News

Panasonic announced the joint initiative of developing the NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ, a software application allowing users to connect IP-ready Panasonic professional video cameras to a network and detect their presence automatically from NewTek TriCaster and the IP Series Video Mix Engine. With NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ, Panasonic IP cameras detected on a network become immediately available for use in NDI-based video production workflows without any addition configuration.



NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ was developed as the collaboration between NewTek and Panasonic. Panasonic offered its proprietary technology on detecting Panasonic PTZ cameras on the network, and NewTek made it possible to connect the Panasonic PTZ cameras to NewTek TriCaster and the IP Series Video Mix Engine. With NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ, users may have any number of Panasonic IP cameras on standby, ready to take live into production. Compatible cameras include AW-HE130, AW-HE40 and AW-UE70 models, as well as studio camera systems and AK-UB300 4K camera with streaming outputs. Once the camera is recognized as a network video source, it becomes accessible to any TriCaster or Video Mix Engine on the network. Video translation and transmission is only initiated when the camera source is selected, conserving valuable bandwidth and system resources.

NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ is also compatible with the PTZ control functionality integrated into TriCaster and the Video Mix Engine, enabling the user to manage orientation, zoom, focus and iris of supported cameras, and store and recall camera presets, directly from the user interface or a compatible controller. NewTek AutoLink for Panasonic PTZ will work with any Panasonic IP-enabled professional cameras supporting RTSP stream delivery over an Ethernet connection. This includes the AW-HE130, AW-HE40, AW-UE70 PTZ cameras, the AK-HC5000 studio camera system, the AK-UC3000 4K studio camera system, as well as AK-UB300 4K box camera. Actual performance may vary based on user-defined conditions, including but not limited to camera model and settings; selected video format, resolution, and frame rate; and network configuration.

Red Giant Software's color grading plug-ins Magic Bullet Suite has been updated to v13.0.2, adding support for high resolution displays on Windows within the Magic Bullet Looks plug-in, and support for HitFilm Pro 2017 in Magic Bullet Looks, Magic Bullet Cosmo II 2.0.1, Magic Bullet Renoiser 1.0.1, Magic Bullet Mojo II 2.0.1, and Magic Bullet Film 1.2.1.



Plug-in Compatibility (v13.0.2):

Magic Bullet Looks

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up
• Magix Vegas Pro 14
• Avid Media Composer 8.5, 8.6
• Davinci Resolve 12.5
• EDIUS 8.2
• HitFilm Pro 2015 / 2017

Magic Bullet Colorista IV

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up

Magic Bullet Film

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up
• Magix Vegas Pro 14
• Davinci Resolve 12.5
• EDIUS 8.2
• HitFilm Pro 2015 / 2017

Magic Bullet Cosmo II

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up
• Magix Vegas Pro 14
• Davinci Resolve 12.5
• EDIUS 8.2
• HitFilm Pro 2015 / 2017

Magic Bullet Denoiser III

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up

Magic Bullet Mojo II

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up
• Magix Vegas Pro 14
• Davinci Resolve 12.5
• EDIUS 8.2
• HitFilm Pro 2015 / 2017

Magic Bullet Renoiser

• Adobe After Effects CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2017), CC (2015.3), CC (2015), CC (2014)
• Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 and up
• Apple Motion 5.2.3 and up
• Magix Vegas Pro 14
• Davinci Resolve 12.5
• EDIUS 8.2
• HitFilm Pro 2015 / 2017

New 8.31 update for Grass Valley's popular video editing application EDIUS adds new codec support and bug fixes. EDIUS 8.31 now supports Sony XAVC 1.2, Canon XF-AVC 2.2, and Sony X-OCN clips, and fixes numerous issues, incl. PSD import from Adobe Photoshop CS6, AVC-Ultra LonG export, fixed playback of MOV files created by Panasonic DMCX-GF2 cameras, improved Primary Color Correction UI design, and more!

One year after releasing the point update, Cubase is back with major updates incorporating new features requested directly by customers alongside the many other studio-grade audio and MIDI tools for composing, recording, editing and mixing. All three versions are crafted to suit the very different needs and levels of expertise in music recording and production. Cubase Pro 9 is engineered to meet the exacting standards of professionals; Cubase Artist 9 provides a comprehensive tool set tailored to instrumentalists and songwriters; and Cubase Elements 9 is the entry-level DAW that offers straightforward recording in high-quality audio. The Cubase Pro 9, Cubase Artist 9 and Cubase Elements 9 full retail versions are now available! Customers who have activated Cubase Pro 8.5 and Cubase Artist 8.5 since October 26, 2016, are eligible for a free, downloadable Grace Period update to the latest versions, respectively. Upgrades from older versions start at 99,99 EUR incl. VAT for update from Cubase Pro 8.5.

