Grass Valley has begun shipping the latest version of its EDIUS multiformat nonlinear editing software for Windows. EDIUS Pro 6.5 now includes a comprehensive 3D editing workflow and cross-platform codec support. Grass Valley is making its renowned intermediate codec technology freely available to other third-party applications. In addition to the PC-based HQ/HQX codecs, a QuickTime version of Grass Valley's HQ and 10-bit HQX codec (for Windows and Mac OS X platforms), is now available as a free download. EDIUS Pro 6.5 also boasts a comprehensive 3D workflow, complete with 3D stereoscopic editing tools and new 3D support across its editing peripherals. The full family of 3D-compatible Grass Valley editing peripherals - such as the STORM 3G and STORM 3G Elite editing hardware (with stereoscopic 3D I/O through a single 3G SDI source and/or dual 3G SDI signals) - are now all supported from the EDIUS timeline. EDIUS software and hardware supports all of the most common stereoscopic modes - including the side-by-side, top & bottom, and line-by-line display methods. EDIUS Pro 6.5 also incorporates 10-bit color correction, a new Flash exporter, several improvements to the Layouter tool, native image stabilization, a built-in loudness meter, and closed-caption pass-through support. The new EDIUS Pro 6.5 software is now shipping for a list price of $699 US, existing users can upgrade to the new version for $299 US. A 30-day free trial of EDIUS Pro 6.5 is also available. [source]

Polish audio plug-in developer PSPaudioware.com released PSP BussPressor, a compressor optimized for group and master buss processing. It combines the sound of classic VCA compression with wide tuning capabilities and extra controls allowing you to adjust a side chain high pass filter or apply parallel compression. The plug-in requires a host application supporting VST, AU, RTAS, or AAX interfaces, and running on either Windows or Mac OS X systems. Available now at $99 US, with introductory offer of $79 US valid until 30th of June 2012. Demo versions are here. [source]

Act-3D B.V released version 2.5 of Lumion, its Windows-based, real-time 3D architectural visualization tool for architects, urban planners and designers. New version adds a new hand-held camera effect with dust and scratches (Lumion Pro only), new Underwater effect, as well as 59 workflow improvements and bug fixes that will make Lumion easier to use than ever. With Lumion 2.5, Act-3D also released the free Lumion Educational version for schools, colleges and universities. Also available is the non-commercial edition Lumion Free (requires registration; differences between all the edition are compared here). Lumion 2.5 sells at a price of 1499 EUR, while the Pro version is 2999 EUR. [source]

E-on software, makers of Vue and LumenRT, solutions for digital nature and immersive architectural visualization, announced the free Vue 10.5 xStream and Vue 10.5 Infinite Personal Learning Editions. Vue 10.5 Infinite and Vue 10.5 xStream are the latest production-driven versions of e-on software's professional solutions for the creation, animation and rendering of natural 3D environments (more). The Personal Learning Edition ships with a wide selection of Vue 10.5 presets, as well as the full PDF reference manual. The PLE is for personal, non-commercial use only. Network rendering is disabled, and renders may be watermarked and carry a logo. Users can download the Vue 10.5 PLE for Windows or Mac OS X at no charge from vue10.com (requires registration). [source]

RE:Vision Effects announced the release of ReelSmart Motion Blur and DE:Noise plug-ins for Apple's Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5. ReelSmart Motion Blur (RSMB) automatically adds more natural-looking motion blur to a sequence, while DE:Noise handles spurious frame-to-frame defects ranging from fine digital or electronic noise to blotchy spots. Proprietary tracking technology is at the heart of RSMB, so there is no handwork involved. Also included in the Pro version of RSMB is a plug-in for Motion that allows you to blur with user-supplied motion vectors from 3D animation systems. DE:Noise combines motion estimation techniques with feature-sensitive, edge-preserving spatial filtering methods to reduce the visual impact of various problems such as: noisy video, excessive film grain, CG renders affected by ray-tracing sampling artifacts, fingerprints and dust captured during film scan/transfer and printing, snow, drop-outs and many other defects. [source]

Adobe announced the immediate availability of Captivate 6, a significant upgrade to its eLearning authoring software for rapidly creating a wide range of interactive eLearning and HTML5-based mobile learning content. Designed with today's mobile learners in mind, Captivate 6 enables eLearning developers, corporate trainers, educators and other business users to help deliver dynamic, SCORM- and AICC-compliant course content that is accessible anytime, anywhere. Adobe Captivate 6 is available now for an estimated street price of $899 US. Captivate 5.5 and Captivate 4 users can upgrade at a discounted price of $359 US and $539 US, respectively. Qualified education users can purchase Captivate 6 for $299 US. For a free trial, visit adobe.com. [source]

Native Instruments announced the availability of TRAKTOR PRO 2.5, its line of products for digital DJing. This latest version introduces the innovative Remix Decks, giving access to a powerful loop suite made up of 64 slots, each able to hold loops, one-shot samples or even tracks. DJs can control up to four Remix Decks at once and save their work as an entire Remix Set. To help DJs get started with the new technology, Native Instruments are giving away a selection of Remix Sets, many of which were prepared by renowned artists. The free content, which amounts to 1.4 GB in total and covers a diverse selection of genres, is available to all users once they register TRAKTOR PRO 2.5. TRAKTOR PRO 2.5 can also be individually from the NI Online Shop at $89 US / 79 EUR / 7800 YEN. All owners of TRAKTOR PRO 2, TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO 2, TRAKTOR KONTROL S2 and TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 will receive TRAKTOR PRO 2.5 as a free update. [source]

Acoustica, Inc. introduced Mixcraft 6, a new version of its Windows-based music production and multi-track recording workstation. The application allows to record and create an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks; arrange and score video files, adding transitions, visual effects, music, sound effects, and voice-overs with ease; includes over 6000 professionally produced music loops and sound effects, plus 11 virtual instruments and 22 high quality effects, ranging from studio standards such as reverb, chorus and delay, to realistic guitar amp simulators, vintage tube EQ, vocal reduction, and multi-band compression... Mixcraft 6 also offers ReWire hosting, multi-take loop recording, time stretching and pitch shifting, support for unlimited hardware inputs and outputs, support for multi-channel VSTis, and much more. Sold at an MSRP of $74.95 US or $20 US for a 60-day license. A trial version can be downloaded at acoustica.com. [source]

Digital Anarchy announced Beauty Box 2.0, a significant update of their award-winning skin retouching product. Version 2.0 is accelerated using OpenCL, the product also introduces a new smoothing algorithm that improves automatic masking, and adds shine removal for hot spots on skin areas. Host application support now includes Final Cut Pro X, in addition to Premiere Pro CS4-CS6 or After Effects 7.0-CS6, and support for OpenFX applications is in development (Q2 2012). Beauty Box Video 2.0 is regularly priced at $199 US, but will be on sale for $139 US until June 1st, 2012. The product runs on Mac OS X 10.5-10.8, Windows XP-7 and Vista 32- or 64-bit systems. A demo version is available here. [source]

German audio software maker VirSyn Software Synthesizer released an updated version of its vocal harmonizer and pitch corrector KLON. KLON 2.0 features a totally revised pitch shifting engine for maximum sound fidelity, ultra low latency for real-time operation, separate handling for transients and consonants, improved choir algorithm, CPU load reduction, and bug fixes. The plug-in requires a VST2.4/3, AU or an RTAS host application running on Windows or Mac OS X, and is available now for a special price of 99 EUR (the promo pricing is valid till May 31st 2012). [source]