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Blackmagic Design Announces DeckLink SDI

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
January 12, 2009

Blackmagic Design Inc. has announced DeckLink SDI, a new model of capture card which combines highest quality 10 bit SD/HD-SDI capture and playback with an unprecedented low cost of only US$395 MSRP.

DeckLink SDI is designed for high-end broadcast and post production customers who are working in large SDI based facilities needing many creative workstation seats at the lowest possible cost.

DeckLink SDI includes the highest quality quality 10 bit SD/HD-SDI capture and playback, while also including features high end customers really need, such as black burst/HD tri-sync reference input, and RS-422 deck control. DeckLink SDI replaces Blackmagic Design’s original SD only DeckLink model, while adding PCI Express, 10 bit HD-SDI capture and playback, and reference input.

Because DeckLink SDI features broadcast quality SDI, and can instantly switch between SD-SDI and HD-SDI formats, it’s perfect for connecting to decks such as HDCAM, HD-D5, Digital Betacam and more. DeckLink SDI is also fully compatible with all SDI based cameras and monitors. DeckLink SDI includes 8 channels of embedded SDI audio support, so all video and audio connections are made with a single BNC type SDI video cable.

DeckLink SDI is fully compatible with the largest enterprise level broadcast routing switchers, such as Blackmagic Design’s Broadcast Videohub 72 x 144 SDI router, and is perfect for use with a wide range of SDI video converters such as Blackmagic Design’s Mini Converter range. With many customers working in large broadcast systems with all kinds of SDI equipment, DeckLink SDI is the ideal choice for these types of large integrated workflows.

"We have worked hard to make HD editing, design and effects available for people who could only afford SD products, and with DeckLink SDI we have done that," said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. "We think customers will love this product and broadcasters will also get a solution that lowers the per-seat cost of creative workstations, which is vitally important as broadcasters worldwide continue their upgrade programs from SD to HD."

DeckLink SDI features a 1 lane PCI Express connection that works in lower cost computers, while still retaining incredibly high data speeds to the computer, so it’s perfect for HD video and real time effects.

While DeckLink SDI has powerful HD features, it’s also designed to be the perfect choice for customers who are only working in SD. Its low cost, and great compatibility with affordable entry level computers, makes it a perfect choice for SD. If HD is required at any time, DeckLink SDI will instantly switch to HD video. This means DeckLink SDI is the perfect solution for post production and broadcast users even with the tightest budgets. No other product provides high quality 10 bit SDI capture and playback with the low price of the new DeckLink SDI.

When doing live broadcast graphics work, DeckLink SDI has a built in SD keyer, that allows RGBA graphics to be keyed over the SDI input in standard definition. This lets broadcasters overlay live titles and graphics all in the one low cost solution.

DeckLink SDI Key Features

10 bit SDI capture and playback with full HD-SDI and SD-SDI compatibility.
SDI switches between SD and HD.
Built in internal SD keying of RGBA graphics over live video input.
8 channels of SDI audio capture and playback in HD and SD.
Genlock/Tri-Sync reference input for locking card to large systems.
RS-422 remote control for broadcast decks.
PCI Express plug in card at 2.5 Gb/s speeds for maximum real time effects.
Real time effects in Apple Final Cut Pro™ and Adobe Premiere™ Pro.

Availability and Price
DeckLink SDI is available now and in stock for only US$395 MSRP from all Blackmagic Design authorized resellers worldwide.

Blackmagic Design Announces DeckLink Studio

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
January 12, 2009

Blackmagic Design Inc. has announced DeckLink Studio, a new model capture card specifically designed as a replacement for standard definition cards, but with increased analog connectivity for wide compatibility with older analog equipment as well as SD and HD-SDI for the latest digital equipment. DeckLink Studio replaces the entire Blackmagic Design standard definition product line while also adding HD support, at much lower cost.

DeckLink Studio features independent connections for SDI, analog component, S-Video and composite video, so all types of external video equipment can remain connected without re-cabling. DeckLink Studio also includes SDI connections that switch between SD and HD, as well as an SD only output that always outputs via a built in hardware down converter even when running in HD. The SD down converted output is great when you need to monitor your work in both SD and HD at the same time. No product on the market today has a built in high quality hardware down converter at this low price point.

