Intel Core i7: Fastest processor on the planet!
[permalink] 18.11.2008
Intel Corporation introduced its most advanced desktop processor ever, the Intel Core i7 processor. It is the first member of a new family of Nehalem processor designs (45nm) and is the most sophisticated ever built, holding a new world record of 117 for the SPECint_base_rate2006 benchmark test that measures the performance of a processor. This is the first time ever for any single processor to exceed a score of 100 points. Each Core i7 processor features an 8MB level 3 cache and three channels of DDR3 1066 memory to deliver excellent memory performance, and has TDP of 130W. For more information, read the 'Dr. Pat Gelsinger - Intel Core i7: The Fastest Processor on the Planet' PDF keynote presentation transcript, PDF Product Brief, 'The Intel Core i7 Processor Tips the Performance Scales', and other documents. [source]
www.intel.com

Digieffects releases Simulate: Camera
[permalink] 18.11.2008
Digieffects announced the latest installment in its Simulate plug-in series for Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro (including CS4). Simulate: Camera comes with three plug-ins (Archive, Overexpose, and Destabilize) and a price tag of $99 US. Archive is a straightforward "film degradation/contamination" type effect; Overexpose adds a sense of dynamic to otherwise stable and predictable footage; and Destabilize is an effect that is useful for emulating a practical camera shake. For more information, read the on-line manual, or (upon registration) download a free trial version. [source]
www.digieffects.com

T-RackS 3: Beyond Mastering
[permalink] 14.11.2008
Italian music software specialist IK Multimedia Production shipped its high-end mixing and mastering plug-in suite T-RackS 3. It offers a full set of classic tube-toned and transparent digital mixing and mastering tools for every step in the recording process, combining 5 new processors (including models based on the legendary Fairchild 670 compressor and the Pultec EQP-1A equalizer, an Opto Compressor and 2 new digital processors) and upgraded versions of the 4 classic T-RackS models. A new modular processing chain provides fast navigation and A-B-C-D compare options, and a new complete metering section makes it easy to view every aspect of the final mix. Also newly introduced were: built-in metering section with Peak, Perceived Loudness, Phase, and RMS meters, plus a Spectrum analyzer; stand-alone and plug-in (AU, VST, RTAS) versions available in the same package; high-fidelity oversampling; and SCC technology coupled with IK's unique DSM technology for realistic emulation of vintage gear. T-RackS 3 is now available from IK's on-line store and international network of dealers and resellers for 379.99 EUR / $499.99 US for the Deluxe version, and 229.99 EUR / $299.99 US for a reduced price cross-grade version (available to all registered users of any IK product). Also available is T-RackS 3 Standard, which includes the 4 Classic T-RackS processors, at a price of 149.99 US / $199.99 US. For more information, download a 10-day Demo Version (requires registration) and watch the Video Demos. [source]
www.ikmultimedia.com

More details on RED Scarlet and EPIC cameras
[permalink] 14.11.2008
RED Digital Cinema Camera Company released new information on its upcoming digital cameras Scarlet and EPIC including upgrade paths for owners of the current RED ONE model, pricing information, and approximate release dates. See the new bits of information on red.com Web site and reduser.net forums. [source]
www.red.com

Toon Boom Animate responding to digital animators' specific needs
[permalink] 14.11.2008
Toon Boom Animation Inc. announced the release of Toon Boom Animate, a new creative animation software with advanced tools to create cut-out and digital animation. Embedded in a flexible environment, the software delivers vector and bitmap animation tools, symbols, pegs, multiplane camera, morphing, advanced inverse kinematics, advanced lip sync, library building, intelligent color IDs, and more. Toon Boom Animate can import most leading file formats, including MOV, SWF, PSD, AI and PDF, as well as export to video in MOV and FLV, and is available now for Mac OS X (Intel) and Windows XP / Vista platforms. Valid until December 25, 2008, Toon Boom Animate is sold at the launch special of $699 US or $399 US when cross-grading from Toon Boom Studio; estimated street price for Toon Boom Animate is $999 US. To download a free Personal Learning Edition, register here. [source]
www.toonboom.com

Pixar: Second 'Up' trailer on-line
[permalink] 12.11.2008
Pixar has released a second trailer for its upcoming (29 May 2009) animated movie 'Up' (imdb entry). Watch it at apple.com (direct links: Small, Medium, Large, HD 480p, HD 720p, HD 1080p.) [source]
www.pixar.com/featurefilms/up

glu3D for 3ds Max updated to v1.3.23
[permalink] 12.11.2008
Particle-based fluid simulator glu3D for Autodesk 3ds Max (as well as Maya) has been updated to version 1.3.23. The new version now includes a node object called gluBaker that allows playing previously calculated caches without loading main glu3D node in a scene. It has user controls like offset and scale that allows adjusting time to scene needs. The plug-in costs 495 EUR and can be purchased at 3daliens.com. Demo versions are also available (direct links: glu3D v1.3.23 for 3ds Max 9 and later, glu3D v1.3.22 for Maya 8.5 and up.) [source]
www.3daliens.com

Red Giant Warp: Shadows, reflections and corner point warps
[permalink] 12.11.2008
Red Giant Software, publisher of Magic Bullet, Knoll Light Factory and Trapcode VFX plug-in products, introduced Red Giant Warp, a package of three plug-ins giving ultimate control over shadows, reflections and corner point warps. The Shadow tool renders realistic shadows for text or subjects shot on greenscreen, while the Reflection tool creates mirror-like reflections. The advanced Corner Pin tool includes features for working with warped images, importing tracking data from Mocha for After Effects, and adding secondary transforms and motion blur. Priced at $199 US, Warp is available now for After Effects CS3/CS4, Premiere Pro CS3/CS4, Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Avid AVX 2 hosts. Trial version can be downloaded here (direct links: Mac OS X version, or a Windows one.) [source]
www.redgiantsoftware.com

Auto-Tune EFX now available
[permalink] 10.11.2008
Audio plug-in developer Antares Audio Technologies announced the availability of Auto-Tune EFX, an affordable and easy-to-use tool for real-time pitch correction and creating the Auto-Tune Vocal Effect (i.e., the T-Pain/Cher-style effect.) Powered by the same Evo Voice Processing Technology as Antares' Auto-Tune Evo, the latest generation of the worldwide standard in professional pitch correction, Auto-Tune EFX makes Antares-quality pitch processing accessible to anyone engaged in computer-based audio recording. Auto-Tune EFX provides two different flavors of the Auto-Tune Vocal Effect as well as real-time pitch correction. Compared to Evo, it lacks the graphical pitch shifting functions, format correction and throat modeling algorithms... Through the end of 2008, Auto-Tune EFX is available exclusively at Guitar Center stores and on-line at guitarcenter.com. A 10-day demo version can be downloaded at this location. For RTAS, VST, and Audio Units hosts running on Mac OS X and Windows systems. [source]
www.antarestech.com/news/index.shtml#EFX

AKVIS Magnifier 2.0 enlarges digital pictures
[permalink] 06.11.2008
Image processing software specialist AKVIS Software Inc. updated its Magnifier plug-in for Photoshop. It is designed for high-quality image enlargement without the usual bicubic interpolation artifacts; version 2.0 adds stand-alone mode, batch processing, support of image editing in Lab mode, new interface languages and more. Available for both Mac OS X and Windows systems, AKVIS Magnifier Home License (plug-in or stand-alone) sells for $129 US or 99 EUR, or $249 US / 190 EUR in case of the commercial 'Business' license. Update is offered free of charge to all current users. 10-day Trial version can be downloaded here. [source]
www.akvis.com