mouse, which is a significant opportunity for the entertainment industry."
The Consolidate feature allows you to create and save copies of the sequence's media files to a selected drive. This makes it relatively simple to move source files with you when you work on a different system. Using the Consolidate feature has the advantage of copying only the amount of media necessary; you save only the sequences and clips used in the project. For example, it does not copy an entire 1-hour audio file to consolidate a single 10-second clip.
Sequences: When you consolidate a sequence, the system copies only the portions of media files edited into the sequence, and creates new master clips for each clip in the sequence. The file name extension .new is attached to the master clips, along with incremental numbering beginning with .01. The sequence is not renamed but is automatically relinked to the new media files.
Subclips: When you consolidate a subclip or group of subclips, the system copies only the portion of the media files represented in the subclip, and creates a new master clip that is the duration of the subclip and a new subclip. The file name extension .new is attached, along with incremental numbering beginning with .01.
Master clips: When you consolidate a master clip, the system creates exact copies of the media files. If you link the original master clip to the new files, the system creates a master clip with the file name extension .old that remains linked to the old files. If you maintain the link between the original master clip and the old media files, the system creates a new master clip with the file name extension .new that is linked to the new files. The new clips are also numbered incrementally beginning with .01. Consolidating master clips does not save storage space because the system copies the same amount of media for each clip.
The most frequently asked question out their by Final Cut Pro and Avid Xpress Pro artists has to be "How do I make my DV footage appear more filmic?" If you're already shooting in true 24p, have a firm grip on 3 point lighting, and have access to a jib, then you are well on your way. Digital Film Tools offers plug ins that can help you tweak the dramatic feel you're looking for with: Digtial Film Lab, Composite Suite, 55mm and zMatte. Digtial Film Tools gives you the ability to mimic some very popular film looks by simulating glass filter effects and specialized lenses.
eline Technologies now has VideoClix Enabled tradeshow coverage available from NAB 2006. Viewers can watch the video at www.videoclix.com. The VideoClix enabled video is created in QuickTime 7 format and includes clickable Hot Spots in the video to get more information about various products and tools featured at the 2006 NAB Show.
Other VideoClix enabled videos are available for MacWorld 2006 and the Paris Auto Show 2005 on their website.
Get More Information about VideoClix for Creating Clickable Hot Spot Video
Arbitron has released their latest free Research Study on the Internet and Multimedia and it is available from their website at Arbitron.com. The study is titled "Internet and Multimedia 2006: On-Demand Media Explodes."
Here are some of the findings from the Arbitron Study:
81% of Americans have Internet access from any location
58% of home Internet users with Internet access have Broadband
71% of home Internet users have software to block pop-up advertising
27 million of Americans have listened to a podcast
The study includes more information about Internet Usage Trends, Digital Radio, Internet Video and Traditional Media.
Note: When you visit the Arbitron website click on the link that says Ad Agencies, then click Free Studies and Reports, followed by Internet Usage.
Download the full Arbitron 2006 Study on Internet and Multimedia.
The Mobile DTV Alliance is an open industry consortium that focuses on promoting the best practices and open standards to deliver premium-quality broadcast television to mobile devices and accelerate DVB-H development and deployment in North America. The alliance includes leading companies from across the mobile business system and entertainment value chain. Members of the Mobile DTV Alliance include Motorola, Modeo, Intel, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Nokia and PacketVideo Corp.
DVB-H is an open industry standard that has become the predominant technology used to deploy mobile TV services around the world. DVB-H has over 100 companies developing or deploying services, components and devices based on the standard. Through this large ecosystem, DVB-H has a competitive environment which fosters lower costs and spurs innovation.
The DVB-H standard delivers rapid, cost-effective deployments by leveraging existing infrastructure in North America. In addition, DVB-H provides a living room TV viewing experience in the palm of your hand with an average 1.5 second channel changing time readily achievable and demonstrable with the existing standard, 30+ channels of live TV programming, audio content and pod casts, a long battery life of 3.5+ hours and up to 30 frames per second delivery speed.
Learn more about the Mobile DTV Alliance and details about Mobile TV
Darim's Forward Streaming kit for Web-casting to VC-1 and for encoding to professional and broadcast applications to AVC provide hardware optimized for real-time video encoding/streaming. The streaming kit provides de-interlacing of input video and an adaptive 3D video noise reduction filter.
The Forward Streaming kit delivers video to VC-1 and AVC and features:
Windows Media 9 and VC1 (WM9/VC1) encoding/streaming for web-casting to any number of users over the Internet
The WM9/VC1 package achieves good quality encoding and streaming at multiple simultaneous bitrates
H.264 or Advanced Video Coding (H.264/AVC) for professional and broadcast applications requiring high quality video and audio transmission over satellite channels or terrestrial uplinks with limited bandwidth
The Forward Streaming kit comes with convenient WM9 or H.264 encoding and scheduling software which provides:
Manual and scheduled encoding
Intuitive ways to configure video and audio inputs, compression and streaming parameters
Customizable session profiles
Capture to hard disk
Get more information about Darim's Forward Streaming Kit for VC-1 and AVC formats
Vitalstream has a fourth generation Media Console for hosting On-demand and Live Flash streaming content. Vitalstream co-developed the software with Adobe to manage the distribution of Flash Video streaming. MediaConsole 4.0 includes a media manager, a reporting dashboard, MediaOps software development kit and pre-built video skins. MediaConsole for Flash provides a complete toolset for managing, packaging, reporting on and delivering Flash Video. The MediaConsole comes as part of Vitalstream's Flash Streaming Service.
The biggest benefit of using Vitalstream's MediaConsole is that it makes getting Flash streaming video on-line extremely easy. You can be a novice and use their service if you are able to compress your content to the FLV format. You can use tools such as Compression Master (Mac), Flix Pro (PC and MAC), Sorenson Squeeze (PC and MAC), and Flash Video Studio (PC) to create your FLV streaming files to use with Vitalstream's MediaConsole for Flash.
Learn more about Vitalstream's MediaConsole and their Flash Video Streaming Service
Avid Technology is currently providing a free Avid Marquee training session available on their learning portal 'ALEX'. Right now, it is free to register.
A full training module on Avid's popular real-time 3D open GL title tool 'Marquee' is available for preview. The 'ALEX' learning portal only works with Internet Explorer and is currently incompatible with Safari or Firefox.
Eventually Avid technology plans to make many of it's popular certified training courses available on the 'ALEX' system to cater to those who are to far from a certified training center. Users will be able to become Avid certified users by completing all the required courses.
If you find yourself having to perform many cut outs in Adobe Photoshop, Fluid Mask may have just made your job much easier. Fluid Mask is an advanced cut-out tool that will allow you to select, group and mask image objects for clean cut outs.
Here are some of the features:
- The edge Overlay view will allow you to Identify Edges before you begin masking
- Click-and-cut select objects
- Enables you to define those not so distinct edges
- Test render tool will allow you to review your work in progress
- Performs masking and blending simultaneously while makin the distinction between hard and soft edges
Fluid Mask requires that you have Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or higher and runs on both Windows and Mac systems.