The built in 10 bit hardware down converter is selectable between letterbox, anamorphic 16:9 and center cut 4:3 modes, and operates when running in all HD video formats as well as in capture and playback modes. Embedded SDI audio is supported via the hardware down converter and output on the SDI output. When running HD video formats, both S-Video and composite video are output from the down converter so video is always present, independent of what video standard is used.

Because DeckLink Studio was designed as a replacement for Blackmagic Design’s standard definition product range, it includes greater audio connectivity for when customers need to use older broadcast decks such as Betacam SP. DeckLink Studio includes 4 channels of balanced analog audio, as well as 2 channels of AES/EBU digital audio. For extra digital audio, the channel 3 and 4 analog audio outputs can be switched to AES/EBU for channel 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 output. That provides 6 channels of digital audio output in total, and is perfect for 5.1 surround sound monitoring or multi language work.

DeckLink Studio features a 1 lane PCI Express connection that works in lower cost computers, while still retaining incredibly high data speeds to the computer, so it’s perfect for HD video and real time effects.

While DeckLink Studio has powerful HD features, it’s designed to be a perfect choice for customers who only need SD support. Its low cost and compatibility with affordable entry level computers makes it a perfect choice for SD, and if HD is required at any time, DeckLink Studio will instantly switch to HD video. This means DeckLink Studio is the perfect solution for post production and broadcast users even with the tightest budgets. No other product provides as much power for the price as DeckLink Studio.

When doing broadcast work, DeckLink Studio has a built in SD keyer, that allows RGBA graphics to be keyed over the SDI input in standard definition. If external keying is required, DeckLink Studio can also output key on the SD-SDI output and fill video on the main HD/SD-SDI output.

DeckLink Studio also features black burst and tri-sync input and a RS-422 deck control connection for broadcast decks.

DeckLink Studio Key Features

10 bit SDI capture and playback with full HD-SDI and SD-SDI compatibility.
Analog component capture and playback.
S-Video capture and playback.
Composite NTSC/PAL capture and playback.
Dedicated SD-SDI output for SD, down converted HD as SD out, or SD key channel out.
SDI and Analog component switches between SD and HD.
Hardware down converter selectable for Letterbox,
Anamorphic 16:9 or center-cut SD modes.
Built in internal SD keying, or select to output both fill and key via SD/HD-SDI and SD-SDI outputs.
8 channels of SDI audio capture and playback in HD and SD.
2 channels of AES/EBU audio capture and playback with sample rate converter on input.
4 channels of XLR professional analog audio capture and playback.
Genlock/Tri-Sync reference input for locking card to large systems.
RS-422 remote control for broadcast decks.
PCI Express plug in card at 2.5 Gb/s speeds for maximum real time effects.
Real time effects in Apple Final Cut Pro™ and Adobe Premiere™ Pro.

Availability and Price
DeckLink Studio is available now and in stock for only US$695 (MSRP) from all Blackmagic Design authorized resellers worldwide.

Adobe and RED Collaborate to Create Next-Generation Raw Workflows

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
November 17, 2008

RED and Adobe share the goal of developing a native raw workflow that keeps filmmakers close to the lens, so that you’re always working with the sensor data the camera captured. By always working close to the lens, without proxies or other restrictions, editors can adjust the look and feel of their work all the way through the production process, knowing that their changes are completely accurate.

The first step of this long-term partnership is the importer plug-in bringing native support for RED R3D files to Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, Adobe Encore CS4 and Adobe After Effects CS4, allowing 4K resolution native R3D files to be dropped straight onto the timeline without transcoding or rewrapping. It is now in beta and available for download at www.red.com/support.RED is making the beta plug-in available as early as possible to provide customers a more flexible workflow immediately, and in order to obtain feedback from the community on how best to develop this workflow. Over the coming months, you can expect to see new developments that move both companies closer towards our shared vision for advanced raw workflows.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium software is an indispensable part of a film and video professional’s toolkit and leads the way in tapeless and raw workflows. The alliance with RED underscores Adobe’s commitment to integrate tapeless camera formats into its line of professional video products, and will enable advanced post-production workflows to be faster and more flexible.

