SYPHAnews - 20th December 2002

Welcome to SYPHAnews - a free newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date with nonlinear audio and video, and digital video camera news, as well as developments at http://SYPHAonline.com.

We will deliver this service to you every month - unless there is some major news we think you should know about sooner. To unsubscribe, please follow the instructions below.

New at SYPHAonline.com

STOP PRESS!! Season's greetings. Thank you to all our sponsors, advertisers and visitors for your support and feedback over the past year and we look forward to hearing from you in 2003.

For the NLE Buyers Guide, we have updated listings for:

• Avid Technology - Avid Media Composer 11.0
• Avid Technology - Avid NewsCutter
• Avid Technology - Avid Symphony 4.0
• Avid Technology - Avid Xpress 5.0
• Avid Technology - Avid XPress DV 3.5
• Avid Technology - Avid|DS 6.0 & Avid DS|HD 6.0.

NLE news

Avid Launches Step Up Promotion for Avid Xpress DV
Avid Technology has launched a new Step Up promotion that allows registered owners of many current and discontinued video editing applications to purchase Avid Xpress DV at a reduced price. Available through participating dealers worldwide, the Step Up program allows registered owners of qualifying products to receive US$500/€500/GB£350 off the US$1,699/€1,900/£1,300 list price of Avid Xpress DV base software, and US$700/€700/GB£500 off the US$2,499/€2,700/£1,900 list price of Avid Xpress DV v3.5 PowerPack. The PowerPack version comes bundled with additional video editing software including the Avid Filmmaker's Toolkit, Image Stabilization, and full versions of Boris FX and Graffiti. The Step Up promotion is available worldwide until 31 December 2002. For more information about the program, a list of participating dealers and qualifying products, see http://www.avid.com/stepup

Leitch Announces dpsVelocity Version 8.1
Leitch Technology has announced that version 8.1 of its dpsVelocity dual-stream nonlinear editing system is now available. Version 8.1 further refines the enhancements of version 8.0, including features such as realtime garbage mattes, two-camera editing with support for transitions in multi-cam editing mode and interactive multi-cam editing while scrubbing faster than realtime, realtime support for video files with alpha channel, and an array of user interface updates including customisable hotkeys and user-selectable A/X/B or single-track timeline modes. Version 8.1 also adds full project file compatibility with the dpsVelocityQ multi-stream nonlinear editor, allowing complete projects to be interchanged seamlessly between the two platforms. dpsVelocity 8.1 is available as a fully integrated turnkey solution, as a boardset-and-software bundle for Windows 2000 or Windows XP workstations, or as a software upgrade for existing users of dpsVelocity version 7.6 or earlier. Registered users of dpsVelocity version 8.0 can download the 8.1 upgrade free from http://www.leitch.com

Apple Updates Final Cut Pro
Apple has updated Final Cut Pro to version 3.0.4 and addressed certain performance and reliability issues in Final Cut Pro 3. Improvements include the correct representation of effects in exported EDLs, correct importing of EDLs with clips containing speed changes, correct capture and import of clips with timecode occurring during hour 23, elimination of incorrect sync in exported OMF files, and better realtime performance on dual-processor 1.25GHz G4 Power Macs. This update requires Mac OS X v10.2.1 or later and can be downloaded from http://www.apple.com/finalcutpro

Incite Ships Incite Editor 3.0 and Partners with Matrox
Incite Multimedia is now shipping the Incite Editor 3.0 worldwide. This new generation of the Incite Editor is powered by Matrox DigiSuite MAX hardware, and features a new interface, new media management tools and built-in task server technology. Matrox Video Products Group has also announced its partnership with Incite Multimedia to distribute Incite Editor 3.0 in the United States. See http://www.inciteonline.com and http://www.matrox.com/video

Canopus Announces Upgrade for DVRex-RT Professional
Canopus has announced an upgrade to the DVRex-RT Professional and DVRex-RT realtime nonlinear editing solutions. New features include a collection of additional realtime 3D transitions and effects, as well as expanded colour correction capabilities. The software upgrade is free to Canopus customers who purchased DVRex-RT Professional after 1 October 2002, or costs US$99. See http://www.canopus.com

Ulead Announces MediaStudio Pro 7.0
Ulead Systems has announced MediaStudio Pro 7.0 video editing software which offers software-only, realtime editing, display and output features. Ulead claims that this new version has the ability to play and output five DV streams simultaneously on a single-processor Pentium 4-based 2GHz 512MB system. If complex sections in the project exceed the realtime performance of a system, MediaStudio Pro 7.0 flags these sections, giving the user the option to render those segments only. Other new features include support for realtime, full-screen display on a second CRT monitor, TV, or IEEE1394 display device, support for Flash (SWF) and COOL 3D Studio (C3D) files, which can be imported to the timeline, as well as pre-scan tape logging of scenes by thumbnail for visual batch capture, multitrack audio mixing, more automatic, add-to-timeline options and enhanced timecode and source management. New creative tools consist of an all-new title tool with advanced texture, shadow and motion effects, as well as new video filters such as Old Film, Smart Blur and Diffuse Glow. MediaStudio Pro 7.0 also handles non-square pixel 16:9 ratio and offers improved overlay key algorithms. Ulead MediaStudio Pro7.0 will be available in March 2003 with an estimated street price of US$495. See http://www.ulead.com