Envivio Inc. announced its 4Caster HD3 real time high definition (HD) encoding system is shipping. HD3 provides the highest quality video at a flexible range of target bit rates between 6 and 12 Mbps.
The real time system compresses content for immediate distribution to air or can save files to an onboard hard drive for VOD content creation. With better quality levels than MPEG-2 at less than half the bit rates, HD3 is ideal for use in both live and on-demand IPTV and broadcast distribution applications.
The system will be on display from June 5-7, 2006 at GLOBALCOMM in the Envivio booth
#47091. A Quad Play demonstration highlights the encoding efficiency of the HD3 system and how it enhances an IPTV headend for HD service delivery to a consumer set-top box. The HD3 is also paired with a 4View D5 professional decoder for a broadcast demonstration.
With the implementation of advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 features, the HD3 provides
outstanding HD picture quality at bit rates that were previously unattainable. This enables telcos to deploy HDTV on their existing network infrastructure. The constant bit rate (CBR) implementation maintains the steady stream rates required for efficient video delivery over IPTV networks. The system also provides capped variable bit rate (VBR) encoding for multi-channel broadcast applications.
Developed with high quality, low data rate multi-media applications in mind, 4Caster
HD3 supports Pure IP transport mechanism, which is rapidly becoming the infrastructure of choice for video over IP applications. Offering operators a choice of transport mechanisms, the HD3 also supports MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) over IP for easy integration with traditional infrastructures. Features such as a space saving one rack unit (1RU) form factor, remote web-based system control, and compression support for 720p and 1080i broadcast content have created a backlog of
requests for the system.
Get more information about Envivios Encoding tools for MPEG-4 delivery
VitalStream Media Player for Flash, a dedicated application that makes viewing Flash video (FLV) content as simple as double-clicking an FLV file.
Previously, developers had to create a Media Player within the Flash Development environment to view FLV content on their computer. Now, with full support for all FLV files including Flash 6, 7 and 8 encoded Flash video, the VitalStream Media Player for Flash saves valuable development time by eliminating cumbersome steps in creating Flash video projects.
Working hand-in-hand with Adobe to develop the Flash streaming platform, VitalStream leads the market as the first and most experienced Flash video streaming service provider.
Media Player Key features include:
- Standard media player controls like play, pause, volume controls and a video scrub bar
- At-a-glance data on file name, total running time (TRT), audio and video data rate
- Zoom in and out functions for viewing video at 100% or 200%
- Access to a time code display
"VitalStream is a pioneer in the Flash video streaming market, and continues its leadership role by offering innovative products as solutions to existing industry needs," said Philip N. Kaplan, president and COO at VitalStream. "Media Player for Flash is the newest addition to our suite of development tools created to simplify the workflow of delivering media online."
Movie Logger 1.1, from Digital Heaven, is an easy to use text based logger for Quicktime Movies that streamlines the process of logging footage on a PC running Windows and placing it into a Final Cut Pro workflow. Simply set an in and an optional out point timecode, then type a detailed description. The logs can then be exported to FCP's XML file format or to RTF, Rich Text Format. You can import up to 16 movies per project and movies can be reviewed in either a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio.
Digtial Heaven suggests that you download a demo to see if Movie Logger 1.1 is compatible with your system before you purchase it.
StreamingMedia East 2006 wrapped up today but you can watch a number of On-demand videos including a short conversation with Ben Waggoner, Program Manager for Video Encoding for Microsoft. He talks about the exciting latest Windows Media Developments and from Microsoft.
Topics covered:
Windows Media Encoder Studio Edition
Telestream's Flip4Mac support for Windows Media
Windows Media Player 11 beta
Digital Rights Management
There are many other available Webcasts on the StreamingMedia.com website for StreamingMedia East 2006. They feature key companies and individuals in the streaming media space. The website is where experts and novice go to stay on the cutting edge with streaming media.
Watch the On-demand Webcast with Ben Waggoner, Program Manager for Video Encoding for Microsoft.
Watch other streaming videos in the StreamingMedia East 2006 Webcast Archives.
On2 Technologies, Inc. announced that it has released version 8.5 of its popular On2 Flix Pro for Flash video production software. With this new release, On2 has added compelling new features to appeal to Flash developers and the growing community of Internet video-shorts producers.
New features of On2 Flix Pro 8.5 include:
-Chroma color keying tools that enable users of any skill level to create stunning Hollywood-style "green screen" visual effects
-Advanced control of On2 video encoder settings such as buffer and quantizer control, encoder speed, and sharpness
-Support for video cue point insertion to facilitate bookmarking/chaptering within videos, closed captioning, and event triggers.
"On2 Flix Pro paved the way for high quality video for Flash Player 8 and has become an influential force behind the online shift from text and pictures to Internet video. Today, we're helping these customers take their creative visions even further by providing them the caliber of special effects tools and encoding controls once only available to professional editors in the broadcast arena," said Eric Ameres, Chief Technical Officer at On2.
On2 Flix Pro is a leading solution for creating high-quality video for playback with the Flash Player 8. Macromedia selected On2 Video in 2003 as the advanced compression technology for their Macromedia Flash 8 family of products.
On2 Flix Pro 8.5 is available immediately for Windows and Macintosh.
Get more information about Flix Pro 8.5 for encoding Flash streaming content.
The Viewcast Interactive Video Network helps companies and organizations manage video resources. From video-based digital signage to two-way video communication and conferencing, the presence of video is growing and inn response to the growth of video, many devices and systems have been developed utilizing separate infrastructures and user interfaces to streamline the delivery of video. However, these solutions offer little or no integration with legacy technologies until now. All of the video resources you need can work as one integrated system with the ViewCast Interactive Video Network (IVN).
IVN brings virtually every video application possible together in a streamlined way to satisfy the needs of all its users in a single user friendly interface. This unique system seamlessly integrates technologies that source, switch, distribute, and manage live and stored video in a variety of applications. Applications include video conferencing, video distribution, distance learning, video resource sharing, surveillance, and personal video communication. With IVN, you can deliver original quality video wherever and whenever it is needed to a wide variety of users.
See how Gaston County Courthouse is using Viewcast's Interactive Video Network
NBC affiliate, KPRC Houston, is using Telestream's Launch media delivery software to improve the way news is delivered to the station from remote locations. Launch is a file-based media delivery software solution. When combined with non-linear video editing software on standard laptop computers, Launch provides a portable, all-in-one solution for editing and transmitting news clips via standard or wireless Internet to the station.
"Telestream's Launch fulfills a key role in our news coverage process for crews traveling out of town," said Vince Moreno, News Technical Manager for KPRC. "Launch provides important portability and reliability, as well as an effective media submission alternative. The bottom line for us is greater workflow efficiency."
Prior to Launch, KPRC spent a lot of time coordinating out-of-town transmission logistics with local stations. They either contacted the stations in advance or knocked on the doors of on-site trucks to request the use of local facilities. They also shipped a lot of gear out of town. Now, they simply send their news crew outfitted with a Sony XDCAM digital camcorder and a Dell laptop loaded with Grass Valley NewsEdit LT nonlinear news editing software and Launch IP media delivery software.
