Creative COW Recent Articles

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 13 Timecode & Playhead   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis explains what timecode is and how to quickly navigate your playhead to precise positions by typing in exact times in whichever panel you're working in. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 14 Insert & Overlay Edits   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis explains first how to automate clips to your timeline so that they align with markers that you have already set in your sequence. He then goes on to explain the difference between 'Insert' and 'Overlay or Overwrite' edits using the appropriate keyboard short-cuts. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 46: Mask Feather Tool (CS6 & above)   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 46: In this tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how to use the long awaited and new to CS6 'Mask Feather' tool. Andrew demonstrates all the options for this powerful tool including the basic functions, a practical example as well as how it could be used as a creative tool in After Effects. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Field Production NAB 2012: Sachtler Sachtler debuted the Ace tripod system for the first time in the U.S. With a payload of up to 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms), the Ace tripod is ideal for smaller HDV camcorders and video-enabled DSLR cameras. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 8 Preferences   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes through notable preferences in Adobe Premiere Pro. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 9 New Items   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes through all the different synthetic footage items that can be created inside Premiere Pro from the 'New Items' icon in the project panel. Andrew also shows how to link media to offline footage items. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 10 Importing Assets   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes through the different way to import assets into your project including a look at the basic functionality of the Media Browser (with more advanced functions covered in more detail in a future tutorial) and Adobe Bridge. Andrew also shows how to get items from the media browser to the source monitor and then how to get finessed items directly to the timeline with keyboard short-cuts. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 4 Playback Controls   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes over the options for showing and hiding the various buttons inside the source and program monitors and how they can be customized as needed. Andrew also emphasizes and shows the important keyboard short-cuts for playing back your video and choosing and editing in and out points for the clips you want to use. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Field Production NAB 2012: Petrol Bags Petrol Bags introduced four new products for audio in addition to the Liteporter for a Litepanels 1x1 LED light fixture, Rolling DigiSuite DSLR Camera Case and two new LCD monitor bags. Feature Debra Kaufman

	HD High-End NAB 2012: Vinten Vinten introduced its lightweight Vision blue5 pan and tilt head and tripod system, the latest member of its Vinten Vision blue family. Vision blue5 has a carrying capacity range of 12.1-lb to 26.5 lb (5.5kg to 12 kg) and offers a range of other professional features. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 5 Workspaces   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis shows what happens when you open a project saved in a previous version of Premiere Pro and how it changes the default workspace back to that of a previous version. He then goes on to show how to reset your workspace back to the default CS6 workspace. Andrew also shows how to customize your workspace, save a new workspace layout, delete a workspace and maximize panels both to include and exclude the showing of transport controls (to have a true full screen for say the source or program monitors). Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 6 Keyboard Short-cuts   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis starts by showing how to hide and show the preview area in the project panel to get to the default CS6 user interface layout. He then demonstrates how to select different keyboard short-cut options including short-cuts for CS5.5, Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro 7. Andrew then goes on to show how to change a short-cut as well as how to save your changed short-cuts to load back in when needed. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Photoshop basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 7 Matched Sequences & Bins   Play Video In this video tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how to create a new sequence that exactly matches your footage followed by the options for managing assets in your project panel including how to create bins and how to navigate between bins. Andrew finishes off by showing how to automate your clips in the order you select them in your project panel directly to you timeline while respecting any in and out point selections you may have made while hover scrubbing in your project panel. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	HD High-End NAB 2012: OConnor Fluid head pioneer OConnor, part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company, unveiled a 30L carbon fiber tripod, O-Focus Dual Mini follow focus unit, and Universal Camera Baseplate at NAB 2012. Attendees also had the chance to experience hands-on the Ultimate 1030D and Ultimate 1030Ds fluid heads. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 1 Introduction   Play Video In this first tutorial, Andrew Devis introduces his new series on Adobe Premiere Pro Basics (CS6 & above) with a look at the CS6 user interface (UI) and a comparison with the CS5.5 UI, along with a brief comment on what to look for when capturing your own footage. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 2 Opening PP CS6   Play Video In this second tutorial, Andrew Devis goes through the process of creating a new project in Premiere Pro and explaining all the various options that you are presented with including those in the new project dialogue box and the new sequence dialogue box. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro basics Premiere Pro CS6 Techniques: 3 Project Panel   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes over the excellent and productivity-focused changes that have been applied to the project panel, including looking at the new 'Hover Scrub' feature and how to temporarily enable and disable its function as well as how to select 'in' and 'out' points directly on the footage in the project panel rather than having to take it to the source monitor. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Adobe Premiere Pro Premiere Pro CS 6.0: First Impressions As a long-time Final Cut Pro user, David Lawrence has been looking for a new NLE, since FCPX isn't an option for his editing style and needs. When word leaked out of a CS6 trial release, David took Premiere Pro 6 for a spin. And WOW! is what his impressions were. Read on for more details. Editorial David Lawrence

