Video News

One of our hopes when we developed our vidcast was that viewers would eventually start watching each episode on their TVs. Well, it’s happening! Videomaker Presents viewer, Bob Horn, shoots us the pic above and says;

Gentlemen,

Just discovered your Internet video show - WOW!!!

What an awesome idea! I got hooked on your current show and found myself watching all your archived shows.

I just recently received an HP Media Center PC and found out that I can watch your wmv format broadcast on my TV set (see photo above).

I got so involved in your video content – that I forget I was watching TV over the Internet.

Keep up the good work. As, I would love to know what you’re doing to broadcast on the Internet; i.e., how you did that – what’s the details?

Best Regards,

Bob Horn

Stay tuned, Bob…we’ll be dishing out the details on upcoming vidcasts.

What is a visit to Las Vegas without at least one Elvis sighting?

We spotted him helping weary NAB attendees trying to catch a taxi to the airport. We took this picture seconds before we cut our last NAB report for this week’s Vidcast… then Brian, Morgan and Andrew dashed to the waiting taxi, literally tossing me the camcorder out the window as the taxi took off, to continue with our coverage of the event.
We found that this year’s NAB was all about two things that we find exciting: HD is big big big and becoming so much more affordable, and small indie producers are getting support they crave from accessory companies who are answering the needs of people like us who want to get that story in our heads out to the masses. Stay tuned for continuing reports from the Videomaker Editorial staff on everything we saw and the people we talked to at NAB, including one rather clever robot.

from a Bella press release

LAS VEGAS, NV, NAB 2006: Bella Corporation, known for its innovative and award-winning video editing keyboards, today

introduced its newest product: Catapult. Catapult is the world’s first device to allow capture of video footage from DV or

HDV video cameras directly to iPods or virtually any USB drive, and begin editing immediately. A battery powered device not

much larger than a Blackberry, the Catapult eliminates the time consuming and tedious task of digitizing video footage.

Unlimited Storage

By offering a standard USB 2.0 connection, the Catapult has been designed to take advantage of many popular storage

devices. With this in mind, the Catapult has a convenient piggy-back neoprene pouch designed to hold an iPod or even a 2 and

a half inch USB drive. For those with greater storage needs, virtually any USB 2.0 drive system can be connected, including

multiple terabyte systems.

Advanced Features Expand Functionality

Catapult adds exciting features to capturing digital video including time lapse and trigger-based events, as well as pre

and post record functionality – all of which are impossible to achieve with standard tape-based recording methods.

Time Lapse Recording<

The completely configurable Time Lapse feature allows the recording of frames of video at specific intervals. For example,

recording only a few frames per minute would show a flower blooming, while a longer duration could be used to document

building at a construction site.

Remote Trigger Allows More Freedom in Filming

The Catapult offers Remote Trigger Recording, which allows either a remote switch or a motion detector to trigger

recording on the Catapult. This can be particularly useful in recording nature and wildlife events, and also for surveillance

operations.

Pre & Post Record

Pre-record and Post-record settings are two of the most exciting features of Catapult. With the Pre-record setting, users

can set Catapult to begin recording for a preset amount of time prior to actually hitting the "record" button on

the camera. This is feature is great for use with live action, such as sporting events allowing you to capture that winning

point every time.

The Post-record setting is useful when used in conjunction with a remote trigger, such as a motion detector. For example,

to record hummingbirds visiting a feeder, the motion sensor would prompt the Catapult to begin recording, and the Post-record

feature would allow recording to continue for a pre-determined amount of time.

Extended Recording Time

Utilizing built-in rechargeable batteries, the Catapult is capable of continuous recording in excess of three hours. The

Catapult can also be powered with the included AC adaptor.

Easily Set Up With Presets Included

The Catapult can be configured using either a Windows or Macintosh computer. The Catapult "Configurator" allows

you to save settings for up to four presets that can easily be accessed "in the field" on the Catapult.

Broad Compatibility

The Catapult is designed to work with DV and HDV format cameras that include a FireWire connection, such as those from

Sony, Canon, JVC, and Panasonic.

Pricing and Availability

The Catapult will be available in the second half of 2006 and will be priced under $300.

