Good News for Final Cut Pro Users.

The internet has been buzzing this morning after a meeting that took place on Apple's Campus in Cupertino, CA. It seems a lucky few were invited to preview the next version of Final Cut Pro that may be slated for release right around N.A.B. Described as "Dramatic and Ambitious" and "a Jaw Dropper", this release may just be the one many Apple loyalists have been waiting for. The specifics are few as we have come to expect from Apple, but as Tech Crunch states the new version incorporates "everything from low level architectural changes to a complete redesign of the user interface." I would obviously assume that this update would finally be a 64bit version which would leverage all the available resources on the recently released 12Core Mac Pro towers. So does this news change our view on Apple and the growing concerns that they had shifted resources away from Pro Apps? That has yet to be seen, but rest assured this N.A.B. may be one of the more eventful that we have seen in recent years. Stay tuned, I am sure we will have much more information to come.

Sources: TechCrunch.com, LarryJordan.biz

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SONY UNVEILS NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY WITH GROUNDBREAKING OLED REFERENCE MASTER MONITORS

Sony has just released its much-anticipated organic light-emitting diode (OLED) master monitors: the BVM-E250 – 24.5-inch, and the 17-inch BVM-E170. These monitors are meant to be direct replacements for CRT technology which has been standard in the professional video and film industry. So how do these monitors stack up against CRT technology? Anyone who has been looking for a color critical replacement for CRT technology will tell you that the LCD displays that have been around for the last couple of years weren't quite up to the level of quality that is needed in a color critical environment. So is this a real viable option? That question has yet to be answered, but based solely on specs, it looks like we are getting closer. The "Super Top Emission OLED" panels on both models boast an RGB 10-bit driver, 100 cd/m2 standard luminance, 1920 x 1080 resolution, plus an impressive 178-degree viewing angle both vertically and laterally, 12-bit output accuracy digital signal processing, Nonlinear cubic conversion color-management system, and Highly-accurate I/P conversion with extremely low process delay. So is this the reference of the future? What do you think? We may just have to wait and see. See the full press release below.

Source: Sony Professional

New 25- and 17-inch Models Designed to Provide
True Replacement for CRT in Critical Evaluation

PARK RIDGE, N.J., Feb 15, 2011 – Sony is once again re-defining professional master monitoring technology with its introduction of two new OLED displays. The new reference-grade BVM-E Series – in 25- and 17-inch sizes – incorporate groundbreaking processing and imaging capabilities designed to give digital production professionals a true replacement for CRT in critical evaluation applications.
“These new monitors are the next step in professional displays, providing end users with extremely high picture quality,” said Gary Mandle, senior product manager at Sony Electronics’ Professional Solutions of America group. “This is breakthrough technology for applications where visual performance and accuracy are paramount, offering an unbeatable combination of image reproduction, color accuracy, reliability and stability.”
The new monitors – the 25-inch BVM-E250 and 17-inch BVM-E170 -- boast several new features specifically designed for professional master monitoring. The first monitors to deliver full HD resolution OLED panels with 10-bit drivers, the BVM-E Series uses a newly developed Sony Professional Display Engine. The OLED processor is designed to bring out the full performance of a master monitor, producing deep blacks with high dynamic range, blur-free motion, wide color gamut and accurate picture reproduction.
The new TRIMASTER EL lineup is refined with its new EL (electro-luminescence) displays, expanding the capabilities of Sony’s TRIMASTER™ technology. This maximizes the full performance capabilities of professional flat-panel displays to deliver higher levels of color accuracy and color reproduction, precision imaging and consistent picture quality.
The BVM-E series features the advantages of OLED display with Sony’s “Super Top Emission” technology. The result is high light efficiency, high color purity, high contrast and high reliability.
These models feature a higher accuracy “Nonlinear Cubic Conversion” color management system, and I/P conversion technology offering extremely low process delay. Finally, the monitors have a new chassis design, with a refined black aluminum body, and lighter and slimmer chassis, which puts a larger image in a smaller foot print.
The BVM-E series also offers input versatility. Standard inputs include 3G/HD/SD-SDI; HDMI and a DisplayPort input. Four slots are also available with a choice of six BKM input boards. Other features include: HD frame capture, pixel zoom and P&P (Side by Side, Butterfly, Wipe, Blending). Finally, the monitors’ OLED technology is environmentally friendly, with less power consumption, lower weight and no environmental pollutants produced.
The BVM-E250 will deliver mid April and BVM-E170 will be available in June.


