Industry Buzz
Avid garners six awards at NAMM 2012
Posted 1/23/2012 8:37:00 AM
Avid took home six awards at the 2012 NAMM Show, with "Best Of" designations being awarded to a range of Avid's recording, composing, and live sound solutions. Pro Tools 9, Pro Tools HD Native, Sibelius 7 and VENUE 2.9 all took home industry honors, and were recognized by a cross section of industry professionals representing manufacturers, customers, editors, and channel partners.
On Wednesday January 18, the evening before NAMM 2012 kicked off, Avid received the prestigious Electronic Musician 2011 Editor's Choice Award for Pro Tools 9. Dubbed the "Plays Well With Others" award, we can't argue with the fact that the open hardware architecture introduced by Pro Tools 9 was a huge hit with our users, both old and new.
On Friday morning, January 20, we were proud to receive the coveted 2012 Sound on Sound Award for Pro Tools 9. Voted "Best DAW" in their reader's choice poll, the power and performance of Pro Tools 9 again proved to resonate, this time with the discerning professional audience Sound on Sound has cultivated over the years.
That evening, Avid was honored with three 2012 TEC Awards from the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the premier music industry trade association. Pro Tools HD Native won in the Computer Audio Hardware Category, Pro Tools 9 in Workstation Technology, and VENUE 2.9 in Sound Reinforcement Technology. Avid's solutions again were found to deliver best in class performance and power were recognized as the leaders in their very competitive market categories.
And on Saturday, January 21, Avid Sibelius 7 was awarded the Software Line of the Year Award from Music Merchandise Retailer (MMR). Avid's premier composition software has always been the top choice of professionals and educators, and knowing that the line is a top choice amongst our channel partners mean's we're definitely doing something right.
We are honored to be on the receiving end of so much recognition. We thank the editors, business partners, and most of all our customers for all the honors. Your success is what drives us everyday.
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Mix Magazine: "40" takes Pro Tools HD Native mobile with Drake's "Take Care"
Posted 1/17/2012 12:18:00 AM
Executive producer Noah “40” Shebib has worked with Drake since the artist’s debut. Photo: Future the Prince
Everyone has heard of Drake’s latest album Take Care by now – it rocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it debuted and took front stage at the MTV Awards. Not many people, however, have heard how producer Noah “40” Shebib made it all happen. Lucky for us, Mix Magazine got a chance to sit down with 40 and they just published an incredible interview in their January issue detailing just how far Pro Tools HD Native has enabled him to push the limits of professional HD recording.
Relying on a custom Pro Tools HD Native rig, 40 moved seamlessly from hotel room to recording studio while on tour with Drake, recording tracks in the moment and turning them into chart-topping hits in between shows and appearances. "When I’m on the road with Drake, I have a little rackmount on wheels that has an Omni HD interface in it and a Neve 1073 strip and a one-unit Magma chassis with a Native card," said 40. "'I plug this into my laptop wherever I go. This rig is pretty serious business when you’re in a hotel room.”
The article also points to the importance of portability for today’s producer. “We have a plethora of interfaces, including a family of every Mbox five times over, tons of laptops – it’s grab a computer, grab an interface, plug in a mic and get going." Shebib explained that with his set of tools he can to walk into sessions with guest artists and record straight to his mobile rig, head back to his hotel room, and easily create and mix the recordings on his laptop. And of course if the guest artist can make it to cut the track in person, they can just e-mail 40 their take and he can fly it right into his Pro Tools HD session.
What’s the key to producing a crowd pleasing hip-hop album? As far as Shebib is concerned, it’s don’t waste any time. Inspiration happens, and you've got to be ready to capture it and move at the speed of the artist's creativity. “One thing that you need to be is extremely fast on Pro Tools because the caliber of artist that Drake is, he doesn’t have the patience for wasting time. If he wants you to fly eight bars and put a chorus after that, he expects it done near-instantaneously.”
40 is one of a hand full of producers pushing the boudries of professional music production with Pro Tools, and just for the record, I think I seriously covet his mobile rig. Just saying. Check out the whole article here and find out more about how Pro Tools HD Native is revolutionizing HD recording here.
