by Jay Ankeney~ April 24, 2006
NAB DAILY
Avid Technology is moving beyond nonlinear editing to nonlinear workgroup collaboration.
"This is a new wave that is being introduced for a new world in which we are moving toward open shared storage with tools that are integrated into it," said David Krall, CEO of Avid Technology, at the Sunday night press conference held at the Hard Rock Café. "Five years from now we will look back and wonder how we ever got along without it."
INTERCONNECTIVITY
Along with its unveiling of Interplay, Avid introduced the Media Composer version 2.5 family of nonlinear edit systems with a new software-only application for Mac and PC laptops or desktops. As expected, all Media Composer systems can connect directly to Avid Interplay offering real time HD, SD and DV performance.
Avid calls Interplay the world's first nonlinear workflow engine that fuses integrated asset management, workflow automation, and security control into a single system.
At the Avid NAB2006 exhibit, visitors can see the company's version 8 software for the Avid DS Nitris system. It features hardware and software enhancements for high-resolution digital intermediate (DI) work for film and television projects. Designed to support JD-RGB, Avid DS Nitris version 8 provides dual link 4:4:4; hardware connectivity for higher data throughout, and a native 64-bit software architecture that accelerates system performance for deep layer compositing of high resolution projects.
For users of its Avid Xpress Pro software, Avid presented its new Avid Mojo SDI that delivers HD capabilities on both Mac and Windows-based platforms.
Avid also announced an open-storage initiative that allows customers to run third-party applications on Avid storage systems, including Avid VideoRAID and Avid Unity product families. In addition, Avid has tripled the storage headroom of its Avid Unity ISIS system to 192 terabytes, and doubled the capacity for the Avid Unity MediaNetwork and LANshare systems - all of which now support Avid Interplay.
NLE OPTIONS
Now that they have added the Pinnacle NLE systems to their line, Avid unveiled version 7 of the Avid Liquid Chrome HD family for advanced videographers who need to work with SDI and HD-SDI capabilities. The version 7 software will let users create high quality SD and HD video productions from start to finish.
For broadcasters in small and mid-sized markets, Avid introduced Thunder Station, and integrated news video and graphics production package. Thunder Station combines Avid's craft editing and multifunction playout systems to deliver an efficient server-based workflow integrated with Avid's NewsCutter and Deko tools at a price regional broadcasters can afford.
Avid topped off the press conference with the announcement that the Digidesign Pro ToolsHD will be seen with new version 7.2 software offering enhanced integration of video capabilities in the Pro Tools workflow. This includes multichannel field audio features, destructive punch recording for film dubbing and enhanced automation of its mixing capabilities. Mixers can now edit video as easily as audio on the Pro Tools system.
Visitors to the Avid exhibit in the South Hall will be greeted by 20 student ambassadors from major film schools who have been flown in to the Las Vegas convention to gain real world experience on Avid production systems. The students will also be able to meet with professional working in the field in which they hope to make their careers. Each school represented will have its own NAB blog and the students will also conduct video and podcast interviews with high-profile Avid customers.
© 2006 NAB
