Boris Continuum Complete Major Update for Avid Systems

Boris FX has just updated its popular BCC software for compatibility with the latest releases from Avid. BCC 6.0.5 AVX features new Animated Presets for 3D Objects, a revamped Optical Stabilizer filter, a new Swish Pan transition filter, and official support for Avid Media Composer 4, Avid Symphony 4, and Avid NewsCutter 8. The best part is that Boris Continuum Complete 6.0.5 AVX is a Free Update for Boris Continuum Complete 6.x AVX Users.

Click the Read link below for complete details (note: PDF).


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IBC 2009: Blackmagic Design Releases Massive Software Update for All DeckLink Cards

AMSTERDAM - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Blackmagic Design today announced the immediate availability of DeckLink 7.3 with loads of features for the video professional. DeckLink 7.3 is a free update and available for download now to all DeckLink customers for Windows, Mac OS X 10.6 and now Linux.
DeckLink 7.3 will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design IBC 2009 stand located at #7.D08
Support for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.Support for new Final Cut Studio 3.

Included in this software release is Media Express 2.0 public beta which is a major update with DPX support, playlists and an easy to use interface that's identical between Mac OS X, Windows and Linux platforms. Now Blackmagic Design's DeckLink cards can be plugged into either of these three computer platforms to allow a total solution for capture and playback of media.
Intensity and Multibridge installers have also been updated to include the new Media Express 2.0.
For customers using advanced 1080 progressive HD video standards, DeckLink 7.3 updates the software in the DeckLink HD Extreme 3 model with full support for 1080p50, 1080p59.94 and 1080p60. This works in both Dual Link 1.5 Gb/s HD-SDI as well as single link 3 Gb/s SDI. For monitoring, HDLink Pro models have also been updated to support the new progressive video formats, and this software update is available now.
DeckLink 7.3 for Mac OS X also supports more new features recently introduced in Final Cut Pro 7. These include support and easy setups for ProRes 4:4:4:4 and RED workflow. DeckLink 7.3 for Windows includes support for Fusion x64 as well as performance improvements.

DeckLink 7.3 Mac OS X New Features

• Support for the new DeckLink Studio 2.
• Adds new 1080p50/60 modes in Dual Link or 3Gb/s on DeckLink HD Extreme 3.
• Adds new Dual Link and 3Gb/s 2K film modes for DeckLink HD Extreme 3.
• Adds new 1080 RGB to YUV playback conversion on current DeckLink models.
• Adds new ProRes 4:4:4:4 Final Cut Pro Easy Setups.
• Adds new RED Easy Setups for Final Cut Pro.
• Includes new Media Express 2.0.

DeckLink 7.3 Windows New Features

• Support for the new DeckLink Studio 2.
• Includes new Media Express 2.0. Adds new 1080p50/60 modes in Dual Link or 3Gb/s on DeckLink HD Extreme 3. Adds new Dual Link and 3Gb/s 2K film modes for DeckLink HD Extreme 3. Adds new 1080 RGB to YUV playback conversion on current DeckLink models.
• DeckLink 7.3 Linux New Features
• Support for the new DeckLink Studio 2.

Includes new Media Express 2.0.

• Adds new 1080p50/60 modes in Dual Link or 3Gb/s on DeckLink HD Extreme 3.
• Adds new Dual Link and 3Gb/s 2K film modes for DeckLink HD Extreme 3.
• Adds new 1080 RGB to YUV playback conversion on current DeckLink models.

Availability and Price
DeckLink 7.3 is available for download now free of charge from the Blackmagic Design web at www.blackmagic-design.com/support/software/. Linux users currently need to download the DeckLink SDK for the Linux version of drivers and Media Express 2.0 software.

IBC 2009: Blackmagic Design buys DaVinci

Blackmagic Design recently purchased the assets of DaVinci Systems. Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO and founder gives the following insight on the purchase:

"With DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Revival systems already installed in Blackmagic Design's own post production facility, we know the DaVinci products well, and have many ideas for the future. It was through talking to DaVinci about these ideas that we learned the company was for sale. Of course we jumped at the chance!

