SYPHAnews - 31st October 2001

Welcome to SYPHAnews - a newsletter designed to keep you up to date with nonlinear audio and video news, as well as developments at http://SYPHAonline.com (incorporating http://NLEguide.com and http://DAWguide.com).

We will deliver this service to you free of charge every month - unless there is some major news or event which we think you should know about sooner.

New at SYPHAonline.com

STOP PRESS!! Thank you to all those who visited our newly launched DAW Buyers Guide (we had over 7600 visitors in October) and gave us feedback. As a result we are re-designing the site and will be adding some new features.

For the DAW Buyers Guide we have a new entry for:

• Audiotrak - Maya44.

For the NLE Buyers Guide we have updated full details listings for:

• Quantel - iQ
• electronic Farm - Mule

and new entries for:

• Eagle Research - editpro/m
• All-Vision - Spark 2000
• Linux Media Arts - Cinterra
• Ulead Systems - MediaStudio Pro 6.5
• United Media - Multicam Software
• DVS Digitale Videosysteme - HDStationPlus/RGB

  

NLE news

Pinnacle Announces CinéWave Version 1.2
Pinnacle Systems has announced the immediate availability of CinéWave 1.2, the latest version of its professional video creation package comprising Commotion Pro4, Apple Final Cut Pro 2, Knoll Light Factory and the TARGA Ciné engine. New features include CinéOffline, support for 16-bit YUV and 8-bit RGBA codecs, and HD support for Final Cut Pro 2 with most popular HD formats, including 1080i and 10.80/23.976p. CinéWave 1.2 is a software upgrade for existing users which can be downloaded from http://www.pinnaclesys.com/cinewavesupport.

FAST Offers FASTstudio FX for the Sony ES-3
FAST Multimedia is offering the FASTstudio FX option to Sony EditStation ES-3 editors as a software add-on, and Sony has already integrated the option into the ES-3 product line. FASTstudio FX adds the Z layer to the 2D editor providing full 3D functionality, as well as a modifiable page-turn effect that allows adjustments to all parameters, and a green-screen keyer optimised for green backgrounds plus an enhanced blue-screen keyer. See http://www.fastmultimedia.com.

Matrox Announces Price Cut and Bundles
Matrox has announced a US$100 price cut for the RT2500 real time editing platform, making the suggested list price US$899 in North America. Also until 31 December 2001, the RT2500 will be bundled with a free PRO Pack. PRO Pack brings a number of professional productivity features from the DigiSuite product line to the RT series. PRO Pack is available for free to those who purchased an RT2500 after 1 August 2001, otherwise it costs US$99. Matrox is also offering the RTMac platform bundled with Apple Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro software for EUR3349 excluding VAT, or the RTMac bundled with Apple Final Cut Pro only for EUR2249 excluding VAT. See http://www.matrox.com.

Adobe Updates Adobe Premiere LE for OEM Distribution
Adobe Systems has announced that Adobe Premiere 6 LE, a limited edition version of its digital video editing software, will be sold with the latest computing systems by hardware partners, including the Sony Corporation. Sony has also announced that it will bundle Adobe Premiere 6 LE software with the new Sony VAIO line beginning immediately. Other hardware manufacturers are expected to offer similar Adobe Premiere LE software bundles later this year. Adobe Premier LE customers can upgrade to the full version for an estimated street price of GB£140 plus tax. See http://www.adobe.com and http://www.vaio.sony-europe.com.

Emmy Awards for Quantel/ITN, Thomson and Pinnacle
Congratulations to Quantel/ITN, Thomson and Pinnacle for winning Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The joint award to Quantel and ITN for outstanding achievement in technological advancement recognised 'pioneering effort in digital asset management for television news production', following the successful development of the first tapeless news system - Inspiration - at ITN. The Thomson multimedia Broadcast & Network Solutions award was for 'pioneering developments in shared video-data storage systems technology for use in television video servers.' The technology was first made commercially available in the Media Pool server delivered to Home and Garden TV (Scripps-Howard) in 1994 and is the technology used by most SAN system manufacturers. The Pinnacle Systems award for technical achievement also recognised 'pioneering developments in shared video-data storage systems technology for use in television video servers.' See http://www.quantel.com, http://www.thomson-multimedia.com and http://www.pinnaclesys.com.