Digital Heaven has just made two of its popular plug-ins for Final Cut Pro absolutely free and ready for download: DH_Grid and DH_Guides.
DH_Grid is a generator that will display a grid of up to ten divisions in horizontal and vertical divisions that can be independently set over a predefined area in your project. This grid will help you line up objects on screen. You can also change the line width and color of the grid.
DH_Guide is another generator that displays guides from left, right, top and bottom. You can choose to make the lines a color or dim inside or dim outside guidelines and it allows for the manipulation of distance between guides.
Check out the other Digital Heaven plug-ins for Final Cut Pro as they range from $20-$40 each.
Editiing a movie like The Da Vinci Code can be an overwhelming task. Mike Hill (Ron Howard’s Editor since 1982) and Dan Hanley used their talents to edit one of the most anticipated movies of 2006. As usual Avid products were used to edit this gigantic project. They used five Film Composer XLs on a Unity system plus Avid Express Pro to check the dallies. To keep pace with the sheer volume of editorial tasks including logging one million feet of film and handling approximately 700 visual effects shots - and to ensure a flawless on-time delivery, the editing team relied on a totally integrated digital editing setup. The Da Vinci Code opened on 23.000 screens on May 19th. Get the full story on the Da Vinci Code and how Avid was there every step of the way!
If you have Final Cut Pro Version 5 or later, Digital Heaven announced yesterday the release of their new standalone application "BigTime." Big Time is a resizable floating timecode display that depicts sequence or source clip timecode enabling you and the client to more easily pinpoint key moments in time without having to squint your eyes. This timecode display is BIG and works very much like the timecode window you would find in Avid. There is a demo version of this ware on the Digital Heaven site, so give your eyes a rest and see how it works for you.
BigTime will let you change the text and background color to suit your needs and is now shipping for $49.00 USD.
After Effects 7.0 gives you a great new way to add a keyframe. In the past is was always confusion on how to add a keyframe at any random point in the timeline. Well, After Effects 7.0 has a great fix for this. It is called add or remove keyframe at current time. This button is located next to the arrows on your keyframe navigators in the timeline. Just click the diamond and a keyframe will be added or if you are on a current keyframe that keyframe will be deleted. This is a new great way to add keyframes easily and quickly without hassle
The Apple Store, Fifth Avenue in Manahattan, New York is now open and serving the public 24/7. There is some great time lapse footage of the first 24 hours of the store opening you should check out. I guess this location will be the place to be on the eve before a new release of Final Cut Studio. Just stand in line until Midnight.
As part of the Grand Opening Celebration, Apple gave away a new Macbook every hour for 24 hours at their new flagship store. The only bad news about that is the fact that you had to actually be there to be eligible.
The new store officially opened on Friday, May 19, at 6:00 pm.
For all of you Final Cut Pro and Avid Xpress Pro users out there who either own or are planning to buy a Panasonic HVX200 camera, Century Optics offers some great lens accessories that will allow you more flexibility with a fixed lens. Here are some of the addons that are available for this incredible camera:
- .6X Wide Angle Adapter: Achieve wider angles with extremely low distortion.
- .75X Wide Angle Converter: Grab high resolution images and a wider angle of view while maintain full zoom capability.
- Super Fisheye Adapter: You've seen what this one can do in many national TV spots. This adapter will allow you to achieve a wider angle of view and an attractive barrel distortion effect free of vingnetting.
- 1.6x Tele-Converter: The outdoor sportman should take a good look at this one! if you are producing a fish and wildlife type show, then you know that sometimes you may have to take a shot from long distances. This converter will allow you greater telephoto reach when physically getting closer is not an option.
- Achromateic diopters: If your job calls for you to shoot miniatures, these Macro Zoom attachments will allow you maximum magnification and image clarity.
Many of the Century Optics adapters and converters attach by way of bayonet mount. Take a look for yourself.
This set of 136 filters, transitions and generators support 24p, 25p 30p and are all designed to render at the subpixel level for smooth movement. A series of Final Cut Pro workshops and 68 softwipe patterns are also included in the package. Here's a taste of what you will find in CGM DVE Complete:
Filters: Morph, Clone Area, Bezier Matte, Text, Countdown, De-interlace, Highlights, Lows, Cube 3D, Squick, Star Effects
Transitions: Dip to Color Dissolve, Double Flip, Explode, Laser, Liquid Movie FX, MultiSlide, MultiSpin, PixelStorm
Apple's latest version of Final Cut Express HD is hitting the shelves with full keyframe effects control and dynamic RT for Real-time Previews. This version also ships with Live Type 2, which features 60 new effects for dynamic type creation and Soundtrack 1.5 for custom made music.
Capture HD or HDV with Express 3.5 and give depth to your project by compositing imagery such as video, multi-layered Photoshop files, and photos.
Here's a list of some of the features:
- Full Keyframe Effects Control
- Dynamic RT for Real-time Previews
- DV and HDV Editing
- Composite Easily In-Canvas
- Intergrate Mult-Layered Photoshop Files
- Perform Advanced Color Correction
- Grow Your iMovie Project
Take a look at the new an improved Final Cut Express HD 3.5.
5 minutes of DV footage equals approximates 1 gigabyte of storage. Digital Heaven has a free widget, VideoSpace v1.0, For OSX Tiger that will allow you to calculate how much disk space your Final Cut Pro or Avid Xpress video project will require before you begin. It's as simple as selecting the Codec that you will be using from a drop down menu of 17 options, selecting the framerate, and typing in the projected length of the program in HHMMSS format and Video Space will calculate the size of the file.
It can also work in reverse allowing you to enter in the storage capacity of optical storage media such as a DVD or CD and calculate the amount of video it can hold. Check out and Download Digital Heaven's VideoSPace right here.
I had chance to test out Itiva's Streaming Media Technology with an older PC laptop connected to a DSL internet connection and was overwhelmed by the quality of the experience. I was able to view the HI-DEF movie trailers available on the Itiva website after waiting a short while for buffering and downloading. Once the videos played the quality was incredible. There were some frames that skipped here and there but when I watched the movie trailers back the second time the experience was aweseome. Most users with faster computers will have a better experience with Itiva's streaming technology. If you consider that the laptop I used for testing the Itiva Quantum streaming had a slower processor, small amount of RAM and that the file I was viewing was anywhere from 1500 kbps to 1900 kbps, the experience was impressive. Truly Amazing Technology!
If you have a PC running Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Media Player 10, and a high speed Internet connection you can watch the on-line demo of the Quantum technology for streaming. You will need to also allow Itiva's QMesh to be installed on your computer. Try it for yourself!
When I first entered the industry, may I add before their was any such thing called Final Cut Pro, a Silicon Graphics box was the de facto standard hardware to have if you were serious about 3D graphics and animation. The former hardware giant, Silicon Graphics Incorporated, filed for chapter 11 this month in attempt to crawl out from underneath a mountain of debt. This isn't the first time SGI has had to try something new. In 2000, SGI switched from making supercomputers to focusing on much more tightly niched markets only to find their standing with investors in a steady decline. SGI plans on being reorganized and out of bankruptcy protection in six months.
