Apple Special Event at 11AM Sunday

[KingsReign]

Does anyone know if there will be a Keynote of the event? I really hope so since they are great. Any info would help.

[Phalynx]

I would think so. They are making a big deal of this event. I was at the Apple store yesterday. Struck up a conversation with one of the salespersons. They have 17" Macbook Pro's in the back with LED lit screens. He says they are 2.33Ghz, not much changed except the screens. He wasn't sure of the resolution of them but said they would be available Monday morning. That's the only new item they have waiting.

[jrlcopy]

Do you want to hear about the new Media Composer or discover the new affordable editor Avid offers that supports HD.
http://avid.blogs.com/nab2007/2007/04/breaking_nab_ne.html

http://avid.blogs.com/nab2007/

Avid apparently has this student blog thing happening, where one of their bloggers apparently leaked some inside info about what avid will be talking about. Though half of them don't really know what they are talking about anyway.

Where is my FCP 6 :).

[jrlcopy]

Does anyone know if there will be a Keynote of the event? I really hope so since they are great. Any info would help.


Apple's special event at the National Associations of Broadcasters (NAB) will be held this Sunday at 11:00am PDT, 2:00pm EDT, 6:00pm GMT; live coverage will be available here. http://www.macrumorslive.com/

[KingsReign]

thanks for posting that info...yes I imagine new displays are in the works as well. Can't wait. I really want a Steve Jobs Keynote though. I love those things.

I am not expecting it yet, but I think Leopard will use the iPhone touch screen technology and that is what the new displays will be capable of. Jobs said there are "Secrets" that Apple does not want to unvail yet, and my money is on that. We know though that Apple will not show any Leopard stuff though until WWDC.

[David Saraceno]

I would think so. They are making a big deal of this event. I was at the Apple store yesterday. Struck up a conversation with one of the salespersons. They have 17" Macbook Pro's in the back with LED lit screens. He says they are 2.33Ghz, not much changed except the screens. He wasn't sure of the resolution of them but said they would be available Monday morning. That's the only new item they have waiting.

According to history, that salesperson should be fired.

Or according to Jobs.

[Phalynx]

According to history, that salesperson should be fired.

Or according to Jobs.
I was rather shocked as well. They have never given up information before to me. But, he also said that the 17" was not a major deal. They just weren't allowed to sell them until Monday.

[Policar]

I was rather shocked as well. They have never given up information before to me. But, he also said that the 17" was not a major deal. They just weren't allowed to sell them until Monday.

I've worked for Apple and this sounds highly, highly unlikely. But not impossible.

[KingsReign]

45 Minutes to showtime! Can't wait.

[Phalynx]

It "appears" Sony execs are there. I guess that mean Blue-ray, or it means absolutely nothing. :)

[snowleopard]

Could mean Sony execs are interested in new Apple stuff too! :kiss:

[snowleopard]

Oooooh, cross platform support on Final Cut Server. That may have something to do with Sony being there. Tho I can't imagine there will be no word on BluRay. It's just inevitable.

[Phalynx]

Real-time SD-HD conversion via a 3495.00 piece of hardware available in July called the IO-HD

[sick boy]

fcs 6 supports red, nice!

[Phalynx]

and motion now generates 3D for 3d glasses.

[KingsReign]

It seems to be over...No Upgrade to DVD Studio Pro? Well, they are adding a new App, "Color" to the Final Cut Studio...maybe DVD Studio Pro will get a mention.

[baremis]

From macrumors:

Final Cut Server
- $999 for 10 concurrent users
- $1999 for unlimited users

Final Cut Studio 2
- Final Cut Pro 6 for video and film editing
- Motion 3 for graphics and animation in 3D
- Soundtrack Pro 2 for professional audio post-production
- Color, a new application for professional color grading and finishing
- Compressor 3 and DVD Studio Pro 4 for digital delivery virtually anywhere — a disc, the web, Apple TV, iPod, or cell phone
- Available May
- $1299 New
- $499 Upgrade from Final Cut Studio
- $699 from any version of Final Cut Pro

Apple ProRes 422 Format
- Next-gen Post Production format
- Uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes
- 10-bit, 4:2:2, full raster, VBR

IO-HD
- Hardware box that provides realtime conversion into ProRes 422
- Available in July
- $3495

Event is ongoing, live coverage at Engadget. Due to technical difficulties, we decided to discontinue our feed.