Ground-breaking new features, streamlined workflows and stunning new plug-ins -- the latest update enhances your favorite digital audio workstation in every direction and underlines Cubase’s claim of being the most complete DAW available. The new Lower Zone gives you direct access to editors and the MixConsole without leaving the Project window; the perfectly integrated Sampler Track opens up new creative possibilities; and the surgically precise Frequency EQ (Pro version only) takes your mix to the next level. The new Plug-in Sentinel, Multiple Marker Tracks (Cubase Pro only), the improved Maximizer -- Cubase 9 introduces loads of new features that you won't want to miss in future music productions.

Top new features at glance

• Lower Zone for maximum accessibility, ideal workflow and perfect project overview
• Sampler Track for quick inspiration and easy creative processes
• Frequency 8-band EQ for microscopic audio surgery including M/S support and Linear Phase mode (Pro version only)
• MixConsole History for mixer undo/redo and sophisticated A/B comparison invites to experiment with your mixes (Pro/Artist versions)
• Plug-In Sentinel for increased stability and reliability

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced that Fukuoka-based production company KOO-KI produced a new set of commercials for Japanese department store giant Marui using Fusion Studio.

KOO-KI consists of directors, CG directors, producers and CG/Motion graphic designers and offers planning, direction and production for TV commercials, campaigns, TV dramas, TV animation and apps. Their award winning work includes CG work for the “Universe of Nikon” museum, the opening movie for KONAMI’s new baseball game and the planning and direction of the award winning drama “Mentai Piriri.”



One of the acclaimed projects that KOO-KI has produced is the new TV commercial for Marui’s seasonal campaign sale. Marui is a major Japanese retail company which operates a chain of department stores in cities throughout Japan. The commercial was created in full 3DCG and KOO-KI used Fusion Studio as the main VFX software for the production.

The concept of the commercial is “a fantasy for grown ups.” They aimed to express the excitement of shopping in their visual work, depicting people living in a fantastic town enjoying shopping in a vivid and lively manner. All composition in the commercial was done in Fusion Studio.

For the project, KOO-KI’s director Tatsushi Momen and producer Masami Shimamura worked with animation director and Fusion artist Vito LaManna, who works out of Germany and Japan. Vito, a longtime Fusion user and creator of the Fusion tutorial site “Con-fusion,” handled all creative works for the project.

“When I started doing CGI, there were not many artists in the industry. So I had to do everything, such as modeling, animation, composition, storyboarding, animatics, etc. So, for this Marui commercial, I did character design and modeling as well as compositing. But my passion is in composition,“ said Vito.



Being a talented painter, Vito uses Fusion as if he paints with Fusion, and uses Fusion’s mask feature’s extensively. “For this project I used many masks. Mask is very important for me as I want to adjust as many objects as possible to create a nice harmony in a scene. Also, the volume mask tool is very powerful. It allows you to create masks in a 3D space. It’s so fast. I don’t have to re-render out these masks. It’s very efficient. And I can even copy some masks and combine them to create new masks!”

Vito continued: “The challenge with this commercial was to make a flat looking image look deep, powerful and pleasing to the eye. Even the lighting or shading artists did not have enough time to make a good foundation. But Fusion gave me the tools to get it done. Fusion gave me the ability to save so many shots.

For example the bus in an outside scene, the original render was very flat and boring, so I added fog and extra light using many masks and made the bus pop out more. Also, for the characters in the commercial, I applied horizontal and vertical gradient to their hair to add more texture. By doing so, it gave more volume to the hair. I also did a lot of color correction for this commercial to create vibrant atmosphere. I could do these all in composition, not render out from the 3D software!”



Vito also said that the Displace 3D tool was very useful, especially when he wanted to place an object in between other objects. “Displace 3D tool can use the World Position Pass to displace the scene, so it creates a 3D presentation of the original 3D scene. The simple plane becomes 3D and lets me work in a 3D space. I needed to add an object in a scene where a girl is walking, but I did not want to re-render the whole thing. I could just place it precisely in the scene in 3D space, keeping the relation to the depth of each object.

“Fusion allows me to be creative, without taking me out of the creative flow. You don’t have to think much, you can just do. I like to be in this state. I’ve used other software and those are too technical or throw up many errors, so the flow always stops somewhere. Fusion keeps me in the creative flow for the longest time, so it is really fast working using Fusion,” Vito said.

OIOI Marui from MovieBrats Studios on Vimeo.

Press Photography
Product photos of all Blackmagic Design products, 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.