CatDV 4.0 debuts

is a major update to Square Box Systems' flagship video logging and media database application. CatDV 4.0 is a cross-platform media asset database, designed for all types of media file--but offers an emphasis on video formats. It offers timecode support, automatic scene detection, automatic logging of DV footage, and the use of preview movies when the original media are offline amd also has full support for media types other than video, such as still images with EXIF metadata tags. Other features include extensive metadata support with unlimited user-defined logging fields and powerful search and print capabilities.

The entry level Standard Edition designed for individuals and hobbyists, while the Professional Edition with the Workgroup Server is suitable for television companies, studios and large production houses.

Version 4.0 offers improvements in all areas of the application, including:

• improved preview handling, with new self-contained preview archives
  and a preview manager window
  
• search paths to automatically locate media files or previews from
  different locations
  
• improved HTML export capability
  
• improved movie export capability (for example, the ability to add
  subtitles or a burnt-in copyright text)
  
• new undo and autosave support
  
• improved metadata handling
  
• support for importing WMV and ASF files
  
• support for MPEG-4 and H.264 preview files (requires QuickTime 7)
  
• full compatibility with Java 1.4.2 and later
  
• OMF import capability now included with Professional Edition
  
• integration with the new Live Capture Plus application.
  

CatDV 4.0 is available for Mac OS X 10.2 or later; pricing starts at $80 for CatDV 4.0 Standard Edition; CatDV 4.0 Professional Edition is $275 and the CatDV Workgroup Server starts at $700. CatDV 4.0 is available now as a standalone application, while the Workgroup Server version will be available in early July.

by MacNN Staff