News

As with other F-series platform cameras, Sony is protecting the customers’ investment in the PXW-FS5 through future firmware updates that will install additional useful features. This prevents obsolescence and extends the camera’s creative capabilities without the need to buy a new camera body. Firmware version 1.1 for FS5 allows simultaneous QFHD internal recording and QFHD output to an external unit that serves as the monitoring device. A new menu item (“QFHD REC OUTPUT”) in the recording menu permits switching between simultaneous QFHD internal/external recording, with loss of VF and LCD operation and internal recording. The loss of VF/LCD does not affect HD operations. Version 1.1 is merely the next step in the PXW-FS5’s ongoing development. A future firmware build will add “FS RAW” recording. The OLED and VF will remain active regardless of the choice of format. Download v1.1 for Mac and Windows here.

RED Digital Cinema announced that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be the first production shooting on WEAPON outfitted with the ground-breaking 8K RED DRAGON sensor. Joining the WEAPON 6K, SCARLET-W 5K, and RED RAVEN 4.5K in RED's latest generation DSMC2 line of cameras, the WEAPON 8K once again pushes the envelope of modularity, image quality, and form factor.

“I cannot even begin to express how proud I am that Marvel and everyone involved in the production has decided to be the first to shoot on our WEAPON 8K,” says Jarred Land, President of RED Digital Cinema. “Given the enormous success of the first movie, we know first-hand how critical their team was in selecting a camera for the second installment. We consider this a huge affirmation that RED’s investment in cutting edge technology continues to be justified.”

“We are all hugely excited to be shooting the next Guardians of the Galaxy on the new WEAPON 8K. This is my third collaboration with RED, having previously shot with the RED EPIC on Prometheus and the EPIC DRAGON on Tarzan,” says Nik Korda, Executive Producer. “The large sensor size and super high resolution offered by the new WEAPON 8K, combined with its lightweight and compact size open up a whole range of new creative possibilities.”

WEAPON 8K captures 8K at 75 frames per second (fps), 6K at 100 fps, or 4K at 150 fps with REDCODE RAW; and its wide dynamic range produces cinema-quality images rich with natural color. Additionally, WEAPON 8K features interchangeable lens mounts, an intelligent OLPF system, and in-camera 3D-LUT outputs.

Datavideo’s DVP-100 is designed to democratize professional studio teleprompting. This DV Prompter Pro Server is only the size and cost of a mini converter, yet it promises to bring multi-screen teleprompting to the masses. This innovation delivers on the promise of synchronized multiscreen prompting, giving users broadcast functionality at an incredibly low price. Low cost prompters based around a consumer tablet have been around for some years, with products like Datavideo's TP-300 selling in very high numbers. Easy to transport, control and use, until now they have been limited by the inability to synchronize and update multiple prompters within a studio. DVP-100 overcomes this fundamental issue, giving studio managers the ability to run multiple presenter prompters, all managed by any laptop or tablet.

Steinberg released a free Cubase Pro 8.5 trial version which is fully functional for 30 days. Cubase Pro 8.5 not only offers a smoother workflow and added creative tools, but also an innovative cloud-based collaboration system embedded in Cubase. Download the Cubase Pro 8.5 trial version now.

Press Release

Blackmagic Design announced the public beta of Fusion 8 Studio, the full version of the world’s most advanced visual effects and motion graphics software, is now available for download from the Blackmagic Design website for both Mac OS X and Windows.

A public beta of the free version of Fusion 8 was released earlier this year at SIGGRAPH. The new Fusion 8 Studio public beta builds upon all of the tools in the free version and adds advanced optical flow tools for retiming, image repair, color smoothing and morphing between different images, along with the ability to render at resolutions larger than Ultra HD. The Fusion 8 Studio public beta also adds advanced stereoscopic tools for converting 2D shows to 3D, support for 3rd party plugins, remote scripting, and Avid Connect, a plug-in that allows customers to use Fusion directly from Media Composer timelines.

