Volume 3 - Issue 04 - 21 April 2008
SMARTNEWS
Welcome to our weekly news update, Smart News...
...in which we bring you time-critical news, views and rumours.
The big news this week is coming out of NAB with Apple releasing Final Cut Server, multiple hard drive offerings from G-Technology, X-Rite release the ColorMunki calibrator and lots of offerings from Blackmagic Design, Sony and RED.
We appreciate your feedback, so please send us any questions, responses and insight you may wish to share, to smartnews@trams.co.uk
Finally, Final Cut Server ships
Announced almost one year ago at the 2007 NAB conference, Final Cut Server provides professional asset management with tight integration with Final Cut Studio. Following severe delays Apple announced last week the immediate availability of Final Cut Server.
KEY FEATURES INCLUDE:
Automatic asset cataloging. A scanning process automatically catalogs production assets in the locations you specify—complete with metadata in a range of industry- standard formats. At the same time, it creates any necessary proxies, thumbnails, and poster frames. Synchronization options allow users to safely add, modify, or delete assets directly on drives and volumes, without having to use the client software.
Rapid search, preview, and access. Work at blazing speeds with easy-to-use metadata tools, personalized workspaces, and Production “containers” that allow any user to create special-purpose collections of assets—such as scripts, budgets, graphics, and rough cuts—without copying files.
Workflow automation tools. Set up schedules or triggers for automated events in minutes. Get started fast with workflow templates or create custom setups with a series of simple menu selections. For complete technical control, create scripts for workflows that extend to external systems.
Intuitive collaboration features. Project check-in/check-out options, intelligent version management, review and approval tools, and a cross-platform client make it easy for multiple users to work on a single production.
Seamless multiformat delivery. Use Final Cut Server to automate encoding in a range of formats—from H.264 for iPhone and the web, to ProRes 422 for editing, to 2K for Digital Intermediates—with pristine encoding and frame conversions powered by Compressor.
Flexible configuration options. Small facilities can get started fast with easy installation and setup tools, while larger shops can tap into a rich set of advanced features to configure sophisticated facilitywide or cross-facility systems. more >>
From £699.00 (incl. VAT) for a 10 client version and available immediately at Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: G-Technology enhances product line for creative pros
G-Tech announced this week at the NAB 2008 show NEW G-RAID Pro, G-RAID and G-RAID mini External Disk Arrays offering high performance, affordable storage solutions for an all-digital workflow.
G-RAID Pro - Affordable RAID-Protected Storage for Digital Video Editing Workflows. Featuring a triple interface (FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0) and storage capacities up to 4TB. The G-RAID Pro drive’s on-board, hardware RAID controller supports both RAID 0 and fail-safe RAID 5 operation with auto-rebuild functionality, and utilizes four hot-swappable 7200 RPM SATA 3Gb/s disk drive modules.
Available in June, the G-RAID Pro drive will be available in 1, 2, 3, and 4 TB configurations. more >>
G-RAID 3 - Fast Storage for Professional Content Creation Applications
In its third generation, the G-Tech G-RAID 3 drive now features a quad interface (high-speed 3Gb/s eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0) with performance up to 120 MB/second and storage capacities up to 2TB. It uses the latest-generation Oxford 936 chipset in a RAID 0 configuration, which supports simultaneous playback of multiple layers of video in Final Cut Pro, Premiere and Media Composer/Xpress Pro. A new soft on/off power switch and quieter “smart”
fan roundout the new upgraded feature set.
Available in May, the new G-RAID 3 drive will be available in 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB capacities. more >>
G-RAID mini 2 - RAID-Protected Portable Storage Solutions
The all-new G-Tech G-RAID mini 2 drive now features both RAID 0 and fail-safe RAID 1 operation, and a high-speed quad interface. It is the ideal portable storage system for safe guarding content downloaded in the field from solid-state based cameras, including the RED ONE and Panasonic P2. The G-RAID mini 2 drive is capable of delivering an unprecedented 100+ MB/second transfer rate when used with eSATA in RAID 0. Eliminating the need to carry an external AC power supply, the G-RAID mini 2 drive is FireWire or eSATA bus-powered.
Available in June, the G-RAID mini 2 drive will be available in 500GB, 640GB and 1TB capacities. more >>
Please contact your Trams account manager for more information, UK pricing and availability.
Apple updates Aperture, Nik Software Viveza update coming in May.
Hot on the release of Aperture 2.0 from Apple version 2.1 was released adding significant new features including an open plug-in architecture allowing photographers to more easily use specialised third party imaging software directly from within the application.
Alongside the release of Aperture 2.1 Nik Software announced Viveza will also be compatible with Aperture 2.1 to enable direct on-image editing, with the most powerful and precise tool available to selectively control light and color in photographic images. For the first time, corrections and enhancements can be made quickly and easily without the need to create complicated selections or layer masks, providing selective editing control within Aperture.
Viveza for Aperture 2.1 will be available in May 2008. more >>
To see Viveza in action check out their introduction training video here.
Please contact your Trams account manager for more information, UK pricing and availability.
X-Rite and Pantone launch ColorMunki family of breakthrough colour calibration products for photo and design markets
Now available from Trams, ColorMunki solutions provide photographers and designers new technological advances that – for the first time – address core issues of color creation, control and communication in easy-to-use, integrated solutions.
The ColorMunki portfolio includes ColorMunki Photo, ColorMunki Design and ColorMunki Create. The products are a combination of software and hardware that give creatives freedom and flexibility to create and produce with color confidence. more >>
Available imminently from Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: Blackmagic Design launch new DeckLink HD Extreme with 3 Gb/s SDI
The new DeckLink HD Extreme has all the features of the original model, which it replaces, plus now adds HDMI capture and playback, innovative 3 Gb/s SDI technology, and 3D lookup tables.
With SDI, HDMI and analog video capture and playback, combined with both balanced analog and AES/EBU digital audio, DeckLink HD Extreme lets customers connect to all decks, cameras and monitors. DeckLink HD Extreme instantly switches between SD and HD video, so is the ideal solution for all post production and broadcast users when working on design, editing, paint and effects tasks. more >>
Available soon from Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: Blackmagic Design launch new family of powerful mini converters
There are 5 new models in the Mini Converter family, plus the new Broadcast Converter, a combination rack mount all-in-one model.
The new converters are:
Mini Converter SDI to Analog, Mini Converter Analog to SDI, Mini Converter SDI to HDMI, Mini Converter HDMI to SDI, Mini Converter Sync Generator.
Mini Converters include extremely powerful features such as 3 Gb/s SDI technology, redundant SDI inputs, balanced analog and AES/EBU switchable audio, standard 1/4-inch jack audio connections and an international power supply which includes adapter plates for all international power sockets. more >>
Available soon from Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: Blackmagic Design Announces Blackmagic Video Recorder
the new Blackmagic Video Recorder, a compact USB video capture product that captures files direct to H.264 files for iPod™, iPhone™, Apple TV™, YouTube™, IPTV, Web or full resolution archiving.
There are two models of Blackmagic Video Recorder, an analog one for consumers, and an SDI one for professionals.
Blackmagic Video Recorder has high quality analog component, NTSC, PAL and S-Video input, and allows capture from any analog source, such as VHS, Video-8, DVD, Set top boxes etc. Blackmagic Video Recorder SDI features standard definition SDI input and RS-422 deck control for connection to any broadcast deck. more >>
Available soon from Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: Sony announces the PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX camcorder - now with interchangeable lenses
The PMW-EX3 follows on from the successful launch of the new PMW-EX1 and offers all the great features of the PMW-EX1 in a new semi-shoulder design. In addition to this new design the camcorder also features an interchangeable lens system, genlock, timecode and remote control capability for real added flexibility, offering a low-cost HD studio solution. more >>
Available in Autumn 2008 from Trams. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
NAB 2008: RED unleash new camera offerings including Scarlet, a pocket sized professional camera
Details are sketchy at this stage and as they state on their website: specifications, delivery dates and design are subject to change... count on it!
Current draft specifications include:
New 2/3" Mysterium X sensor
1-120FPS (180 FPS burst)
Up to 100MB/Sec redcode RAW and RGB recording to dual compact flash
4.8" LCD
8 x T2.8 Red zom lens
Full auto or full manual shooting modes
HDMI and HD-SDI
Firewire 800 and USB2
Still mode
Compatible with many Red One accessories
WI-FI control
more >>
Available in Early 2009. Please contact your Trams account manager for more information.