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Production Apprentice weighs in on Media Composer: ‘Avid Media Composer 6 is everything they said it would be…’
Posted 1/15/2012 8:00:00 AM
Check out the latest review of Media Composer 6.0, appearing on Production Apprentice. John DeMaio takes us through his experience getting up and running and provides readers with his comments on several features of the new release, including the updated interface, tabbed bins, 3D, Avid Open I/0, Avid Marketplace and more … a few comments from the review:
“Avid has finally done something that should have been done years ago…tabbed bins! There was the SuperBin, which was alright, I guess. But the ability to create tabs for open bins is simply heaven for me. In the past, there were bins everywhere. It was a giant mess. Even with the SuperBin, I had trouble keeping track of everything. Not anymore. Now I can organize everything and actually see where all of my bins are!”
“However, the biggest change so far is the ability to use third-party hardware. This is the biggest news for me because it means that I can re-purpose my existing Kona 3 card and not have to pay a single dime to upgrade my hardware. So that’s exactly what I did. I downloaded the drivers from AJA and like magic, it was working perfectly. I put it through my normal workload…up-converting from Beta (ok, that doesn’t really happen too often but I did it anyway), down-converting, cross-converting from 720 to 1080 – everything worked as well as it does in FCP.”
“If you want to edit for fun, choose an edit system that’s right for you. However, if you want to edit for a living and work on major motion pictures and television shows…you have to learn how to use Avid. I don’t care what anyone says…Avid is the industry standard and they will continue to rise. Especially after this release.”
Check out the full review for all of the details ....
For more information about the latest version of Media Composer, visit www.avid.com/mc or try it out for yourself with a free 30-Day trial. If you’re just getting started with Media Composer, be sure to visit our Avid Community forum – Media Composer: Getting Started Fast.
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Reality TV Leader, Bunim/Murray Productions, Selects Avid’s Professional Editing and Storage Solutions
Posted 1/4/2012 8:00:00 AM
We’re excited to share that renowned television production company, Bunim/Murray Productions, has selected Avid Media Composer® 6 and Avid Symphony® 6 editing software for all of its programs beginning in early 2012. Bunim/Murray joins a growing number of professional users who have returned to using Avid solutions from Final Cut Pro to meet their production workflow requirements. Additionally, as part of this implementation, Bunim/Murray also plans to deploy an Avid ISIS® 5000 shared storage system.
Widely credited with creating the reality television genre with its hit series The Real World, Bunim/Murray is an Emmy Award-winning production company that continues to lead the way with popular programs, including: Keeping up with the Kardashians, Kourtney & Kim Take New York, Project Runway, and more. Following recent market shifts, Bunim/Murray reconsidered its professional video editing software options and was looking for a software provider whose professional editing solution met their needs – today and into the future.
“Due to the large volume of media generated by our reality shows, we needed to re-evaluate our editing and storage solutions. At the same time, we were looking for a partner who would understand our long-term needs. As we talked with Avid, it was clear that the company has really forged ahead since we worked with them years ago. Their commitment to the needs of their professional customers, like us, is clear. And, with the introduction of Media Composer 6, they really raised the bar and have a vision for the future that makes them the right choice for our business.” – Mark Raudonis, Senior Vice President of Post Production at Bunim/Murray,
For the complete press release, visit http://bit.ly/y0xGN6
Additional Media Composer Resources
If you’re a former Avid user considering a switch—we want to help make your choice easier. Read launch coverage about out latest release, Media Composer 6, and check out our free 30 day Media Composer trial. You can also read more about its full capabilities at http://www.avid.com/mc or watch customers share their reactions. And, if you’re new to Media Composer or simply returning after some time away, be sure to join our “Getting Started Fast” community. There you can get assistance, answers, and insights from Avid experts to start editing with Media Composer right away. Last but certainly not least, learn more about our ongoing Final Cut Pro Crossgrade offer, which allows Final Cut Pro users to purchase Media Composer for $1499.
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WIRED’s Michael Calore calls Keystation Mini 32 “a standout in the large crop of keyboard controllers”
Posted 12/28/2011 7:32:00 AM
The iPad has turned into a platform for music makers everywhere to hone their craft. As a result, some pretty cool iPad compatible music gear hit the market in 2011. WIRED’s Michael Calore only included a select few, however, in his recent “Musical Hardware for iPad Songsmiths” feature online. So you can imagine our smiles when we saw that Michael found the Keystation Mini 32 a worthwhile addition, calling it a “standout from the latest crop of [keyboard] controllers.”
