On the heels of Avid's announcement, looks like EditShare is going to open source Lightworks. Pretty cool.

Avid has announced the release of Avid Media Composer version 5. This release marks a tremendous leap forward for Avid Media Composer both technically and operationally. Highlights include:
• Just like Avid can already access P2, XDCam and GFCam files natively & instantly, you may now access Red's R3D files as well as QuickTime files natively (including ProRes & H.264). This means no transcoding and no importing of these files.
• You can now choose to edit with a variety of methods, including ones similar to those found in other editing applications such as DS and FCP.
• Real Time Audio Suite ("RTAS") plug-ins.
• Monitor video externally with support for the Matrox MXO2 Mini.
• Import AVCHD files directly from cameras and other devices.
• Access low-res XDCAM proxies for offline work, with full-quality audio.
         
There's more. To see a video, get a glimpse of the interface changes, read an overview and more, stop by Hershleder.com (link opens in new window). And, of course, get more details at Avid.com (link opens in new window).

H/T to Slashdot for reporting that after a year of development, a new non-linear editor called OpenShot has just been released for the Linux operating system. Here's a quick look and some credits:

  
Additions to Media Composer version 4 include:
• New "Mix & Match" capabilities let you mix video clips of any frame rate or field motion type regardless of the project’s type.... with no rendering necessary.
• New Expert Decompose Feature.
• Laptop editing enhancements for Time Code navigation and numeric trim value entry.
• Multicamera editing enhancements.
   
    
Get More Details:
+ Watch a video of the new Mix & Match video capabilities
+ Watch a video about the new Transition Preservation feature
       

Daily Variety reports: "...the American Cinema Editors board of directors is honoring Avid's Media Composer software with the org's first-ever ACE Technical Excellence Award.
~snip~
The nod amounts to an unprecedented endorsement of a commercial product by ACE, which is coming down squarely on the side of one entry in the editing systems [competition].
~snip~
The subtext of the kudo announcement is also a message to producers: ACE's members are frustrated about not having a choice of which tools they use, and they don't like being forced to use alternatives to Avid.
~snip~
Harry B. Miller III, an ACE board member and head of the org's technology committee, said Avid 'has always had the superior product" among editing software packages, but recently the company has also gone out of its way to solicit feedback from editors and shape the product to their needs.'" Read Entire Story: http://www.tinyurl.com/mvubla

How come I haven't heard about this all over the place?

Final Cut Pro 7
Motion 4
Soundtrack Pro 3
Color 1.5
Compressor 3.5

Unlimited client licenses? Live editing integration with iChat?
Blu-ray h.264 encoding? Import AVC w/o transcoding? $999???

http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/whats-new.html

Final Cut Express is also updated to 4. $200.00. And Logic Studio/Pro upgrades as well. http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/07/23logicstudio.html
It's comicon stealing all the glory, isn't it?

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.

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.

But what about dynamic scenes? If the people in a scene are themselves moving, will an abrupt cut to a new camera angle disorient the viewer?

"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.