Hollywood-caliber digital cinematography made more affordable: RED cameras have taken the digital filmmaking world by storm, making high-resolution digital cinematography accessible to many more productions. RED cameras capture extremely high resolution raw files, opening up the possibility of a digital production workflow that allows filmmakers to make image processing decisions throughout the post production process because raw files keep the image sensor data directly. Until now, a truly native, nondestructive workflow has not been possible in desktop video tools.
A native, raw workflow today: Importing R3D files directly into Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Encore and Adobe After Effects without conversion delivers a faster, color-rich workflow that gives users control of the look when they edit. Filmmakers can dynamically change the resolution; applying color correction to the footage in full resolution for example, and then lowering the resolution on the fly to gain better performance from their hardware as they scrub through edits.
A more powerful, streamlined workflow tomorrow: Because Adobe Premiere Pro works directly with the sensor data, editors can work with footage as close to what the lens saw as possible, opening up much richer, more powerful ways of working non-destructively on the color and look of their work.

Customers who want to get started with the RED and Adobe workflow today can download the free Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and After Effects CS4 trials for Mac OS X or Windows at www.adobe.com/downloads and the RED importer plug-in at www.red.com/support.

Blackmagic DeckLink HD Extreme Now Certified for Pro Tools by Digidesign

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
October 20, 2008

Blackmagic Design Inc. has announced that Digidesign, a part of Avid Technology Inc., has certified its DeckLink HD Extreme card for use with Pro Tools|HD® 8 and Pro Tools LE® 8 on OS X Leopard.

"HD video monitoring is now the norm in audio suites, and Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink HD Extreme provides the perfect balance of flexibility and price for Pro Tools users who want full-quality real time HD QuickTime output," said Gordon Lyon, Senior Product Manager, Post Production, Digidesign.

With Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink HD Extreme, Pro Tools users can now monitor most common QuickTime HD and SD video formats directly from their Pro Tools video track out to high end professional video monitoring devices such as broadcast monitors, large screen LCDs or plasmas.

"Compatibility with Pro Tools is one of the most requested features from our customers and I’m very happy that Digidesign has now certified DeckLink HD Extreme. Digidesign’s Pro Tools is a very well respected audio tool and we’re very pleased to be supporting such a powerful tool," said Kristian Lam, Product Manager, Blackmagic Design.

NVIDIA Introduces NVIDIA Quadro CX

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
October 17, 2008

NVIDIA has introduced its new accelerator for Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 software, the NVIDIA® Quadro® CX. This new GPU provides creative professionals with a faster, better, more reliable way to maximize their creativity. Quadro CX was architected to deliver the best performance for the new GPU-optimized features of Adobe Creative Suite 4.

"Adobe is at the forefront of the Visual Computing Revolution," said Dan Vivoli, executive vice president of marketing at NVDIA. "CS4’s GPU features are sending shockwaves through the creative industry."

"Photoshop users are always looking for maximum performance, and we recognized that tapping into the power of the GPU is one way to give it to them," said Kevin Connor, vice president of product management for Professional Digital Imaging at Adobe. "Thanks to NVIDIA’s efforts to optimize the Quadro CX product for CS4, users can be assured of a dramatically fast and fluid experience on tasks such as panning, zooming, and rotating large images as well as manipulating 3D content."

NVIDIA specifically designed and optimized the Quadro CX to enhance the performance of Adobe Creative Suite 4 product line and meet the unique needs of the Creative Suite 4 professional. Adding NVIDIA Quadro CX to the pipeline gives creative professionals a faster, better, and more reliable experience. With NVIDIA Quadro CX users can encode H.264 videos at lightning-fast speeds with the NVIDIA CUDA™-enabled plug-in for Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4, RapiHD™ from Elemental Technologies; accelerate rendering time for advanced effects; and accurately preview what deliverables will look like with 30-bit color or uncompressed 10-bit/12-bit SDI before final output.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 software now has added optimization to take advantage of GPU technology, including the parallel processing capability in the Quadro CX GPU. These enhancements accelerate a number of visually intensive operations, including:

Adobe® Photoshop® CS4 uses the NVIDIA Quadro CX GPU to bring unprecedented fluidity to image navigation. The GPU enables real-time image rotation, zooming, and panning, and makes changes to the view instantaneous and smooth. Adobe Photoshop CS4 also taps the GPU for on-screen compositing of both 2D and 3D content, ensuring smoothly anti-aliased results regardless of zoom level. Brush resizing and brushstroke preview, 3D movement, high-dynamic-range tone mapping, and color conversion are also accelerated by the GPU.
Adobe After Effects® CS4 now has added optimization features to accelerate a variety of creative effects, making it easier than ever to add graphics and visual effects to video, which allows the artist to quickly move from concept to final product and speeds up the workflow. Effects accelerated include depth of field, bilateral blur effects, turbulent noise such as flowing water or waving flags, and cartoon effects. NVIDIA Quadro CX takes advantages of these workflow enhancements.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 can take advantage of Quadro CX to accelerate high-quality video effects such as motion, opacity, color, and image distortion. Quadro CX also enables faster editing of multiple high-definition video streams and graphic overlays and provides a variety of video output choices for high-quality preview, including DisplayPort, component TV, or uncompressed 10-bit or 12-bit SDI.

