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Blackmagic Design announced a free Fusion 8.1 update that adds Fusion Connect for Avid as well as compatibility with the latest Avid Artist DNxIO video interface. The Fusion 8.1 update is available now for both Fusion 8 and Fusion Studio customers, and can be downloaded from the Blackmagic Design website.

Previously, Fusion Connect for Avid was only available in Fusion Studio on Windows for $995. Fusion 8.1 now adds Fusion Connect for Avid to the free version of Fusion, and is available to both Mac and Windows customers using Media Composer with the Avid Artist DNxIO video interface.

Fusion Connect for Avid is an AVX plugin that Avid editors can use to round trip single clips, sequences of clips, or even stacks of layers from Media Composer to Fusion for adding visual effects and motion graphics. Once Fusion Connect for Avid is applied to clips in the Media Composer timeline, it will create a Fusion composition with a node tree that is linked to the correct Media Composer sources.

Fusion Connect for Avid also supports versioning, making it easy to create and test multiple versions that can be played live and tested in the Media Composer timeline. The editor simply selects the Fusion Connect clip in the timeline and chooses the version to playback. That means editors don't have to stack up multiple clips in the timeline because Fusion Connect for Avid manages the versions for them.

Fusion Connect clips from Avid Media Composer can be processed in either 16-bit float or 32-bit float for the best possible image quality. Fusion is resolution independent, works with unlimited layers, has a massive toolset and features an uncompressed workflow with Avid that allows customers to create visual effects, add motion graphics, and enhance sequences.

Fusion Connect for Avid lets editors work on their own visual effects and motion graphics or, when they’re on shared storage, they can collaborate with a team of artists on the network. Shots can be sent from the timeline using Fusion Connect for Avid and can be picked up by visual effects artists that are on the same shared storage. This lets editing continue while VFX shots are being worked on in tandem. The Avid Media Composer timeline will show a Fusion connect clip, which can be refreshed at anytime so editors always see the most current version of the VFX shot as it is rendered.

“Fusion Studio is the other half of my editing tool set” said Alan Edward Bell, A.C.E. editor known for his work on The Hunger Games trilogy, the Amazing Spider-Man, The Green Mile and more. “I use Fusion Studio all day, everyday and could not do the performance enhancing visual effects I am known for without its rich set of tools and functions! If you aren't using Fusion yet, I suggest downloading it now.”

“This new Fusion 8.1 update is exciting because now, for the first time, Media Composer editors on both Mac and Windows can seamlessly integrate Fusion into their workflow,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “This makes it easier than ever to build visual effects pipelines with Fusion, Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve!”

Press Photography

Product photos are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/press/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

Addressing the demands of broadcast professionals and cinematographers to tap into the vast selection of EF and EF-S mount lenses, Metabones launched Smart Adapter EF-FZ Mount for Sony CineAlta cameras such as F5 and F55. Designed for dependable operation in the field, this new Smart Adapter features an extra large, geared iris ring and an easy-to-turn breech-lock to solidly secure the EF/EF-S mount lens. Electronic integration includes viewfinder display of aperture, zoom and distance, auto exposure, an assignable function button and image stabilization (IS) lens support. No additional power source is required. Adapter firmware is user-upgradable through the micro USB port on the Smart Adapter. Unfortunately no Speed Booster will be available in FZ mount owing to physical clearance. Since its advent in 2012, Metabones Smart Adapter™ has become an indispensable tool for the most demanding cinematographers and other professionals. The Metabones Smart Adapter EF-FZ Mount is available right now at 999 USD ex. VAT.

At the 2016 InfoComm Show, Datavideo (Booth #N1533) demonstrates video production equipment that can easily be integrated into various A/V applications including corporate meetings, worship seminars, conferences, live events, and panel discussions. Since many installation projects require long cable runs, Datavideo is introducing a PTC-150T PTZ camera with HDBaseT technology to make it easier for integrators to install. HDBaseT technology allows users to use only one Ethernet cable for power, uncompressed video, control, and tally. Among other products shown at InfoComm were KMU-100 4K Multi-Camera Unit, RMC-400 remote control for HDR-10 instant replay boxes, and SEB-1200, a combination of SE-1200MU 6-input HD video switcher and RMC-260 control panel.

A new beta update (8.20b0386) for Grass Valley EDIUS 8 is a non-QuickTime version released in response to the QT security problems. This is the first of a 2 part update. This one has several restrictions that are mentioned below. Grass Valley will have another update coming at some point that will do away with most (if not all) restrictions.

As of now, the following functionality will be lost if QuickTime is not present:

• Still Image File Formats: BMP (export only); JPEG; JPEG2000; TIFF; PSD; PNG; SGI; GIF; GIF89a; JFIF; Mac PICT; sgiRGB
• MOV Video File Formats: MOV (other than MPEG-2, H.264/AVC, HDV & 3ivx D4 4.5.1)
• Audio: MOV (other than Linear PCM and AAC)

Panavision's new digital film camera uses RED 8K sensor. The camera has been optimized for 8K and 4K workflow and Panavision's large format lenses, including Primo 70 wireless motorized models. The sensor, derived from RED's RED WEAPON 8K cameras, offers 16-bit, 35.5 megapixel CMOS technology, large size of 40.96 x 21.60 mm, and enables to shoot up to 60 fps at 8K Full Frame (8192 x 4320), 75 fps at 8K 2.4:1 (8192 x 3456) on SSD media in the form of R3D files. The camera will also shoot 8K RAW with simultaneous 4K proxy (ProRes or DNx), and will be rental-only, beginning early 2017.