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Panasonic VariCam
The Panasonic AG-AC160
Panasonic has several camcorders with similar build, but different underlying core technologies -- specifically, the AC160/130 and the HPX250. The key difference between them, respectively, is 4:2:0 MP4 GOP at 1920x1080 resolution and AVCCAM recording as high at 21Mbps, versus 10-bit, 4:2:2 independent-frame, 1920 x 1080 resolution AVC-Intra 100 recording. For those who find AVCHD sufficient, but want a full-on camcorder solution without additional workarounds needed compared to more consumer cameras, the AC160 is meant to fit in your hand.
Review
Anthony Burokas |
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Panasonic HVX - HPX (P2)
Panasonic AJ-HPX3100 Camera
Panasonic's HPX3100 camera breaks some interesting ground for those shooting news, documentaries and reality programming. It's a sharp 1080-native camera that shoots Panasonic's high-quality AVC-Intra codec. But more importantly, it's expandable, letting you add optional gear that can make post-production workflows far more efficient.
Review
Helmut Kobler |
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Audio Professionals
sE Electronics' USB2200a and Reflexion Filter
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Sam McGuire demonstrates the quality and effectiveness of two sE Electronics' products. The USB2200a is a USB/XLR hybrid microphone which is extremely low noise (I didn't believe it until I heard it.) The "Reflexion Filter" is an acoustics baffle used to create a studio environment in any room. For a combined price of under $600 this is a relatively affordable, portable, and high quality solution for all of your VO needs.
Review, Tutorial, Video Tutorial
Sam McGuire |
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Boris FX
Boris Soundbite: Dialogue Search for Apple Final Cut Pro
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Final Cut Studio Master Trainer Steve Kanter introduces Boris Soundbite, a software application that quickly and accurately finds any word or phrase spoken in recorded media. Video editors, producers, and journalists can instantly play all occurrences of a spoken phrase in their media, then insert the perfect take into their Final Cut Pro project, organize clips around keywords, and even find replacement words for problematic audio. Based on Nexidia's patented dialogue search technology, Boris Soundbite greatly reduces logging and transcription costs and lets you spend your time being creative instead of manually searching hours of video.
Review, Tutorial, Video Tutorial
Stephen Kanter |
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Adobe Premiere Pro
How Premiere Pro Will Change the Way You Work
As we enter an age where our raw footage is either so compressed that recompression for an online edit seems like a very silly option, or so beautifully flexible that we shouldn’t be binding it with the permanence many budgets and minds associate with a transcode to ProRes, the stage is being set for raw workflows based in metadata. This is where Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 shines.
Review
Matthew Lincoln |
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Adobe Photoshop
The Best of Free - What the Font?
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In this economy, you need to get the absolute best value for your dollar, and as the expression goes, sometimes you get what you pay for...but not in this case. What The Font? is a free web and iPhone resource to help you figure out what font someone is using in a video, print or any other medium, quickly, easily and free!
Review, Tutorial, Video Tutorial
Kevin P. McAuliffe |
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Freeform Pro
ShapeShifter AE - a next generation 3D plugin
Imagine creating a 3D title in AE, checking out a few variations of depth and bevels how long would that take you? Now imagine the client wants to check out 10-15 fonts and about as many animation options, all in 3D, with reflection mapping and, cherry on the cake, maybe, possibly a change of focus along the titles how long would that take? Tudor "Ted" Jelescu tells us that with Shapeshifter AE, all of this and more may be done "on the fly". Read on to find out what else this plugin can do.
Review
Tudor 'Ted' Jelescu |
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Field Production
Panasonic BT-LH910 9 inch Broadcast Monitor
The world is full of broadcast monitors these days, but Panasonic’s new BT-LH910 9" monitor is a standout. It's got a stunning picture, an extreme viewing angle, and a form factor that’s small enough to still work in the field, but big enough to still work in a studio. It’s also got some very unique features that 3D shooters will find helpful.