Michael got a chance to check out the Keystation Mini 32 and it seems he was convinced that good things can come in small packages. Michael points to the Keystation’s portability, mentioning its capacity to draw all the power it needs from the iPad. He ensures readers, however, that just because it can fit in a backpack does not mean the Keystation lacks features. “Most controllers have one or two octaves, but this one has two and a half, for a total of 32 keys. And yet it's still very compact.”
Michael also highlights that users of the Keystation can extend beyond your fervent pianist. “The knob and three of the buttons on the left edge are programmable, as is the key velocity, so the Keystation Mini can double as a surprisingly accurate drum machine controller.”
Thanks so much for the review, Michael. We here at Avid know iPads are the future and we are psyched to offer products like this for musicians on-the-go.
If you’re a music maker and iPad junkie don’t miss Michael’s full buyer's guide on WIRED.com here.
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Studio Daily Interviews the Associate Editor of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, David Smith
Posted 12/22/2011 8:00:00 AM
In advance of the release of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Studio Daily’s Bryant Frazer had the opportunity to speak with the film’s associate editor, David Smith. Facing one of the “most fraught subjects that can be tackled by a filmmaker—the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center”—the article explores how the team handled the complexity and sensitivity of the film’s subject matter.
During the interview, David also discusses the editorial workflow—from shoot, with an ARRI ALEXA digital camera recording in ARRIRAW converted to DNxHD 36 to edit with Media Composer. Media was shared via a Unity MediaNetwork with an Avid DS in the screening room, facilitating color-correction and conform. He also outlines how the team worked successfully within a very short post schedule when faced with a large quantity of visual effects required to help capture the time period and events. For all of the details, check out the full interview here. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close opens in limited release on December 25.
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AIR Users Blog Picks Best Product of 2011. And it's...
Posted 12/22/2011 5:32:00 AM
Blogger and socialite Russ Hughes has posted "My Product of 2011... What is Your's?" over on the AIR Users Blog. Looking back over a year in which music fans have been "bombarded with thousands of products," he asks, "what one thing significantly improved my workflow or the quality of my work?"
Would it be Pro Tools 10 with all it's new workflow-specific features, or something entirely different from a "host of new interfaces, plug-ins, outboard and hardware synths and drum machines"?
Lo and behold, Russ chose the M-Audio Keystation Mini 32. "I have to ask myself, what one thing has made the most difference to me? You may be surprised to know, it’s also one of the least expensive things in my studio, but now it’s the one thing I reach for all the time and I wouldn’t be without."
I find it personally interesting to note that I keep my Keystation Mini 32 about two feet from me in my studio at all times. I think Russ might be onto something here. Glad you're enjoying yours as much as I'm enjoying mine Russ. You can check out the entire post here.
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Electronic Musician deems Avid’s Sibelius a “score!”
Posted 12/21/2011 7:16:00 AM
Electronic Musician’s January issue takes a deep dive into Avid
Sibelius 7 notation software in their gear review section, and reviewer
Gino Robair's verdict? “Score!”
What first struck Gino was the
all new user-friendly interface of Sibelius 7. He specifically called
out the well-organized tool bar and drop-down menus for praise. Not
only did Gino find the Ribbon great for beginners, he also says
“longtime users will likely find features they didn’t know existed in
Sibelius.”
Gino suggested the new text feature updates are “sure
to make an impression on Sibelius users,” calling out the ability to
edit and resize text with ease. He also mentions the new support for
graphics and the integration ability that makes it easier to share your
work.
Another major selling point for Gino – the new sound library! “The sound library is top-notch across the board,” he writes after giving a detailed look into the updated library provided with Sibelius 7, noting everything from the basic instruments to the chance at utilizing templates for mariachi and salsa band, Orff-instrument ensembles and handbell choir.
Last words from Gino: “Sibelius 7 should be a no-brainer for newbies and previous owners alike”.
Thanks for the review, Gino. We are ecstatic that you found the all new Sibelius 7 to be a total success. Check out the full review online, and be sure to pick up the print edition which also features quick tips on Avid Pro Tools!