MPEGIF's Logo Qualification Program is available to all industry participants and is no longer limited to products supplied by members of MPEGIF. The program is being operated to ensure interoperability among products and technology using MPEG-4. The program is designed such that participant's products undergo testing against standardized bitstreams and qualified products to confirm they
work together under specific MPEG profiles and levels.
Qualified products have the right to display the distinctive MP4
Qualification Mark and may list their documentation, literature,
qualification test results and advertising on the MP4 Logo Program website .
Using this site, Qualified products can be selected or have their status confirmed by browsing the Product Directory area. This is great for those that want to get a better understanding of products with supported profiles and levels. The MPEGIF's internet presence counts millions of hits per month and is one of the most frequented resources devoted to MPEG technologies.
"It took many years for interoperability to be the norm as MPEG-2
emerged, the work of the forum in MPEG-4 interoperability is essential
to the success of our industry", said David Price, Vice President of
MPEGIF. "As a result the "MP4" Logo will become the mark of excellence
for next generation video technology."
During NAB 2006, visual effects innovator, Noise Industries debuted the first ware that will give Final Cut Pro and Motion artists the freedom to create their own dedicated effect plug-ins based on the Apple FXPlug-in architecture. That's right, FXFactory will allow you to create and apply your own unique plug-ins when no off the shelf ware can get the job done. You can access the plug-ins through the native interface of FCP or Motion. Here are some of the features of FXFactory for Final Cut Studio:
- Comes standard with a comprehensive library of effects
- Access to online visual effects library, the Effects Market
- Create or download an unlimited number of new effects.
- Open GL acceleration and real-time image processing based on Core Image and Quartz Composer
FXFactory is projected to ship in the summer of 2006.
Webex provides webcasting solutions and to the ability to interact on-line. Webex is a provider of on-demand collaborative business applications an is etremely popular for creating interactive webcast and meetings on-line. Webex provides a customized player when viewing a webcast. By shuffling through the Webex Media Player users can advance the various slides of the presentation so audio and presentation slides are in sync.
Webex also provides web meetings and webcasts via a pay per use pricing structure. This is a great feature because you can get a estimated cost figure to do a webast or web meeting. Webex interactive meetings also allow the the ability to share documents as well as control the level of features for attendees.
Take a tour of the Webex webcasting and web meeting solutions
The MPEG Industry Forum (MPEGIF) announced that several leading companies have joined the
organization. The companies join the ranks of leading suppliers and early adopters
of the latest standards based MPEG technology. Pick Hit NAB Award winner, Popwire, is also among those joining the ranks of MPEGIF.
Here's a list of the New members of the MPEG Industry Forum:
ARC International
ATI Technologies
Ceva DSP Ltd.
Chips & Media Inc.
Freescale Semiconductors
Harman Becker Automotive Systems
HiSilicone Technologies Co. Inc.
Human Monitoring Ltd.
NagraVision
Popwire
Miravid Inc.
Robert Gordon University
Vweb Corp.
Find out other news and information related to MPEG-4, H.264/AVC and other MPEG standards
If you are new to After Effects or a seasoned pro you know that managing your media is very important. Being able to locate you projects, media and renders is very critical to not only being efficient but also to simply find your work. I have found the best workflow is to set yourself up for success. The first thing I do before starting any project is make folders for each category. I make a project folder, media folder, and a renders folder. Then I put these folders inside a folder named after the project. So, for example, if I am working on a Crestliner Boat commercial, I would name the top folder Crestliner and then put my three other folders inside. This makes it real nice and tidy and very easy to retrieve my work at anytime. To learn great tips like this one and many more sign up for one of our up and coming After Effects classes.
I am always checking the Avid Web Site for the latest news or downloads from Avid. Well if you find yourself in the same predicament then Stop searching! Get the latest Avid news, headlines, customer stories, and more sent directly to your desktop with this handy RSS reader. Tap into your favorite Avid forums and stay connected to the hot topics, the latest tips and tricks, and the professional communtiy. Its fast, its free, and it runs on Mac and Windows systems. Check it out today and never miss the latest Avid news!
For all of you Avid Xpress and Final Cut Pro artists out there who utilize After Effects, Trapcode has released a new version of there powerful After Effects 3D particle system plugin, Particular. You can truly create some amazing visual effects with this ware. The new features in Version 1.5 are:
- Depth of Field creates the appearance of a real camera view by imitating the inability of a camera to maintain focus in all depths of an image. Now, those particles flying by will look realistic.
- Motion Path lets you control the path of particles after they have been born
- Particle Count allows you to monitor the current number of particles in a given simulation from the Info Window.
See Particular in action right here!
This one may be a little strange but it is still classic motion graphics. Back in '01 Pleix Films released an abstract music video for Bleip called No. The animation was driven by the music (which was also produced by Pleix) and the majority of the work was done in none other than Adobe After Effects. You gotta love that! The video consists of a variety of stuttering cut outs and key words that convey a message that I've been trying decipher for the last five years.
Check Out: BLEIP - NO
Pleix films provide some of the best creative motion graphic inspiration on the web; so while you're in the viewing strange imagery mood also check out: Pleix Films Official Website
If you do not have a preview monitor on which to preview your work, you can use one of your computer monitors to see a full screen preview.
1 Simply go to View > Video Playback > Digital Cinema Desktop Preview-Full Screen.
2 Go to View > External Video > All Frames so that FCP knows to send the information found in your project frame by frame to the external monitor.
May I point out that you may already posses the hardware to preview to an external monitor. Do you have an inexpensive Mini-DV camera with firewire and and S-Video ports? I'm talking about the type of Mini-DV camera that you would commonly take on a vacation. Do you have a television set with an S-Video in? If you do, then you're in luck!
1 Run the firewire cable from your computer to the Mini-DV Camera.
2 Run an S-Video Cable from the Mini-DV camera to the television set. Make sure your camera is in VTR mode and not in Camera mode.
3 Go to View > External Video > All Frames
4 Go to View > Video Playback > Apple Firewire NTSC (720x480).
Your audio source will have to be connected to the Mini-DV Camera for you to be able to monitor the audio. Now, you have a relatively inexpensive VTR!
The Firestore DR-HD100-80 is an 80GB DV and Pro HD disk recorder with Direct To Edit (DTE) capability. Video, timecode and control information passes through a single firewire connection between the recorder and HD100 camcorder. When a tape is loaded, each time you press the record button, then stop on your camcorder, the DR-HD100 with create an individual clip on disk. These files can be used directly in Adobe, Apple, Avid Canopus and Pinnacle apps. You also have the ability to monitor timecode and disk space through the viewfinder and preview clips by using the playback mode on the DR-HD100.
The DR-HD100 also has a little brother, the DR-HD100-40, a 40GB DV and Pro HD disk recorder.