Canopus Announces the ADVC-100 Converter and a Special Offer on Boris FX
Canopus has announced the ADVC-100 converter based on its DV codec technology. This converts S-VHS, Hi8 or 8mm analogue tapes to DV streams and is a solution for users of OHCI and DV-only capture cards that need to edit video of various formats. Available in December 2001, the ADVC-100 has a suggested retail price of US$299. Canopus has also joined forces with Boris giving users of its DVStorm and Xplode Professional a 50% discount on the purchase of Boris FX 6, providing integrated effects creation and support for many After Effects plug-ins. Conversely Boris FX users are entitled to a 50% discount on the purchase of Xplode Professional. See http://www.justedit.com and http://www.borisfx.com.

AIST Offers New Freeware Version of MovieXone 4.0
AIST MediaLab is now offering version 4.0 of its freeware MovieXone software. This new version features a more refined interface which guides users through projects from capturing to rendering including a storyboard for organising clips and transitions. You can download a copy from http://www.aist.com.

FOR-A launches the LDR-400 Super Slow Motion Disk Recorder
FOR-A has launched the LDR-400, a super slow motion version of the LDR range of disk recorders. Designed to interface with Sony and Philips high speed cameras, it is a 4 channel hard disk based M-JPEG recorder, with simultaneous recording and playback capability. The four channels are used as three video inputs to handle the high speed super slow motion camera signals at 150fps and one as a simultaneous playback output channel. See http://www.for-a.co.uk.

QuVIS Releases the QuBit ST Server for Post Production Applications
QuVIS has announced that it will be releasing the QuBit ST 2.1 server in November. New developments include increased system bandwidth, enhancements to user interfaces and controllability and additional integration features to support a wide variety of standard post production equipment. Applications include digitising and colour-timing film, creating and editing CGI and video programming and as a recording device for the new 24p and 60p digital cameras. It offers expanded storage options including removable external storage arrays, and can now act as a drop-in replacement for VTRs from standard definition through D-5 and D-6. See http://www.quvis.com.

Gee Converts Sony and FAST Files to Matrox Format
Gee Broadcast Systems has developed a standalone addition to the GeeVS server which converts DV format files produced by Sony ES3 and FAST Multimedia editors (including Purple and DV Studio 3.0) into Matrox DV format. The utility performs best on a fast drive or drive array as the conversion process is dependent on the access speed to the files. See http://www.geebroadcast.co.uk.

Medéa Demonstrates New Generation VideoRaid and VideoRack Disk Arrays
Medéa has demonstrated new RAID storage solutions for digital content creation (DCC) applications with data protection and over 200MB/s sustained transfer rates. VideoRaid RTR and VideoRack RTR feature Ultra160 SCSI interfaces, and VideoRaid FCR and VideoRack FCR feature SAN-ready fibre channel interfaces. The lower cost VideoRaid/VideoRack RTRxpress and VideoRaid/VideoRack FCRxpress are designed for use with dual-stream, real time uncompressed nonlinear editing systems. The RTR and FCR families of disk arrays provide HD compatible data transfer rates and full RAID protection at prices under US$15/GB. See http://www.medea.com.

Rorke Offers Upgraded High-Speed Disk Arrays for HD Applications
Rorke Data has announced that MaxArray, its high-speed line of disk storage arrays, has been upgraded with the Seagate Cheetah X15 drives. Specifically designed for high bandwidth applications such as digital video, the MaxArray line offers transfer rates of 160MB/s for the Ultra160 version, 80MB/s for the LVD version, and 100MB/s (single loop) and 200MB/s (dual loop) for the fibre channel versions. The MaxArray models are available with 18GB to 400GB of storage, and are offered in a four-bay desktop tower, an eight-bay desktop tower, and a range of rackmount designs. See http://www.rorke.com.

