Propellerhead's Record 1.5 and Reason 5 now available
[permalink] 30.08.2010

Propellerhead Software released for sale worldwide the biggest overhaul to its Record - Reason music creation application family to date. These highly anticipated upgrades introduce new instruments, effects, sequencing, sounds, patches and more for composing, beatmaking, loop-mangling, vocal treatment, songwriting, remixing and music production. For more information on new features, watch the following video demos: Introducing Kong Drum Designer (Reason); Dr. REX octuples into Dr. Octo Rex Loop Player (Reason); New Neptune Pitch Adjuster and Voice Synth Device (Record); Block based pattern sequencing mode (Reason, Record); Expanded Factory Sound Bank with Signature patches (Reason); Live sampling (Reason)... All full versions and upgrades are available now (Propellerhead's online store), full versions of Reason are 305 EUR / $349 US; Record costs 279 EUR / $299 US, bundle of both is 405 EUR / $449 US. Record 1.5 Upgrade is offered free of charge, while Reason 5 Upgrade from any version is priced at 99 EUR / $129 US. Record for Reason Owners Sidegrade (includes Reason 5 upgrade) costs 149 EUR / $169 US. Updates and demo version are available here. [source]

www.propellerheads.se

Twixtor 5 and RSMB 4 Sparks for Autodesk Advanced Systems
[permalink] 27.08.2010

Visual effects plug-in specialists RE:Vision Effects shipped new versions of their Twixtor and ReelSmart Motion Blur plug-ins for Autodesk Advanced Systems (Smoke, Flare, Flint, Flame, Inferno, and Burn), including Smoke on Mac. Twixtor enables you to speed up or slow down image sequences with visually excellent results, while RSMB automatically adds more natural-looking motion blur to a sequence. New versions also add floating point image support; speed enhancements; and multi-host floating licenses. All versions of Smoke, Flint, Flame, Inferno, Flare and Burn on 64-bit Linux and Mac OS 10.6 are supported. ReelSmart Motion Blur v4 Sparks node-locked license is $189.95 US, floating license costs $284.93 US, node-locked version of Twixtor v5 Sparks is $795 US, floating $1195 US. Upgrade pricing is also available. [source]

www.revisionfx.com

NewTek LightWave 10: SIGGRAPH 2010 videos
[permalink] 25.08.2010

NewTek published a series of videos from official SIGGRAPH demonstrations of its upcoming LightWave 10 3D modeling, animation and rendering software (more). The videos, showing rigging tools, virtual cinematography, shaders, and other features, are available for your viewing pleasure at this location. [source]

www.newtek.com

Houdini 11 released
[permalink] 29.07.2010

Side Effects Software released Houdini 11, new version of its line of professional 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. From the new, fast FLIP fluids solver, to automatic fracturing of RBD objects, and a re-architected shader building workflow, artists will be able to work much more effectively with Houdini 11 (more on features). Houdini 11 is available immediately with Houdini Escape available for as low as $1,995 US and Houdini Master available for $6,695 US. The Free Apprentice Edition can be downloaded today from sidefx.com and Houdini Apprentice HD can be purchased for $99 US. Existing version 10 Apprentice HD customers can upgrade for $69 US. Side Effects is also launching a new Annual Subscription Plan which offers access to Houdini software, upgrades and support for a year at a time. With this program, Houdini Escape is available for $1,595 US and Houdini Master for $4,595 US. [source]

www.sidefx.com

MU.LAB 3.2.3
[permalink] 15.07.2010

MU.LAB, music production software for Mac OS X and Windows systems, has been updated to v3.2.3. The update contains several fixes and enhancements in the Audio Lab and Composer departments. Free for current users; new customers will pay 75 EUR for MU.LAB UL, 25 EUR for MU.LAB XT or nothing in case of the MU.LAB FREE license (version differences). MU.LAB features a hi-quality audio engine, sample accurate sequencing, easy workflow, VST plug-in support, integrated synths and can be used from a USB memory stick... [source]

