Forums: Leopard, Mac Pro advice, Classic

Forums roundup: Members are discussing the recent announcement by Apple, which declared that Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard would be delayed until October.... Other users are discussing why, or why not, they decided to buy a Mac Pro, with responses from professional users as well as high-end consumers... One user is asking for help finding the best way to put DVD content on an iPod, with several solutions of various cost offered.... Other members are offering help to a user who requires Classic for Adobe FrameMaker compatibility, but needs a new Mac, leading some users to suggest the Classic-compatible PowerMac G5.... Meanwhile, in the wake of the Leopard delay, members are discussing if hardware updates will also be delayed to better match the launch of Mac OS X 10.5.

Apple's new Color in Final Cut Studio 2 [images]...

As part of its new Final Cut Studio 2 announcement at NAB 2007, Apple on Sunday unveiled Color, its new application designed for advanced color correction. Apple's Color application offers a logical task-based color grading and finishing workflow with advanced color correction tools such as gamma, lift and gain adjustments, as well as custom R, G, B and luma curves, and the secondaries provide the ability to isolate specific areas of an image with soft-edged mattes and custom-shaped vignettes, which can be tracked with ease. Professional scopes provide precise monitoring of chrominance and luminance values via waveforms, histograms and new 3D scopes.

Apple, AJA preview IO-HD encoder [images]...

Apple and AJA have together provided an early glimpse at the IO-HD. The new external breakout device is built for real-time input of and conversion to Apple's new ProRes 422 high-definition video format introduced for use with Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server. The performance and file compression of the device allows direct editing of even HD video in the field on a MacBook Pro, Apple says, and will up- or down-convert video resolution to match the intended editing environment. The IO-HD should cost one fifth the amount of competing HD video encoders and is set to ship in July for $3,495.

Final Cut Studio 2: Color, Motion 3, Soundtrack Pro...

Apple today unveiled Final Cut Studio 2, a major upgrade to the industry's leading video production suite that now includes Final Cut Pro 6, which introduces Apple's ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes and support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline; Motion 3 featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors; Soundtrack Pro 2 with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and con- forming sound to picture; Compressor 3 delivering powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click; and DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring. Final Cut Studio 2 also introduces "Color," a professional color grading and finishing application for ensuring consistent color and creating signature looks.

NAB: Apple's Final Cut Studio 2, Server...

Apple on Sunday announced Final Cut Studio 2, its next-generation production suite for film editors that includes Final Cut Pro 6 with Open Format Timeline, new technology from Apple's Shake application and Motion templates. The Open Format Timeline allow users to mix formats, mix resolutions and even mix frame-rates, while SmoothCam, derived from Apple's Shake, removes camera motion shaking. Apple's suite also includes Motion 3 with new advanced 3D functions. The company said all of Motion's real-time tools can be used with 3D functions; it also offers multicam and light sources as well as vector-based paint with pen pressure and speed sensitivity. Apple also previewed a new IO-HD external breakout device and Final Cut Server for asset management and workflow.

Apple debuts Final Cut Server at NAB [images]...

Apple today introduced Final Cut Server, a new server application that works seamlessly with Final Cut Studio 2 to provide media asset management and workflow automation for post production and broadcast professionals. The scaleable server application supports workgroups of any size; it includes a cross-platform client that enables content browsing, review and approval from within a studio or over the internet. Final Cut Server automatically catalogs large collections of assets and enables searching across multiple volumes: it is designed to manage the flow of work, as assets and projects move from producer to editor to artist through the entire production process, the company said.