HDV add-on enables current users to acquire HDV footage natively

Serious Magic, Inc. is now shipping its HDV PowerPak for DV Rack . A recent winner of four Best of NAB awards, this add-on allows videographers who own HDV cameras to capture, display and analyze high-resolution HDV content seamlessly into DV Rack .

The HDV PowerPak for DV Rack is available through video resellers nationwide for $195.

When used in conjunction with DV Rack , the HDV PowerPak will help videographers who shoot in HDV avoid shooting disasters in the field. DV Rack offers ten essential production tools to assist them in generating superior quality video as well as enables them to monitor video and audio signal quality in real time. Users can instantly review a clip, scrub to any frame, zoom in, check levels, see audio peaks, compare shots in a split screen, and more. DV Rack assures producers that they are maximizing the quality of their footage and saves time by allowing lighting, video, audio and continuity problems to be identified and quickly addressed while still on location.

For more info on DV Rack & HDV PowerPak

VideoSystems By Frank McMahon
ContinuumPlug-in workhorse delivers a full range of standard effects.

Whereas other Boris programs such as Red have dedicated interfaces, Continuum has always been the one without the interface. Essentially it’s a series of special effects plug-ins that work within the architecture/interface of the host program, such as Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Autodesk’s Combustion. After several Continuum versions and updates, a great part of the set’s progression is how tightly the plug-ins work within the host program. And that is really the beauty of the product. While some plug-ins launch into their unique interface, Continuum’s interface melds seamlessly with the host software. There are no new methods to learn. Simply install, jump in, and create. read more…

Written by Daniel and Donald Berube, noisybrain. Productions, LLC
FS4Streamline your edit workflow by capturing to hard disk as you shoot with the FireStore FS-4 DTE Recorder. Save time and money by outputting faster and more efficiently.

DTE Technology in the Field
DTE (or “Direct To Edit”) Technology means that the FireStore FS-4 Disk Recorder captures DV footage in most any native NLE file format you may need to fast “edit-ready” 5400 rpm hard disks. Here’s how the FireStore DTE process works with Final Cut Pro when working with DV footage shot with a standard DV camcorder.

Gear List:
- Focus Enhancements FireStore FS-4 DTE Recorder
- Canon XL2 Digital Camcorder
- G4 or G5 Mac running Final Cut Pro HD on Mac OS X
- 6pin-to-4pin FireWire cable, 6pin-to-6pin FireWire cable

read more…

Award-Winning Software Opens New Interactive Markets for DVD Professionals

NOVATO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 23, 2005–Sonic Solutions® (Nasdaq:SNIC - News), the leader in digital media software, today announced the release of eDVD® 4, the latest version of Sonic’s powerful content enhancement solution for DVD. eDVD is the first point-and-click application allowing content authors to enhance standard DVD titles with interactive features like those planned for next-generation high definition (HD) disc formats. Compatible with any DVD authoring software, eDVD gives DVD-Video viewers a dynamic, Web-linked user experience when played on PC or Macintosh, and increases entertainment value by providing an on-screen presentation environment that integrates both video and bonus content.

“The release of eDVD 4 gives our customers a unique advantage in a very competitive DVD authoring market,” said Clint Ludeman, vice president of marketing for Sonic’s Professional Products Group. “With eDVD 4, DVD authors are able to differentiate themselves by making discs that are more interactive, provide more information, and give the audience a more compelling viewing experience. They can offer their customers additional value by making DVD an even richer and more powerful way of communicating their message. read more…

New version of highly scalable editing software nails it!

(6/15/05) Avid Xpress Pro HD ($1695 software only, $295 for students) is a new version of Avid’s lowest-cost line of editing software. Adding to its mile-high feature set are improvements such as DVCProHD support, along with real time HD multicamera editing. You get a lot for your money with this package, but there’s one important thing missing from its extensive list of features that Avid says we’ll seeing by the end of this year—native HDV editing—although it will be provided free to all Avid Xpress Pro HD customers. Let’s take a close-up look.