Perusing through the May '06 issue of Creative Cow Magazine I came across an article which spoke about a useful Adobe After Fx plug-in appropriately named Lensfeed. Created by a company known as Frishluft, Lensfeed allows After Effects to receive a live preview from just about any video camera. This is a great utility for those of you who find yourselves doing a lot of Keying work and need to see the results of your lighting on the fly.
For more info check out: http://www.frischluft.com
On May eleventh In Osaka Japan, Panasonic and Sony Corporation announced AVCHD, a new format that allows for recording and playback of high resolution digital HD images by way of 8cm DVD media. This new format will allow for the recording of 1080i and 720p signals onto 8cm DVD media. The MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec will be used for video compression and Dolby Digital (AC-3) for sound.
Stay tuned!
Ultravox, another format for streaming video, is a specification that is under development by the Internet Streaming Media Alliance (ISMA) and is expected to be coming out. There's no word yet on the exact time of the release of the specification.
"It's another format for streaming video. It's been the most widely used format for streaming video on the internet. It was something put together by AOL. AOL wanted to make it an open standard", said Dr. Yuval Fisher, Chief Scientist and Founder of Envivio. Dr. Fisher also serves of the Board for ISMA.
For anyone that has experienced AOL videos on the internet they have already used the specification because the standard is based on AOL's proprietary technology. Now, AOL's format for streaming video will be an open standard exposing the quality of experience to a wider range of viewers.
Ultravox is an HTTP-based streaming (or progressive download) protocol. It augments HTTP by allowing status, informative, and other messages to be included in the response. It is the basis for shoutcast audio/video and is the most widely deployed streaming protocol on the internet today. Developed by AOL, Ultravox is now maintained by the ISMA, with a specification for carriage of AVC in the final process of standardization.
View details of current streaming media specifications under development by ISMA
The Ultimate Fighter 3 promo was created by award winning design director Anders Schroder. Enhancing phenomenally edited film with impressive motion graphics this promotional spot is incredible to say the least. Shroder has been doing motion graphics for over eight years and has worked with some of the biggest clients in the industry.
View: The Ultimate Fighter 3 Promo
Schroder's skills in Adobe After Effects are without a shadow of a doubt irrefutable but his 3D work is...is...Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
Don't believe me? Check Out: Anders Schroder's Show Reel
For those of you riding the bleeding edge of entertainment technology as we do here at GeniusDV, Blu-ray and HD DVD authoring are on the move! Sonic Solutions offers a high-end solution for next-gen DVDs. Take a look at some of the features as seen on sonic.com:
- Blu-ray Disk Support : Author fully featured Blue Disk titles
- HD DVD Support: Standard and Advanced Content HD DVD title creation
- SD DVD Support
- Advanced Interactivity: Seamless menus over video composited contextual menus, synchronized picture-in-picture bonus content, and built-in internet connectivity.
- Hands on Control: Scenarist's direct, non-abstraction-based cell-level authoring lets you take charge of the details with complete cell-level control over every aspect of your Blu-ray Discs and HD DVD titles.
- Flexible Workgroup Productivity: Perform multiple tasks at a single workstation or spread your process over several stations.
At NAB 2006, Popwire introduced Ingest Engine 1.0, a video capture solution for moving tape based content to the digital workflow.
Ingest Engine 1.0 is a client/server solution. This means that several clients can work with importing and storing the media on one central server that is also hooked up to the tape player (DV, Beta, etc.) and where the actual importing takes place. You only require one powerful server, one interface between the tape player and one tape player. Should the need of your workgroup increase, more servers with attached tape players can be added and controlled from the same client computers.
"Ingest Engine 1.0, integrates into any NLE system a customer is using. This makes it so much easier to move from tape to a 100% digital workflow which in return saves time and money without compromising on quality" says Anders Wannfors, CTO at Popwire AB
Ingest Engine 1.0 handles MPEG-2, DV, MPEG-4 Proxy, PBF or Uncompressed 4:2:2 and support VTR control via the standard RS-422 remote protocol. Each server can handle one video adapter, and Ingest Engine 1.0 currently supports the AJA Io series of video capture units.
Nero, leaders in digital media technology, announced a partnership with Digital Rapids, a leading developer of professional hardware and software solutions for post production, broadcast, IPTV, Video on Demand (VOD) and other advanced media applications.
The first collaboration between the two companies is the integration of Nero's industry-leading AVC/H.264 and High Efficiency AAC, which are core components of Nero's ISO-standard Nero Digital technologies. Supporting the best in audio and video compression, Nero Digital technology family includes MPEG-4 and AAC, AVC/H.264 and High Efficiency AAC for the ultimate viewing experience from mobile phones to High Definition video screens.
Moving forward, Nero and Digital Rapids will continue working on a number of market-facing solutions, combining Nero's superior technologies with Digital Rapids' industry-leading software and hardware solutions for professional video ingest, playout, encoding, transcoding, and delivery.
"We're very pleased to be partnering with Nero to bring the benefits of Nero Digital technology to our customers through the Digital Rapids Pro AVC plug-in," said Brick Eksten, President of Digital Rapids Corporation. "Nero is setting the standard for MPEG-4 AVC, with the broadest install base and leading-edge commitments to Blu-ray and HD DVD. We look forward to working with Nero on further extensions of our technologies and enabling our customers to reach even wider audiences."
Learn more about Nero's leading digital media technology products
Profound Effects are the creators of the powerful automation tool for Adobe After Fx known as Useful Assists. There are over 118 assistants and each one is just as useful as the next. Useful Assistants will enhance your workflow by handling many of tasks that can sometimes take hours to execute.
For example, UA includes assistants that do the following:
- Automatically extend layers and nested compositions when a few more seconds are needed.
- Copy and paste whole groups of expressions at a time.
- Place markers wherever cuts or gaps are detected, automatically.
- Open, close, join, and reverse the direction of masks.
- Associate mask vertices with motion tracker track points.
- Create keyframes based on the luminance or channel information in the image.
- Sequence and fade layers in powerful ways.
- Paste, move, and snap layers in different ways.
- Make a contact sheet of frames from throughout a composition, automatically.
Check Out: Profound Effects Useful Assistants 1.7 for Adobe After Effects.
Award winning manufacturer of glass filters for motion pictures and television, Tiffen, has produced an HDTV/FX filter line designed to give a more film-like aesthetic value to razor sharp HD images. Due to the increasingly widespread use of HD video in the film and television industries, The HDTV/FX filter line was created to reduce HD's high contrast image and improve shadow detail while smoothing undesirable detail of on air talent.
The HDTV/FX filters are available in the following densities and sizes as listed on the Tiffen website: 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in sizes 4x4, 4x5.650, 6.6x6.6, 138mm and 4 1/2 and screw in sizes 52mm-82mm for digital and still photography and videography.
One of the best Broadcast Design & Live Action Studios in the business has to be BELIEF. Located in Santa Monica, they have created some of the best broadcast productions I have ever witnessed. Take a gander at the work they did for the ZOOM Network and the work will speak for it self. The project was created with tools such as Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D along with live action visual elements.
Check out: ZOOM Network Launch
As an added bonus, BELIEF created a behind the scenes QuickTime which will give you better insight to how the spot was created.