NVIDIA Quadro CX is available starting today, from leading resellers, e-tailers, and retailers, for $1,999 USD. For more information on NVIDIA Quadro and the new Quadro CX, please visit: www.nvidia.com/quadrocx.

LOGICKEYBOARD ACQUIRES WORLDTECH DEVICES

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
October 8, 2008

BSP/ LogicKeyboard of Denmark, the world's leading supplier of shortcut keyboards, announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire WorldTech Devices, Inc., a private company based in California, USA.

WorldTech Devices was founded in 2003 and has marketed a line of specialty keyboard products for video editing, audio editing, graphics, educational, stage lighting, and travel agency applications. It captured a significant market share worldwide in the Windows and Mac shortcut keyboard markets.

"We are excited about this acquisition because LogicKeyboard has always pride itself as a quality and value supplier. By capitalizing on WorldTech Devices manufacturing strengths in the Asia region, we will be able to better serve our customers all over the world," said Per Petersen, Managing Director of BSP / LogicKeyboard.

As part of the acquisition, Howard Chan will be retained by LogicKeyboard to establish a new office in China to serve customers in Asia and Australia. Per Petersen added, "We are extremely excited that Howard Chan, the founder of WorldTech Devices, is now joining our company. I believe that the Asia and Australia regions hold enormous potential for our business, and Howard's knowledge and experience in the specialty keyboard market will be a tremendous addition to our team."

LogicKeyboard will inherit all of WorldTech Devices’ customers. They will be supported by LogicKeyboard offices in North America, Europe and now Asia.

Adobe Introduces Creative Suite 4 Product Family

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
September 23, 2008

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 product family, a milestone release of the industry-leading design and development software for virtually every creative workflow. Delivering radical workflow breakthroughs that bring down the walls between designers and developers — and packed with hundreds of feature innovations—the new Creative Suite 4 product line advances the creative process across print, Web, mobile, interactive, film and video production. With new levels of integration and expressiveness for Flash technology across the entire product line, Adobe’s biggest software release to date includes Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design editions, Creative Suite 4 Web editions, Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, Creative Suite 4 Master Collection, as well as 13 point products, 14 integrated technologies and seven services.

Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection CS4 combines virtually all of Adobe's new design and development applications, technologies and services in a single box — the most comprehensive creative environment ever delivered.

"Designers and developers are shaping the way that people consume information, share ideas, sell products, tell stories and create memorable experiences — in print, online and via mobile handsets," said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer at Adobe. "Whether you’re creating a rich Internet application, a video or a best-selling magazine, Adobe Creative Suite 4 delivers powerful cross-media technologies that have the ability to elevate products, brands and ideas above the clutter."

Adobe Creative Suite 4 offers unprecedented choice among editions and stand-alone products, with comprehensive support for the most cutting-edge workflows for virtually any design discipline. Customers can choose from six suites or full version upgrades of 13 stand-alone applications, including Photoshop® CS4, Photoshop CS4 Extended, InDesign® CS4 (see separate releases), Illustrator® CS4, Flash® CS4 Professional, Dreamweaver® CS4, After Effects® CS4, and Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4.

A simplified workflow in Adobe Creative Suite 4 enables users to design across media more efficiently by making it easier to complete common tasks and switch between mediums without leaving a project. InDesign CS4 includes a new Live Preflight tool that allows designers to catch production errors and a newly customizable Links panel to place files more efficiently. The revolutionary new Content-Aware Scaling tool in Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop CS4 Extended automatically recomposes an image as it is resized, preserving vital areas as it adapts to new dimensions. An expanded version of Dynamic Link in CS4 Production Premium enables users to move content between After Effects CS4, Adobe Premiere Pro CS4, Soundbooth® CS4, and Encore® CS4, so updates can be seen instantly without rendering.