	Cinematography NAB 2012: Anton/Bauer At NAB 2012, Anton/Bauer, a part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company, debuted its QRC-CA940 Gold Mount solution for the new Canon EOS C300 digital cinema camera and also showcased the MATRIX Cheese Plate, a new mounting plate that can be used with the company's Gold Mount Solutions for the Sony PMW-F3 camera and NEX-FS-100; Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D, EOS 60D Digital SLR camera and the EOS C300; Panasonic AG-AF100 series professional HD camera and RED EPIC digital cinema camera. The company also unveiled its Customer Support On-Site Maintenance Program. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Lighting Design Pros NAB 2012: Litepanels At NAB 2012, Litepanels part of Vitec Videocom, a Vitec Group company, introduced the Croma on-camera LED lighting fixture, the Inca Series tungsten balanced LED Fresnel fixtures, the Sola 4 Daylight Balanced LED Fresnel and the Sola ENG Flight Kit. The company also offered a $100 rebate on the purchases of the Croma variable color temperature LED light and the Sola EMG LED Fresnel lighting fixture. Feature Debra Kaufman

	SAN - Storage Area Networks NAB 2012: ATTO Technology ATTO Technology showcased its entire line of storage and network connectivity products at NAB 2012, including its new Thunderbolt Desklink devices ThunderLink and ThunderStream. Also featured was a technology demonstration of the Celerity 16Gb/s Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), the FastStream SC SAS/SATA RAID Storage Controller with 8Gb/s Fibre Channel connectivity to SAS/SATA storage, ExpressSAS 6Gb/x SAS/SATA Host Bus and RAID Adapters and FastFrame 10Gb/s Ethernet Network Interface Cards. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Digital Delivery NAB 2012: JMR Electronics JMR Electronics introduced a suite of new cloud-ready servers and workstations at NAB 2012. New products include SilverStor Desktop/Rackmount Workstation and Server, SilverStor 3 and 5 Slot PCIe Extenders, BlueStor 1U Cloud Server/Metadata Controller, BlueStor Modular Appliance, BlueStor Rapid, Encode Video Server, and BlueStor 3U Networked Storage Server. The company also its sponsorship of RED Digital Cinema's Camp RED this August in Hollywood. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Cinematography NAB 2012: Schneider Optics Lens and filter designer/manufacturer Schneider Optics introduced a range of new products at NAB 2012, including the 77m True-Match Vari-ND thread-In filter; iPro Lens System for iPhone 4/4S; S2000 Century/Canon 17mm T4 Tilt-Focus Lens in PL Mount; and the Schneider Kreuznach Cine-Xenar III prime lenses. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Apple FCPX or Not: The Debate Confessions of a Creative Maniac: Unified Theory of Media Convenience is more important than quality -- I've taught a couple of generations of students that understanding this basic reality is a great way to predict just about any future media trend, and in the case of NAB, it looks like the equation has not lost a molecule of relevance. Editorial, Feature David Biedny