I remember back in 1988 to the first day I started in post production and was shown the telecine suite with DaVinci. I must have looked silly standing there with my mouth open totally speechless. I could not believe the quality of the images on the monitor. I worked hard to become a telecine engineer, and for me it was the most exciting job in post production. I got to work with some of the most amazing colorists in the world. Now it's exciting to be back involved with DaVinci again.

However DaVinci had been losing money. We have fixed that, but it required a lot of changes. Our focus is now on the future. We have already expanded the Resolve and Revival development team and will keep expanding it. We will stop marketing 2K systems, however we will continue with the same great support team and to supply spare parts. We will keep working on small bug fix updates and some small feature improvements for the 2K systems in the near term. Resolve and Revival will see much larger feature improvements because these products represent the future of color correction.

There is a lot to do, and we look forward to working with DaVinci customers. I'm passionate about incredible looking images and that's why I fell absolutely in love with the post production industry in the first place. We have a lot to live up to, but we are honored to be involved with such a legendary brand that clients trust and ask for by name!"

IBC 2009: AJA Announces KUMO Compact SDI Routers

AJA announced today the new KUMO line of cost effective compact 3G HD/SD SDI routers for post, broadcast and mobile production environments.

AJA’s KUMO routers will be available in two configurations: the KUMO 1604 supporting sixteen SDI inputs and four out, and the KUMO 1616 supporting 16 channels in and out.
Despite their small 1RU form factor, KUMO compact routers are full broadcast specification products supporting SDI, HD-SDI, and 3G SDI. KUMO routers are re-clocking, non-blocking, and ready for any broadcast, production, or post-production job. Running embedded Linux, KUMO routers support powerful HTTP control and monitoring. KUMO’s internal web server allows immediate configuration and operation via any standard web-browser on any OS, without any additional software to buy or install.

KUMO 1616 will be available for US MSRP $2995 & KUMO 1604 will be available for US MSRP $1995 this winter! Click the Read link below for complete details.

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Avid announces Media Composer 4.0, Symphony 4.0 & NewsCutter 8.0

At IBC Avid took the opportunity to take the wraps off new version of it's software, including Media Composer 4.0, Symphony 4.0, NewsCutter 8.0 and and Interplay (2.0) production asset management system. Full press release after the jump!

IBC (Stand #7.J20), AMSTERDAM, September 10, 2009 - Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) today introduced new versions of its Media Composer® (4.0), Symphony™ (4.0), NewsCutter® (8.0) professional editing software and Interplay® (2.0) production asset management system. Reinforcing Avid’s commitment to providing open and flexible solutions, these new offerings enable broadcast and post production professionals to lower production costs and enhance their productivity by:

• Eliminating timely transcode processes with the capability to mix and match different frame rates and resolutions in an open timeline within the same project.
• Expanding native support for file-based media with the addition of industry-leading formats such as Panasonic AVC-I and Ikegami GFCAM. GFCAM support is a result of Avid Media Access (AMA).
• Empowering production teams to become more efficient by extending workgroup capabilities to the Wide Area Network (WAN) - allowing journalists, producers and assistants to work with media at any time, from any location.

What Customers are Saying
Emmy® and A.C.E. Eddie winning editor Steve Cohen has beta tested Media Composer 4.0 and said, "My first experience with AMA was eye-opening, largely because it's so trivially simple: no logging, no digitizing, no importing is required. Clips appear in a bin magically, with all the metadata available and ready for cutting. The fact that it's possible on a laptop with no extra hardware is also very impressive. And Avid's Mix and Match is one of those features that's so well designed that it's completely transparent. You simply edit as you would with any other material and the Media Composer does the right thing automatically, adjusting the speed as needed, without rendering. Media Composer (named the preferred tool for acclaimed editors by the American Cinema Editors (A.C.E.)), Symphony and NewsCutter software now offer customers a wide array of new features designed to streamline the production process including:

• Improved Stereoscopic 3D editing: Enables customers to view 3D material side by side in addition to over/under - ensuring greater accuracy of editing decisions and a wider choice of cost-effective monitors for stereoscopic viewing.
• Monitoring HD and SD cross-and-down converted formats from 1080p24 masters: Enables customers using Mojo DX or Nitris® DX hardware to view HD material on an SD monitor, eliminating the need to incur additional hardware costs.
• Panasonic AVC-I encoding support: Allows customers to deliver final masters in Panasonic’s AVC-I format while working natively in the Avid editing system from acquisition to final delivery.
• Mac support for Pro Tools® Video Satellite: Offers customers the ability to work with Mac or PC when using Media Composer as a video satellite with Pro Tools systems to deliver frame-accurate, synchronized and full resolution monitoring of video.
• Mix and Match capabilities: Provides customers with the flexibility to use media sources of different frame rates and resolutions (SD and HD) in the same timeline - eliminating external transcoding and time-consuming frame-rate conversions.
• Avid Media Access (AMA) enhancements: Delivers native support for the popular Ikegami GFCAM 100 mb/s format. Customers can now directly access GFCAM media, including full metadata, and begin their work immediately without transcoding, copying or re-wrapping the material.
• New Production Suite updates: Include new versions of Boris Continuum Complete, Sorenson Squeeze and SmartSound SonicFire Pro to provide customers with more creative possibilities and media delivery options.

Production Asset Management – Extending Flexible Anytime, Anywhere Collaboration
With more than 600 Interplay sites deployed worldwide, Avid has enhanced its industry-leading production asset management solution by delivering the most significant update of the product to date: Interplay 2.0. The new version empowers broadcasters and post facilities to extend collaborative productions beyond the four walls of a facility - enabling customers to consolidate production operations as well as manage and contribute to projects when working remotely. Lower bandwidth streaming proxies enable Interplay workgroup members to work with media at anytime from anywhere, using a qualified Mac or PC with a 1Mb/s Internet connection.

Highlights of Interplay 2.0 include:

• WAN Workflow with Interplay Access: Enables journalists, producers and editors to remotely search and work with media assets across multiple workgroups – no longer requiring them to return to the edit suite/news station to assemble stories. A new streamlined interface allows users to browse, log and shot list media in three unique viewing modes, via a single screen, and easily toggle between views -ultimately offering more time savings and reduced production costs. Additionally, station groups will now be able to consolidate functions by increasing the range of material available for users to share across geographically-dispersed newsrooms.
• Final Cut Pro (FCP) workflow support: Offers check-in and check-out of FCP media with project links as well as media and metadata conversion of FCP-to-Avid and Avid-to-FCP projects - providing customers with more platform flexibility.
• Interplay Delivery: Simplifies a previously time-intensive process of media transfer by offering a one-step transfer of materials such as subclips and shot lists.
• Interplay Transcode with new mixdown capability: Enables users to mixdown full audio and video sequences while transcoding to a specified output format, simplifying downstream processes such as archiving or publishing to formats such as mobile, the Web or digital signage.

Pricing and Availability
Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter systems will be available on September 30. Interplay 2.0 will be available on September 16. Media Composer 4.0 is just $295 USMSRP for educational institutions and students. Beginning September 30, 2009, students with academic versions of Media Composer software (versions 3.5 through 4.0 purchased on or after March 1, 2009) will qualify for complementary upgrades for four years from the date of software activation. For more information on qualifications and availability, please visit www.avid.com.

Matrox introduces Matrox MXO2 LE

Matrox® Video Products Group today announced Matrox MXO2 LE, an HDMI, SDI, and analog I/O device based on the award-winning Matrox MXO2 that streamlines editing with Apple Final Cut Studio on Mac Pros and MacBook Pros. Matrox MXO2 LE is priced at $995 US. A version of Matrox MXO2 LE is available with Matrox MAX technology for faster than realtime H.264 encoding for Blu-ray, the web, and mobile devices, using professional application such as Apple Compressor and Telestream Episode, and is priced at $1,395 US. Matrox MXO2 LE provides all the features of an I/O card in a sturdy, portable breakout box with professional audio and video connectivity.

"Content creators are buying Matrox I/O devices not only to meet their input, output, and monitoring needs, but also to speed up delivery to today's digital formats. Creating Blu-ray discs and video for the web and mobile devices is much faster than ever before with Matrox MAX H.264 encoding technology," said Alberto Cieri, Matrox senior sales and marketing director. "The new Matrox MXO2 LE provides all the features professionals need in a compact, affordable, end-to-end productivity tool."