For our testing, we used the basic software-only version of Avid Xpress Pro HD, which doesn’t include the Avid Mojo hardware box, a $1695 option that’s also available bundled with Avid Xpress Pro software for a total of $2595 after rebate. Of course, when equipping yourself for this task of multistream editing, and especially anything having to do with high definition, you’d be much better off with a really fast machine with a RAID -0 array moving data around quickly. But in our testing, even without those fast disks or the Mojo hardware, the performance of the software was still sprightly and useful. The scalability of this software serves as a great performance enhancer—the beauty of this software-driven system Avid has developed lies in that fact that better the host computer and drives, the better your performance will be. read more…

Offering the broadest range of broadcast-quality effects, Boris FX gives you every tool you will ever need for your video projects. If you can imagine it, chances are, you can accomplish it - fast and easy - using Boris FX. We recommend Boris FX as a must-have tool for any NLE system. Read on to learn how Boris FX offers a huge value by giving you features and benefits that would otherwise require thousands of dollars and multiple, complex software applications to obtain…

Motion Filters
New to Boris FX 8 is the addition of Motion Tracking, Stabilization and Corner Pinning. These filters are based on features originally introduced in Boris Red.

The Motion Tracker filter allows you to generate motion path data from an object in your media. You can then use this data to control the motion of another aspect of the effect. For example, with Boris FX, you can track a logo on a t-shirt and use the Motion Tracker to obscure the logo with a blur or mosaic.

The Corner Pin Tracker allows you to map media to a specific area on a moving object. For example, in the example below, the Corner Pin Tracker was used to replace an advertisement on a moving bus with a new image.

The Motion Stabilizer allows you to stabilize shaky footage. The Stabilizer uses motion trackers to analyze one or more specified regions of motion, then adjusts the track’s position to compensate. During playback, the motion appears smooth because the track moves incrementally to offset the unwanted motion. You can also stabilize just a portion of a track or stabilize just the X or Y axis. For example, if you have a pan to the left which occasionally jumps vertically, you could stabilize only the vertical motion.
(more…)

Professional Keying Software Delivers Enhanced Performance to Achieve Realistic Keys

June 14, 2005 (Folsom, CA)-Serious Magic, Inc.T is now shipping UltraT 2, the new version of its professional keying software. A recent winner of TV Technology’s Best of NAB award, ULTRA 2 is unique in the professional video market for offering flexible keying features that enable users to be more productive, work faster and achieve better quality results. Features include support for higher-resolution cameras while delivering GPU-based rendering, components that help users achieve even more realistic keys, and input and output options to further its compatibility with other software.

ULTRA 2 supports HD and HDV cameras including 1080i, 1080p, and 720p with support for a variety of standard frame rates including 24 fps. With ULTRA 2’s Plus 90 mode, standard definition cameras can be used for high-resolution output. Complex compositing can be conducted in real time at HD-resolution and faster than real-time at standard definition by shifting rendering demands to the GPU. Realistic shadows, reflections, and masking options are provided to deliver superb keying results from difficult-to-key shots. Finally, ULTRA 2 expands its input and output options to make it more
versatile when working with 2D compositing and 3D animation applications.

Ultra2 has an MSRP of $495. Masterset Library 1 (MSL1) is no longer included in Ultra2. All Masterset Libraries (1,2 &3) now have a $395 MSRP price.

Click here for more Ultra2 info

The FireStore FS-4 is one of the hottest products in our industy!! If you are not selling it, you are missing out on a major profit opportunity!!

FireStore FS-4 is the coolest new gadget for digital videography! FS-4 is a small, lightweight DV disk recorder that allows you to capture your video while you shoot. When you hit the record button on your camcorder, the FS-4 starts recording. When you pause, it pauses. Best of all, it has Focus’s Direct To Edit (DTE) technology. This means when you are ready to edit, you can just plug the FireStore into your computer or laptop via FireWire and start editing. If you’re an Event Videographer, the FS-4 is a must have accessory. Not only will it save you hours in post production because you won’t have to waste time capturing the footage, but you’ll never have to worry about clogged tape heads, defective DV tapes, drop-outs or having to swap tapes at the worst possible time. The FS-4’s 40GB drive lets you store up to 3-hours of DV footage!

The Pro version adds format support for MXF, Pinnacle AVI and Avid DV-OMF. It also gives you loop playback capabilities, scene marking, user defined time lapse and 10 second adjustable retro cache plus the ability to daisy chain units for even longer recordings.

Unfortuantely Focus has been overwhelmed by the immediate demand for this exciting new product and have run into minor production problems causing further delays. We are out of Standard FS-4 units, but we hope to have more available next week. Today we received a substantial shipment opf FS-4 Pro 80GB units and some FS-4 Pro 40GB units. We have units available for immediate delivery!

Focus is still running a FREE software/upgrade promtion with FS-4 Pro sales - FireStore FS-4Pro Bundle $698 Savings

Click here for more FS-4 info
Click here to check out DV Magazines FS-4 review (requires login)