	Indie Film & Documentary Behind the Lens: Circo You don’t need to be a fan of the circus--or Mexico--to be mesmerized by this story of the Ponce family who struggle with issues of debt, marital conflict and filial responsibility against a backdrop of a century-old family business. Let Debra Kaufman introduce you to Aaron Schock and his story of how his documentary takes viewers under the Big Top in rural Mexico. Circo airs on Independent Lens beginning May 3rd, 2012. Feature, People / Interview Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 45: Additional Range Selectors   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 45: In this (more advanced) tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how to create and use a range selector within another range selector all within one animator for a single text layer. The use of multiple range selectors can add a great deal of interest and flare to your text. As this is once again a somewhat more advanced option within AE Andrew doesn't go into too much detail, simply showing how to add, modify and use a second range selector within one text animator. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Live & Stage Events NAB 2012: Snell At NAB 2012, Snell unveiled several new products: Kahuna 360 Compact, a smaller-frame version of the company's Kahuna 360 video switcher that is targeted at the live production market; KudosPro, a format-flexible and cost-effective next-generation image-processing platform; Momentum, an asset management (MAM), workflow automation, and resource planning solution; and a 4-RU version of its Vega routing platform. The company also showcased enhancements to its ICE channel-in-a-box and Morpheus automation systems. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Indie Film & Documentary Save This Script By John Morley and Mark Suszko Great videos start with a great script. Sometimes, the scripts are not so great. We're script doctors, come watch us operate. Tutorial, Feature John Morley and Mark Suszko

	Archiving and Back-Up NAB 2012: Cache-A Cache-A Corporation has served NAB-goers with an updated high-performance Power-Cache Archive Server, including the latest version 2.1 software release, which contains a host of powerful features for all the models. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Boris FX NAB 2012: Boris FX Boris FX came to NAB 2012 with new versions, each of which expanded the capabilities of the company's toolset of visual effects, compositing, titling, and workflow tools: Version 8 of its flagship Boris Continuum Complete, Version 2 of Soundbite and Version 6 of Boris Graffiti. The company also announced support for Adobe Creative Suite 6 and Avid DS. Feature Debra Kaufman

	GVG Edius NAB 2012: Grass Valley Grass Valley is charging into the file-based broadcast environment, with a host of new products and enhancements to existing ones. The STRATUS family of products has gotten richer and deeper, enabling tighter integration, more functionality and increased efficiencies. Most importantly, Grass Valley's products are open enough to encourage third party tie-ins and support a diversity of workflows and needs. Feature Debra Kaufman

	JVC cameras/decks NAB 2012: JVC JVC had a dynamic year for cameras and monitors. The company released the new GY-HM650 handheld mobile news camera, the result of its intention to support the Advanced Media Workflow Association "AS-10: MXF for Production" project. The company also released a 4K camcorder for $5,550, and came out with several new mercury-free monitors. Feature Debra Kaufman

	AVID Learn Media Composer Lesson 5: Bins PART TWO   Play Video In part two at our look at Bins inside of Media Composer/Symphony, Kevin P McAuliffe gets more in-depth with organization, and shows you some great quick tips to not only better organize your projects, but also help speed up that organizational process to get you editing a lot quicker. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	Adobe After Effects What's new in After Effects CS6: Shapes from Vector Layers   Play Video In this tutorial, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you how, using the great new "Create Shapes from Vector Layers" command in After Effects CS6, you can create 3D extruded client logos in minutes, as opposed to having to wait hours for a 3D application to render it out. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	Sony Vegas NAB 2012: Sony Creative Software Sony Creative Software had a fruitful NAB 2012, introducing two particularly interesting audio and video editing tools: Spectral Layers, which lets audio professionals precisely de-construct and change an audio mix, and TemplateBuilder, which maximizes creative time spent on motion graphics. Vegas Pro 11 was also highlighted and Sony also soft-launched DO Studio, the Blu-ray authoring tool acquired earlier from Netblender. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Chyron NAB 2012: Chryon Chyron dived into social media and second screen solutions at NAB 2012, introducing the Engage platform, which integrates its BlueNet graphics with a variety of social interactions. Through a partnership with ConnecTV, Chyron now offers a powerful second screen application. Also new is Shout, Chyron's own standalone software application to integrate Twitter feeds into live broadcasts. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Windows Hardware & Software NAB 2012: HP At NAB 2012, HP unveiled its all-in-one HP Z1 workstation. With a 27-inch diagonal screen, Intel Xeon processors and NVIDIA Quadro graphics, the HP Z1 is aimed at both the digital media and entertainment industry and the computer-aided design market. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Matrox Video Systems NAB 2012: Matrox Video Systems Matrox debuted Matrox MicroQuad, a four channel SDI-to-MDMI multi-viewer for $995 and an adapter to expand the Mac workspace for $179. In addition to these choice and nicely priced products, the company announced support for Adobe Creative Suite 6 Production Premium and Apple's Final Cut Pro X 10.0.4 update. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Genarts Sapphire Edge NAB 2012: GenArts At NAB 2012, GenArts showcased its newest products: Sapphire version 6 and Monsters GT version 7, both of which offer visual effects artists a wide variety of effects available on numerous platforms. The company also announced the imminent release of Sapphire Edge 2. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Design's Grant Petty: We Want to Blow Your Mind Blackmagic Design Founder and CEO Grant Petty has earned a reputation as one of the industry's straightest shooters, leading one of the industry's consistently disruptive companies. While he doesn't shy away from controversy, what shines through Grant's conversation is his love for this industry, and, as he puts it, his goal of "blowing people's minds." We're pleased to let him tell you about it in his own words in this energetic recorded interview. Feature Grant Petty