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Spin deems Avid’s Keystation Mini 32 a go-to holiday gift for the rockstar on your list
Posted 12/19/2011 1:07:00 AM
Front and cetner, the Keystation Mini 32 in Spin's December Gift Guide.
David Marchese gave Avid’s Keystation Mini 32 some love in Spin’s December holiday gift guide (see #9 in the picture above). David suggests our iPad-compatible, lightweight keyboard for the future rockstar on your list. He cites how the Keystation Mini fits easily into a messenger bag, ensuring that no musician will never be left empty handed should inspiration strike. The guide did not forget to mention the functionality of the Keystation Mini pointing to its USB bus power equipment and plug-and-play functionality.
The Keystation Mini was featured front and center, atop a sidewalk-warping subwoofer and eloquently holding up what we assume to be a healthy pour of Maker’s 46 – a cinnamon-spicy bourbon that Spin also included in the guide. The guide does a great job at identifying all kinds of gifts for your music lover. David called out everything from a Def Jam Recording rap scrapbook to some Johnny Marr special-edition Ray-Ban sunglasses and we are super pumped our very own Keystation Mini made the cut.
Everyone has that music lover on their holiday gift list and finding the perfect present may be easier than you thought. Be sure to check out this awesome gift guide in the December issue of Spin along with the latest industry news on their website http://www.spin.com.
Thanks for including us David. We look forward to the Keystation Mini making its way to everyone from guitar-gods to hip-hop head-nodders this holiday season – hopefully alongside a nice glass of bourbon.
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Avid Studio and Media Composer Featured in Videomaker
Posted 12/15/2011 8:00:00 AM
According to Videomaker, film and video editors of all types will be kicking off the New Year right with Avid. We’re pleased to share that the January 2012 issue features Avid Studio as one of the best home video products of 2011 and also includes an in-depth review of professional editing software, Avid Media Composer 5.5, calling it out as “a force to contend with in the editing world.” [Editor’s Note: Media Composer 6 now shipping]
So, What were the best video products of 2011? Videomaker made the call in their January issue, rating the top products and software of the year where Avid Studio was distinguished as “BEST Introductory Editing Software.” Videomaker suggests Avid Studio was an “easy choice” for the category, pointing to its ease of use and wealth of options. The article also highlights the unlimited timeline and ability to manage volumes of assets in the library, calling out how it allows users to prepare clips in various media editors with enhancements such as trimming, stabilizing, panning and zooming. Videomaker also notes Avid Studio’s ability to expand users creativity, in particular through the Scorefitter music generator, keyframe effects, animation and audio mixing. You can check out the full article here along with Videomaker’s full review of Avid Studio.
Videomaker also provides readers with a detailed review of Media Composer 5.5
(Screenshot from Media Composer 5.5)
Writer Dan Burns concludes that Media Composer 5.5 is “a solid buy for any advanced editor.” A few review highlights include:
“One of the most powerful and unique features of Avid Media Composer is PhraseFind. PhraseFind is a dialog search tool powered by Nexidia technology. The tool will go through all of your footage and audio, indexing them to a language you've set. Once it's done, every clip you import into Media Composer can be searched phonetically. Results are tallied in a window, which includes accuracy scores.”
“With its proliferation in large production houses, advanced media management controls, valuable suite of products, and user-first approach, Avid's Media Composer is a force to contend with in the editing world. Though it may take a while before you feel comfortable using its advanced features, the time you can save using them makes this software a solid buy for any advanced editor.”
For these and other informative articles, be sure to check out the full January issue of Videomaker online now.
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Robert Scovill Hosts Live Sound Roundtable Discussion - Wednesday 12/14
Posted 12/8/2011 2:33:00 AM
Live sound mixing is a creative adventure filled with many challenges, including time limitations, complex productions, last-minute changes, and how should we put this, challenging client needs. But no matter what and where you’re mixing, presenting the highest quality audio possible—quickly, easily, and reliably—is the goal of any live engineer.
Join Avid senior market specialist and legendary concert sound engineer Robert Scovill (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Rush, Prince) on Wednesday December 14 at 10am PT (1pm ET) as he hosts a live roundtable discussion with special guest engineers from the world of concert, house of worship, and theater sound to learn their approach and gain insight into their workflows.
Special guests
• Brad Madix—2011 Parnelli Award winner for FOH Mixer of the Year for his work with Rush; other clients include Shakira, Marilyn Manson, Jane’s Addiction, and Alanis Morissette
• Armando Fullwood—Director at WAVE, an award-winning AV, acoustics, and thematic integration firm; he’s overseen the design of over 500 house of worship projects
• Chris Cormack—Head of sound for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM
Sign up to see how VENUE and Pro Tools are revolutionizing how engineers today work, and how these solutions are opening up new creative opportunities. Plus, get your questions answered. Register here. Wednesday, December 14, 2011 10:00 am PT (1:00 pm ET)
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FLUX:: Pure Analyzer System now VENUE-compatible
Posted 12/6/2011 1:16:00 AM
FLUX:: recently released a VENUE-compatible version of its Pure Analyzer System—a network-driven modular RTA (Real Time Analyzer) system that consists of the standalone Pure Analyzer Essential application* and up to three optional modules (Pure Analyzer Live, Pure Analyzer Metering, and Pure Analyzer Multichannel). With the Pure Analyzer System and Pure Analyzer Live option, VENUE users gain access to an extensive range of analyzer options for live productions and other audio analysis and measurement applications.
And now FLUX is offering VENUE users a special discount—from December 6, 2011 through January 31, 2012, get 30% off Pure Analyzer Essential, the Pure Analyzer Live option, and any of the other two add-on modules you want when you purchase through FLUX’s eStore.
Simply visit the store, select the Pure Analyzer Essential checkbox, the Live option check box, and any other options. Then select the “I have a coupon code” checkbox under the “Shopping Cart” section and enter your VENUE FOH Rack, Mix Rack, or SC48 serial number to get your discount.
Not ready to buy? You can also request a 10 or 30-day demo—contact support@fluxhome.com for details.
With the Pure Analyzer System installed on a standalone computer or laptop*, simply capture source signals with your VENUE console using the included Sample grabber VENUE plug-in to begin the analysis. The actual analysis is then performed using the computer. You can also couple the system with a wireless transmitter to route a source test signal to the laptop to perform transfer curve measurements at different locations more conveniently.
For live sound productions, the Pure Analyzer Live module in conjunction with Pure Analyzer Essential provides the elements needed to assist the live sound engineer in speaker array calibration tasks, including a delay finder, level, meter, transfer function magnitude, phase and coherence spectra, and impulse response, as well as snapshot facilities. The Pure Analyzer Live option requires Pure Analyzer Essential to run.
* Requires a computer or laptop (sold separately) with a graphics card that supports OpenGL/DirectX.
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Mix Magazine reviews Avid’s Fast Track C600 Audio Interface
Posted 11/29/2011 10:25:00 AM
“The company has taken its time and gotten it right.”
Brandon Hickey at Mix Magazine checked out Avid’s new Fast Track C600 and gave it a detailed and glowing review. He was impressed with the makeover and took his time savoring the new look – and was pleasantly surprised by the complex workflows the new interface and monitor controller could handle with ease.
The revamped design of the unit was the first thing to catch Brandon's eye, as he pointed out the its large volume control, generous space between knobs and buttons, innovative monitoring controls, and large 8-segment LED input meters. With its new desktop-style orientation and it's simple, uncluttered layout, he found the new design to incorporate an incredible amount of functionality in a small, compact, refined format.
Brandon was also quick to point out the improved software mixer ("where the C600 really raises the bar,") quality mic-pre's ("impressive amount of detail and clarity for a product in the this class,") and a monitor management system capable of delivering three separate monitor mixes or providing full 5.1 control ("most exciting, in my opinion.") He gave Avid their dues on the new product, suggesting their focus on customer feedback was the catalyst in creating a fantastic solution.
Overall, Brandon had some pretty great things to say about Avid’s latest audio interface:
“The Fast Track series’ overall cosmetic design has gotten a complete overhaul…ergonomically this is a refreshing alternative.”
“…with all the flexible routing options, a greater variety of professional workflows can be managed in a very comfortable way.”
“Great design, good amount of I/O, pleasing sonic quality and a useful new monitoring section.”
“Playing the features-per-price game is always a balance of tradeoffs, and it seems like M-Audio is at it again, finding the perfect recipe of bang for the buck.”
So after all the anticipation surrounding the possibility of a new fleet of M Audio USB interface, did Avid stand up to the hype? As far as Brandon is concerned, “…the company has taken its time and gotten it right.”
A shout out to Brandon for taking the time to review the product and for all the kind words. Check out the full review here and keep up on the latest professional audio and music production news on Mix Online.
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Avid’s M-Audio Venom wins MacLife Editor’s Choice
Posted 11/18/2011 8:21:00 AM
“Warm fuzzy sounds at warm fuzzy prices” – that’s how MacLife’s Roberto Baldwin describes the Venom – warm and fuzzy enough to receive a five star MacLife rating and the prestigious Editor’s Choice award.
After spending some time reviewing Avid’s M-Audio Venom, Roberto found its size, price and functionality to hit the mark. “The M-Audio Venom is an awesome piece of machinery,” he said, “[it] brings all the sounds and control of the analog world into our digital future without sacrificing sound quality.”
Roberto was keen on the Venom’s audio range that takes users from a light, barely audible sound to deep, crunchy lows all with the turn of a knob. He was also impressed by the compatibility and user friendliness of the product and its software, which allows users to quickly locate patches and attach the synthesizer to their Macs. “For anyone who’s ever played an analog synth, the Venom is instantly understandable,” says Roberto, “[and] buttons make navigation a snap.”
So how did the Venom get a MacLife rating of “awesome”? Most likely due to its ability to provide a professional analog-synthesizer sound at a fraction of the price. Well that’s what Roberto tells us anyway – and we think that’s awesome too.
You can read the full review here and follow Roberto on twitter at @strngwys.
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SAE Institute Atlanta and Grayson Technical High School Rock The Lennon Bus
Posted 11/17/2011 5:00:00 AM
On October 24th and 25th Avid brought The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus to Georgia for school and campus visits that resulted in amazing music videos, tours, and student access to some of rock’s great artists.
The week began at Grayson Technical High School in Loganville, GA, where Jennifer Fero, assistant principal, and Tim Johnson, music technology instructor, hosted a tour stop. Six students were specially selected from dozens who auditioned for an opportunity to create a music video with Rolling Stones keyboardist, Chuck Leavell:
The Grayson Technical High School students created a complete music video in Avid Pro Tools and Media Composer that includes special guest keyboard tracks by Mr. Leavell:
To learn more about the visit at this Gwinnett County Georgia high school, you can read all about in the local Gwinnett Daily Post.
The Lennon Bus then drove into downtown Atlanta to spend a day at SAE Institute Atlanta, where Joel Kosche and Will Turpin from Collective Soul, both Avid Pro Tools artists, helped produce a student music video:
The Georgia week ended at Lost Mountain Middle School in Cobb County, where hundreds of students had an opportunity to tour the audio and video studios on The Lennon Bus.
Thanks to SAE, Grayson Technical High Schol, Lost Mountain Middle School, Chuck, Joel, Will, the amzing John Lennon Bus pro's and especially the students who make the Bus' mission possible.
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Read What the Media and Beta Testers Have to Say About Avid Media Composer 6
Posted 11/9/2011 8:00:00 AM
Following last week's introduction of Media Composer 6, NewsCutter 10 and Symphony 6, journalists and beta users are buzzing about new features, including the new 64-bit architecture, UI, Avid Open I/O, Avid Marketplace, among others. Read more about this highly-anticipated, major software release as reported in Creative COW , POST Magazine, StudioDaily, The Hollywood Reporter, Art of the Guillotine , ProVideoCoalition and Digitalcontentproducer.com
For an even closer look, check out what some of our beta users had to say about what they’ve experienced to date:
-- Editor Shane Ross is a beta tester of Media Composer 6 software and provides us with the first in-depth overview of the new release. He notes -- “ All in all I am very pleased with the current release. It might not have all the WHIZ BANG POW that people might have been expecting with the 64-bit architecture, but it does pack a punch. I was very pleased with the performance on the timeline when scrolling through footage, and when the system was able to keep pace with my keystrokes, no matter how fast I went, how many bins I had open and how big my timeline was. I like the fact that the UI has an updated look, but didn’t change where the buttons are, and didn’t change the editing workflow. I love that Avid now has tabbed bins. I liked how I could bring in my RED footage via AMA and work with the footage natively, without transcoding. I jumped for joy and did a happy dance when I was able to capture footage with my Kona card, meaning that I can transition back to Avid and retain all of my hardware. I like that I can fast-import all of my ProRes footage without losing one ounce of quality.” Read the full review on his blog, Little Frog in High Def.