www.mutools.com

Di-O-Matic's Maskarad unveiled
[permalink] 08.07.2010

Montreal-based character animation software specialist Di-O-Matic revealed a new revolutionary solution for realistic facial animations - Maskarad. Maskarad is a markerless facial performance capture solution, which means it analyzes video files of human faces without any special make-up or markers, and automatically tracks both head motion and facial features. Resulted facial performance animation data can be exported to a 3D software solution of choice. No information on platform compatibility, release date or price has been revealed, yet. [source]

www.di-o-matic.com

Steinberg HALion Sonic
[permalink] 02.07.2010

Steinberg announced the release of their premier VST workstation HALion Sonic, the long-anticipated successor to the highly acclaimed Hypersonic 2. Based on Steinberg's latest sampling and synthesis technology, HALion Sonic is the go-to music composition and production instrument, offering the complete range of sound shaping and creative editing features sound designers expect from studio-grade instruments. Created by top sound experts at Yamaha and Steinberg, HALion Sonic boasts more than 1,200 first-class instrument sounds suitable for almost any conceivable style - from detailed acoustic instruments to legendary synthesizers, club sounds and soundscapes, from ultra-realistic acoustic drum kits to the latest electronic beats (more). HALion Sonic is compatible with VST2, VST3 or AU hosts running on Windows or Mac OS X systems (incl. 64-bit versions) and costs 249 EUR incl. 19% VAT. [source]

www.steinberg.net

SIGGRAPH 2010: Computer Animation Festival winners announced
[permalink] 29.06.2010
SIGGRAPH announced the Computer Animation Festival's Best in Show, Jury Award, and Best Student Project recipients for SIGGRAPH 2010 to be held in Los Angeles this July. Nominees were chosen from 750 submissions from around the globe, presented by both professional studios and students alike. In all, approximately 100 films will be shown during the Computer Animation Festival, with entries from 49 different countries and five continents. Fifty-two of the accepted entries are international, and 18 countries are represented in the final selection. Awards: Best in Show Award - Loom, directed by Jan Bitzer, Ilija Brunck, and Csaba Letay; Jury Award - Poppy, directed by James Cunningham; Best Student Project Prize - The Wonder Hospital, directed by Beomsik Shimbe Shim, California Institute of the Arts; Highlights: 2012 - The Last Fluid Simulation, visual effects by Scanline VFX, Los Angeles/Munich; Assassin's Creed 2, cinematic by Digic Pictures for Ubisoft Entertainment; Animated History of Poland, directed by Tomek Baginski, Platige Image; and more. [source]
www.siggraph.org

MU.LAB 3.1.x available for download
[permalink] 18.06.2010

MUTOOLS released 3.1.x version of MU.LAB, its hi-quality music production application for Mac OS X and Windows systems. The update comes packed with new features, including multi track audio recording; the ability to record audio from any point in the audio signal flow; flexible use of audio device's inputs and outputs; automatic, non-destructive resampling of audio files with a differing sample rate; and many more! MU.LAB 3.1 uses a new User License Key format and everyone gets a free upgrade via e-mail. New licenses cost between 25 - 75 EUR depending on version. The FREE version can be downloaded here. [source]

www.mutools.com

Pro Import AE 5.0 with support for CS5 on the Mac
[permalink] 15.06.2010

Automatic Duck announced the immediate availability of Pro Import AE 5.0 for the Mac. Debuted at NAB 2010 last month in Las Vegas, Pro Import AE 5.0 is a major new upgrade to the industry-popular timeline translation tool for After Effects users that offers compatibility with Creative Suite 5 from Adobe. Automatic Duck Pro Import AE 5.0 offers a broad range of enhancements, including 64-bit compatible plug-in that supports After Effects CS3 through CS5; support for Motion 3 and 4 project import; option to replace Final Cut Pro proxy media with R3D files; DPX/Cineon sequence support from Final Cut Pro; support for MXF4Mac and other MXF QuickTime components; improved text import with font, color, size and style info (CS4 and later); and more. To see the Pro Import software in action, watch the demonstration video. Pro Import AE 5.0 is available immediately and is priced at $495 US or $195 in case of an upgrade. Pro Import AE for Windows is available in version 4, with a free upgrade when 5.0 ships. [source]

www.automaticduck.com