Avid has revamped its M-Audio Oxygen collection of USB-attached MIDI controllers. Each keyboard features DirectLink technology, which maps controls to production suites including Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason, Logic and GarageBand. Models are divided into 25-, 49- and 61-key versions.
Avid has formally unveiled the Digidesign Eleven Rack, a new music processing unit. The hardware is aimed at guitarists, and simulates a number of different amps from the likes of Fender, Vox, Marshall and Soldano, as well as stompboxes by companies like Ibanez, Electro-Harmonix and Univox. Convolution-based cabinet and mic emulations are used, the latter simulating dynamic, condenser and ribbon designs.
Reg Giant has released a new video effects plug-in, Magic Bullet Mojo. The software recreates the look used in many Hollywood blockbusters, warming the color temperature of skin, while simultaneously cooling it for shadows and backgrounds. A central slider adjusts both elements in unison.
Red Giant has released Magic Bullet Quick Looks, a new set of color-correction plug-ins for video editors. The software represents a scaled-down version of Magic Bullet Looks, which provides a full range of tools for tweaking visual styles. Quick Looks eliminates most custom options in favor of over 100 presets, based on the cinematography of famous films and TV shows.
GenArts has published v3.0 of its Sapphire plug-ins for Avid editing systems, specifically Symphony, NewsCutter and Media Composer. The focus of the update is on its 36 new effects, such as TVDamage, which reproduces broadcast artifacts like static and ghosting. Many are divided into specific themes, such as wipe and dissolve transitions, or texture- and Z-buffer-based effects. Some also attempt to recreate specific mediums, such as the Technicolor 2Strip and 3Strip plug-ins.
Red Giant Software has released Red Giant Warp, a new sets of effects generation plug-ins for video editing suites. Contained in Warp are three different tools, beginning with Corner Pin, which takes material from outside clips and pins it with a different perspective inside a working video. The plug-in additionally sports extra offset controls and integration with Mocha for After Effects.
Automatic Duck says it has released v4.0 of Pro Export FCP, its plug-in for Final Cut Pro. The software is used to export Final Cut Pro projects to other editing platforms, such as Quantel's Q eQ or iQ systems. The v4.0 update introduces expanded support for Avid software, through the option of MXF export; this lets FCP users avoid redigitizing. Similarly, users should now be able to carry over Avid-supported effects such as PIP, 3DWarp and Superimpose.
Red Giant Software has announced Radium Glow, a new 3D glow simulator that goes beyond simple blurring effects. Instead of just adding simple blur, the software gives pinpoint control over the glow effect and has edge effects, masking and output functions. The three included plug-ins add neon-style effects and can be combined with Red Giant's Trapcode Particular (the company's separate 3-D particle plug-in) and other plug-ins to give sparkle and shimmer effects. Radium Glow is available now for $100 and works with on Mac OS X 10.4.4 or later, on After Effects, Premier Pro, Final Cut Pro, Motion and Avid AVX.
EditShare this week introduced a software solution that creates a single media file type which can be used in both Avid and Apple Final Cut Pro video editing applications. Used in conjunction with Editshare's Flow Ingest software, the Universal Media File technology allows the seamless acquisition of media in one format, and simultaneous output to multiple other formats. In shared workflow situations, the Universal Media File promises to add a new dimension to work environments by eliminating the need for file conversion, file duplication or the congestion of valuable ingest channels.
Following up on the earlier report, Kristopher Jones, spokesman for the NAB conference, said that while Avid and Apple will be missed, the spaces have already been filled. The trade show, which generates more than $50 billion in commerce for its business partners, is featuring 220 new exhibitors this year, making the final count around 1600 exhibitors, according to SetteB.IT. NAB 2008 is expected to cover over 900,000 square feet at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Las Vegas Hilton, while hosting over 111,000 attendees.