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: AJA Video Systems AJA Video Systems brought out the big guns at NAB 2012, including T-TAP, a powerhouse in a small, inexpensive package for delivering 10-bit 2K, HD and SD (with embedded audio) from any compatible Mac. Elsewhere, the company released firmware to support Avid DNxHD and offered a post pathway for the 4K output of the new Canon C500. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Avid Avid focused on broadcasters at NAB 2012, introducing Interplay Sphere, a cloud-based editing initiative, and a Multi-platform Distribution Platform for making it easier than ever to distribute to TV, web, social media and mobile. The company also unveiled numerous broadcaster-friendly products, including the AirSpeed 5000 server and Avid Motion Graphics. For the pure editing crowd, Avid unveiled a cross-promotion deal to offer Symphony's color correction and finishing capabilities for a fraction of its usual cost. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Apple FCPX or Not: The Debate Confessions of an NAB Virgin This is no ordinary NAB recap. This isn't a collection of thoughts about products and software. This is the confession of a small-town starry-eyed NAB virgin, and the adventures and anxieties she finds herself in. Feature Kylee Wall

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Blackmagic Design's Dan May Talks about The Camera While at NAB 2012, Debra Kaufman sat down with Blackmagic Design President Dan May to talk about the Blackmagic Cinema Camera as well as other news from the company, including Teranex 2D and Teranex 3D Processors, a new family of high-end broadcast standards converter processors, and a release of the Desktop Video 9.5 software update with support for Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 video software using Blackmagic Design's DeckLink, UltraStudio and Intensity capture. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Panasonic Panasonic had an extraordinarily rich year of introductions and upgrades at NAB 2012, with further developments in P2 technology and a host of new memory cards, the AG-HPX600 P2 HD - which supports AVC Ultra, two new AVCCAM HD camcorders, software upgrades for the AG-AF100, two new high-performance LCD monitors, and a partnership with Aframe to create a cloud video production network. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects AE Basics 44: Shaping Text And Advanced Options   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 44: In this (more advanced) tutorial, Andrew Devis shows the options to change the way text moves through its range and explains how to change this from the default smooth animation to a much more 'digital' or abrupt instant change. Andrew then goes on to demonstrate more of the advanced options in the timeline to 'shape' your text so that it can have a more interesting or dramatic look allowing for the type of animation that would be very difficult to achieve otherwise. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Adobe CS6 Release With the release of Adobe Creative Suite 6 Production Premium, Adobe's booth at NAB 2012 was packed every day of NAB 2012. Editors in particular came to check out all the dramatic changes made to Adobe Premiere Pro, including a redesigned interface that makes it friendly to users of other NLEs. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo NAB 2012 is in the books, final thoughts... Walter Biscardi went to NAB 2012 with every intention of documenting each day and sharing the vast (and often overwhelming) wealth of information he would glean from the NAB SHOW floor. Well, day one left him needing tons of caffeine, and a lot more sleep - so we're wrapping up now, after a flight home and some time for Walter to catch his breath. Feature Walter Biscardi