DAW news

Digidesign Moves to New Headquarters and Makes Special Offers
Digidesign has moved to new headquarters located at 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, Suite 200, Daly City, CA 94014, and the main telephone number is +1-650-731-6300. Digidesign also has a number of special offers running until 31 December 2001: free 1622 I/O or ADAT Bridge I/O with the purchase of ProControl or Control|24; free bundle of TDM Plug-Ins worth up to US$4200 with the purchase and registration of Pro Tools|24 MIX3, MIXplus or MIX system (for MacOS or Windows 2000); free OmniSoundz Sonic Reality sample library CD-ROM worth US$129 with the purchase and registration of Soft SampleCell. See http://www.digidesign.com/sypha.

Sony Launches Oxford Plug-in Site
Sony has launched a plug-in site for the sale and download of its Oxford EQ plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools TDM systems. The site includes detailed product specifications and provides customer support. The Oxford EQ plug-in is based on the same processing algorithms used in the OXF-R3 and DMX-R100 digital consoles, and is 5-band fully parametric, with separate high and low pass filters. Optional GML (George Massenberg Labs) 8200 Emulation is also available for the Oxford EQ plug-in. Designed in collaboration with GML, this reproduces the control ranges and responses of the original classic analogue outboard unit. See http://www.sonyplugins.com.

CreamWare Delivers the Luna II Version 3.0 Recording Card
As of November, CreamWare will deliver version 3.0 software for the Luna II recording card. The benefits include improvements to the user interface which simplify working with Luna II, especially with the simultaneous use of many plug-ins, revision of the Luna Recording Mixer and 5.1 Surround Mixer, as well as new real time DSP effects, including MasterVerb for reverb effects that compare well against external reverb processors. Further developments include an ASIO driver with 64 channels, AC3 Dolby Surround digital output via S/PDIF, accelerated graphics and Luna II can now be used under Windows 2000/XP. The suggested retail price for Luna II is EUR450 net. To update to version 3.0 software costs EUR98 or is free of charge to purchasers of Luna II during the four week period preceding the release. See http://www.creamware.de.

Mackie Announces Virtual Tradeshow Exhibit
Mackie Designs has announced an interactive online tradeshow exhibit that will highlight new products from Mackie, Mackie Industrial and Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW). The "e-Show" will offer educational and entertaining features including streaming and downloadable video demonstrations, new product announcements and online Q&A forums. The Mackie site will be launched on November 28th in time for the AES Convention. See http://www.mackie.com.

Sonic Solutions Ships DVD-Audio Creator
Sonic Solutions is now shipping DVD-Audio Creator, the full-specification DVD-Audio authoring system which runs on Windows 2000 platforms. Incorporating core technology from Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (MEI), DVD-Audio creator can format both single and dual layer titles in the industry standard "Universal" DVD format, enabling content holders to publish titles that are backwardly compatible with the many DVD-Video players already installed. The suggested list price is US$20,000. See http://www.sonic.com.

Synchro Arts VocALign is Compatible with MOTU Digital Performer 3
The Synchro Arts VocALign automatic audio alignment software is now compatible with Digital Performer 3 (DP3) from Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU). VocALign runs concurrently with DP3 and processs the audio in the background. A demo version of DP3-compatible VocALign software is available from http://www.synchroarts.com.

DSP Media in Receivership
Despite securing second round venture capital funding, as reported in SYPHAnews 23 May 2001, DSP Media has been forced to call in administrative receivers. The European office based in London has closed, as will the US office in Los Angeles. However, the Sydney office is still trading and the company is aiming to restructure and have support centres in the US and Europe.

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111th AES Convention
Advancing the Art of Sound
***REVISED DATES***
30th November - 3rd December 2001
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
New York
Stop by the SYPHA stand #574 and say hello.