It’s been expected in the post community for years. As reported last week (SHOOT, 4/16, p. 1), reliable sources said that it would finally come to fruition at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas.
And indeed, on the eve of this week’s NAB confab, Avid chairman/CEO Bill Miller made it official. "Media Composer capabilities are coming to the NT platform," he told a packed crowd during the company’s annual NAB press conference.
This is reflected in a revamped line of soon-to-be-released Media Composer products that essentially offer offline/online capabilities to the commercial community. With the release of Media Composer version 8.0, Avid introduces the XL line. Version 8.0 would be available on the Mac and NT platforms, offering single stream uncompressed images and new features for the newly-named Media Composer 1000XL and Media Composer Offline XL. Version 8.0 software is scheduled to ship later in Q2 and is available only for the XL systems. Media Composer Offline XL and 1000XL are priced at $47,500 and $67,500, respectively.
Avid also announced development of Media Composer version 9.0 software, which would introduce a Media Composer 9000 XL model for the NT platform only. This system would offer dual streams of real-time uncompressed images and 24P offline editing capabilities. Pricing for the Media Composer 9000 XL model with version 9.0 software is $115,000. Avid does not have any plans to offer version 9.0 software for the Mac.
Many commercial editors expect the announcement to further fuel the Mac versus NT debate in the Avid community. Many also expect it to intensify speculation that Avid may wind down Mac support. Richard Keilty, Avid’s senior product manager, professional editing, maintained that Avid will continue to develop for the Mac platform after version 8.0 is released. He did tell SHOOT, however, that future Mac versions would probably not be based on major new features. He said upgrades would likely involve tools for interoperability and compatibility. He commented, "Years from now [Mac users] will probably see NT advantages."
Following the announcement, SHOOT obtained a few initial user reactions from the spot community, which has an installed base of Media Composers systems running on the Mac. AICE East president Nitza From, principal/editor at New York-based Salamandra Images, said she was resistant to changing platforms at this stage in the game. "We are set," she commented. "There is no point to change everything now." She said she was interested in the Media Composer that brings uncompressed images to the Mac environment.
Similarly Vito DeSario, principal/editor at Vito DeSario Editing, New York, had no intention to change platform. "The [Mac] operating system is smoother," he explained.
But Alan Miller, a longtime Avid editor who also uses the NT platform for Symphony, had a different reaction. "It’s great," he said. "Since I’ve been working on Symphony I’m convinced it’s an even better platform. It’s faster and just as or more reliable."
DTV/HDTV
Many of the other key announcements made by manufacturers as NAB ’99 opened focused on DTV/HDTV strategies and implementation. As expected, many post product developments involved 24P support; electronic cinematography was also a key topic. As for implementation, many announcements surrounded broadcasting and cable entities. For example, it was reiterated that The Tonight Show with Jay Leno would begin broadcasting in HDTV on April 26.
On the post side of the equation, Atlanta-based Crawford Communications plans to move to a new 150,000 square foot facility that will largely be outfitted by Sony. Sony’s System Integration unit will design and install the company’s digital environment. The deal, valued at roughly $12 million, also includes the purchase of some new Sony equipment including servers, routers, VTRs, digital video switchers and digital multi-effects systems.
"Sony couples the systems design, integrations and implementation expertise of Systems Integrations with Sony Electronics superior product technology," said Crawford’s Paul Hansil, who was recently upped to executive VP/COO from VP of strategic technologies. "No other company could offer this total solution."
CEO Jesse Crawford explained that the move is required as the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transport Authority is acquiring the industrial park where Crawford is currently located. As a result, the company had to find new space. MARTA is covering the actual moving costs, he explained.
Crawford reported that the company has secured a new site, and that construction would likely begin during Q3. He expects some of the rooms to open in early 2000 and that the entire move would be completed by the end of 2000.
Sony also announced a $2 million contract to provide production and postproduction equipment and installation for American Production Services’ newly purchased North Hollywood facility, as well as upgrade its current HD facility in Seattle. New technology will include Sony’s HDS-F7000 HD switcher, HDME-F7000 DME, HDW-F500 studio VTRs and two HDW-F700 24P camcorders.
"We made the decision to purchase Sony’s 24P system for two major reasons," said APS president Conrad Denke. "The first is that we want to better service the film community who demand a 24 frame mastering system and the second is that Sony’s system gives us the flexibillity to work either in 24 frame for mastering film or in 1080i/60 for the broadcast industry. Our new edit facility in L.A. will have the ability to offer complete end-to-end high-definition services." The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 1999.
Additional News
iAvid and Sony Electronics announced an alliance. The companies said they would initially team up to develop an Avid nonlinear news editing system that would interoperate with Sony’s MPEG-based broadcast technology for nonlinear news editing; and a Newscutter to interoperate with Sony’s DVCAM. The companies also said they intend to collaborate on 24P production workflow systems for HDTV systems.
iChyron, Melville, N.Y., will provide ICE’s After Effects On ICE desktop effects system as an add-on for purchasers of Chyron’s New Duet/Duet HD digital and HD graphics platform. This essentially brings the visual effects tools of Adobe’s After Effects and ICE’s acceleration hardware/software to the Duet platform. Chyron said it would provide the systems through its resellers starting in June.
Chyron executive VP strategic development Roi Agneta explained, "Chyron is committed to partnering with leaders in open, desktop graphics technology like ICE to broaden the power of the Duet graphics platform."
iDays before NAB began, Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, Calif., changed its corporate identity to SGI. In a released statement, the company said "the marketplace sees us primarily as a leading provider of 3-D graphics workstations … this change to SGI provides us with a broader identity that more appropriately communicates the full breadth of products and services we offer."
Greg Estes, SGI’s GM, digital video solutions, commented that the company has undergone change, most notably the adoption of the NT platform (not to the exclusion of its UNIX line), and the new name and logo is, simply stated, "a rallying point."