Brian, Andrew and I returned to Chico from NAB ‘06, leaving Jennifer in the throngs of hundreds of thousands of video folks down there in Las Vegas, armed only with a three-chip video camera, a note pad and a pen. There are lots to tell and lots to catch up on. Our vidcast will have the best coverage. Here is a picture of Andrew and I with a blue-haired Hewlett Packard woman. It was tough work, don’t let anyone tell you differently. Back to a mountain of email and overdue work.

from a Panasonic press release

Panasonic Broadcast debuts at NAB 2006 the AG-DVC20 3-CCD mini-DV camcorder with an enriched feature set for educators and entry-level shooters, including event and wedding videographers to student videographers and sports coaches. Superb features in this new model include high picture quality afforded by 3-CCD imagers and one-touch controls for ease of use.

The highly-affordable AG-DVC20 delivers the stability, security and "on the job" respect of shoulder-style shooting. Weighing just 4.4 pounds in full operating condition, the camcorder is light weight but a size that is not easily misplaced or hidden easily. The AG-DVC20 is equipped with three 460,000-pixel CCDs and has an optical 10x zoom with Electric Image Stabilizer to compensate for jitter and vibration. Other key features include an IEEE 1394 DV interface for PC-based NLE systems, "Color Night View" that permits viewing at a minimum illumination of 0 lux, and a six-language menu.

The camcorder’s new One-Touch Navigation facilitates the control of all basic operations with one hand, allowing the shooter to handle a number of tasks quickly and easily without taking his eye off the subject. With a touch of a button, the Power LCD function brightens up the backlight, and produces clear, easy-to-see images in the LCD, even in bright sunlight. The AG-DVC20 has a standard record time of 83 minutes (124 minutes in LP mode).

The camcorder’s impressive list of features includes an 8-bit digital recording system and 16-bit digital audio system (48-kHz/16-bit, 2-channel recording); Cinema (Letter box), tele-macro, and soft skin shooting modes; five program AE settings (sports, portrait, spotlight, surf and snow, and low light) that optimize shutter speed; 14 shutter speeds (from 1/60 to 1/8,000 sec.); digital gain selection (0 to +18dB); 2.5-inch color LCD monitor; 1/3 inch color electronic viewfinder; composite video, S-video and audio outs, mic; auto/manual focus and iris; Auto Tracking White Balance and White Balance Selection (indoor, outdoor, set).

Standard accessories include an AC adaptor, battery pack and wireless remote control.

The AG-DVC20 will be available in June at the suggested list price of $1,850.

Panasonic’s current line-up of DV PROLINE camcorders includes the hand-held AG-DVC30 Mini-DV camcorder; the shoulder-mount AG-DVC60 mini-DV camcorder; and the shoulder-mount AG-DVC7 mini-DV camcorder. For more information, visit http://www.panasonic.com/dvproline

from a SmartSound press release

SmartSound Software, Inc., the leading provider of music scoring technology for film and video professionals, today

shipped SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4, the groundbreaking new version of its flagship software. Version 4 introduces a new

capability called Mood Mapping, representing the biggest advancement in music scoring technology since the launch of

SmartSound’s first software more than a decade ago.

Through a single Mood Map track and a collection of preset mood mixes, users can instantly and precisely match the feel of

their music to the changing mood of their productions, without having to perform any advanced audio or music editing or

mixing.

"Sonicfire Pro 4 with Mood Mapping marks a major breakthrough in how film and video professionals score their

productions," said Kevin Klingler, president and CEO of SmartSound Software, Inc. "It allows users to completely

change the feel of their music scores without getting bogged down in a complicated process. This is the first time that this

level of control over individual instrument layers has been available in a way that any film and video professional can

quickly grasp and use."

In Sonicfire Pro 4, each music selection has a Mood Map track, where users can identify points in their production where

changes in mood occur. They can change the mix of the score to fit each mood by selecting from one of a wide range of preset

mixes. Each mix has the individual instrument layers set to different levels, depending on the feel desired. Examples of

preset mixes include "Heavy," "Sparse," "Dialog" and "Acoustic."

In addition to the preset mixes, each layer can be manually adjusted by moving a slider to match the desired level,

offering users unlimited possibilities in mixing their music. If a user needs to duck the horns of a particular piece of

music down for dialog, or bring up the strings to add to the suspense, such changes are immediately at their fingertips.