Review
Helmut Kobler |
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Blackmagic Design
The Blackmagic ATEM 1 M/E switcher: AMAZING
When Bob Zelin saw the Blackmagic ATEM line of switchers at the 2011 NAB Show, he was blown away by the price and ease of use, and could hardly wait to get his hands on one. He was able to install a pre-release version of the ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher for his clients at Matchpoint Studios in Tampa, FL, and the word you'll see repeated throughout his report is "AMAZING." Read on to find out why, and to see if the ATEM 1 M/E will work for you.
Review, Feature
Bob Zelin |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX: Hardware changes - PART Two
We knew that Gary Adcock was the perfect person to deal with an app that aspires to meet the needs of the hardest-core, highest-end pros. Or does it? What if Apple told you that Final Cut Pro X wasn't meant for you? Gary goes beyond his own knee-jerk reaction to the release to get under the hood of FCPX, and he likes a lot of what he sees. In part 2 of his series, he looks at changes to how FCPX deals with hardware, processing, and the underlying structure you don't see.
Review
Gary Adcock |
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Archiving and Back-Up
ioSafe Rugged Portable Hard Drive with USB 3
Everybody needs a couple of portable hard drives these days, but the ioSafe Rugged Portable drive is a standout in that it’s nearly indestructible, comes with a free data recovery service, and is also quite fast. If I were travelling and working in the field a lot, I’d easily choose the ioSafe over other options.
Review
Helmut Kobler |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX - Final Cut Pro Flux
As the world of post-production enters dramatic changes as of this late June 2011, with the introduction of Final Cut Pro X, Dennis Kutchera looks at the inevitable flux of new technology and what really works for the editing professional and offers some intelligent solutions for a not-yet obsolete workflow.
Review
Dennis Kutchera |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX - First Cut with the new Final Cut Pro X
David Battistella, ever willing to engage in new adventures in film and digital capture, has taken the leap toward editing his latest work with the new Final Cut Pro X. When you watch the clip from Calcio Storico Fiorentino, you will feel drawn in to the action, taste the dust in your mouth, feel the strength and violence of the game, and be washed away by the sheer power of this centuries-old sport. That's how well FCPX worked for David.
Review
David Battistella |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX: What Pros Find Missing in Final Cut Pro X
June 21st, 2011, was met with the news that Final Cut Pro X was finally available and what a thrill ride it has been! Professionals all over the COW -- all over the world -- have been debating, scurrying to test and review Apple's newest app. One such pro, Walter Biscardi, ran straight to purchase FCP X with all the enthusiasm of a kid going to the circus or a great new comic flick, but did he find what he wanted? Read on the see what Walter has to say about FCPX.
Review
Walter Biscardi |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX: Why We Can't Use Final Cut Pro X at Our Companies
After a day of reading the FCP and FCPX forums, tweeting, and scanning the blogosphere, two COW leaders had a lot to talk about. Rich and Walter are not casual Final Cut Pro users... they've used it since version 1 and literally built their businesses using Apple tools. For them, today was the end of an era (Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Server were removed from sale). While both hope for the future, they each have strong opinions why they can't implement Final Cut Pro X into their postproduction facilities as it stands at release.
Review, Editorial
Walter Biscardi and Richard Harrington |
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Apple FCPX - Final Cut Pro X
FCPX: Ready or Not, Here it Comes...
We knew that Gary Adcock was the perfect person to deal with an app that aspires to meet the needs of the hardest-core, highest-end pros. Or does it? What if Apple told you that Final Cut Pro X wasn't meant for you? Gary goes beyond his own knee-jerk reaction to the release to get under the hood of FCPX, and he likes a lot of what he sees. In Part 1 of his look at FCP X, he starts with an area FCP has historically struggled most, yet that matters most to editing professionals: media management. For an additional look at the subject of this article, see FCPX: Hardware changes - PART Two.
Review
Gary Adcock |
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