News » CD and DVD Authoring Software a Safe Harbor blog

Sony Creative Unveils New Tools for 3D Blu-ray Disc Production and Video Editing

Posted by Marc Leitner
April 9, 2010

(Madison, Wisconsin—April 8, 2010) Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio editing applications, today announced Blu-print 6™ Blu-ray Disc authoring application and the brand-new Z Depth™ 3D subtitle offset editing application. As one of the first professional 3D Blu-ray™ Disc authoring products available on the market, the upgraded Blu-print 6 will be capable of authoring 3D titles in accordance with the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) 3D Blu-ray disc specification to greatly enhance workflow capability for production facilities and professional video editors.

Blu-print 6 allows for easy import of MVC encoded content along with support of 3D menu graphics and subtitle graphics. 3D Blu-ray Java integration also allows for user interactivity like BD-Live. To assist editors creating 3D subtitles, the new Z Depth application generates the required offset metadata file needed in a 3D BD project allowing editors to more accurately and easily position subtitles when creating 3D Blu-ray Discs.

"With the home entertainment industry, consumer electronics manufacturers and consumers eagerly awaiting the introduction of 3D on Blu-ray, Blu-print 6 and Z Depth 3D subtitle offset editing application will enable editors and disc authoring professionals to provide a seamless 3D viewing experience for home audiences," said Dave Chaimson, vice-president of global marketing for Sony Creative Software. "Given the precise balance of art and technology needed to produce 3D Blu-ray Discs, production professionals require powerful and specialized new tools like Blu-print 6 and Z Depth for Vegas Pro 9 to deliver content that exceeds the high expectations accompanying the excitement for 3D at home."

Blu-print 6
As one of the first professional-level 3D Blu-ray disc authoring software systems available, the new features of Blu-print 6 will allow studios to author 3D content for the new 3D Blu-ray format standard Profile 5, import new MVC encoded streams, and work with Z Depth for 3D subtitle authoring. Designed for high volume professional production, the updated Blu-print 6 software will also include support for offset metadata integration required for 3D Presentation Graphics and 3D Interactive Graphics. 3D BD-J integration and 3D Blu-ray Disc cutting master generation is also supported in order to provide maximum intuition and flexibility for complex authoring projects.

Z Depth Feature Highlights
The all-new Z Depth subtitle offset editing application uses the video power of Vegas Pro 9 to provide a combination that will allow 3D authoring companies to easily create required disparity metadata files for positioning of subtitles and IG menus in a 3D Blu-ray Disc production. New to 3D BD production, the Z Depth application will allow 3D Blu-ray Disc authoring facilities and subtitle creation companies to produce accurate subtitling in the 3D space that will allow for the most comfortable viewing experience. The BD spec offset metadata files created by the application can be used in any 3D Blu-ray Disc authoring application that follows BDA specifications Profile 5. There are no special hardware requirements for Z Depth, though it is highly recommended that editors use the Presonus Fader Port for data input. Vegas Pro 9 is required for Z Depth integration.

Availability
Blu-print 6 and Z Depth will be available in June 2010 through Sony Creative Software Professional Services at http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com.

About Sony Creative Software
Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, audio, and music production, as well as industry-leading technology for DVD production and Blu-ray Disc™ authoring. Sound Forge™ Pro, ACID™ Pro, and Vegas™ Pro software have defined digital content creation for a generation of creative professionals. These signature product lines continue to advance media production by providing powerful, accessible tools. Today, there is a Sony Creative Software application for every level of expertise, including a full line of consumer software based on the company's professional applications. In addition, Sony Creative Software produces the extensive Sony® Sound Series collection of royalty-free loops and samples, Sony Pictures Sound Effects Series exclusive sound effects, and Vision Series video creation assets. Further, the company provides the industry-leading tools for enterprise-level Blu-ray Disc authoring: Blu-code™ encoder, Blu-print® software, and on-Q Create® for Blu-ray Java. The company’s customers span the globe and include professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, as well as students, educators, and hobbyists.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WEVA Partners With Universal Studios Florida For WEVA EXPO 2008 Tour

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
April 17, 2008

WEVA International has partnered with Universal Studios Florida Production Group to plan an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the Universal Studios Production Facilities for professional videographers in conjunction with the WEVA 18th Annual Wedding & Event Video Expo, August 11-14, 2008. WEVA EXPO 2008, the wedding and event video industry's largest convention and trade show will be held at Orlando Grande Lakes Resort, just 10 minutes from Universal Studios Florida.