Projects created with the free version of Fusion can be opened and finished in Fusion 8 Studio, regardless of which platform they were created on. Fusion 8 Studio also includes Generation, multi user studio software for managing assets, tracking versions, and doing shot-based review and approval.

In addition, Fusion 8 Studio public beta also includes render node software that lets customers install an unlimited number of Fusion render nodes on additional computers for free, saving them thousands of dollars in licensing fees. That means customers working on high end film and television projects in large multi user studios can now accelerate their workflow by distributing render jobs across an unlimited number of systems on their network.

Fusion has been one of Hollywood’s leading visual effects and motion graphics tools for over 25 years, and has been used on thousands of feature film and television projects, including blockbusters like The Martian, Thor, Live Die and Repeat, The Hunger Games trilogy, Grimm, Battlestar Galactica and more.

Featuring a powerful node based interface, Fusion makes it extremely easy to build sophisticated visual effects compositions very quickly. Nodes are small icons that represent effects, filters and other image processing operations that can be connected together in any order to create unlimited visual effects. Nodes are laid out logically like a flow chart, so customers won’t waste time hunting through nested stacks of confusing layers with filters and effects. Unlike timeline based applications, it’s easy to see and adjust any part of a project in Fusion by simply clicking on a node.

With a massive toolset consisting of hundreds of built in tools, customers can pull keys, track objects, rotoscope, retouch images, animate titles, create amazing particle effects and much more, all in a true 3D workspace. Fusion can also import 3D models, point cloud data, cameras or even entire 3D scenes from Maya, 3ds Max or Lightwave and render them seamlessly with other elements. Deep pixel tools can be used to add volumetric fog, lighting and reflection mapping of rendered objects using world position passes so customers can create amazing atmospheric effects that render in seconds, instead of hours.

“We have been Fusion users for years, and it’s great to see where the product is heading,” said Jeremy Nelson, Compositing Supervisor at Flash Film Works who’s credits include feature films such as Spy, Barely Lethal, Defiance and Clash of the Titans. “Now with Mac as well as Windows, it really opens up how we will use it across a networked facility or individually. I love the path Blackmagic is moving to here!”

“The response to Fusion 8 has been overwhelming! Now, with the public beta of Fusion 8 Studio, customers have even more tools to work on the highest end feature films, TV shows and commercials,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “What's really exciting is that, unlike other visual effects and motion graphics applications, Fusion 8 Studio customers working on large multi user projects get unlimited network rendering at no additional charge so they can turn shots around faster than ever before!”

About Fusion Licensing

Fusion 8 is available in two versions:

Fusion 8 for Mac and Windows is free for customers and is now available to download. Fusion 8 is a full professional 3D visual effects and compositing system that is suitable for independent effects, motion graphics, and broadcast design artists. Fusion 8 features integrated 2D and 3D compositing and motion graphics software with a massive toolset featuring paint, rotoscope, titling, animation, multiple keyers, an amazing 3D particle system, advanced keyframing, GPU acceleration, and support for importing and rendering 3D models and scenes from other applications. Customers getting started with Fusion can create projects with the free version and then open them in Fusion 8 Studio when they upgrade.

Fusion 8 Studio, which is now in public beta, will be available for Mac and Windows for $995, with Linux to be released in Q1 2016. Fusion 8 Studio has all of the same features as the free version and adds advanced optical flow image analysis tools for stereoscopic 3D work, retiming and stabilization. Fusion Studio also includes support for third party OpenFX plugins, unlimited distributed network rendering and Generation for studio wide multi user collaboration to track, manage, review and approve shots when working with large creative teams on complex projects.

Availability and Price

Fusion 8 Public Beta and Fusion 8 Studio Public Beta are available today for download from the Blackmagic Design website free of charge for all current Fusion and Fusion 7 Studio customers.

Press Photography

Product photos of Fusion 8, and all other 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.