Designers using the Adobe Creative Suite 4 product family will be able to gain unprecedented creative control using the new expressive features and visual performance improvements in Adobe Flash Player 10 to deliver breakthrough Web experiences across multiple browsers and operating systems.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 brings 3D center-stage providing the ability to paint, composite, and animate 3D models using familiar tools. Flash CS4 Professional now offers the ability to apply tweens to objects instead of keyframes, providing greater control over animation attributes. Also in Flash, the new Bones tool helps create more realistic animations between linked objects. With a searchable library of more than 450 dynamically updated device profiles from leading manufacturers, Adobe Device Central CS4 (see separate release) enables users to easily test mobile content designed using many of the Creative Suite 4 products.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 significantly expands access to services* available to creative professionals and developers who want to collaborate online. Adobe ConnectNow, a service of Acrobat.com, can be accessed from InDesign CS4, Illustrator CS4, Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop Extended CS4, Flash CS4 Professional, Dreamweaver CS4, Fireworks® CS4, and Acrobat® 9 Pro, allowing real-time collaboration with two colleagues or clients. Designers can also share color harmonies with Adobe Kuler™, which is now accessible from within InDesign CS4, Illustrator CS4, Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop Extended CS4, Flash CS4 and Fireworks CS4. Other online resources include: Adobe Community Help for technical questions; Resource Central for accessing video and audio product-related news and tutorials, as well as Soundbooth scores, sound effects, and other stock media; and Adobe Bridge Home, a customizable resource for tips, tutorials, news and inspirational content.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 and its associated point products are scheduled to ship in October 2008 with availability through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/go/gn_store . Estimated street price for the Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium will be US$1799, US$1699 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Web Premium, US$1699 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, and US$2499 for Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection. Adobe plans to offer tiered upgrade pricing from previous versions. For a limited time, validly licensed customers of eligible versions of Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Production Studio and Macromedia Studio will be able to upgrade to Creative Suite 4 for the CS3 upgrade price. For more detailed information about features, upgrade policies, pricing, and international versions please visit: www.adobe.com/creativesuite.

Adobe Flash Player 10 is currently available in beta as a free download from Adobe Labs at www.adobe.com/go/astro with general availability expected by the end of the year. Adoption of the previous update to Adobe Flash Player 9 set all-time records by achieving over 80 percent reach on Internet enabled desktops in less than six months and Flash Player 10 is expected to achieve a similar adoption rate.

Adobe revolutionizes how the world engages with ideas and information - anytime, anywhere and through any medium. For more information, visit www.adobe.com.

Adobe Releases Creative Suite 4 Production Premium

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
September 23, 2008

Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 Production Premium, a complete solution for creative professionals who craft world-class video, audio, and interactive media — for delivery on-air, online, and on device. Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium offers unprecedented levels of integration across major new releases of its video, audio, design, and Web tools, including Adobe After Effects® CS4 Professional, Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4, Adobe Encore® CS4, Adobe Photoshop® CS4 Extended (see separate release), Adobe Illustrator® CS4, Adobe Flash® CS4 Professional, Adobe® Soundbooth® CS4 and Adobe OnLocation™ CS4 — now redesigned to natively support Intel-based Macs.

"With new tools for creating searchable video content in Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, we’re opening up incredible opportunities for media professionals of all kinds," said John Loiacono, senior vice president of Creative Solutions at Adobe. "Imagine being able to create world-class content, distribute it online, and precisely target rich-media advertising based on the embedded metadata. These capabilities forge a new interactive media paradigm for distributing, differentiating, and monetizing content in ways that were not possible until now."

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium offers unique features for professional production. Powerful new Speech Search in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and Adobe Soundbooth CS4 uses spoken dialogue to make video searchable, significantly reducing the time spent searching for clips and creating rough cuts, and makes content searchable when delivered online. With deep XMP metadata support, the production workflow is simplified, resulting in online content that gives viewers new ways to interact with and search for video, while giving content owners new opportunities to track and monetize content. In addition, After Effects CS4 has enhanced support for Adobe Flash CS4 workflows providing new, powerful paths for creating compelling interactive content.

With Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium, Adobe strengthens its support for film and broadcast production, as well as extending its industry leadership in supporting efficient, tapeless, cross-platform workflows. Editors can work natively with RED, P2, XDCAM, and AVCHD without transcoding or rewrapping, giving them one of the fastest possible workflows to see what the camera captured without loss of fidelity. Adobe OnLocation CS4 enables the capture of DV, HDV and DVCPROHD footage directly to disk and offers powerful on-set clip annotation and metadata editing, then couples with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 for a streamlined editorial workflow. For final output, Adobe Creative Suite 4 has powerful workflows for large and small screens, efficiently exporting to film, DVD, Web DVD, Blu-ray disc, the web and mobile devices.

