Chaos Software added new, cutting-edge features to V-Ray for Modo. This update is free for existing V-Ray 3.x for Modo customers, and adds new lighting algorithm Adaptive Lights that speeds up rendering up to 7x faster in scenes with many lights; improved GPU rendering with smarter memory management and support for more production features; general-purpose alSurface shader by Anders Langlands with layered SSS and glossy fresnel reflections, popular for skin; new, physically-accurate reflection model Glossy Fresnel; and new functionality designed to isolate selected textures directly on models during interactive rendering. Plus, until June 23rd, users can save 20% on new seats of V-Ray for Modo. This promotional pricing ends June 23, 2017. [source]

Audio plug-in specialist Softube is announced availability of Tape -- a sonically versatile, yet easy-to-use tape emulation plug-in that models three types of reel-to-reel tape machine with distinctly different sound characteristics and offers several unique features without taxing CPUs or breaking the bank (with an introductory price of 79 USD and normal price of 99 USD after June 30) while the license itself also includes a MixFX version for Presonus Studio One users called Tape Multitrack. The standard plug-in that will run on any DAW that hosts AAX, AU, or VST formats. [source]

Apple introduced an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, featuring an advanced display with ProMotion technology and excellent performance thanks to the new A10X Fusion chip. The new 10.5-inch model reduces the borders by nearly 40 percent to fit into a very compact package that still weighs just one pound. Combined with powerful new iPad features in iOS 11 coming this fall, like the all-new Files app, customizable Dock, improved multitasking and deeper integration of Apple Pencil, iPad Pro gives users the ability to be even more productive and creative. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro starts at 649 USD for the 64GB with Wi-Fi, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available starting at 799 USD for the 64GB Wi-Fi model. [source]

At Cine Gear Expo 2017, Panasonic previewed the AU-EVA1, a new 5.7K EF-Mount cinema camera positioned between the Panasonic Lumix GH5 4K mirrorless camera and the VariCam LT. Compact and lightweight, the EVA1 contains a newly designed 5.7K Super 35mm-sized sensor for capturing true cinematic images, with Dual Native ISO. And like the VariCam lineup of cinema cameras, the EVA1 contains V-Log/V-Gamut capture to deliver high dynamic range and broad colors. Weighing only 2.65-lbs / 1.2 kg (body only), and with a compact form factor as well as a removable handgrip, the EVA1 can be used for efficient handheld shooting applications and can also be mounted on a drone, gimbal rig or jib arm for complex yet smooth camera moves. The camera records to SD cards in several formats and compression rates, and offers up to 10-bit 4:2:2, even in 4K. For high-speed capture, the EVA1 offers 2K up to 240-fps. In terms of bitrates, you can record up to 400-Mbps for robust recording. The EVA1 will ship this Fall for under 8,000 USD (body only). [source]

Apple unveiled an entirely new workstation-class product line designed for pro users with the most demanding workflows. The all-new iMac Pro, with its 27-inch Retina 5K display, up to 18-core Xeon processors and up to 22 Teraflops of graphics computation, is the most powerful Mac ever made. The new iMac Pro packs excellent performance for advanced graphics editing, virtual reality content creation and real-time 3D rendering. iMac Pro is scheduled to ship in December starting at 4,999 USD. Apple also updated its iMac line with up to three times more powerful graphics, faster processors, Thunderbolt 3, faster storage options and brighter Retina displays, and added a Retina 4K display and discrete graphics to the 1,299 USD 21.5-inch iMac. The newly announced macOS High Sierra operating system will be delivering new core storage, video and graphics technologies: an all-new file system, support for High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) and an update to Metal, Apple's advanced graphics technology that powers everything from machine learning to virtual reality content creation. [source]

Affinity Photo for iPad is here -- Serif's fully-featured, professional photo editing tool for Apple tablets. Developed from the same foundations as Affinity Photo's award-winning desktop version, the new app is tailored to harness the explosive power of the iPad's hardware and touch capabilities. The app is compatible with multi-touch UI, is Metal-accelerated, and features intuitive Apple Pencil support and full iCloud drive integration. It offers a complete set of retouching tools including dodge, burn, clone, blemish, patch and red eye tools; non-destructive adjustments; real-time effects; comprehensive RAW editing; and wide format compatibility including PSD support plus all the standards including PNG, JPG, TIFF, EPS, PDF, and SVG. Users can work in any colour space -- RGB, CMYK, LAB, Greyscale -- including end-to-end CMYK workflow with ICC colour management, and 32-bit per channel editing, and use the HDR Merge tool to merge multiple exposure brackets together into a single unbounded 32-bit image, with full tone mapping control! Compatible with iPad Air 2, iPad 2017, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch, Affinity Photo for iPad is priced at an introductory discount of more than 30 per cent -- 19.99 GBP / 19.99 USD / 21.99 EUR from the App Store. [source]

Propellerhead Software released Reason 9.5, the newest update to its award-winning Reason music production software. Reason 9.5 introduces VST support, and is a free update for Reason 9 owners. Explore new and creative ways to use VST plug-ins with Reason 9.5: drag and drop from the browser, use CV and audio connections with your plug-ins, play in new ways with Players, put VSTs in Combinators with Reason's own devices or Rack Extensions. Reason's patchable rack lets you route audio any way you want, and the new plug-in delay compensation in Reason 9.5 keeps you in phase at all times. Reason 9.5 supports any VST 2.4-compliant instrument or effect plug-ins, and is 449 USD / 405 EUR for a new license, or 129 USD / 129 EUR for an upgrade from any previous version. [source]

Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4.16 includes new rendering and animation features, significant performance improvements for mobile and console platforms, and a plethora of quality of life enhancements that will make it even easier to make stunning environments and engaging experiences that run smoothly on a wider variety of platforms. Game developers can enhance the mood of their environments using the amazing Volumetric Fog feature, which can be enabled to automatically render realistic fog and smoke effects with consistent lighting anywhere in a scene, even at a large scale. Users can also breathe life into their characters using new dynamic lightweight rigid body and low-level cloth simulation tools, and take greater control of the flow of movement using Animation Modifiers, spline IK solver, updated Pose Driver, and many other improvements to the animation system (more). [source]

Avid's notation software Sibelius is now available in v8.6. The update introduces Magnetic Glissandi, streamlining the creation and manipulation Glissandi lines (Gliss, Port, or Wavy), as well as fixing a whole host of long standing bugs in Sibelius, improving the stability and overall speed of the program (more). Customers with an active upgrade plan or subscription can update to Sibelius 8.6 using Application Manager or by downloading the installer from their Avid Account. [source]

Chaos Group released V-Ray Application SDK, a complete software development kit with high-level API that allows developers to integrate the full power of V-Ray's photorealistic rendering technology into any application. The V-Ray AppSDK is specifically designed to be a fast and flexible solution for companies looking to add ray-traced rendering capabilities to their software. The V-Ray AppSDK simplifies and accelerates the integration process, and offers full programmatic control over V-Ray's extensive feature set. With support for a wide range of popular API bindings, such as Python, C#.NET, Javascript (Node.js) and C++, software developers are able to program in their preferred language. In addition, the software development kit also includes documentation, learning resources, code samples, test scenes, and ready-to-use functionality presets. V-Ray AppSDK Developer licenses are available upon request. [source]