MacNN is reporting that Apple has updated Final Cut Pro and Compressor to new versions in anticipation of the NAB conference in Las Vegas.

The release notes are here.

Moviola Digital Education Center in Los Angeles has created a free Resource Center, where they've posted tutorials, tips & tricks and articles for Final Cut Studio and Avid Media Composer / Xpress Pro. In addition to FCS and Avid specific information, they've compiled a good deal of useful information related to video and post production which they put into their "Knowledge Zone." And stay tuned, because they'll be updating and adding information to all these sections in the coming months.

Need a break? Want a laugh? Moviola has started a section called "Humorous Diversions" where they're collecting funny videos, audio clips, pictures and text that relate to the world of post production. If you know of something funny and post-related you'd like to share, send it on on in, using the Web Site Feedback selection on their email form.

Today editing software company Avid has made a major announcement of "new thinking" regarding the pricing and delivery of its editing software.

Among the key points-- cheaper software (prices cut by 50%), a consolidated product line, and a more "modern" approach to building a modern, glistening Web 2.0-ish online community in this age of youtube and blogging and RSS.

Is this an exciting new start for Avid? Or the final gasp of a company desperate to re-invent itself? Myself, I'm interested in looking more at this "new thinking" before drawing any conclusions...

An interesting little blog entry on how changing camera angles and cutting between them can disorient a viewer when contrasted with physical movement of the camera. Kind of a cool read about how coverage can affect a viewer's perception and memory of a spacial layout.

"This holiday season, I was an extremely lucky recipient of a Sony HDR-SR5 video camera with a whopping 40GB hard drive inside.

When I opened it, the first question in my head was not atypical of a Linux users’ train of thought:

“Is it compatible with Linux?”

The answer was a tiny bit more complicated than I imagined, and immersed me into the otherwise unknown world of video transcoding, which is something millions of people do every day but probably never think about it.... "

Find out how to transcode 'n more at this helpful link. And from what I hear cinelerra is also worth checking out.

Avid/Digidesign's ProTools audio editing software has just been upgraded to 7.4. What's new? Uh, this:

...the time-manipulating power of Elastic Time, enhanced Pro Tools HD integration with Avid systems, Windows Vista support for Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered, and much more.

Following closely on the heels of a version 11 release, Media 100 has announced that Version 12 is now available. A non-linear editor that can best be compared with Avid or Final Cut Pro, this new version offers progressive scan support, compatibility with Boris Transitions, and more.

Fresh from versiontracker, it looks as though the Media 100 editing program has just been updated. New features include performance improvements and a new Adobe After Effects project importer.

Get the update from the Media 100 support page.

In other news, looks like the Media 100 version 12 is coming soon. A demo is scheduled for the HD Expo in November.

Daniel Hollister, a professional editor at Macteens.com, argues why, compared to the new version of iMovie, "Final Cut Pro doesn’t stand a chance."

Is iMovie (iMovie?!!) really as groundbreaking as he says?

Check out this story on, well, ways to mix online videos. Not exactly Avid, but thought some of you might find it a good read...