The 100GB FS-100 HD Recorder by Panasonic provides 1.5 hours of DVCPRO HD recording time and supports supports DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, and DVCPRO/DV recording formats. Weighing in at about a pound, it connects to the HVX by a single firewire connection that passes audio, video, timecode and control allowing for simultaneous recording to the record disk and P2 card.
No capture, conversion, or file transfer needed with this device. Simply connect the drive to your Mac or PC and edit. The FS-100 is powered by a rechargeable/removable battery and will allow for time lapse, retro disk recording and scene marking. Here are some other key features:
- Records over 100 minutes for all DVCPRO formats
- The Unit can be daisy-chained for longer recording times
- Direct To Edit (DTE) Technology with P2 MXF compatibility
- Field upgradeable with future support for thumbnails
The FS-100 is shipping now.
For 21 years, the readership of Broadcast Engineering Magazine has selected a new product exhibited at NAB that features innovative technology. Every year, this product has been awarded the Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit Award and this year, the award went to Popwire for Compression Master 4.0.
The Broadcast Engineering Top Pick Award is in recognition of the innovative technology developed and shown at NAB. The Broadcast Engineering Pick Hit awards are the industry's longest-running new product technology awards, now celebrating its 21st anniversary.
The fact that it is the readership of Broadcast Engineering combined with working professionals in the broadcast, post and network and satellite industries that have selected Compression Master 4.0 for this award means a lot to us, says Anders Wannfors, CTO at Popwire, We gladly accept this award and extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who voted for us and our product says Anders Wannfors.
An added feature of Compression Master 4.0 is that it now features Universal Support of the Mac Platform.
Find out more about Compression Master 4.0 and the many encoding output formats the tool supports.
With the growing popularity and excitement surrounding Podcasting GeniusDV is offering a Video Streaming and Compression class that will also cover how to create your own Podcast. "As more companies, churches, governments, and organizations are embracing Podcasting, it is important for us to keep content producers on the cutting edge of how to deliver their media assets", said Derrick Freeman, Video Streaming and Compression Specialist for GeniusDV. "What's nice about the Podcasting training module is that students will actually get the chance to create a Podcast and have it available on-line before the class is over."
The Video Streaming and Compression class also teaches students how to encode their content to Windows Media, Real, QuickTime, Flash, and H.264 formats. The featured software for the class is Dreamweaver, Sorenson Squeeze, Flip4Mac and Compression Master. For those interested the next training date for the Video Streaming and Compression class is on June 17, 2006 in Orlando, Florida.
View the class outline for the June 17th, 2006 Video Streaming and Compression class
Sony Media Software introduced Cinsescore at NAB 2006, an alternative to soundtrack creation for movie makers. The Cinescore software will allow filmmakers and audio producers to automatically generate custom tracks for movies by selecting from a wide variety of musical themes and genres that can be molded into their own cinematic vision. Simply pick a musical theme and the time, tempo intensity, variation and repetition of the piece is conformed to voiceover or video at frame level accuracy.
Here are some of the key features:
- Automatically generates music to fit project length
- Includes 20 fully customizable themes multiple genres
- 16-bit, 44.1 KHZ song quality for high-fidelity performance
- Custom variations can be created and saved
- Hint markers control changes in temp, mood, and intensity
- Multiple ending types for generated media
- Includes over 300 sound effects and audio transitions
- Themes sorted based on instruments, keywords and more
- Video scoring track and real-time preview window
- Audio sweetening track
- Real-time editing during playback
- Interactive Show Me How tutorials and online help
- Volume and pan envelopes
- Audio time stretching
- Track markers and regions
- CD audio extraction
- External monitor preview
- Unlimited undo/redo
- Project media bins
Although I was unable to find a definitive shipping date, Cinescore will hit the shelves at $249.95 USD.
Harry J. Frank of ::graymachine:: has been creating some of the coolest broadcast animations for quite some time now. Just recently, Harry released a brand new batch of Adobe Affects Effects presets using the all powerful Trapcode Particular plug-in. The beautiful thing is, these files which are actual projects are free to download! They are perfect learning the ins and outs of Particular or great start for an abstract background.
There are ten editions of these preset files and you can start with number nine right here: AE Trapcode Presets
LAS VEGAS, NV (April 24, 2006) - JVC Professional Products Company expands its ProHD family line of products with the introduction of the GY-HD200U. Targeted for independent filmmakers and stringers, this high definition camcorder carries the Compact-Shoulder form factor popularized by the GY-HD100U, and is capable of HDV720/60P true progressive image acquisition due to the implementation of JVC's new Super Encoder developed for the latest line of ProHD products.
60P provides 60 full frames of information per second, excellent for viewing and analyzing motion, as well as for delivering an overcranked recording for superb slow motion when the final output is 24P. The GY-HD200U utilizes all of the accessories currently available for the GY-HD100U, including the new 1/3 mount HD lenses being introduced at NAB 2006.
Additionally, the GY-HD200U now has Enhanced Cinema Gamma capability further empowering the photographer to enhance the captured image. The camcorder also records in both SD - including 24P and 24PA - and HD, and has JVC's patented focus assist function that enables the user to precisely focus on each scene by highlighting details in the viewfinder to facilitate HD focusing. The camera also features two XLR connectors for each audio channel and records CD quality audio at 384Kbps in the MPEG1 Layer 2 format with the audio level indicators visible on the viewfinder and on the flip-out LCD display.
The suggested list price for the GY-HD200U is $7,995.00 (Tentative). The suggested list price of the HZ-CA13U lens adapter has not been determined. Delivery for both products is expected to begin in October 2006.
Even if you have only experimented with 3D animation in your video career, the name NewTek should be very familiar as they have developed some of the most widely used video and 3D animation products in the industry: LightWave 3D, Tricaster and VT[4]. Well, now they are about to be known for something else. At NAB 2006 NewTek announced what they call the "World's Fastest Video Editor," SpeedEDIT.
SpeedEDIT is a resolution-independent editor that can handle jobs ranging from web video to Hi Def enabling full resolution on-screen HD outputs with FireWire output to camera or deck. All editing functions can be performed directly in the dynamically linked timeline and storyboard interfaces. Here are the speed edit features as they are listed on the NewTek site:
- Resolution independence- edit anything from web streams to HD
- Mix SD and HD clips in the same project
- Supports all frame-rates and resolutions
- 16:9 and 4:3 aspect support
- Live we streaming and recording
- Support for MPEG-2, HDV, DV, QuickTime, Flash and more
- Project output via FireWire to camera or deck
- Real-time HD output on-screen
- Auto white balance correction
- Advanced 4-band selective color selection
- Multi-threaded software runs faster with dual-core computers
SpeedEDIT is expected to ship this summer for $495 USD.
Keep your eyes on the GeniusDV Website for current industry news and information as well as new training opportunities. By popular demand, GeniusDV will soon be offering classes in Avid Media Composer.
