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Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Avid Announces Free Version of Media Composer

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Avid has revealed its plans to release a free version of its popular Media Composer video editing software. Dubbed “Media Composer | First,” it will be scaled down in features but will still offer much of the experience for which Media Composer is popular.

Avid has not divulged the complete details on Media Composer | First; however, it will launch later this year. The available info from Avid highlights an in-app Marketplace for purchasing effects and stock footage. Additionally, Avid also highlights cloud connectivity, stating that all projects are stored in the cloud with media stored locally.

As Avid’s FAQ reinforces several times, Media Composer | First is targeted specifically at beginners. Avid makes effort to encourage anyone looking to become a serious editor to look at the full version Media Composer instead.

Avid Media Composer | First will officially launch sometime later in 2015.

 

Avid Media Composer Adds Software Subscription Option

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Avid is one of the latest software vendors to move to a subscription software model with Media Composer available for a $49.99/mo subscription price. So far, however, Avid is taking a gentler approach to the subscription model by continuing to offer a purchase option to Media Composer in addition to the subscription option. [Read more…]

PluralEyes 3.1 Adds Avid Media Composer Support

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PluralEyes 3.1

Red Giant has released PluralEyes 3.1 for Mac OS X, which adds support for Avid Media Composer, MXF support and a new feature called “Do It For Me.”

Details from Red Giant:

  • Support for Avid Media Composer: PluralEyes 3.1 now imports and exports its synced timeline directly to Avid Media Composer on Mac, along with Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro;
  • MXF Support: PluralEyes 3.1 supports more professional workflows, adding native MXF support for Media Composer and Premiere Pro;
  • “Do It For Me” Workflow: A new set of features quickly imports and organizes your clips. You drag-and-drop the clips as ‘Takes,’ hit Sync, and PluralEyes figures out their relationship.

PluralEyes 3.1 for Mac is available for $199. Existing PluralEyes 3 users can download the update for free. More details on Red Giant’s website.

AVID Media Composer 6 Announced

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Media Composer 6

AVID has just announced Media Composer 6, its latest iteration of the go-to NLE for the film and TV industry.  As previous leaks indicated, Media Composer 6 supports a new 64-bit architecture, as well as AVCHD and RED Epic support with AMA.

Media Composer 6 Screenshot

Media Composer 6 also offers enhanced Pro Tools integration, allowing for the transfer of more session data from Media Composer to Pro Tools.  MC 6 can also encode to Apple ProRes on Mac systems, and offers new support 3D stereoscopic workflows.

Media Composer 6 retails for $2499, with upgrades starting at $299.

Lots more details, including NewsCutter 10 and Symphony 6 details, in the press release below. [Read more…]

Automatic Duck Plug-ins Now Available for Free

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Automatic Duck Plug-ins

Automatic Duck has changed its focus since the big partnership announcement with Adobe.  As a result of the inability to provide the level of support that the company has provided in the past, Pro Import AE, Pro Import FCP and Pro Export FCP (both versions, for FCP7 and FCPX) are available at no charge.

You can find them on Automatic Duck’s relaunched website.

Avid Leaks Details on Media Composer 6

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Media Composer 6

Details on Media Composer 6 were briefly posted on Avid’s website.  Upgrades over MC 5.5 include native 64-bit, expanded file-type support with native RED, AVCHD, HDSLR footage support with no transcoding required, complete 3D end-to-end workflow, 7.1-surround audio support, and a whole lot more.

Leaked details are below courtesy of the Avid-L2 newsgroup via FreshDV.

New features and workflows

Full 64-bit power
Fast gets even faster with native 64-bit operation, so even when you layer
together the most complex effects, things will still feel snappy. [Read more…]

Mac OS X Lion & Photo/Video Software Compatibility

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Mac OS X Lion

As I’m sure most Mac users are aware of by now, OS X Lion is out.  I haven’t upgraded my MacBook yet because I’m still running software that won’t run on Lion.

Nikon and Adobe (among others) specifically detailed which of their applications that have compatibility issues with OS X Lion. Check out the details below. [Read more…]