Matrox Announces DVDit! SE Upgrade Promotion for RT.X100 or RT.X10 Purchasers
Matrox Video Products Group has announced that, until 28 February 2003, all purchasers of Matrox RT.X100 or RT.X10 cards are entitled to a free upgrade to Sonic Solutions DVDit! SE. This upgrade has a value of US$199. To receive a free copy of DVDit! SE, qualified RT.X100 and RT.X10 owners should visit http://www.matrox.com/video/products/dvditpromo

Media 100 Announces Final Effects Complete for Mac OS X
Media 100 Inc has announced Final Effects Complete for Mac OS X. This set of over 100 software plug-in filters and transitions generates full-featured 2D and 3D particle animations directly within digital media solutions such as the Media 100 844/X, Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, Boris RED and other applications supporting the After Effects plug-in interface standard. These particle filters enable video editors to generate rain, snow, fire, smoke, ball action, explosions, distortions, jet trails, hair, liquid mercury distortions, spotlights, colour transitions and other video effects that produce high-value results. As an introductory promotion, Final Effects Complete for Mac OS X is available for US$695/GB£515 (US$100/GB£70 off the list price) from the end of the year until 21st February 2003. See http://www.media100.com

DAW news

Pinnacle Agrees To Acquire Steinberg Media Technologies
Pinnacle Systems has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the stock of Steinberg Media Technologies. The companies expect to close the transaction in early January 2003 and have agreed on a total purchase price of approximately US$24 million, consisting of US$8.2 million in cash and US$15.8 million of Pinnacle Systems common stock. Pinnacle Systems will acquire all products, software, and intellectual property rights, along with all other assets and liabilities of the company. See http://www.pinnaclesys.com

Emagic Ships EMI 6|2 m
Emagic is shipping the EMI 6|2 m. This is a USB audio and MIDI interface for mobile recording with a Mac or Windows laptop, and for any situation where high-quality audio, and MIDI and USB connectivity is a priority. Lightweight and approximately the size of a video cassette, the EMI 6|2 m can be connected directly via the USB port. It provides six analogue recording and two analogue playback channels and two sync sockets, which can be used as either SPDIF inputs and outputs, or as MIDI inputs and outputs. In addition to acting as both an audio and MIDI interface, the EMI 6|2 m offers an integrated USB hub with two additional USB ports provided for the connection of further USB hardware devices. See http://www.emagic.de

Digidesign Announces Dolby Surround Tools for Pro Tools|HD Systems
Digidesign has announced the release of Dolby Surround Tools, the latest cross-platform version that supports Pro Tools multichannel tracks and the 96kHz sample rate capabilities of Pro Tools|HD. With Dolby Surround Tools, users can produce Dolby Surround LCRS mixes (not Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes) on both Mac and Windows-based Pro Tools TDM systems for videos, TV shows, ad spots, multimedia, CDs, and video games entirely within the Pro Tools environment. Other features include support for Pro Tools surround panner, backwards-compatibility with Dolby Surround Tools 2.0 Panner, multishell DSP sharing technology and full recall with Pro Tools sessions. Customers who are registered for both Dolby Surround Tools and Pro Tools|HD will be automatically mailed the Dolby Surround Tools update kit, and Pro Tools|MIX customers registered for Dolby Surround Tools can upgrade to Dolby Surround Tools v3.0 for US$95. See http://www.digidesign.com

MOTU Announces High Definition 192kHz Audio Interface
MOTU has announced the HD192, a two rack-space 12-channel high definition audio interface for Mac and Windows computers. The HD192 provides high-quality audio recording and playback on 12 XLR analogue inputs and outputs at any standard sample rate up to 192kHz. AES/EBU digital I/O is also provided at samples rates up to 96kHz. A fully expanded HD192 system provides up to 48 channels of simultaneous analogue I/O. The HD192 is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2003. It will be sold as both a core system for US$1,895, including PCI-424 card featuring CueMix DSP for near-zero latency while monitoring and AudioDesk sample-accurate workstation software for Mac OS, and as expansion I/O for US$1,595. See http://www.motu.com

Contact us

We welcome your feedback. Please forward your comments to sypha@syphaonline.com

To SUBSCRIBE to this free service, please complete the registration form.

To UNSUBSCRIBE, please send an email to unsubscribeSYPHAnews@SYPHAonline.com. If there are any problems, please send a list of your email addresses and aliases to sypha@syphaonline.com.

To ADVERTISE or have your relevant news stories considered, please contact Yasmin Hashmi at sypha@syphaonline.com or telephone +44 (0)20 8761 1042.

SYPHAnews is sponsored by:

Avid Technology, Inc.
delivers the solutions that "Make, Manage and Move Media!"

Quantel
Next generation solutions for post, graphics, news and live production

The NY Digital Video Show
inc. VFX World &
The NY Audio Production Show
Conference & Expo:
January 30 - February 1, 2003
Madison Square Garden Expo Center,
New York City