With NAB only weeks away, a number of manufacturers have already shown their hand, revealing what they'll have on display in Las Vegas. In last month's issue, we reported on Sony's HD products using its XDCAM optical disc. This issue, you'll read about the new releases in Panasonic's P2 line-up. Our "News" and "Products" sections detail a number of NAB announcements, including introductions from Red Giant, Discreet, Imagica and Boris FX.
Senior VFX artist Kevin Quinlan at Click 3X is attending NAB with plans to sit in on a number of Autodesk/Discreet Master Classes. Quinlan says it's easy to fall into one way of doing things and sees these classes as an opportunity to learn a different way of using tools. It?s also a chance to meet with peers. Quinlan will also check out the latest VFX plug-ins from The Foundry, tools from Apple, and the Adobe booth, where he'll familiarize himself with After Effects. "I want things that simplify my life," he says.
Todd Iorio of Avid Adrenaline house Union Editorial is looking for high-end finishing and FX systems at the show. Looking for an alternative to Avid's DS product, Iorio says he'll explore options from Autodesk, and look at desktop compositing solutions, like Eyeon's Digital Fusion. "On a larger front, we're continuing to expand our HD services, so anything that can help optimize the pipeline and ease client workload is fantastic."
Chris Vorhies of Spitfire Media says staff will go to the show with the intent of checking out releases from "the usual suspects" - Avid and Apple. Spitfire regularly posts DVD titles and in the past year has gotten involved in UMD authoring for Sony's PSP system. Sony Media Software offers an authoring tool in its UMD Composer, which will be displayed at NAB, and you can learn more about the demands of creating content for the UMD format by turning to page 34. As for Spitfire's own UMD work, check out our Web site for details.
Also on the Post site, see how agency FCB and post house Optimus teamed up to create a new "secret code" spot for KFC that?s designed to hold viewers' attention in the commercial-free TiVo age.