[KingsReign]

Interesting how Apple didn't even address Blu-Ray or HD-DVD...that is the ONLY disappointment

[Noah]

Agreed. It all looks fantastic, but they didn't touch on DVDSP or Blu-Ray/HD-DVD

[Phalynx]

It is interesting. They get HD into FCP2 in almost any method and then do what with it??? Output to what? DVD? film? Need something else.. Perhaps soon? Gawd I hope so.

[krestofre]

Color. Wow! I cannot imagine living without this application. For the first time even my only thought is "Avid who?" :)

[jrlcopy]

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/

Store is also updated if ya all want to buy.

[whachusay]

Oh how I wish that they would have really unleashed those new LED backlit MBP's... FCP looks pretty stellar.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, definitely check out the website. There's even a short movie featuring the RED integration. I like the feature with the Coen borthers talking about COLOR also.

[sodotoguwangus]

So does the new Fianal Cut fully support the Sony V1's 24p modes for editing in a 24p timeline?

[eddavid]

What ever happened to Final Cut Extreme? I guess they don't need it. This looks pretty amazing.

[Elton]

Anyone else spot Jarred in the Red clip?

[dmc]

Yup - I posted the same question in the FCS section.

He sure gets around!

: )

dmc

[MemphisMourns]

Stoked! I can still run it on my G4 dual 1.25... I was really worried about that. It actually has really LOW system requirements for such an application... single 1.25 and 1gb of ram.

[lipslide]

Is it safe to assume they have added support for DVCPRO HD PAL 25fps timelines in FCP 6?

*UPDATE* Just had a look at the Apple Web Site. Looks like the new timeline supports pretty much everything. It even allows for the mixing of different frame rates, aspect ratio's and formats on the one timeline without rendering. Very cool.

[Spartacus]

Is it safe to assume they have added support for DVCPRO HD PAL 25fps timelines in FCP 6?
What do you mean?

[lipslide]

I don't have that option in my version of Final Cut and I though I'd read elswhere that it wasn't directly supported. 24p and 30p were, but not 25p.

I could be mistaken, this is relatively new to me. . .

[sodotoguwangus]

I'll ask again: does the new Final Cut fully support the Sony V1's 24p modes for editing in a 24p timeline?

Anyone?

[sodotoguwangus]

I'll ask again: does the new Final Cut fully support the Sony V1's 24p modes for editing in a 24p timeline?

Anyone?

[KingsReign]

I'll ask again: does the new Final Cut fully support the Sony V1's 24p modes for editing in a 24p timeline?

Anyone?

I believe there already is a HDV 1080/24P setting in 5.1.2 and up, so it should work already (I do not own one though, so it may not). It has not been adressed at the Keynote.

Anyway, I ordered mine since it will run on my Powerbook G4 1.33 with 2 Gigs of Ram. Just above the 1.25 Minimum. Nice!

I plan to get a Mac Pro once Apple upgrades the CPU's. Hopefully by WWDC.

[sick boy]

I want to hear more about the new import tool, what I am curious is with this new melting pot timeline, what is the situation with mxf files now? there is no mention on the final cut pro 6 page, just that it supports dvcpro hd, not a word about mxf.

I guess we may have to wait till shipment, but I am hoping they have packaged their own p2 viewer/transporter that fixes all the p2 glitches.

any thoughts?

[n8ture]

I sure hope they get it out earlier than May 31...
FINAL CUT STUDIO 2 UPGRADE-FC STUDIO-INT
Ships by: May 31
Delivers by: Jun 1

[Hi-Def Moments]

OK, is it me, or do I already own a copy called DVD Studio Pro 4? Why is it not called DVD Studio Pro 5 in this new update?

Anyone?

[Zak Forsman]

cause..... they didn't update it?

[Hi-Def Moments]

C'mon, of course they updated it - they are touting new features of it....

[Zak Forsman]

what new features?

[AloysiusK]

They never said there was any new features.

I am really excited to finally have some RGB curves!!!

[Hi-Def Moments]

Well it states a variety of new features... Dolby 5.1 and DTS encoding, transitions, etc. etc.

[Zak Forsman]

??? show me where it says that's new.

[Hi-Def Moments]

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/specs.html

It just appears to be confusing to me. These are upgrades to DSP.

[ChuckS]

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/finalcutpro/whatsnew.html

[Jason Ramsey]

Wait. Am I reading it right? No more converting mxf's to .mov's? Just drop it straight on the timeline, and go? No re-wrapping? Am I reading that right? If so... Hallelujah. It's about time. I'm starting to feel the pull...