Along with the ability to combine HD, SD, DV, and film formats and resolutions in the same timeline without rendering, redigitizing or transcoding, here are just a few of the features of the Media Composer software:
- Full Media Composer toolset
- Mac and PC compatible
- Add editing seats without adding hardware
- Total Conform with Avid Sypmphony Nitris Systems
Sorenson Media announced an exciting new product at NAB 2006. It's called Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL and provides real-time HD encoding. Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL is a PCI-X accelerator platform/plug-in board based on innovative, fully software-definable technology.
Sorenson Media's HD encoding solution is a PC plug-in board that uses four highly parallel processors, totaling over 16,000 parallel computing elements, to dramatically accelerate key processor-intensive encoding tasks such as motion estimation and image transforms. Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL can encode MPEG-2 1920x1080 content at 30 frames per second on a properly configured system. Lower resolutions can achieve faster than real-time performance.
"Our customers love the quality, simplicity and workflow of Sorenson Squeeze but have struggled to encode high quantities of HD content in a reasonable amount of time," said Matt Cupal, president of Sorenson Media. "With Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL we've combined our renowned quality and simplicity with blazing fast encoding speed. The result is a no-compromise solution that will please even our most demanding customers."
Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL hardware accelerates all of the MPEG-2 encoding options in Sorenson Squeeze, including resolutions (SD and HD) up to 1920 x 1080, and works effectively alongside video capture cards from several vendors to provide capture and encoding in a single system. Because it is fully software programmable, Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL has a roadmap to other HD formats as they become available. Planned future codecs include H.264/AVC and Windows Media/VC1.
Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL also includes all of the features of Sorenson Squeeze PowerPack and will be available by contacting Sorenson Media at 801.313.8150 or through a variety of dealers. Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL is anticipated to ship in Q2 2006.
Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL System Requirements:
Windows
Dual Xeon 3.8 GHz
Windows XP 32-bit OS
4GB RAM
250GB SATA system disk
nVidia FX 1400 PCIe graphics card
4 x 146GB 10K U320 SCSI hard disks in software RAID0 confi guration
QuickTime 7 or later
Get more details about Sorenson SqueezeHD XCEL for Real-time HD Encoding.
Telestream's FlipFactory Mobile is expected to be available in June. With the need for content providers to deliver their media to many different mobile providers the time for this tool couldn't be better. Numerous content providers have large amounts of source formats and need to deliver to multiple destination formats. FlipFactory Mobile will automate high-volume media encoding and delivery for these rapidly evolving mobile distribution markets. With advances in PC, broadband, and mobile technologies, the adoption of TV viewing on mobile devices and personal media players is now a reality and Telestream is setting the stage for easier delivery of content to mobile devices.
Built on FlipFactory's core tanscoding technology FlipFactory Mobile will provide hands free processing of media files to desired output formats. With FlipFactory mobile you'll be able to set rules for where to look for source media, what to do with them and where to deliver them. This filed-based workflow automation solution will reduce the need for manual encoding and delivery.
FlipFactory Mobile will encode to the following video and audio formats:
Video formats
WMV/VC-1, H.264, Apple Video iPod, Real, QuickTime (MJPEG-A, MJPEG-B and Sorenson Video 3), MPEG-4, Sony PSP, Flash (with On2Technology Flix Exporter), PacketVideo MPEG-4, 3GPP
Audio formats
MP3, AAC, AAC-LC, AMR, WAV, WMA, Real
Telestream allowed attendees at the 2006 NAB Show the opportunity to get a first hand glimpse of the FlipFactory Mobile product. It's impressive and provides an amazing amount of capabilities. Look for my hands-on product review of FlipFactory Mobile on GeniusDV.com.
Learn more about Telestream's FlipFactory Mobile tool for automated hands-free transcoding and delivery to mobile devices.
If you are a filmmaker and have some of your earlier work on film and are looking to transfer to HD, Film Fix from Redgiant Software may be just what you are looking for. Film Fix gives Adobe After Effects users the ability to repair old film footage by restoring tears, removing dirt and dust particles and even image stabilization so that your transfer to HD will be clean.
"When you do a film transfer to HD, the HD video really shows the flaws, and broadcast and cable networks all want really clean master fpor their HDTV broadcasts."
- Kevin Christopher
Director of Technology for Cinepost
If you have been planning on tranferring your film footage to HD, see if Film Fix is a viable option for you.
The Honda Civic "Rebirth" spot is like an abstract painting stuffed into Adobe After Fx and a high-end 3D Application. From the beginning to the end, the Ad has you wondering "Where are they going with this?" but yet you can't look away. You find yourself being hypnotized by the unusual ambient music which is paralleled by some of the most obscure imagery you've seen in a very long time. This piece displays some of the most complex After Effects techniques ever created on 3D canvas. OK, that is just going way over board but it is still great poetry in motion.
Check it out for yourself: Honda Civic - Rebirth
Independent Filmmaker Chris Suchorsky found success in the failed attempt at his lifelong dream of making his own film. His motivation was quite similar to that of the original Rebel Without a Crew, Filmmaker Robert Rodriquez: write the script, rent the equipment, use his friends as actors, and direct the film.
It's the summer of 2000 and Suchorsky arrives at the set on the first day of shooting, having not performed a single day of preproduction and armed with a bunch of rented equipment that he had never even used before. He doesn't even know how to operate the cameras he'll be shooting with. His friends/actors are steadily becoming agitated and getting drunk while he sets up for the first scene. Things are quickly spiralling out of his control and it's just the first day of production!
See how Chris Suchorsky transforms his failed attempt at making his first feature-film into a success that has placed him in head to head competition with stars like Billy Crystal and Guy Pierce at film festivals across the country. His documenatry called "Failure" is not just showing at film festivals, it's winning!
Station IDs are pretty common nowadays and one of the masters at creating them is the heavy hitting design-based production company known as EyeballNYC. Back in '02 EyeballNYC created a package of network IDs for Comedy Central. These IDs were so good that in 2004 they were asked to Remix the whole package. The results were incredible. So incredible that you get to view them today as travel back into motion graphic time.
Washing Cycle 2002
View Project
Washing Cycle 2004
View The Project's REMIX!
There is a lot of 3D work in the graphics but a large amount of the work was done in Adobe After Effects especially in the Remixed versions of the IDs.
Automatic Duck, Inc. the makers of some of the most popular timline translation wares on the market, introduced Import FCP 2.0 at NAB 2006. FCP 2.0 enables Final Cut Pro artists to import OMF 2.0 files from Avid systems as well as OMF 2.0 files from Pro Tools or AAF Edit Protocol files.
Here are some of the enhancements in 2.0
- Import OMF files from Digital Audio Workstations like Pro Tools
- 24fps Import from Avid Editing Systems
- Imported Avid Title Effects become FCP Text Generators
- Avid Time Warp effects are Transalated into into time remapping
- AAF Edit Protocol Support
I have no word on the development of Adobe Premiere timeline translation to Final Cut Pro. I have only read speculation in online forums that this product is under development.
Check out Pro Import FCP 2.0 from Automatic Duck!
So you need some 3D text in your Adobe After Effects project but you don't have 3D Studio Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, or even LightWave. No Problem! Don't get me wrong, you could spend well over five hundred dollars for any of these 3D applications and take a few months to learn it or you could buy the Panopticum AnimaText 3D plug-in for Adobe After Fx.
