Spotlight: HP Z1 – Workstation

We’ve been watching this one for a while, and a good thing  since it’s going to change the layout of lots of video editor’s desktops. The Z1 brings the upgradeability of a workstation to the desktop, and an all in one desktop at that. Building from a good base is a life lesson, and the Z1 understands it with two of it’s three available processors as a quad-core Intel Xeon processor that is usually reserved for the highest-end computers.

Since the largest thing you’ll see in this computer is the monitor, HP provides a 27-inch display that can tilt horizontally and snap open to allow your to add your upgrades. Cool features also include a Blu-ray slot-load writer, 1080p webcam and SATA storage up to 2TB and 300GB SSD.

In case you missed our first post on the Z1 or are interested in how the announcements sound when they become presentations – click here.

Spotlight: AJA’s T-TAP

For a little device, the T-TAP will be a very important adapter. It will not only support 10-bit uncompressed video files up to 2K and 3D, but it can transfer those plus 8-channel audio through the HDMI or SDI outputs. The incredibly simple, single input is Thunderbolt, which  will draw power from your Mac. This makes for a grand total of three ports on the T-TAP, input on one side, outputs on the other, and the if you set a one-inch-thick smartphone on your desk, that’s about the size of this puppy.

AJA brings its name in the market of quality I/O in the form of the T-TAP ($249.)

Spotlight – Autodesk Smoke 2013 Post-production Software

Visual effects and Autodesk seem to go together extremely well, generally, Autodesk Smoke has been used by only top level professionals, but now Smoke 2013 is shaking that notion. The redesign from node to layer-based editing is one part of this overhaul, and the brightest part of the deal, what was once $15,000, is now $3,500. This still puts it on the high-end of post-production software, but it is much more feasible. By combining the node system within the tracks and layers, Smoke retains its powerful compositing.

There is plenty of ability to work on 3D, including editing, titles, logos and complete lighting control. Since many more people will have the opportunity to try this software out, you may be able to see it for yourself.

Best accessory – Roland R26 Portable 6 Track Audio Recorder

We know first hand how useful handheld field recorders are, and the R-26 is sure to be a valuable tool for any videographer. Being able to record six tracks may seem like overkill for video, but it’s actually three stereo and will make it great for interviews and still allow for recording an on-camera mic or ambient mic. The recordings come in as WAVE/BWF or MP3 and use SD cards. As for inputs to compliment the built-in XY mic, the R-26 sports two phantom powered combo XLR and TRS jacks as well as a plug-in powered miniature mic.

The body of this recorder has two prominent knobs for adjusting volume, which is much preferred to camcorders or other recorders that use an on screen button or side wheel. Overall, the R-26 screams efficient functionality, and sometimes, that’s just what we want.

Best Support – Zacuto Recoil Stabilizer

The support is only as good as the operator, and in this case it is you, the idea with the Recoil is that the camera will rest on your shoulder. It combines the Gorilla Baseplate which uses both 3/8 and 1/4-inch screws.

What’s special about the Recoil is mounting the camera directly on top of the shoulder, to do this you need the Q-Release. You won’t find this on any other support, and it has the ability to shift the center of balance and will work best with camera packages measuring up to three feet.

With simple quality, Zacuto has charmed us again with the Recoil, and for $1,375, this support will help you get the job done.

Best Editing Software: Adobe Production Premium Creative Suite 6 – Editing Suite

Adobe you know, what you’re waiting on is CS6 and rightly so, it will be a very strong presence in the video editing world for good reason, such as a clean and easy to use interface and good utilization of 64-bit processing. The suite combines big names like Premiere, Audition, Photoshop and After Effects with many more for a package that gives video professionals and enthusiasts an extensive group of tools.

Their emphasis this time around is to speed up your editing, allowing for hover scrubbing within windows, better/more intuitive performance in Audition and uninterrupted playback in Premiere. Another welcome expansion will be found in multicam editing and color correcting. There’s plenty more new features to discover, and as for pricing, we can’t be sure, but to get into the ballpark, CS5.5 is $1,700 and upgrades are about $400.