"At Disney Online we marry our world-class content with cutting-edge technology to create top-quality, high-impact guest experiences," said Eric Freeman, vice president of Technology, Disney Online. "We rely heavily on Adobe solutions to support the creation and distribution of our content and the new features of Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium will further enhance our ability to deliver innovative offerings to our guests."

The Adobe Creative Suite 4 product line, which includes Adobe Creative Suite Design editions, Adobe Creative Suite Web editions, Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium and Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection (see separate releases), offers access to online services* to creative professionals and developers who work and collaborate online. Adobe ConnectNow, a service of Acrobat.com, can be accessed from InDesign® CS4, Illustrator CS4, Photoshop CS4 Extended, Flash CS4 Professional, Dreamweaver® CS4, Fireworks® CS4, and Acrobat® 9 Pro, allowing real-time collaboration with two colleagues or clients. Designers can also share color harmonies with Adobe Kuler™, which is now accessible from within InDesign CS4, Illustrator CS4, Photoshop CS4, Flash CS4 and Fireworks CS4. Other online resources include: Adobe Community Help for technical questions; Resource Central for accessing video and audio product-related news and tutorials, as well as Soundbooth scores, sound effects, and other stock media; and Adobe Bridge Home, a customizable resource for tips, tutorials, news and inspirational content. With a searchable library of more than 450 dynamically updated device profiles from leading manufacturers, Adobe Device Central CS4 (see separate release) enables users to easily test mobile content designed using many of the Creative Suite 4 products.

Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium for Mac OS X on Intel® based systems and for Microsoft® Windows® XP and Windows Vista® platforms is scheduled to ship in October 2008 with availability through Adobe Authorized Resellers and the Adobe Store at www.adobe.com/go/gn_store . Estimated street price for the Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium edition is US$1699. Prices for upgrading to Creative Suite 4 Production Premium from CS3 will be US$599 and from previous versions will be US$799. For a limited time, licensed customers of any version of Adobe Production Studio are eligible for the US$599 upgrade price. For more detailed information about features, upgrade policies, pricing, and international versions please visit: www.adobe.com/creativesuite .

Safe Harbor Announces New Tutorial for Matrox RT.X2 Users

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
August 4, 2008

Safe Harbor Computers, a leading supplier to professional videographers, today announced the release of "HDV & Blu-ray for the RT.X2," hosted by Jeff Pulera.

This DVD, aimed at all levels of RT.X2 users, provides over 90 minutes of unique instruction on the steps, tips, and tricks necessary to maximize an HDV-to-Blu-ray workflow in the RT.X2.

Highlights include:

The technical details of HDV and Blu-ray
Supported HD formats and ingest procedures
The proper workflow for using HD with your RT.X2
Monitoring options including downconversion
Mixed-format editing and aspect ratio conversions
Encoding options and settings for Blu-ray
Blu-ray menu creation using Encore and Photoshop

About the Instructor
Jeff Pulera is a professional videographer with 15 years experience. He also works for Safe Harbor Computers, sharing his knowledge and real-life editing experiences with their customers. His company, Digital Vision Productions, specializes in corporate, event and wedding videography. The author of many tech reviews and articles, Jeff is widely known throughout the industry as the "Matrox guru."

Pricing and Availability
"HDV and Blu-ray for the RT.X2" is available exclusively from Safe Harbor Computers. Suggested retail is $49.99 For more information or to order, please visit www.sharbor.com.

Panasonic Announces Solid-State AG-HMC150 AVCHD 1080 Camcorder

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
April 18, 2008

At NAB 2008, Panasonic added a powerful, new camcorder to its AVCCAM professional line – the handheld AG-HMC150. Building on the phenomenal success of the highly popular DV tape based, standard definition AG-DVX100 camcorder, the affordable HMC150 blends professional 1080 and 720 HD production capabilities and enhanced quality recording (at average 21 Mbps/ Max 24Mbps) with the simplicity and familiarity of SD card, digital still camera workflow.

With an exciting range of professional-level features and a sleek, compact design, the HMC150 can record hours of high-quality 1080 and 720 HD images onto solid-state SD and SDHC memory cards, at lower bit rates than current HDV compression formats. This new model offers an enhanced quality mode at average 21 Mbps (Max 24Mbps) that moves quality up even further. The AG-HMC150 camcorder utilizes AVCHD, the industry’s newest long GOP compression standard based on MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 high profile encoding (the same as Blu-ray HD players). AVCHD provides a near doubling of bandwidth efficiency and improved video performance over the older MPEG-2 compression used in HDV formats and standard definition DVD players. AVCHD high definition recordings look clean and clear, even during fast motion, reducing the image degradation or dropout associated with HDV.

Highest-Quality, Full HD Recording
Designed to be used in a variety of budget conscious production applications, the HMC150 records stunning high definition in four recording modes – PH mode (average 21 Mbps/Max 24Mbps), HA mode (approx.17 Mbps), HG mode (approx.13 Mbps) and HE mode (approx. 6 Mbps). It captures full horizontal resolution 1920x1080 images at its PH, HA and HG recording modes. The camera can also be set to capture 1280x720 images at PH mode. At its 6 Mbps record mode, it captures 1440x1080 HD images for extended HD recording at its lowest bit rate. The HMC150 supports a range of HD formats, including 1080/24p, 1080/60i and 720/60p.

This mainstream, production-level camera features native 16:9 progressive 1/3" 3-CCD imagers, enhanced by a high-performing digital signal processor with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit processing. Its 13X Leica Dicomar zoom lens offers a 28mm (35mm equivalent) wide-angle setting (the widest in its class), a 72mm diameter, and a cam-driven manual zoom. The HMC150 provides auto or manual operation of focus and iris, and automatic optical image stabilization (O.I.S.) to ensure stable, smooth and precise shooting. It also features a range of selectable gamma functions including Cine-like gamma, making it well suited for cinema-like video production.

Extra-Long Record Times
With the HMC150, videographers can capitalize on the cost advantages, reliability, and widespread availability of SD and SDHC memory cards. Using just one 32GB SDHC card, users can record three hours of full pixel 1920x1080 video and audio at PH mode, four hours at HA mode and 5.3 hours at HG mode. In the HE mode, the camera can record up to 12 hours of 1440x1080 HD content – all on a single 32GB SDHC card. Panasonic also offers a variety of other SD and SDHC card sizes with Class 6 performance including 16GB, 8GB, 4GB, 2GB and 1GB.

Easy HD Playback on a Growing Number of Affordable Consumer Players
Content shot on the HMC150 can be played back directly on a wide range of widescreen flat panel displays, and front and rear-screen projectors, directly from the camera. Unlike HDV tapes, SD cards with HD content can be inserted into and played back on a growing number of affordable playback devices including Blu-ray players (like Panasonic’s DMP-BD30), the Sony PlayStation 3, and some new Panasonic plasma displays as well as computers with an SD card slot using applications that play AVCHD files. Using NLE software, content can also be edited and rendered in various formats and delivered on a wide range of media. Currently, AVCHD is supported by over 30 companies and implemented in numerous camcorders, NLE systems and consumer HD playback devices.

Professionals can instantly transfer content from the HMC150 camcorder to Mac or PC computers with an SD/SDHC card reader or by connecting the camcorder directly via its USB 2.0 interface. Other standard interfaces on the camera include HDMI out, component out (mini D terminal), composite out, remote jacks for zoom, focus iris and start/stop functions. The camera’s 3.5-inch LCD monitor displays content in thumbnail images for quick viewing.

The HMC150’s professional audio connections include XLR two-channel audio input (48V phantom power) with mic/line select, manual two-channel audio level VR and RCA audio out jacks. The camera offers waveform monitor display and an array of recording functions including time/date stamp, pre-record, shot marker, Index, time code/user bits and metadata.

Panasonic’s AVCCAM camcorder line-up brings the benefits of solid-state recording to budget-conscious professionals. Like digital still photography, recording onto SD/SDHC cards offer a fast and simple, file-based workflow with ultra-reliable performance and resistance to shock, vibration and extreme temperatures and weather. SD and SDHC memory cards are inexpensive and widely available and can be reused repeatedly. Since AVCHD records video as digital data files, content can be transferred and stored on affordable, high-capacity hard disk drives (HDD) and optical storage media and transferred to future storage media as technology advances.

The HMC150 will be available this fall at a suggested list price under $4,500.

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Safe Harbor's video and post production news blog offers you the latest announcements and updates from the industry.