"Matrox MXO2 LE is ideal for mobile journalists and freelance editors who need to take their toolboxes with them wherever they go," said Wayne Andrews, Matrox product manager. "It's easy to connect to towers and laptops and supports efficient workflows in any format required - in the studio, on set, and on the road."

Key features of Matrox MXO2 LE

• Works with Intel-based MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and Apple Xserve systems
• Lightweight, fits easily into a laptop bag
•  4-pin XLR power connector for AC or field battery operation
• HD/SD SDI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite inputs and outputs
• Genlock - SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync
• 10-bit HDMI input, output, and monitoring with calibration controls including blue-only
• 10-bit realtime hardware up/down/cross conversion on capture and output
• Up to five user selectable simultaneous video outputs - HD and/or SD on HDMI, SDI, and analog
• RS-422 machine control for frame-accurate capture and print-to-tape
• Captures to a variety of codecs - Apple ProRes 422 HQ, 10-bit uncompressed HD, and many more
• File-based workflow support - XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, P2, P2HD
• RED workflow support
• HD-SDI closed captioning support
• Works with Final Cut Pro, Apple Color, Adobe After Effects and all QuickTime applications that support the V-out component
• Also available with Matrox MAX for faster than realtime H.264 encoding
• Three-year hardware warranty and complimentary telephone support

Key features of Matrox MAX technology Faster than realtime creation of H.264 files, for resolutions ranging from iPod to HD

• A specialized, dedicated hardware processor liberates system resources for other tasks
• Accelerated encoding for Blu-ray, Apple TV, YouTube, Flash, web formats, and mobile devices including iPhone and iPod from various video sources including 2K files
• Direct integration with Apple Compressor and Telestream Episode to simplify workflow
• Creation of Blu-ray H.264 files that can be authored in Apple Compressor 3.5, Adobe Encore CS4 or Roxio Toast 10 and burned without re-encoding

Matrox Releases Support for New Final Cut Studio

Matrox announced today that drivers are now available for Matrox MXO2 family of I/O devices and Matrox CompressHD H.264 accelerator card.
Release 1.6 provides the following new features for the Matrox MXO2 family:

NEW Matrox MXO2, MXO2 Rack, MXO2 Mini functionality:

• Support for Apple Final Cut Studio 3. 
• ProRes 422 (LT) and ProRes 422 (Proxy) support for capture and playback with dedicated MXO2 Easy Setups in Final Cut Pro 7.
• Support for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera. You can now use the HDMI input to capture video directly from your Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera.
• Support for the following applications:

- Boinx Software BoinxTV version 1.3.
- Softron MovieRecorder version 1.2.6 or later, OnTheAir Video version 2.4.6, and OnTheAir Video Express version 1.0.2.
- ToolsOnAir Just:In version 1.010.
- Media 100 Suite version 1.0.

NEW Matrox MAX functionality:

• Users can now choose between Matrox MAX H.264 Blu-ray, Fast Encode, and High-Quality predefined settings in Apple Compressor.
• Support for Telestream Episode and Episode Pro version 5.3.
• Full support for Adobe Encore CS4. This release includes a fix for the stability issues in Adobe Encore CS4 when burning 1080i material created with the Matrox MAX H.264 codec to Blu-ray Disc.
• Support for Media 100 Suite version 1.0.

Release 1.6 provides the following new features for Matrox CompressHD:

• Full support for Apple Final Cut Studio 3.
• Users can now choose between Matrox MAX H.264 Blu-ray, Fast Encode, and High-Quality predefined settings in Apple Compressor.
• Support for Telestream Episode and Episode Pro version 5.3.
• Full support for Adobe Encore CS4. This release includes a fix for the stability issues in Adobe Encore CS4 when burning 1080i material created with the Matrox MAX H.264 codec to Blu-ray Disc.
• Support for Media 100 Suite version 1.0.3.

Via Matrox

AJA Io Express is Now Shipping!