Jason

[Zak Forsman]

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/dvdstudiopro/specs.html

It just appears to be confusing to me. These are upgrades to DSP.i'm no DSP4 expert, but I don't seeing anything there that I don't already have in version 4.

[Hi-Def Moments]

You are probably right. I have been making some pretty big assumptions in thinking that Apple would provide Blu-Ray support. I honestly believed that DSP 4 would have been one of the major makeovers of the bunch.

Well, it is considered DVD Studio Pro 4.2... Though this was the app that I was wanting to see the biggest change.

Mea culpa.

[Jason Ramsey]

Willing to trade 4 8 gig P2 cards for:
4 16gig cards, a hoss MAC, and FCS2

:)

[ChuckS]

Does Apple have an NAB special?

[themagickite]

that probably means we won't see bluray in any of the hardware for a while

they'll come out with bluray studio pro when they put the drives in the machines

[Noel Evans]

I am not yet crying that there was no upgrade to DVD SP4. What I am doing is smiling at the things they have done which will mean $ in the bank and make it much faster to work. And a colour grading app included - thats exciting.

EDIT: Incidently great to see Jarreds appearance on the RED FCP video. Jarred does this mean your switiching .............. again? :P

Also now I have had a chance to really sit down and ingest a lot of what FCP6 is offering I have to say Im pretty impressed. This isnt just an upgrade. With additional things like advanced motion tracking in motion, advanced ramping, prores422 not to mention redcode, AND being able to edit multiple formats in one timeline AND adding the Colour application which after a long read just blows me away for grading your own stuff, its looking pretty rosey for FCS users.

[KingsReign]

Wait. Am I reading it right? No more converting mxf's to .mov's? Just drop it straight on the timeline, and go? No re-wrapping? Am I reading that right? If so... Hallelujah. It's about time. I'm starting to feel the pull...

Jason

I don't think so. What this means is that you can drop any Format, Codec, or Framerate into the timeline without rendering. I imagine everything still needs to be a .MOV like before, it's just that the timeline excepts everything without the need to re-encode.

[Bokes]

If I'm shooting and working with HDV and DVCHD P2 footage- and I already have a Decklink Extreme HD card to monitor- why would I need the new Apple IO/HD and what is prores422? I have never heard of it until just now..

[Rowlander]

what is prores422? I have never heard of it until just now..
The Apple site says this: "Apple’s new post-production format offering uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes."
Think of it as Apple´s counterpart to Avid´s DNXHD. You convert your footage (HDV for example) into this codec. The advantage is that you can colour correct, export and import this material as often as you want without introducing new compression artefacts because you go through some generations. It makes sure, you don´t lose quality in post production.

At least that´s the way I understand it.

Please anybody correct me if I´m wrong!

[Nik Manning]

I posted this in the avid form but it also seems to have value here. Avid seems to have sat this NAB out and let FCP Studio leap frog what they are offering.

"The thing is when people say Avid what system are they referring to? I would think they would have to at least be comparing it to Media Composer which is $5000. I don't think Media Composer has any features at this time that can't be mimicked in FCP. The addition of "Color" to the FCP bundle just puts it way ahead of what avid is offering. Just think most folks wanted FCP to add 4 major things.
1. Better Media Management -Check
2. Better Color Correction-Check
3. 3D in Motion 3 - Check
4. Multiformat timeline - Check

Apple has addressed all major concerns with FCP. At $1299 I just don't think that Avid and their Media Composer at $5000 can compete."

[kyle_doris]

the shift from Avid to FCP will continue, especially if RED performs better on it... it should be interesting to see if RED can break into the broadcast market.

Avid still captures the hearts of many people in the Television industry mostly, so it might take a few years over there. With RED in the cinema arena, FCP could make a giant leap forward as the numero uno. i suspect it will happen.

[Jim2000]

I posted this in the avid form but it also seems to have value here. Avid seems to have sat this NAB out and let FCP Studio leap frog what they are offering.

1. Better Media Management -Check


Excuse me? Have you actually worked on an Avid before? How about an Avid Unity System? The new FCP Studio looks pretty impressive, but I doubt it comes anywhere close to Avid's media management capabilities.

[tverhaar]

Media management will be handled by Final Cut Server. Take a look and tell us if you think it stacks up. (I am not an Avid guy, so I am curious.)

http://www.apple.com/finalcutserver/

TVH

[Zak Forsman]

to my eyes, final cut server just looks like Spotlight for media assets, not management for FCP's working media files. could be wrong.