	AVID Learn Media Composer Lesson 4: Bins PART ONE   Play Video In part one of this two part look at Bins, Kevin P McAuliffe talks about creating not only customized bin views, but also shows some great hidden gems to really organize your projects so all of your edit sessions go as smoothly as possible. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	Digital Signage Red Bull Mind Meld at the ULTRA Music Festival Integrated Visions Productions and SenovvA teamed to produce a spectacular "Red Bull Mind Meld" visual experience at the Miami Ultra Music Festival by creating an immense video projection mapping. The team turned the 29-story InterContinental hotel's facade into a gyrating psychedelic mural that covered the building and throbbed with the music for 165,000 dancing fans. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects Create a Rotating Counter TWO: Adding & Adjusting a Bounce   Play Video In the second part of this 2 part tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how to animate the rotation of this group of layers as well as how use and adjust an expression that ships with After Effects to have the layers bounce in place as they stop which can give the sense of the counter having some real mechanical properties rather than just a linear of easy-ease keyframe approach. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	AVID Learn Media Composer Lesson 3: Audio Settings   Play Video In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe begins at the top of the Settings window by looking at the Audio and Audio Project settings, and how a commonly overlooked setting can really get you into trouble, if you don't know what you're looking for. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	DSLR Video Is the New Blackmagic Cinema Camera the HDSLR Killer? Marco Solorio of OneRiver Media dissects Blackmagic Design's new Cinema Camera to see if it is in fact, the much-anticipated HDSLR-killer everyone's been waiting for over the years. But with a comparatively smaller sensor size and radical body design, does it fit the bill as the killer we all want? Review, Feature Marco Solorio

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 43: Text Animators Part FOUR - Per-character 3D   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 43: In this tutorial, Andrew Devis continues demonstrating some of the text animators available in the timeline, concentrating upon the 'Enable Per-Character 3D' option and how to apply it and use it. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	AVID Learn Media Composer Lesson 2: The Interface & Intro to Bins   Play Video In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe introduces you to the Media Composer interface, talks about Bins and the important part they play in your workflow, and begins his talk about Settings, and how you will use them to not only help your workflow, but help you out of problems when you run into them. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	Adobe After Effects Create a Rotating Counter ONE: Positioning 3D Layers   Play Video In the first part of this 2 part tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how to create and place layers in 3d space such that they can be rotated as a single group to be used for a rotating counter. Andrew shows how to create and place the layers using both the math function of AE as well as a handy and simple expression that places layers a fixed distance or rotation from the previous layer. He then goes on the show how to create and use a controller for the multiple layers so that they act as a single group. In the next tutorial, Andrew will show how to animate the rotation of this group of layers as well as how use and adjust an expression that ships with After Effects to have the layers bounce in place as they stop which can give the sense of the counter having some real mechanical properties rather than just a linear of easy-ease keyframe approach. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	NAB Expo Walter Biscardi: NAB 2012, Day One Sometimes, our first impressions are the most powerful, and as Walter Biscardi walked the NAB floor on Day One, he had some definite strong first impressions. Read about what he saw, and reap vicariously the wealth of new information on sparkly new product releases from NAB 2012. Feature Walter Biscardi

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Singular Software Introduces PluralEyes 3.0 At NAB 2012, Singular Software, developer of workflow automation applications for video production, is unveiling PluralEyes version 3.0 sync automation workflow. The new version 3.0 offers a new interactive workspace that visually displays the sync process and clip locations as it unfolds, and offers a quality assurance (QA) capability at the end of the process. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Broadcast Pix Debuts Video Control Center 3.0 Broadcast Pix is coming to NAB with new Video Control Center 3.0 software, which adds features and functions to Granite and Mica systems. Mica is showing for the first time in North America, after an IBC 2011 debut, and NAB attendees will also get a good look at VOX, voice-automated production. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk 3ds max & Di-O-Matic's Facial Studio   Play Video In this tutorial, Andrew Devis shows how easy it is to create, add materials to, animate and lip-sync a head in Autodesk 3ds max using the plug-ins from Di-O-Matic called 'Facial Studio' and 'Voice-O-Matic'. Andrew goes through the basics of this plug-in just to show how easy and quick it is to use and how powerful it can be - not to mention just how much time it can save you! Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Autodesk Smoke NAB 2012: Autodesk Unveils a New Smoke Autodesk introduced a new Smoke that features an editor-friendly user interface, connected editing and effects, lower system requirements and a much lower price. Aimed at the multi-tasking editor, the new Smoke allows editors to handle all kinds of visual effects tasks on the editing timeline. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects Confessions of a Creative Maniac: Keys to Getting It In In the history of computing, including the extension to the notion of what actually falls under the guise of history - let's face it, smartphones are really just diminutive computers in a somewhat flimsy disguise - an often overlooked aspect of the entire discussion is something absolutely core to the idea of how these communications devices interface with us - the venerable keyboard. Editorial David Biedny

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: NewTek Revolutionizes TriCaster Debra Kaufman explores NewTek's dramatically re-engineered platform for the TriCaster, as they debut the TriCaster 8000, TriCaster 855 and TriCaster 455, enabling video professionals to deliver live video content to multiple platforms. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Autodesk Smoke Walter Biscardi: Yes, Autodesk Smoke 2013 Changes Everything "From the moment I saw Autodesk Smoke 2013, I knew the entire post production world as we knew it had changed." So says Creative COW Contributing Editor Walter Biscardi in an overview that covers Smoke's new editor-centered (and Mac-friendly) interface, ease of use, support for FCP 7 and Avid projects and keyboard mapping, and advanced, integrated effects and color tools -- including several that had previously been available in Autodesk Flame. Oh yeah, a price drop to $3495. See why Walter says, "For the traditional editor, this is completely game-changing." Feature Walter Biscardi

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Dolby Calibrates the Future with PRM-4200 monitor At NAB 2012, Dolby will sweeten the deal for professionals who already own the PRM-4200 or are interested in it by adding support for content shot in 48 fps and three levels of customized calibration service for the monitor. Also to be seen at both the Dolby and ARRI booths, a short film - in partnership with ARRI - directed, shot, produced and graded by Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Rob Legato. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects Introducing After Effects CS6 - Extruded Text and Shapes   Play Video In this introductory tutorial to the new 3D capabilities of After Effects CS6, Kevin P McAuliffe shows the basics of how to extrude text and shapes inside of After Effects CS6, and also shows how tight integration with Adobe's Illustrator will have you creating powerful client logos in minutes, instead of in separate 3D applications. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P McAuliffe

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Canon Unveils 4K Cameras At NAB 2012, Canon jumps to 4K resolution with the release of two new cameras. The Cinema EOS C500 is the next step up from the Cinema EOS C300, introduced last November, and comes in both PL-mount and EF-mount versions. Also new is the 4K EOS-1D C DSLR, incorporating Canon Log Gamma. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects Adobe After Effects: Compositing Actors in Virtual 3D Sets   Play Video Rob Mize follows up his Creating Virtual 3D Sets tutorial with this demonstration of how to composite real-life actors into these 3 dimensional environments. Learn how to create an effective sense of interaction between your actors and their virtual environment using only your green screened footage and AE's 3D capabilities. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Rob Mize

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: The Year of the Colour Grader NAB 2012 may be remembered as the year that advanced colour grading went mainstream. Join Dennis Kutchera as he samples the winds of change as news breaks for the upcoming product releases for NAB. Feature Dennis Kutchera

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: Hitachi Highlights New Slow-Mo Camera Hitachi Kokusai Electric America is showing three new cameras at NAB 2012. Of great interest to sports and mobile truck companies is the SK-HD1500, a new slow-motion HD camera. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 42: Text Animators Part THREE - Tracking & more   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 42: In this tutorial, Andrew Devis continues demonstrating some of the text animators available in the timeline, concentrating upon the tracking, character and blur options. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Cinema 4D Cinema 4D: Containing Pyrocluster Particles Within An Object   Play Video In this tutorial, we will be taking Pyrocluser particles and containing their movement inside a text object, as well as keeping them inside the object without the object itself being visible. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Bill Kelly

