Blogging NAB – Apple’s Announcements

This is what it looks like when I take notes at a broadcasting event.
These are my notes from Apple’s presentation where they announced Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server.
My notes will be decipherable to a TV person, but likely unreadable to others. Welcome to my world.
Apple tells me to not use my laptop during the presentation.

Final Cut @ 800,000 users
Final Cut Server –
$999 – 10 concurrent users
$1999 – Unlimited users
Available “this summer”
Proximity Artbox
MAM software
Proxy generation
Search
Access Controls

Workflow Automation
Templates
Review and Approve
Automated encode & publish
Intergration
Shot selection
Rough cut editing
Save as FCP
Online/offline workflow

Final Cut Studio 2 – $1299

$499 upgrade from Final Cut Studio
$699 upgrade from any version of FCP
Available in May
Final Cut Pro 6
ProRes file format – 4:2:2 uncompressed 10 bit – “HD at SD file size”
1 TB to 170GB file size compression
Support from Sony HDCAM SR & Panasonic AVC-Intra, even Red Digital

AJA Box – $3495 in July

IO HD
601 and HD In and out of ProRes
Downconversin & cross conversion

Open Format Tiumeline

Mix formats, resolutions, and frame rates in a timeline

Smoothcam

Motion compensation

Editable Motion Templates

Motion form within FCP
Replace objects from FCP
Update all FCP projects from Motion

Motion 3

3D tools
Mulitple cameras & light sources
Vector based paint
Match moving – motion path following of any object in the video
Retiming effects
Audio behaviors – animations responds to soundtrack
Truly amazing 3d space visualization tools

Soundtrack Pro 2

Alignment of audio effects with video
Advanced Take Management – dialog
Surround Mixing
Stereo & Surround mix in common project

Conform audio tracks

Sync changes between pictures & sound with workflow

Waveform editor w/frequency spectrum view – truly impressive
Mulittrack audio ADR tools
Auto conform tool with change tracking

Compressor 3

Video encoding & transcoding
Batch processing
Clustering
MPEG, H.264, Telestream plug-ins
Video effects during transcode
Almost 3x reduction in processing time from Compressor 2
Allows use of Motion effects in transcode
Specific control of multiple processor usage for rendering

Color – Finish & Color Grading – SD, HD, 2k

Real time professional color grading for FCP
Task based workflows
Familiar correction tools and displays
Color FX package
Profiles shared as ‘looks’
8 secondarys

Truly a comprehensive package that any other vendor, especially Avid, will be hard pressed to match.