Sonicfire Pro 4 is available for Windows XP or Macintosh OSX 10.4 and higher operating systems.

www.smartsound.com.

Reprinted from a Sonic Solutions press release:

Sonic Solutions, the leader in digital media software, today introduced Avid DVD by Sonic - BD Edition, the world’s first Blu-ray Disc (BD) authoring system for video professionals. The software will be included as a tightly-integrated component of Avid Technology, Inc.’s Studio Toolkit, which can be added to the Avid Xpress Pro and Avid Media Composer family of products. Offering the perfect balance of speed, flexibility, and power, Avid DVD by Sonic - BD Edition will enable creative professionals working with high-definition content to author BD projects that feature stunning Widescreen (16:9) menus, rich playlists and sophisticated navigation systems.

“Our pioneering work with Avid highlights another important milestone in Sonic’s strategy to bring HD authoring technologies to the vast video-production market,” said Chris Neely, vice president of development for Sonic’s Professional Products Group. “Our knowledge and experience in BD and HD DVD will continue to drive a full range of Sonic-enabled solutions by our technology partners and industry-defining products that deliver dynamic high-definition creation and enjoyment experiences from Hollywood to home.”

The unveiling of next-generation authoring capabilities for the professional video market is the latest in a long series of high-definition initiatives by Sonic Solutions, which began its pioneering work on next-generation formats over two years ago. Sonic has taken a leading role in helping the industry make a smooth transition to the new high-definition optical formats, spearheading the High Definition Authoring Alliance (HDAA) in 2005 to prepare Hollywood and their authoring facility partners for the rollout of BD and HD DVD titles. More recently, Sonic announced an extension to the Alliance with the formation of an Advisory Group (HDAA AG). Comprised of top-tier computer and consumer electronics companies, the HDAA AG will collaborate with the HDAA to ensure high-definition formats deliver reliable, consistent and dynamic viewing experiences across platforms. In addition, Sonic recently released the world’s first professional high-definition authoring and encoding systems, Scenarist 4 and CineVision”.

“We are pleased to extend our successful, long-standing relationship with Sonic Solutions,” said Patrick McLean, senior product manager for Avid. “Our winning formula of seamlessly combining Sonic’s advanced authoring technologies with Avid’s tools for editing, finishing, and mastering film and video projects, will enable content creators to expose the full power and potential of high definition from capture all the way to final distribution.”

For more information on Sonic’s comprehensive high-definition initiatives visit: www.sonic.com/HD.

Jennifer just called in and reported that everyone there is doing great, but running behind. However, their landing yesterday was significantly delayed by Air Force One, as President Bush was in Las Vegas yesterday from 11-2. So that kept civilian aircraft in a holding pattern as he trolled for dollars from the Republican faithful at the Venetian…

Reprinted from a DAZ press release:

DAZ Productions Inc., a leading developer of professional quality 3D models and software, today announced that it has acquired Eovia Corporation, developer and publisher of leading 3D animation, modeling and rendering solutions, based in Mountain View, Calif. Effective immediately, DAZ Productions has taken ownership of Eovia Corporation including its entire development, marketing and sales divisions and all the technology rights to Carrara, Eovia’s 3D modeling, animation and rendering software. DAZ Productions has also acquired all technology rights to Hexagon, Eovia’s 3D modeling software, from Eovia Europe S.A. DAZ Productions is not acquiring Eovia Europe S.A.

“This move provides an important step forward in achieving our vision to expand the 3D market to the masses by providing high-quality 3D software that is economical and easy to use,” said Dan Farr, president of DAZ Productions. “In a short period of time, Eovia has generated tremendous industry buzz and established itself as an important player in the world of approachable 3D software. By delivering professional-level tools with remarkable affordability and responding to the competitive needs of professional artists, Eovia’s Carrara and Hexagon product families have turned heads and earned new respect throughout the 3D community. By bringing together Carrara and Hexagon with the Bryce, Mimic and DAZ|Studio solutions, we will provide a compelling suite of 3D software tools with a unified vision.”

