Autodesk begins shipping Smoke 2010 for Mac
updated 10:20 am EST, Tue December 15, 2009
Suite handles editing, visual effects
Autodesk has begun shipping the Mac version of Smoke 2010, its high-end video production suite. The software is described as an editorial finishing tool, combining normal timeline editing with visual effects. Users can for instance implement 3D titles, color correction, compositing and/or rotoscoping.
The Mac edition can import timelines from Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer, in AAF or XML formats; projects can use Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHD media as desired. Also supported are QuickTime, Panasonic P2 HD and Sony XDCam videos, and uncompressed DPX, TIFF and OpenEXR workflows. The software is intended explicitly for Snow Leopard, and costs $14,995 to license. For extensions, upgrades and product support, companies must pay another $1,995 per year for Autodesk Subscription.
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AutoDesk offers a trial version - thought I'd take a look at it to compare with Avid and FCP products already in use. Install went smooth, but launch repeatedly failed with cryptic message. Utility provided indicates the product is looking for a 'tmp' folder on a C: drive - uh oh; a windoze port. AutoDesk is notorious for not being accessible to deal with such issues in real time. Tried to uninstall the nearly 1Gb worth of myriad files. The uninstaller hung up as well; again and again. Email sent to AutoDesk help, but due to the fact their help route asked for my support contract information (yeah, right), I'm not to optimistic about a response. Tried running this app on an early 2009 Macpro using 10.6.2 with plenty of connected disk space and ram, so I don't think it's a hardware compatibility problem. Anyone successfully install this?