	NAB Expo NAB 2012: FilmLight FLIPs for End-to-End Color FilmLight introduces FLIP, a new real-time image processing product that's an end-to-end color pipeline solution. Also new is the near-set dailies solution Baselight Transfer and Baselight 4.3, the latest software version with many new features. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Broadcasting NAB 2012: Render Rocket Launches Free Unlimited Test Renders On the NAB 2012 exhibit floor...Render Rocket, set to be in the CloudMediaHUB Booth #N3222I, offers everything 3d artists need to immediately access massive rendering power for their jobs with up-to-date render software, a web-based render manager and tons of processors. This cloud-based rendering service is launching free, unlimited test renders as we gear up for NAB. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo AFrame Brings Its Cloud-Based Services to North America Just in time for NAB 2012, Aframe, a browser-based cloud video production platform, has announced that it's landed on North American shores, with operations in New York and Los Angeles. Aframe will highlight the features of its service - a private cloud infrastructure - in the Cloud Pavilion at NAB. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Broadcasting Modern VideoFilm Adds Harmonic MediaGrid Systems Modern VideoFilm post production facility has found a rock solid way to handle high volume preparation of movies and TVs for delivery to a wide variety of platforms, from Web portals and satellite to cable and over-the-air in the form of the Harmonic MediaGrid, which serves as an incoming/outgoing cache for content that is delivered to and distributed from the facility via Signiant software over a fiber network at a rate of 10 TB per day. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 41: Text Animators Part TWO - Fill & Stroke   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 41: In this tutorial, Andrew Devis continues demonstrating some of the text animators available in the timeline, concentrating upon the fill and stoke options. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Cinematography Behind the Lens: Air Racers 3D: Flying to an IMAX Near You From the first air race in 1909 to the present day, spectators have been thrilled by the tremendous aerial acrobatics and speed performances that adept pilots and their beloved aircraft are able to achieve. "Air Racers 3D," produced by 3D Entertainment in association with L.A.-based Pretend Entertainment and Stereoscope, is an in-depth exploration of the fastest motor sport on Earth at the annual Reno National Championship Air Races & Air Show, and commemorates this century-old sport in IMAX 3D. The COW had the opportunity to get into the cockpit with the makers of Air Racers 3D. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe Photoshop COACM: Plug In, Tune Out Adobe created quite a stir when it recently announced a public beta for the next major update to Photoshop. Is this the result of some very smart marketing, or perhaps an act of desperation, due to the harsh economic realities facing most creatives these days? What is the future of this critical production tool? Editorial David Biedny

	Broadcasting Three Decades of Digital Disruption: Glenn Reitmeier & HDTV Glenn Reitmeier, senior vice president of Advanced Technology for NBC Universal, who also leads NBC Universal's technical efforts on industry standards, government policy, commercial agreements, anti-piracy operations and advanced engineering, on the eve of accepting the National Association of Broadcaster's NAB Technology Achievement Award, talks to the COW about his career and achievements, including creating the HDTV standard. Feature Glenn Reitmeier

	AVID Learn Avid's Media Composer 6 - Lesson 1: Getting Started   Play Video In this tutorial, Kevin P McAuliffe gets you started in Avid's Media Composer 6, and talks about some important concepts that you need to understand before you start editing. This tutorial series will teach you everything you need to know about not only Avid's Media Composer, but Avid's Symphony as well. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Kevin P. McAuliffe

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 40: Text Animators Part ONE   Play Video AE Basics - A Creative COW series for new users of Adobe After Effects. Lesson 40: In this tutorial, Andrew Devis begins to demonstrate some of the text animators available in the timeline, concentrating upon the 'transform' type of effects. More to follow in future lessons. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Freeform Pro FreeForm Pro and Aqua Pack: Basic introductory series Part 3   Play Video Part 3 of the basic introductory series describes a water replacement technique using one of the projects from the Aqua Pack enhancement pack for FreeForm Pro. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Tudor 'Ted' Jelescu

	Stereoscopic 3D 3net's Best Practices for 3D TV With a clatter of possibilities for 3D production, 3net has issued a guide - sort of a lion's roar - to help TV producers and creatives learn how to be confident in their knowledge, capable of finding the additional information they need, and resourceful enough to make killer 3D TV programs on budget and on time, all while dealing specifically with all the technical issues required to produce a successful 3D stereoscopic TV show. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo The Insider's Guide to NAB As Creative COW's associate editor, Debra Kaufman, is preparing to embark upon her 23rd visit to NAB Show, she shares some great advice for making your own trek a little easier. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Apple iPad COACM: The Application is Dead. Long Live the App! While tablets might seem like a bit of a gratuitous topic for media producers, the fact is that the smartphone and tablet markets have created an entirely new reality for software publishers and users, and it seems like the value proposition for application software is forever changed. What does this spell for the future of software development? Editorial David Biedny