[jonahlee]

No Server is also media management, not just a search. And it isn't like Unity has special media management, Unity is the equivelent of XSAN, Final Cut Sever is the equivelent of AVID Interplay http://www.avid.com/products/interplay/

[Nik Manning]

Excuse me? Have you actually worked on an Avid before? How about an Avid Unity System? The new FCP Studio looks pretty impressive, but I doubt it comes anywhere close to Avid's media management capabilities.
Jim2000 I was talking about FCP Server. How much is Avid Unity Sytem? Remember Apple didn't just create a version 1 media management program they purchased a mature program and updated it to work with there system.

[Blaine]

I spent two and quarter hours in the Apple booth today watching them present the new Final Cut Studio 2. Pretty incredible stuff. I was really surprised at all the great improvements they've made to Soundtrack Pro 2. Besides surround sound, you now do ALL your sound design in STPro rather than within FCP. You have a lot more control. Of course, Color is the nuts. Motion 3 (also available within FCP) now has "Smoothcam" capabilities. From what I saw, it looks like they incorporated that freature from Shake.

[chstick]

SHAKE

It does look like they brought "Smooth Cam" over from SHAKE. Can any Shake users see if they've integrated anything else? I also saw a Shake-like node tree in the demo.

Also, not being a Shake user, can any of you SHAKE users tell me what you like best about it?

Thanks

[AlanSla]

I have a question about Apple's new ProRes 422 codec, is it meant to be used for offline editing - recapturing your HD footage at full res once you have finished? Or is it for use instead of the full res HD footage?

Also, the AJA Iohd had a HDMI input. Would I be better off capturing footage (HDV from a Canon XH-A1) via the HDMI input or via firewire? Is there even a difference?

Thanks!

[dmaynor]

Check out this link...photos of the Apple Booth at NAB.

http://avid.blogs.com/nab2007/2007/04/apple_booth_pan.html

[AuditoryVisuals]

Also, the AJA Iohd had a HDMI input. Would I be better off capturing footage (HDV from a Canon XH-A1) via the HDMI input or via firewire? Is there even a difference?

Thanks!

You'd need a component to HDMI converter in order to do that, as the XH A1 doesn't have and HDMI output. Although the Canon HV20 does.

If it's a live output, HDMI, it'll be uncompressed. If it's after you recorded to tape, FireWire, it'll be compressed already so you won't get better quality through HDMI. It'll be better becuase you can fit more of the video on the computer.

[AlanSla]

Thanks. So does HDMI carry an uncompressed signal - but the footage is already compressed so it would be a waste of drive space, whereas the firewire carries the compressed signal (same as the compression on the recorded footage)? Is that right, or am I totaly off the mark???

[AuditoryVisuals]

You are right.

[ChuckS]

I have a question about Apple's new ProRes 422 codec, is it meant to be used for offline editing - recapturing your HD footage at full res once you have finished? Or is it for use instead of the full res HD footage? Thanks!

It can be used that way but that's not what its intended for.

With few exceptions all of the codecs used in FCP were developed by camera manufacturers who tried to create as good an image as possible given the bandwidth constrains of recording to tape. The logic behind DVCProHD was that the NLE didn't really need a codec that was any better than the one it was acquired with.

That logic doesn't work for several reasons; the image processing in FCP can degrade image quality, DVCProHD is an 8bit codec so there isn't sufficient headroom, and it lacks enough information for a quality output to film. I know that people will argue that they master with DVCProHD, film out and it looks great. But that's not the point. If that works you can continue to work that way.

But the ProRes codec does a couple of things for FCP; it a user selectable 8 or 10 bit so you can apply the quality where you need it. Keep in mind there's more data in a 10bit file than an 8bit one so you'll require faster I/O, encoding with this codec enables you to capture any flavor of HD and work with it on a common timeline, and it supposedly gives you uncompressed HD image quality with an SD data rate.

So this fundamentally changes the debate to uncompressed post-production versus compressed post-production. If you can afford to work with uncompressed HD then I guess there's not much of a decision. However, I'd argue that the time saving you gain from working with smaller more manageable file sizes should enable you to spend more time creating and less time rendering and doing system administration.

Also, these newer codecs, Sheer Video, Cineform and now ProRes are designed specifically for Post-production and they all enable you to work much faster in a digital intermediate work flow. :thumbup: