Prem and Red

Looks like it's going to be released by Red. It sounds like what they did was use the Adobe SDK to develop an importer plug-in for Premiere and AE. From the sounds of it, it doesn't appear to be something that is being actively developed by Adobe. For instance, the P2 Importer is built using the SDK from MOG Solutions, and I think the MPEG Importer comes from Mainconcept. Adobe isn't into codec and container development; they repackage other companies' codecs and containers to work with their products.

If you go into one of the Plug-ins folder in your Adobe folders, you'll find a bunch of different "ImporterXYZ.prm" files, each for a different kind of video, audio, or graphic asset. I imagine that this is what you'll see from Red--an "ImporterRED.prm" file for both PPro and AE. I think it's actually a pretty cool approach that Adobe uses, because it would seem to make future file support relatively easy.

Of course, I reserve the right to be completely wrong...
 
Well, I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I'm inclined to believe that that is indeed the case. As in the case of P2, a company called MOG Solutions developed the MXF software that Adobe licensed and used in the 3.1 update of PPro--you can read about in this press release. I'm sure XDCAM was a similar situation, though I don't know if Sony was the licensor or Mainconcept, or somebody else. It makes a lot of sense, both fiscally and practically, for Adobe to do this as they can simply license the technology from a company devoted to developing it, instead of spending the time and money on R&D themselves. They just buy a working product, package it to work with their software (as in the case of the various Importer modules), and "pass the savings on to you!" Think of it like when you go to the grocery store and buy a store-brand can of peas. Did the store grow the peas? No, they bought them from a farm that grows peas. Same goes with most everything else on the store's shelves.

Long story short, Adobe isn't in the codec and container format development business--most companies releasing NLE software aren't, and simply license that technology from other companies. Avid creates their own codecs, like DNxHD. Grass Valley/Canopus might--not sure. Apple may create some of their own, but I have a sneaking suspicion that ProRes422 was a purchase/acquisition (although the QT container format is theirs). In any event, you can see that there are certain benefits and certain negatives to this approach--but if it works, who are we to complain :)
 
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