The largest working motion picture and television studio outside of Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida boasts 9 state-of-the-art soundstages, multiple broadcast studios, and more than 100 backlot sets. Numerous feature films (including The Waterboy, Matinee, and Parenthood) have been shot on the studio backlot.

Home to cable network’s Nickelodeon, Universal Studios Florida has hosted TV programs as diverse as The Ellen Degeneres Show; The Food Network's Emeril, Live!; The Steve Harvey Show; America's Most Wanted; Fear Factor; BattleBotsIQ and TNA (Total Nonstop Action). TNA, today's popular contemporary wrestling show, is taped in Stage 21 - (adjacent to the park).

This summer, WEVA EXPO 2008 attendees will have a rare opportunity to take an optional pre-convention, behind-the-scenes tour of Universal Studios that is being planned for Monday August 11, 2008 (starting early afternoon, ending before the official WEVA EXPO 2008 Opening Night Gala at 5:45pm).

"As announced at our NAB event this week, WEVA is already at work with the Universal Studios Production Group (USPG) designing a backlot tour that is ‘professional to professional’ rather than the standard ‘visitor’ version normally presented to park guests," relates Dan Argenas, WEVA’s Director of Association Communications. "Our goal is to offer WEVA EXPO 2008 attendees an inside view of state-of-the-art television and film production that’s up close and personal."

The WEVA and USPG teams are finalizing details of the tour, including ground transportation (private busses will depart from the JW Marriott). Watch WEVA.com for more news on the Universal Studios Tour and continuous updates on all WEVA EXPO 2008 Wedding and Event Video Sessions, EXPO 2008 Trade Show, and EXPO 2008 Special Events.

WEVA EXPO 2008 Set for August 11-14 at Orlando Grande Lakes

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
March 6, 2008

The WEVA 18th Annual Wedding & Event Video Expo (WEVA EXPO 2008), the wedding and event industry’s biggest convention and trade show, open to all wedding and event videographers worldwide, will be held August 11-14, 2008 at the breathtaking 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando Resort, Florida’s premier destination.

Only 15 minutes from the Orlando International airport, Universal Studios, and Sea World, Grande Lakes Resort features two of the most respected names in hospitality - The JW Marriott, which will host WEVA EXPO 2008, and The Ritz-Carlton. Both hotels are directly connected and situated in the heart of a pristine and eco-friendly nature reserve that stretches across 500 lush and tropical acres surrounded by lakes.

The special guest room rate at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, a 26-story masterpiece in mediterranean design, will be just $99/night (single or double occupancy & kids 18 and under stay free) for all EXPO attendees. This exceptional rate is valid three days before and after WEVA EXPO 2008. Each elegant guest room is equipped with high-speed Internet access that will be free for all WEVA guests. WEVA EXPO 2008 attendees staying at The JW Marriott will be able to enjoy all the facilities and services Grande Lakes offers indoors and outdoors, at both hotels, without any add-on resort fees.

Marriott reservation operators will begin taking WEVA guest room reservations next week. Visit www.grandelakes.com now and click on the videos, the photo galleries and cool 360-degree panoramas to get introduced to this lush and lavish tropical paradise.

"Grande Lakes Resort is an ultra, world-class property for hosting our industry’s largest and most exciting convention and trade show of the year," said WEVA International Chairman Roy Chapman. "The special rates and discounts arranged for WEVA attendees make it affordable for all videographers working at all levels to attend this year's EXPO."

"The JW Marriott at Grande Lakes is a picture-perfect environment for videographers who want to network. There are so many spots to relax and share information – whether you’re in a cutting-edge session on new wedding editing techniques, or at the huge trade show or sharing production clips on your iPod or iPhone at poolside - and you'll find a lot of pools, and whirlpools, dotted all around this scenic mega resort," said Dan Argenas WEVA’s Director of Association Communications.

Watch www.weva.com for more news shortly. Make plans now to attend the WEVA 18th Annual Wedding & Event Video Expo 2008 this summer!

About Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA)
Founded over a decade ago, WEVA International is the world's largest trade association for professional wedding and event videographers and leads the field with education that's on the cutting-edge of industry developments. WEVA is dedicated to advancing the professional interests of videographers globally through continuing education at events such as Wedding & Event Video Expo and WEVA's Wide World of Weddings & Events, technical support, group benefits, advocacy committees, new media, including Wedding & Event Videography Resource Guide and streaming video on WEVA-TV. For more information contact the association at 941-923-5334 or www.weva.com.

XLNT Idea, Inc. Unveils Nexis Pro DVD/CD Automated Publishing System

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
January 7, 2008

XLNT Idea Inc., a leading US Based Manufacturer of DVD and CD Printing, and Publishing Systems, is exhibiting its new Nexis Pro DVD / CD burn and print publishing system at CES 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 07 – 10, 2008. Featuring a two drive configuration, vastly improved print engine, and true six color printing capability, the Nexis Pro system represents XLNT Idea’s ongoing cutting edge design and engineering capability. Nexis Pro will also include a new and improved version of XLNT Idea’s Disc Studio software, providing users with the most intuitive and user friendly label editing application available today. The Nexis Pro will be released at an MSRP of $ 2795.00 and can be purchased from an authorized XLNT Idea VAR or Dealer Partner.

Dale K., VP of Engineering commented, "Nexis Pro is designed to dramatically increase disc throughput from approximately 20 CD’s per hour to over 50 CD’s per hour, and will more than double throughput for DVD’s as well. In addition, the improved printer core integrated into Nexis Pro allows users to achieve 4800 dpi 'best' print quality at under two and a half minutes per disc, the astest in the industry."

Chuck Alcon Jr, Director of Sales and Marketing added, "Nexis Pro is an exciting new addition to our product line, and gives users a more robust DVD / CD automated disc creation systems at an aggressive price point. We remain committed to providing our channel partners with a complete suite of solutions that meet the widest variety of applications and environments. And, we continue our focus on offering our systems with the lowest cost of ownership in the industry."

WEVA Announces Location for January Event

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
October 9, 2007

Las Vegas’ legendary Imperial Palace, located "Center Strip" next to the Flamingo, has been named as the host hotel for WEVA’s Wide World of Weddings & Events the brand new winter convention and trade show for wedding & event videographers, co-presented by WEVA and PMA® with huge Trade Show exhibits being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center this January.

WEVA/PMA guest room rates at the Imperial Palace start at under $71/night. Rooms are limited. To be assured of getting low-cost rates, make your hotel reservations now through PMA Housing toll-free at: 800-248-8804 or 517-788-8100 or email: housing@pmai.org.

Register Online - Over 200 WEVA & PMA Sessions Included
Convention registration has already opened! WEVA sessions will start Tuesday afternoon January 29, 2008 at the Imperial Palace hotel. Open to all videographers, registration is only $199 for WEVA members and is all-inclusive. A special WEVA/PMA hotlink for WEVA member discount registration will be announced shortly.

Attend your choice of over 45 cutting-edge WEVA sessions for wedding and event videographers that will all be presented at the Imperial Palace Tuesday afternoon January 29 thru Thursday January 31 when the 2008 Trade Show opens at the Las Vegas Convention Center (use the Imperial/Flamingo Monorail for easy Convention Center access).

The Trade Show will be open 3 days: Thursday January 31 through Saturday February 2, 2008, and will feature special WEVA events for videographers on the Show Floor, including hands-on edit system training, and more (see below) on all 3 Trade Show days. At this year's convention, your WEVA/PMA registration also allows you to attend your choice of over 200 PMA '08 sessions (listed at www.pmai.org) at no additional cost.

Cutting-Edge Wedding & Event Video Sessions
WEVA sessions at the Imperial Palace will feature wedding and event video seminars, workshops, extended system training, New Worldwide Showcase of WEVA Award-Winning Wedding Video Creativity, Same-Day Edit sessions, all-new WEVA Latino sessions in Spanish, New Mock Wedding & Love Story Shooting Exhibitions, HD Technology Panels, and more.

Featured speakers will include leading wedding and event videographers from the US, Canada, Mexico and the Asia-Pacific region, and renowned marketing experts, including top business consultant Robert Gordman author of the best-selling book The Must-Have Customer and a contributing writer for WEVA's Wedding & Event Videography Resource Guide.

The complete WEVA program line-up and trade show schedule will be posted soon on the WEVA website and www.PMAI.org where you can also view all other group sections of programming including digital imaging production, marketing, networking, special events, parties, and convention activities that are available at no additional charge to all WEVA registrants.

More Videographer Events at the 3-Day Trade Show
At the huge 3-day Trade Show (Thursday January 31 to Saturday February 2nd), in addition to a whole new world of exhibits, there will be additional WEVA events for wedding and event videographers on all three days - all optional and all at no additional cost right on the Show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center, including:

Free - Hands-On Edit System Training on Computer Workstations (Presented in Spanish & English).
Free - Live Demonstrations of Wedding & Event Video Shooting Techniques.
Free – All-new WEVA HD Camcorder Shoot-Out Using Live Bridal Models and Featuring Just-Released HD/SD Cameras Both Palm-Size & Full-Size.
Free – WEVA Mock Bridal Show Booth Exhibit
Free – New WEVA/PMA Exclusive 2,000 square-foot Pavilion Housing a State-of-the-Art, Industry-wide Event That Will be Announced Soon.

"There’s never been anything on a scale this large for event videographers. WEVA’s Wide World of Weddings & Events at PMA ’08 is an exciting ‘first’ for professional videography. It will mark the launch of a new era in the expanding worldwide digital memories industry," said Roy Chapman founder and chairman of Wedding & Event Videographers Association International. "This collaborative convention will give videographers the biggest competitive-edge in wedding and event video creativity, techniques, technology, networking – and business profitability — in the history of our industry."

Low-cost guest rooms at the Imperial Palace (available through PMA Housing are less than $71/night January 28-31. For Friday, February 1st (the start of Super Bowl weekend) you can obtain a special PMA registration discount coupon ($29) to apply to the Imperial Palace room rate, which increases to $160 on Friday.

Collaborate, Innovate - Profit!
"With low-cost registration and discounted hotel rates, this brand new convention is the season’s best value for wedding and event videographers – and it answers the call from our members for an international winter event that takes advantage of the impact, and the new profit centers, emerging from the convergence of digital video and imaging technologies," said WEVA Director of Educational Development John Zale.

"Videographers will be able to get together at WEVA’s Wide World of Weddings & Events to network and discover new techniques, cutting-edge concepts, and state-of-the-art technologies that are transforming not only professional videography, but the entire digital memories industry."

Teaming with PMA for an all-new winter convention in the U.S., Zale added, "is a natural, and progressive extension, as WEVA and PMA have had solid success collaborating on previous events for our industry worldwide. That includes our Australia conference for videographers in May, and our industry’s first-ever convention in Canada last month."

WEVA’s Wide World of Weddings & Events at PMA 08 will enable fresh advantages and a completely new professional development experience for wedding and event videographers, manufacturers, and sponsors.

"The advancements in digital technologies, including IT, portable video, DI technologies, and new media, combined with the rising demand for video content online have created a need for a collaborative, cutting-edge event in the winter season. One that recognizes, and utilizes, key changes in digital technologies and workflow so that professional videographers nationally and internationally can take their skills, and their profit potential, to a whole new level – faster," Chapman said. "And, it’s why WEVA will continue to provide professional development events in both winter and summer seasons."

Contact PMA Housing now to be sure of getting low-cost guest room rates at the Imperial Palace for WEVA’s Wide World of Weddings & Events this January!

About Photo Marketing Association International (PMA)
As an international professional trade association, PMA® helps the worldwide photo imaging community achieve business success and adapt to new technologies. Its commitment to 20,000 members in 100-plus countries is part of an 82-year legacy that connects business owners to a network of knowledge and support.

PMA furthers this purpose through the development of educational programs and business services, marketing research, publications, and trade shows. For more information, visit PMA online at www.pmai.org.

About Wedding & Event Videographers Association International (WEVA)
WEVA International is the largest professional videographers association and our industry's leading provider of education that's on the cutting-edge. WEVA is dedicated to advancing the professional interests of videographers worldwide through continuing education at events such as Wedding & Event Video Expo, technical support, group benefits, advocacy committees, new media, including Wedding & Event Videography Resource Guide and streaming video on WEVA-TV.

Join WEVA now to access valuable WEVA membership benefits that can help you succeed in your business, including weekday job opportunities through ImageSpan's CurbStream Platform, plus low-cost Visa/MasterCard Merchant Status, low-cost Equipment Insurance, E&O Insurance, the new Equipment Financing Program for Videographers, WEVA NEWS MINUTE videos, WEVA On-The-Air Podcasts, and more. Membership also provides opportunities for professional videographer (MPV) accreditation, and system-training at WEVA EXPO. For further details contact the association at 941-923-5334 or email: info@weva.com

Motu Demonstrates V3HD at Safe Harbor

Posted by Safe Harbor Staff
September 27, 2007

Jim Cooper from Motu was in the Safe Harbor studio Wednesday, September 26 demonstrating the new Motu V3HD video converter box.

V3HD turns your Mac or PC desktop or laptop computer into a powerful HD/SD video production workstation equipped with all the video and audio I/O you need, with one simple FireWire connection.

In this photo taken from the demo, a DVCPRO HD Final Cut Pro timeline is being sent over Firewire to the V3HD, which outputs to several different formats simultaneously, including HDMI, HD SDI, HD Component, SD SDI, SD Component, and S-video. This setup allows you to monitor your video in every available format while you're working.

Some standout features that were demonstrated:

#1 – CONNECTIVITY
The V3HD will work with practically ANY tape format and/or connection, SD or HD. Regardless of what format you shoot, you can easily send it through V3HD into your PC or Mac. Even if shooting on Panasonic with P2 card, V3HD is still used for monitoring and output (not capture).

This makes it convenient to monitor on variety of displays, as well as record edits to almost any record deck. This counts for AUDIO as well as video. Great for studios where clients are bringing in their own gear, will provide interface for most any setup.

#2 - LOW OVERHEAD
DVCPRO HD does not require the huge hard drive arrays and ultra-fast processors that uncompressed video needs. It even works great with a laptop!

#3 - AUDIO
Has comprehensive audio features and connections, great control over monitoring, mixing and routing of signals.

#4 - STAND-ALONE CONVENIENCE
Unit can be used without a PC connection for signal conversion, is portable.

#5 - PC or Mac
Some users have both and can switch as simply as unplugging FireWire cable.

#6 - DVCPRO HD
DVCPRO HD is a widely used standard with good quality and smaller file sizes, a good compromise on quality and system requirements. V3HD is a great choice for those using Panasonic DVCPRO gear in their workflow already.

V3HD is shipping now - order yours today!

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