Microsoft Releases Tiger Audio, Video Software

Loose Tiger: Microsoft Corporation recently introduced Tiger, the latest in server software for digital audio and video. Useful in computer networks and digital storage, the software also shines in video mainframes. Many of the nation's leading cable companies and telcos are now examining Tiger. Basing Tiger on the Windows NT Advanced Server system, Microsoft hopes for future interactive video applications.

Big Blue Bundles: Selected IBM Valuepoint 486DX4/100 computers will bundle TouchVision Systems D/Vision CineWorks as a digital video editing solution. This package is ideal for entry-level users as well as desktop video and multimedia producers. This is the first among what IBM calls a "series" of integrated systems they intend to offer in the never-ending battle for the PC market.

Product Menu

DQ-TimeCoder ($295)
Diaquest Inc.
1440 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 526-7167

DQ-TimeCoder is a new product from Diaquest designed as a plug-in time code link for Adobe Premiere. It allows you to compile frame-accurate edit decision lists using SMPTE/EBU time code. It also includes Realtime Video Machine control, logging and batch capture capabilities.

Animation Master ($699)
Hash Inc.
2800 East Evergreen Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661
(206) 750-0042

The company that gave us Playmation 2.0 now offers Animation Master. New features include Inverse Kinematics for skeletal-based motion, and a new materials editor with channel control for animating procedural textures. Also new are the Decal Module, motion blur, field rendering, as well as shadow and depth buffers.

Video ToolKit 2.1 ($279)
Abbate Video, Inc.
14 Ross Avenue
Millis, MA 02054
(508) 376-3712

The newest version of VideoToolKit from Abbate Video offers several useful changes. Abbate has optimized VideoToolKit 2.1 for operation on the Power Mac, and has included support for QuickTime 2.0. The VideoToolKit can now control Sony's UVW line of Betacam VCRs, as well as RS-442, RS-232, ViSCA, Control-M, and Control-L deck protocols. Version 2.1 also allows color correction and audio balance adjustments across multiple reels.

TVator Remote ($399)
Antec Inc.
2859 Bayview Drive
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 770-1200

The TVator Remote is the newest of the TVator line of PC-to-TV scan converters. As its name implies, the TVator Remote comes equipped with a wireless remote that controls screen brightness, horizontal and vertical positioning, panning, overscan/underscan, as well as zoom and freeze features. The unit supports both composite and S-video signals and improves flicker reduction over earlier TVators. The unit also has auto mode detection.

Nonlinear Editing Price Watch

Nonlinear systems make editing video as simple as cutting and pasting text with a word processor. With nonlinear, editors enjoy true random access to scenes through an intuitive graphical user interface. Thanks to advances in compression technology and plummeting computer prices, nonlinear editing is ready to revolutionize video at all levels.

This table shows the cheapest current system capable of true VHS-quality nonlinear editing. We define VHS quality as any 60 field-per-second, 320 x 480 pixel, full-screen display. Hard-drive prices reflect storage for about 10 minutes of digitized video. Prices are valid at time of writing, and subject to change.

Computer: Macintosh Power Mac 7100AV - $3349
Capture/display board: Supermac SpigotPower AV - $ 995
Software: VideoFusion Capture Utility - (bundled)
RAM: 8MB upgrade - $ 330
Hard drive: 1GB SCSI - $ 950
Total - $5624

Notes: Supermac SpigotPower AV is also capable of 640x480 pixel capture/display at 60 fields per second.