Continuing to add to its family of products for managing media from the set to the screen, MTI Film announced the release of a new Windows-based standalone transcoding application, Cortex::Convey. It supports input of all popular camera file formats, editorial files and intermediate file formats, including DPX, OpenEXR and H.264, for transcoding to review, editorial and intermediate formats such as Avid DNxHD/MXF 1:1, DPX file sequences and QuickTime, as well as fully-authored DVDs and Blu-ray discs. Cortex::Convey takes advantage of both CPU and GPU processing with NVIDIA CUDA to transcode most files at real-time or faster, many at over 100 fps. Template-driven automation removes the need for time-consuming, repetitive tasks and ensures consistent results from job to job. Pricing starts at $995 US. [source]

Sony Creative Software shipped Vegas Pro 12 and Vegas Pro 12 Edit, new versions of its video editing and audio mixing software for Windows. Originally announced at IBC, Vegas Pro 12 includes Vegas Pro 12, DVD Architect Pro 5.2, and Dolby Digital Professional Encoder, for a complete video, audio, and disc authoring solution. Vegas Pro 12 Edit features the same video and audio toolset as the Vegas Pro 12 collection, but removes the disc authoring components to create a more cost-effective package focused on the art of the edit. Among the new features are an Expanded Edit mode; 64-bit audio plug-ins; new built-in conversion software that can convert between the native .veg file and AAF for Avid ProTools 10, XML for Apple Final Cut Pro 7, Final Cut Pro X (export only), DaVinci Resolve 8, and .prproj for Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 and After Effects CS6; smart proxy workflow; Panasonic P2 support; comprehensive S-log workflow with support for Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) color space standard; and more. [source]

Avid announced the latest release of its video editing tools, Media Composer 6.5, Symphony 6.5, and NewsCutter 10.5, providing fast, open workflows that greatly advance editing efficiency. The new releases of Media Composer and NewsCutter are also the first work in conjunction with Avid Interplay Sphere to support universal connectivity and collaborative production. New versions offer key enhancements, including Avid Media Authoring, new component of Avid Media Access that offers support for AS-02, a standard developed by the Advanced Media Workflow Association helping post-production facilities simplify efficient media management; I/O Hardware Release control in Media Composer, enabling customers using third-party hardware through Avid Open I/O to further customize their workflows; advanced audio keyframing and support for 64 audio voices; and expanded relink support. Pricing is as follows: Media Composer 6.5 starts at $2,499 US; Media Composer 6.5 upgrades start at $499 US; NewsCutter 10.5 starts at $2,499 US; NewsCutter 10.5 upgrades start at $499 US; Symphony 6.5 starts at $5,999 US; and Symphony 6.5 upgrades start at $499 US. [source]

Autodesk Inc. has announced new versions of Autodesk Scaleform user interface middleware for mobile game development, offering an Adobe Flash-based gaming and application platform, as well as a new Unity game engine plug-in. Autodesk Scaleform leverages the power of the Adobe Flash toolset and provides streamlined, artist-driven workflows that help developers create UI environments and full 2D games more quickly. An evaluation version of Autodesk Scaleform for Unity and mobile game development is currently available on the Autodesk Gameware website. The products are expected to be available in select countries on the Autodesk eStore this summer. Scaleform will be licensed as a Unity Engine plug-in or as a mobile SDK for $295 US per platform, per seat. [source]

Adobe released an update to the DPS Desktop Tools for Mac OS X version of InDesign CS6, which include Folio Overlays panel, Folio Builder panel, Digital Publishing Plug-in for Adobe InDesign, and Content Viewer for Desktop. The tools are required to begin authoring, creating and previewing .folio files on the desktop or devices. Get it here. [source]

Sony's Windows-based video editing software Vegas Pro has been updated to versions 11.0.682 (32-bit version) and 11.0.683 (64-bit version), respectively. Developers fixed issues with some NVIDIA GPUs, added the ability to render more than four channels of audio to Sony MXF format, re-enabled GPU acceleration of Cookie Cutter (Video FX) and Page Loop (Transition) on AMD GPUs when running Catalyst 12.2 or newer, and more. Get the update here. [source]

Autodesk has entered into a landmark license agreement allowing Nintendo Co., Ltd. to provide Autodesk Gameware technology to its licensed developers creating video games for the upcoming Wii U platform and helping differentiate Nintendo's new hardware, expected to hit store shelves later this year. Under terms of the agreement, Autodesk, Inc. has granted Nintendo the right to provide licensed Wii U game developers with three Gameware products: Autodesk Scaleform middleware for user interface development, Autodesk Kynapse middleware for artificial intelligence and Autodesk HumanIK middleware for interactive character animation. [source]

Autodesk has announced new and enhanced game development middleware from its recently launched Autodesk Gameware product line. The latest version of Autodesk's video game UI solution, Autodesk Scaleform 4.1, offers a new mobile-ready player, flexible input support, game kits and tutorials that extend the product's toolset for developing mobile game UI, as well as 2D games and apps. Scaleform 4.1 is also newly available for use with the award-winning Unity 3 engine, and supports the new Microsoft Windows 8 Metro platform. Autodesk has integrated recently acquired AI technology from Grip Entertainment into its Gameware line through the introduction of two new products: Cognition and Population. The company further expanded its AI offering through new enhancements in Autodesk Kynapse middleware for real-time 3D pathfinding. Autodesk Cognition 2013 is a visual programming system and run-time engine for creating and managing high-level artificial intelligence based on the paradigm of behavior trees, while Autodesk Population 2013 is an AI software module for Epic Unreal Engine 3 technology that enables game designers to create and manage large numbers of secondary characters. The 2013 version of Autodesk Kynapse offers enhancements for more realistic navigation by NPCs. A new mode of pathfinding enables characters to navigate around changing environmental conditions by dynamically updating pathdata based on aggregates of dynamic objects in a level. The 2013 release of Autodesk Beast lighting solution enables live scene authoring, so artists can see results interactively as they edit scene geometry, lights, as well as their parameters and baking properties. These features are integrated into the Beast Unreal Engine integration. Autodesk HumanIK 2013 middleware enables more realistic character animation with simplified access to its two-bone IK solver, a new shoulder solver and an improved spine solving technique that uses a new parameter to control spine curvature. The new versions of Scaleform, Cognition, Population, Kynapse, Beast and HumanIK middleware are expected to be available in spring 2012. [source]

Sony Creative Software's video editing application Vegas Pro has been updated. Builds 594 (32-bit version), and 595 (64-bit edition) feature improved support for the Sony XDCAM Professional Media Station (XDS) devices, support for 28 Mbps constant bit rate MainConcept AVC format, the ability to drag FX packages to video track headers, and several other improvements and fixes. Download the update here. [source]

Sony Creative Software announced the latest upgrade to its Windows-based video editing technology Vegas. Vegas Pro 11 adds significant performance improvements to the award-winning NLE, courtesy of OpenCL and highly optimized GPU hardware acceleration for video processing and rendering. Vegas Pro 11 is the world's first Windows-based OpenCL NLE, broadly supporting the open standard for core video editing operations, video effects and rendering. Other new features include NVIDIA 3D Vision support for single-display 3D computers such as the VAIO F Series 3D laptops and L Series 3D desktops, an enhanced video stabilizer tool, and new software tools for creating animated titles. Vegas Pro 11 is now available for purchase at an MSRP of $699 US. Upgrades from previous versions of Vegas Pro are available for $199 US. [source]