News

Blackmagic Design released a new version of its Blackmagic Camera Utility software/firmware, updating its line of popular digital film cameras. Download the new version here. New features:

Blackmagic Production Camera 4K

– Updated user interface.

– Losslessly compressed RAW DNG recording support.

– Addresses an issue where pixel artefacts are seen in edges with strong highlights while shooting in 1080 mode.

– Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses.

Blackmagic Cinema Camera

– Updated user interface.

– Adds autofocus support for compatible EF lenses.

– Improved debayering when shooting to ProRes or DNxHD.

– Improved focus peaking display.

– Improved ISO handling when shooting at ISO 1600.

– Improved general audio performance.

– Iris setting is retained when switching between camera recording and clip playback.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera

– Updated user interface.

– Improved performance when recording using internal microphones.

– Improved instances where a grid-like pattern may occur in some flare highlights.

– General improvements in autofocus with active MFT lenses.

– Adds supports for stabilization in MFT lenses without physical O.I.S switches.

– Improved support for Sigma MFT lenses.

– Improved support for Lumix 12-42mm PZ lens.

– Improved support for Olympus 60mm f/2.8 MFT lens.

– Iris setting is retained when switching between camera recording and clip playback.

Blackmagic Studio Camera

– Improved phantom power compatibility.

– Addresses an issue with interlace video being output as progressive video.

Panasonic announced an extended warranty program for its AVCCAM camcorders: AG-AC8, AG-AC160 or AG-AC90. Upon purchase of this option, the warranty is extended by 2 years for a total of 5 years of warranty.

Panasonic has announced a new professional AVCCAM HD handheld camcorder, the AG-AC90A, with significant improvements over its predecessor, the AG-AC90. Advances include two new recording options -- a PM mode (1280x720, 8Mbps) supporting sports analysis applications and a CS mode (720x480, 3.5Mbps) for cloud service utilization. Other enhancements comprise the ability to copy content from one SD card to another, a date and time superimpose function ideal for law enforcement and legal depositions, Freeze Frame (still picture) on video out during shooting position change, Eye-Fi card support, a Variable White Balance function, additional marker displays, and a Digital Range Stretch (DRS) On/Off user button. Current AC90 owners can access these new features via a free firmware upgrade available at http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/index.html.

Press Release

Blackmagic Design would like to congratulate the films “Foxcatcher” and “Lost River” on their inclusion in the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival. Blackmagic Design is proud to announce that color correction for these films was done on DaVinci Resolve.

Held in Cannes, France from May 14-25, the Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most distinguished film festivals and previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. Inclusion in the festival is one of the most prestigious honors an independent film can gain, and each year some of the most successful films of the next several years are shown for the first time there.

Some of the films color corrected using DaVinci Resolve at this year’s festival included:

– “Foxcatcher,” graded by Tom Poole, Company 3, which will be released in theaters by Sony Pictures Classics on November 14; and

– “Lost River,” graded by Siggy Ferstl, Company 3.

The films in this year’s competition join a long list of films that have used DaVinci Resolve systems, including “Les Miserables,” “Zero Dark 30,” “Prometheus,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Avatar,” “Precious,” “Skyfall,” “Frankenweenie” and “The Fighter,” as well as some of the world’s most popular TV shows, including “NCIS: LA,” “Elementary” and “Sleepy Hollow.”

DaVinci Resolve is used by thousands of colorists worldwide. It has been used to grade more feature films, television commercials, documentaries, episodic television productions and music videos than any other color grading system.

Press Photography

Product photos of DaVinci Resolve 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.

The latest version of Steinberg's mastering, editing and batch processing software is available for purchase. Users of WaveLab 8.0 can download the update at the Steinberg Online Shop. WaveLab 8.5 comes with a broad range of new functions, among them industry-first features such as the new Watch Folders batch processor.

Top features in version 8.5
Watch Folders: Drag-and-drop automated offline-processing feature, using standard folders of the operating system to process and render audio files.

Encoder Checker: Compare and contrast codec quality and settings on the fly without perceivable latency and with up to three streams simultaneously, such as MP3, AAC and OGG Vorbis.

Multi-format rendering: Render to multiple audio file formats simultaneously and save encoding chains as presets.

AAC Encoder: Encode straight to AAC formats, such as HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, HD-AAC and 3GPP, for compatibility to Apple products, such as iTunes, iPod and iPhone.