The combination of DAZ and Eovia will provide customers with a more powerful set of solutions for creating, managing and rendering compelling 3D media. This unification will meet a wider set of customer needs and have a significantly greater opportunity to grow into new markets.

“Now is a great time for DAZ and Eovia products to come together as a dynamic force in the 3D industry,” said Bob Stockwell, director of sales and marketing for Eovia Corporation. “DAZ is already a proven leader in the content field, and over the last two years Eovia has changed industry perceptions to compete effectively against much more expensive 3D programs. We are excited about the opportunity this provides for Carrara and Hexagon. The passionate Eovia user community will be pleased to know that DAZ will continue to support and develop Eovia’s most celebrated products.”

Eovia and DAZ share a similar philosophy based upon ease-of-use, power and affordability. DAZ has long been known for providing world-class 3D assets and tools at mass-market prices. Eovia’s flagship products, Carrara and Hexagon, offer professional and approachable 3D modeling, animation and rendering capabilities. Eovia and DAZ have been partners since 2004, when Eovia became the exclusive representative for all DAZ products in Europe.

Terms of the acquisition have not yet been released. Additional information and an FAQ on the acquisition are available on the DAZ website (www.daz3d.com) and the Eovia website (www.eovia.com).

Reprinted from an Apple press release:

Apple today unveiled its new 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and an all new system architecture that delivers up to five times the performance of the PowerBook G4. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a stunning aluminum enclosure just one inch thin, weighs only 6.8 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, and the breakthrough Front Row media experience with Apple Remote. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro also features a MagSafe Power Adapter, invented by Apple especially for mobile users.

“The 17-inch MacBook Pro delivers the speed and screen area of a professional desktop system in the world’s best notebook design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With Intel’s state of the art dual-core processor, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro delivers unrivaled performance in an innovative, sleek, one-inch thin design.”

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor that delivers dual-core performance in a breakthrough power-efficient design, making it ideal for use in MacBook Pro’s thin and lightweight design. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro is up to five times faster than the 17-inch PowerBook G4, running industry standard benchmarks* and offers an all new system architecture including a 667 MHz front-side bus that is four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB that is twice as fast as the PowerBook G4.

Every new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes the same great Apple innovations as the 15-inch MacBook Pro including a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife ‘06. Every MacBook Pro also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button. Featuring Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience, MacBook Pro gives customers a simple way to enjoy their digital lifestyle content including music, photos and videos from across the room using the Apple Remote. With Front Row, MacBook Pro customers can effortlessly access shared iTunes playlists, iPhoto libraries and video via Bonjour, Apple’s zero configuration wireless networking built into Mac OS X.

Every MacBook Pro comes with Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter, designed especially for mobile users that makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro. The MagSafe Power Adapter safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, preventing the notebook from falling off its work surface. Every MacBook Pro also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.

Designed for business and creative professionals, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 36 percent brighter display to make reading text and viewing images even easier and an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 PCI Express graphics with 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory for demanding professional applications, and a Scrolling TrackPad to easily scroll through long web pages or pan across large photographs. Providing industry-leading connectivity and high-performance I/O, every new 17-inch MacBook Pro also includes a FireWire 800 port, a FireWire 400 port, three USB 2.0 ports, optical and digital audio input and output, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), and integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking.**

Every MacBook Pro includes iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife ‘06 applications run natively on the new Intel-based MacBook Pros for maximum performance.

Every MacBook Pro also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.6 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s Intel-based notebook line. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly.*** Intel-based Mac customers have more than 1,500 Universal applications to choose from and the list is growing each day with hundreds of developers including Adobe, Quark and IBM’s Lotus division announcing support for Mac OS X Intel-based applications. An updated list of Universal applications for Mac OS X is available at guide.apple.com/universal.

Pricing & Availability
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will begin shipping next week through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 2.16 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), includes:

Additional build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include 100GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

*Based on estimated results of industry-standard SPECint and SPECfp rate tests. SPEC is a registered trademark of Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC); see http://www.apple.com/macbookpro for more information.

**Actual speed will vary based on range from the base station, environmental conditions and other factors.

*** See http://www.apple.com/rosetta/ for information on Rosetta supported Apple software. Contact the manufacturer directly for 3rd party software.