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Avid Further Expands Open Workflow Innovations and Enables Customers to Reduce Editing Time and Costs with New Productivity-Boosting Solutions

Source: Avid.com

Burlington, Mass., 2011-02-15

Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter Now Support AJA Io Express Hardware and External Control Surfaces, Expand Avid Media Access and Avid Nitris® DX Capabilities, and Offer New "In-App" Phonetic Searching for Increased Editorial Collaboration

Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today underscored its leadership position in open media production solutions with the introduction of new versions of its flagship editing systems—Media Composer® version 5.5, NewsCutter® version 9.5 and Symphony® version 5.5—in response to customer requests for increased third-party hardware support, enhanced "in the box" functionality, and more open, collaborative workflows with added control integration and format flexibility. New features include:

• Support for AJA Io Express input and output interface, offering increased options between accelerated Avid hardware and cost-effective third-party solutions when using Media Composer and NewsCutter systems
• Improved search capabilities and the new Avid PhraseFind powered by Nexidia phonetic searching add-on option to streamline clip and project management, speeding editorial and simplifying the dialogue editing and logging process
• EUCON™ support for integration with Avid control surfaces—Avid Artist Control, Artist Transport and Artist Mix devices—delivering greater flexibility for effects, audio and transport manipulation
• Increased performance with Panasonic AVC-Intra material with the new Avid Nitris® DX AVC-Intra video accelerator
• Native support for Sony HDCAM SR Lite, providing high-quality, file-based media transfer of this popular tape-based format over a GB Ethernet connection to reduce costly deck usage, and increase the workflow flexibility and productivity with this format
• Enhanced Smart Tool functionality for direct transition manipulation within the timeline, enabling "on the fly" editing.

"The new AJA support is paramount and just proves Avid is committed to giving us customers what we’ve been asking for," said Jon Mauldin, director of operations and technology, Fotokem. "Adding support for a third-party hardware device that is so popular with users of other platforms is a direct message about Avid’s open, mixed environment. This started several versions back in Media Composer and continues to expand with the latest iteration bringing even more flexibility and choice."

Increased Hardware and Control Device Support—More Open, Expanded Workflow Options

Media Composer version 5.5 and NewsCutter version 9.5 both support the popular AJA Io Express, a cost-effective video input and output interface. This adds to the previously announced support for Matrox MX02 Mini monitoring hardware (in Media Composer version 5). Editors can also now leverage Artist Mix, Artist Control and Artist Transport control surfaces (formerly from Euphonix) to handle media transport, and audio and effects parameters within Avid editing systems. The fine adjustment controls and physical interfaces (e.g., sliders) of these external controllers are ideally suited for customers working with projects that require extensive audio manipulation.

Additionally, taking advantage of Avid Nitris DX expandability, customers can now benefit from real-time capture and increased playback streams of Panasonic AVC-Intra material, significantly boosting productivity and accelerating workflows with this process-intensive format.

Expanded AMA, Smart Tool and Search Capabilities—Increase Productivity with Streamlined Editorial

New editorial capabilities in Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony editing systems include:

• Avid PhraseFind powered by Nexidia add-on: enables better storytelling by instantly finding clips within Media Composer bins using the same Nexidia phonetic indexing engine in Avid ScriptSync®. The new "type-to-find" interface taps indexed audio material—any word or phrase—for expedited retrieval without a script or transcript, accelerating editing across all program types by finding the right take fast
• Sony HDCAM SR Lite format support via Avid Media Access (AMA): provides an innovative workflow, developed in conjunction with Sony, allowing tape-based HDCAM SR material to be handled as files over a GB Ethernet network connection. This offers greater deck efficiency and savings to ease collaborative workflows by streamlining footage into a shared storage environment for content sharing with other editors
• Smart Tool enhancements: bring expanded editorial power within the box, offering direct timeline control of transitions as an alternative to using separate transition tools
• Expert search: improves generic search capabilities, allowing customers to easily find material using text-based searching in fields and across bins on local or shared storage

Additional Features to Meet Customer Needs—Faster Audio/Video Collaboration with Pro Tools Compatibility and Integrated Broadcast Workflows with New Playback Options

• Media Composer is now compatible with Pro Tools® hardware for greater workflow flexibility, including audio capture and monitoring of Media Composer projects through Pro Tools hardware and voice-over recording into Media Composer to enable faster collaboration between sound and picture departments
• New playback options for audio routing and mixing improve broadcast workflows for tighter newsroom and station integration. Broadcasters now have increased flexibility to route audio signals when sending material to air, meeting multiple delivery demands for picture content with a variety of associated audio tracks, such as mono, stereo or surround

Pricing and Availability

• PhraseFind starts at $495 USMSRP, including one language of choice, with further language packs available for $149 USMSRP each. PhraseFind is currently available in U.S. English, U.K. English and Latin American Spanish. Customers purchasing PhraseFind from the Avid store will be eligible for a complimentary upgrade to Media Composer 5.5
• The Avid Nitris DX AVC-Intra accelerator is bundled with new Symphony systems, and also available as a user-installable upgrade to existing Avid Nitris DX hardware customers
• Support customers are entitled to preferential savings and should check with local resellers or Avid Support online.

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ProMAX Systems Opens New Office in Burbank!

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