On the heels of its acquisition by San Rafael, Calif.-headquartered Autodesk (SHOOT, 3/26, p. 1), Discreet Logicanow known as Discreetagave SHOOT an exclusive preview of what it has in store for NAB. As Autodesks newest division, the Montreal-based Discreetawhich also encompasses the product line of Autodesks former Kinetix subsidiaryahas placed the emphasis on editing. And most notable for those post houses gearing up for HDTV work will be the unveiling of new versions of Fire (3.0) and Inferno (3.1) that support 1080/24P. These products extend Discreets pioneering effort to develop nonlinear work environments for HDTV effects and postproduction.
Discreet director of marketing Leigh Pesqueira explained that the company supports 1080/24P as a postproduction mastering format, an approach fast gaining support in the post community.
In editing, Discreet will additionally show new versions of Edit (5.0) and Smoke (3.0). Edit now accommodates uncompressed images, and with this new feature Discreet is aiming to position the product for both offline and online work at a new price point. The softwareawhich runs on an NT operating systemalists for $12,000 and a turnkey system can be equipped for around $40,000.
The new versions of Fire and Smoke will accommodate mastering at 24/50/60 fps with an EDL auto conform. Smoke is limited to SDTV resolution; Fire accommodates up to 2048×2048 HD resolution (previously 1920X1080). The applications also offer direct integration with the DVS ProtonVision DDR, which can be used standalone or with the Spirit Datacine.
Fire and Smoke will not only sport a new user interface based on extensive customer feedback, but also additional tools for long format editing (i.e. library optimization, and increased editing and timeline interactivity). On the audio front, the new versions offer eight playback channels (Octane/Onyx2), and audio/video sync break detection in the timeline. The company expects the new versions of Fire and Smoke to be shipping by NAB; June availability is expected for Edit.
By NAB, Discreet expects to be shipping new versions of Inferno (3.1) and Flame (6.1). Both have a redesigned user interface and new HD and DTV capabilities, including support for 24/50/60 fps with an EDL auto conform. (Flame 6.1 offers non-real-time HD support.) These efforts are aimed at anticipating our customers HD and DTV production challenges rather than leaving them for the customer to solve, Pesqueira explained.
These capabilities will be featured at NAB in the Discreet booth and at its NAB user group meeting. Discreet also scheduled a customer HDTV information session Tuesday, April 19, 6 p.m., at its booth, which will include demonstrations of Fire and Inferno.
Discreet will also unveil 3D Studio MAX R3, a new release of its 3-D modeling and animation software for PCs. The software has enhancements that include a redesigned renderer and new modeling capabilities. It is scheduled for availability in the spring for a list price of $3,495.
SGI
The missing link in the Fire and Inferno HD systems has been a real-time I/O card. It is no secret that Mountain View-headquartered Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) was developing such a tool. At NAB 99, it will be unveiled.
The XT HD I/O card leverages the technology of the SGI Origin servers and Onyx2 and Octane workstations. The board supports HD video input and output in either 1080I or 720P. SGI director of advanced entertainment systems Greg Estes projected that the board will be capable of supporting 1080/24P via a future software upgrade; 480P will also require a software upgrade. Estes explained that SGI aimed to first ship 1080I and 720P as they were the most requested ATSC formats.
The real-time, uncompressed HDTV input and output allow users to tap the capabilities of the aforementioned Discreet products as well as Jaleo HD and other software.
The I/O cardawhich is scheduled to ship in volume in mid-Mayawill first be available for the Onyx2. Pricing has not been set but Estes told SHOOT that it would not exceed $20,000.
SGI will target companies, including ad agencies and post facilities, with its new version 2.0 software for StudioCentral digital asset management tools, scheduled to be demoed at NAB. Estes said this version is designed for a company that needs to be able to store, find, share and browse content. It is scheduled to ship this month.
At NAB, SGI will be highlighting its NT product line, the 320 and 540 visual workstations, which was launched in January. The 320 is currently shipping; the 540 is expected to be available during Q2. Estes said there would be nine or 10 NT applications running on the workstations in SGIs NAB booth.
Although unconfirmed at press time, the SGI booth may also house a demo of a developing video transmission/collaborative environment from Minneapolis-based WAM!NET. Last month, SGI acquired an 8.6% equity interest in WAM!NET in exchange for a combination of cash and real estate valued at $75 million. WAM!NET had not returned phone calls from SHOOT at press time.
Side Effects
Paul Salvini, director of product development for Side Effects, Toronto, discussed some of the new features users can expect in Houdini version 3.0, which should be shipping around NAB. Beta site Digital Domain, Venice, Calif. also talked with SHOOT, giving the upgrade high marks.
Overall, the Houdini developments were designed to bring more control to high-end modeling and animation. Salvini said one of the features of the new software is breakpoint editing, which gives animators the ability to work with breakpoints on a surface rather than just a curve, and control over pulling breakpoints without worry about the fact that weights are attached.
Other new features include direct support for the Renderman subdivision; and added support for rounding within the modeler in a procedural way.
Digital Domain digital artist David Prescott enthused of the new version, the improvements have been huge in the area of speed. … Theres [also] a big improvement in their modeling tools, [which] allow artists to work more intuitively.
Specifically for commercials, Prescott said, The improvement is that its running so much faster. He said artists can see more iterations quicker. … More changes can be made faster. It gives you a better product a lot faster.
Besides Digital Domain, London-based Computer Film Company is another Beta site.
A few additional pieces of NAB news: Munich-headquartered Arri will demonstrate its first postproduction product, the Arrilaser digital film recorder, whose development was first announced in September at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam (SHOOT, 9/25/98, p. 1). The systems are expected to begin shipping in May. … San Francisco-headquartered Dolby Laboratories will demonstrate its Dolby E technology for DTV production. … Snell & Wilcox, headquartered in Hampshire, U.K., is expected to show a range of production switchers supporting all HD formats, including 1080/ 24P. … There are rumblings that Sony and Discreet will soon make a joint announcement. … Avid is expected to make its HD announcement before NAB.
This brings SHOOTs 99 Road to NAB series to a close. SHOOTs NAB coverage will continue through the end of the month.
See you in Vegas!