This powerful little tool has over 113 adjustable parameters and will run you about $80 smackaroos for some of the easiest text manipulation around.
Check out : Panopticum's AnimaText 3D plug-infor Adobe After Effects
Itiva had a successful showing of their Quantum Technology for streaming at todays OnHollywood 2006 event. They were one of the presenters for the Top Innovator Demo Program. "The program provides a compelling environment for digital media companies to communicate how they plan to exploit the new opportunities in on-line entertainmnet and media", said Tony Perkins, organizer of OnHollywood 2006 and founder of AlwaysOn.
Itiva had a chance to show how they will contribute to the digital revolution with their patent pending Quantum technology. Many ISPs and Content Providers are excited about the opportunity to use better the available bandwidth for internet viewing of content.
The Quantum technology provides a high quality and better viewing experience for short-form and long-form content. In a day when content providers are excited about the opportunity to move away from traditional forms of providing content by way of television, Itiva's technology brings excitement about being able to take better advantage
of viewing via the Internet.
"When you get a room full of people all thinking about the complexities of making the Internet the primary delivery method for Hollywood's content, Itiva has a great chance to stand out. Itiva addresses what is potentially the biggest stop point for ubiquitous adoption: bandwidth bottlenecks and cost. We get DVD or HD quality content from the provider to the viewer, do it cost effectively, and do it in a manner where everyone wins - even the ISPs", said Itiva President, Michel Billard.
I had a chance to talk with Michel Billard via a phone interview today and he is excited about the positive response he received from his presentation of Itiva's technology.
MobiTV, DivX, and other companies were among the Top Innovator Demos.
Read my Post NAB write-up on Itiva's Streaming Technology
At NAB 2006, Avid announced Xpress 5.5 and Mojo SDI. Here are some of the enhancements that can be found in 5.5:
- HD and improved format support for OS X systems
- Realtime multicam support for OS X systems
- Tapeless workflow for OS X systems
- Direct ingest of XDCAM HD over Firwire
- New film and pulldown support for OS X systmes
- AVX 2 plug-in support for deep colorspace and advanced keyframing for OS X systems
- Full-screen SD and HD monitring using the host graphics card for both Mac and PC
- Enhanced performance with HDV splicing for Mac and PC systems
- Varicam support for both Mac and PC systems
The Avid Mojo SDI allows for SDI I/O and AES/EBU digital audio I/O. Here's what it can offer you:
- SDI video I/O
- Flexible digital and analog audio
- Simultaneous output of video and effects to client monitor and tape
- Audio punch-in
You'll find the Xpress Pro software for $1,695 and the Avid Mojo SDI for $2,495.
I remember back in the days of 2002 watching MK12's Ultralove Ninja and saying to myself "What the?, How'd they?....ah forget it!" Motion graphics have come a long way since '02 but you can't forget classics like Ultralove Ninja. Using Adobe After Effects and other design/compositing tools MK12 created a motion graphic piece that will always a home in my Inspiration folder.
Check Out: Ultralove Ninja
And while you're at it stop by and see what's new over at: MK12
Either Apple was not as far along in the development of Final Cut 6 or Final Cut Extreme as the rumors led us to believe or maybe Apple just chose not to show their hand on this one. I went to the Apple demonstration in Las Vegas only to discover that their big announcement was Final Cut Studio 5.1. The demonstration was very good at showing the high end performance one can achieve with the studio as I witnessed a national spot for Mercedes Benz being constructed, but where was 6.0 and Extreme?
The wind was taken out of my sails when neither 6.0 nor Extreme were ever hinted to. Maybe this move by Apple is in response to the rumored pricing of Final Cut Extreme being $10,000 and Avid's release of Media Composer at the educational price of $295. That's right $295.00, and there are no zeros missing in this price. Keep your eyes on the front of the GeniusDV site for more NAB 2006 news and information!
As I spent the week at this years NAB 2006 show I was amazed at the amount of tools, technology and services related to streaming media and compression. I was like a kid in a candy store.
There were many exciting developments and new product releases at the NAB conference. Visit the DV Show to listen to my NAB Podcast Wrap-ups with Host, Brian Alves.
This year will remain to be exciting with the release of the VC-1 codec, Windows Media Encoder Studio Edition Beta, Sorenson Squeeze HD XCEL, Viewcast's GoStream and Flip Factory Mobile from Telestream. These tools are exciting. Look to hear more details and information about these products on our website.
As a result of our coverage of the NAB 2006 show, here are companies to keep an eye on this year. Visit their websites at the links below to find out more about their products and services:
Anystream
Microsoft
Viewcast
Vitalstream
Streambox
Itiva
Telestream
Rhozet
Nero
Fraunhofer
Envivio
Sorenson Media
Popwire
Nike Art of Speed
One of my favorite motion graphic pieces has to be Oggo which was featured on the Nike's Art of Speed not too long ago. Oggo is an animated short/Promo which uses Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, and a 3D application which one I'm not sure. I've literally watched this film over 20 times and I still manage to find something new every time I view it.
Check It Out: Oggo - Nike Art of Speed
I've been searching high and low for the Nike Art of Speed DVD for quite some time now. Through my research I found out that it was never sold in stores but was given away as a free gift when you bought jeans at Diesel (What?). If you can get your hands on the DVD you will find some of the best After Fx work you have ever seen in your life! Seriously.
Thanks to the internet you can watch some of the series here: onedotzero8 | the art of speed: a film project from nike
Also check out: Stefan Nadelman - One Step Ahead (AMAZING)
When I first arrived at the Convention Center, one of the first things I had on my list to check out was the Red camera system. Until now, this camera had only been spoken of in myth in the online forums much like someone who had claimed to have seen a UFO or Bigfoot. An affordable Ultra High Definition Camera that could produce 4K images and could utilize Prime Lenses, this would be an evolutionary jump indeed! Well, this was the moment of truth. I was finally going to see it. It was as if someone had said to me "around the next corner, you will see the only captive Unicorn in the history of earth." I must admit that my breath was surely taken from me as I entered the RED tent and was a little confused as to what I was looking at.
There is a definite paradigm shift going on here. These RED Cinema guys have redefined what a camera is supposed to look like. My first impression was "Wow, wasn't that the gun the character Ripley used in the movie Aliens?" It was like no other camera I had evern seen before complete with a finish that was completely unexpected. In the pictures that are posted here, you see a sleek metal finish. The models on the show room floor had a weathered rust finish and appeared to have been sent back through time for some ambiguous purpose. As I got over the initial shock of the appearance of the unit, I dug into the specs and this device's purpose became clear to me. It came from the future to destroy all cameras that came before it!
Here are some of the specs:
- 12 Megapixel Mysterium CMOS sensor, Super 35mm sized.
- Format Sizes: DV, 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K
- Lenses: 300mm, 17 - 100mm
- Various Cage Configurations
These models were still behind glass and we didn't have the chance to use one yet, but keep your eyes on the GeniusDV website for the latest news and developments with this camera!
