Canto Software today released Video Suite 2, which turns Cumulus 7 into the digital asset management system for video producers and editors. Video Suite 2 enables video professionals to catalog video and Flash animations, and add all the metadata they need to track, find and reuse those valuable assets. Video Suite 2 extends the capabilities of any Cumulus 7 digital asset management system by enabling users to catalog video into scene-specific shots, each with its own thumbnail and metadata. It allows users to track transcripts, model releases, credits and other information for each video asset. In addition, Video Suite 2 automatically captures file-specific metadata, such as shot duration, frame rate, codec information, etc.

"I had no idea a tool like this even existed," says producer Vic Ferrer, owner of Vic Ferrer Productions in San Francisco, CA. "AVID and Final Cut Pro advanced the state of desktop video editing, but we still rely on binders and notes to keep track of things—they don't solve that. [Video Suite 2] is a huge step forward for this industry."

In addition, the Windows version of Video Suite 2 can automatically parse video into separate shots based on shot-boundary detection technology.

Canto says that once footage has been cataloged, metadata can be added and edited; shot boundaries can be moved; shots can be merged or split; video frames can be exported using resampling or other processing options that make the frames suitable for print or other media; timecode shot boundary references can be exported for use in other systems; and individual clips or entire movies can be streamed lived over the Internet using RTSP-enabled video streaming servers.

Video catalogs can be user-configured to include metadata fields that suit any workflow pipeline—without any programming or scripting, Canto said. User-friendly preferences windows are used to determine system settings, and Video Suite 2 systems can be installed and launched by end users, without the need for IT professionals.

"One of the strongest aspects of any Cumulus-based system is that it can be configured by users at any time—even after the system is live—without a single line of code," explains Canto CEO Ulrich Knocke. "Video Suite 2 extends this power to video professionals and current Cumulus 7 users who need extra control over their video and Flash assets."

In addition, the suite offers support for the popular Flash format, allowing users to catalog and organize Flash 8 animations and video, adding links to the assets used to create them, and track changes using check-in/out and version control.

Through Cumulus 7, access to Video Suite 2 (and the metadata it manages) can be controlled through user permissions. Administrators can determine who can catalog video, edit metadata, configure catalogs, and they can even ensure one client doesn't see the cataloged assets of another.

Video Suite 2 sells for $5,000 / €5,000 for a 10-user license. It is available for Mac OS X (Universal Binary) or Windows (XP/Vista) and works with any Cumulus 7.1.1 (and later) system, including Cumulus 7 Workgroup, Cumulus 7 Enterprise and BrandAssistant. Cumulus 7 systems are sold separately by authorized Canto resellers.