AJA has just announced that their new Io Express is now shipping with Mac driver software; Windows driver software will be available soon for free download. Click the Read link below for all the details on the new baby from AJA!
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Press Release

Boris Calligraphy Update for Apple Final Cut Pro 7 Users

Boris Calligraphy text generators are installed, free, inside your copy of Apple Final Cut Pro 7. An updated version of Boris Calligraphy, Version 2.2, is now available for free download from the Boris FX web site. Boris Calligraphy Version 2.2 includes improved compatibility with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and support for ClearType fonts that are bundled with the latest version of Microsoft Office for Mac OS X, including the popular Calibri font. Click the read link below to get the update!

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AJA Ki Pro is Now Shipping!

Well folks, after a bit more waiting than most people would have liked, the AJA Ki Pro is now officially shipping!


For those of you that might have forgotten, Ki Pro is a portable, stand-alone tapeless video device that records files to the Apple ProRes codec directly from virtually any camera. Includes Ki Drive 250, FW800 Cable, Ki AC Adapter. Get the full details by clicking on the Read link below.

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BCC 6 Wins Microfilmmaker Magazine's Award of Superiority

"It's true that at $995 Boris Continuum Complete 6 is a bit of an investment for your Motion Graphics working environment. However, the developers have taken a lot of time to deliver a plethora of effects to make a designer's life easier. Many of these effects include modifications of standard AE effects with added functionality, while many others are unique to Boris. And still other effects mimic high-level and sought after third-party effects. For the price, Boris delivers a ton of bang for the buck. While you get a ton of effects, it's really the amount of presets, ease of use, and functionality that take this whole suite to the next level."

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Matrox Convert DVI announced

Matrox has just annouced its latest product, the Matrox Convert DVI, an SD/HD SDI scan converter with high-end features priced at just $995.

Matrox Convert DVI lets users convert high-resolution DVI sources into HD or SD video for broadcast, display, and recording. It outputs the entire computer screen or lets the user focus on details in a region of interest of any size within the larger resolution. Premium features such as genlock with timing offset controls, an advanced downscaling algorithm, a flicker reduction filter, and one-to-one pixel mapping ensure optimal quality and flexibility.

Matrox Convert DVI is a multi-purpose device. It’s ideal for creating broadcast video from computer applications such as video games, PowerPoint presentations, YouTube videos, Google Earth animations, and web browser sessions. It’s a user-friendly way to create software application training videos. It’s the perfect appliance to drive projectors and large displays at live events and in houses of worship. It’s also a very low-cost HD preview monitoring solution for video editors using applications such as Avid Media Composer.”

Key features of Matrox Convert DVI

* DVI input up to 1920 x 1200

* Digital outputs: HD/SD SDI

* Stereo audio input can be embedded into the SDI output signal

* Analog outputs: HD/SD analog component, S-Video, and composite

* Simultaneous analog and digital output

* SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level genlock with timing offset controls

* Realtime HD to SD hardware downscaling with proper color space and aspect ratio conversion

* Region of interest output support

* Anti-flicker filter

* Can operate as a stand-alone appliance

Matrox Convert DVI will be demonstrated at IBC 2009 and available in November 2009.

Boris FX Product Line Supports Snow Leopard

The entire Boris FX product line is available for Mac OS X 10.6:



* Boris Continuum Complete 6.0.4 FxPlug is a free update for BCC 6.x FxPlug customers
* Boris Continuum Complete 6.0.3 AE is a free update for BCC 6.x AE customers
* Final Effects Complete 5.0.2 FxPlug is a free update for FEC 5.x FxPlug customers
* Final Effects Complete 5.0.1 AE is a free update for FEC 5.x AE customers
* Boris RED 4.3.4 is a free update for RED 4.x customers
* Boris FX 9.3.4 is a free update for Boris FX 9.x customers
* Boris Graffiti 5.3.4 is a free update for Graffiti 5.x customers
* All Boris Continuum Units support Snow Leopard
Click the read link below to get your free updates

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AJA KONA v7.0 Software Now Available

The folks at AJA have been quite busy lately, with little more than a month since there last driver update was released. The big news with the 7.0 release is support for Apple's New OSX v10.6 Snow Leopard; there is also 64 bit support and new icons accross all the AJA utilities and applications.

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