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 39: Text Range Selectors Part TWO   Play Video In this second tutorial explaining text range selectors in After Effects, Andrew Devis shows how to add an additional range selector to our already animated text, which works in a completely separate way to the presently applied range selector and animation. The end result shows how different range selectors can work together for excellent results. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	Broadcasting Confessions of a Teenage Girl Tim Wilson's bio photo may look like the vague approximation of a man in his early fifties, but he assures us most emphatically that it is the face of a teenage girl -- at least when he thinks about The Vampire Diaries. Look, this is just the way it is when you're a fan. We might try to keep our cool, but really, fans aren't about "cool." They're about passion. Editorial Tim Wilson

	Indie Film & Documentary America Fights Back: The Mob Museum "America Fights Back" at the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement. A complete script rewrite with no reshoot budget, and technical challenges galore to create the museum centerpiece. No pressure. Feature Mike Sullivan

	Cinematography If Beauty Will Save the World, Will It Save Cinematography? Yuri Neyman, ASC looks at the history of cinematography and its roots in painting for clues about how to continue to develop the art and craft. Editorial Yuri Neyman, ASC

	Cinematography Behind the Lens: James Mathers Talks About 'Brake' Cinematographer James Mathers discusses shooting Brake, an indie thriller starring Stephen Dorff that was directed by Gabe Torres from a script by Timothy Mannion. Nathan West and James Walker produced with their company Walking West Entertainment. The movie opens up theatrically in Los Angeles and New York on March 23. Feature James Mathers

	Adobe After Effects basics AE Basics 38: Text Range Selectors Part ONE   Play Video Range selectors in After Effects enable many text animation functions that would be quite complex to achieve through the normal 'stop-watch' approach to animation. Range selectors also give us the ability to animate the numerous functions within the character panel, which at first sight, appear not to be animate-able! In this tutorial, Andrew Devis introduces and explains the concept of range selectors showing how they work and how effects can be added to an existing range selector. Part 2 will show how additional range selectors can be created that work in an entirely different way to the original range selector that has been created. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis

	ARRI A DIT Tells All You've heard of on-set file-based workflow? That's Von Thomas. Here's an inside look at his gear, and management secrets that can work for you too. Feature Von Thomas

	Adobe After Effects FreeForm Pro and Aqua Pack: Basic introductory series Part 2   Play Video The second tutorial from the series describes techniques for manipulating the depth map and texture map that can be used for a logo reveal. Tutorial, Video Tutorial Tudor 'Ted' Jelescu

	Social Media What Is It About Social Media? Why our world of up-to-the-moment communication helps fill our human need for community. Editorial Ronald Lindeboom

	ARRI Codex Digital Offers Full Support for ARRI Alexa Studio Codex Digital now offers full support for ARRI's Alexa Studio with Codex ARRIRAW Plus and the Codex Onboard recorders, which can record up to 48 frames per second of ARRIRAW from the Alexa Studio in 4:3, using Codex' new high speed Data Packs. The company is also readying the debut of the Codex Vault at NAB 2012. Feature Debra Kaufman

	NAB Expo FUJIFILM to Bring Two HDTV Lenses to NAB 2012 Two lenses, which expand their respective product lines, the HA19x7.4BERM/BERD 2/3-inch Premier Series high-performance HD ENG/EFP production lens and the XA19x7.4BESM-D8 compact, HDTV studio and field box-style lens, will be presented at NAB 2012 by FUJIFILM Corp. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Art of the Edit Confessions of a Creative Maniac: Of Wills and Ways Moving forward into faster and more aggressive technology is no substitute for creative thinking. The simple fact is that we're on the bleeding edge of the sword, we're the ones pushing the whole cart forward with our demands for more speed, more performance, more everything. How much is enough? Editorial David Biedny

	Sorenson Squeeze Sorenson Media Squeeze 8 Pro Sorenson Media's new release of Squeeze 8 Pro offers support for Apple, Avid and other codecs in one package. Feature Debra Kaufman

	Adobe After Effects Panning Large Scenes Using Target Layers in 3D   Play Video In this follow-on tutorial to his short series on working in 3D space, Andrew Devis shows how to use this simple technique to quickly and accurately pan around large layers/compositions to zoom in to the exact point required each time. You'll use target layers to get the exact coordinates needed for accurate panning - simple but effective! Tutorial, Video Tutorial Andrew Devis