-- Walter Biscardi of Biscardi Creative Media also participated in the beta program and offers Creative COW readers some of his initial, “ ‘Avid from a Final Cut Pro’ point of notes,” including his experiences testing out the software with the AJA Kona 3 card as well with his shop’s ethernet-based shared storage network by Small Tree Communications. He writes, “ . . . Well I have to say Avid delivered a much more open Media Composer 6 than I expected. With this release, Avid is definitely a valid choice for the Final Cut Pro user / facility that is looking to move away from that platform while still utilizing their third party solutions . . . ” Click here for the complete story.
- -- In a recent article for TVB Europe, reporter Adrian Pennington interviewed Michael Lindsay, founder and creative director of Pointy Stick, about the production company’s experience with the new 3D stereoscopic workflows. Lindsay comments, “Everything we have edited in 3D has always been a bit of a workaround and quite painful. So much so that there are stereo jobs we haven’t pitched for, simply because of the hassles involved. What Avid is offering is really quite significant. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to say yes to several projects we were previously worried about.” Check out the full article here.
So, now that you’ve read all about it, be sure check out the latest versions of Media Composer, NewsCutter and Symphony for yourself on November 15!
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VENUE a big hit at South Africa's Cultureclash 2011
Posted 10/16/2011 3:20:00 PM
This Heritage Weekend, the students of Academy of Sound Engineering pulled out all the stops at their annual student concert, Cultureclash. The band performances, production levels and guest numbers say it all – the venue was buzzing from 12 noon on Saturday to the early hours of the next morning.
Now in its third year, the concert was held in the grounds of Truth, an expansive property in Midrand, South Africa, and saw a 40% increase in artist, sponsor and visitor numbers compared to last year. “We are thrilled that our decision to move Cultureclash outdoors has been vindicated by the enthusiastic response we received from sponsors, exhibitors, the media and the visiting public,” says George Hattingh, Head of Marketing at Academy of Sound Engineering.
The main aim of the festival is to allow students of Academy of Sound Engineering to put on a world-class outdoor event, thereby assisting them in their studies by providing practical access to the real-world concert environment, the technical and business management of such an event – and, of course, to have some fun with various different music genres (hence the name “Cultureclash”.)
Well organized and executed, the Cultureclash festival delivered on all its promises. In addition to the 40 live bands performing on two professional outdoor stages, 8 DJ’s provided dance music in the two indoor stages. Cultureclash provided great entertainment for the students of Academy of Sound Engineering and for all the other visitors who attended. The festival catered for every palate and featured a wide range of artists who rocked the crowds and kept them on their feet.
Headliners included Zebra and Giraffe, EvolverOne, Gang of Instrumentals, Redwood and dozens more. The sound, lighting and staging were of the highest professional standards. Of particular note was the exclusive use of Avid Live VENUE mixing consoles on the main stage, where the sound was crystal clear. Artists and audience alike were unanimous in their praise of the audio clarity. Various engineers were able to use VENUE in a real concert environment for the first time, under the supervision of qualified VENUE trainers from ASE. The opinions ranged from “Awesome” to “Now I know what I’ve been missing!” Said Jan van Zyl, for example, who mixed leading rock band EvolverOne: “There’s no doubt that VENUE is the console for me.”
Academy of Sound Engineering would like to thank its partners AVL Distribution and Avid Live Sound, its students, the artists and all the event sponsors. See you at the next Cultureclash!
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Avid Leads With HOW Live Sound Solutions at WFX 2011
Posted 10/13/2011 1:06:00 PM
Avid will be exhibiting at WFX 2011 in Dallas, TX, November 9-11, showcasing the power and flexibility of VENUE and Pro Tools live sound workflows, as well as talking to customers about the challenges they face and the solutions we're developing to meet those challenges head-on.
Avid’s booth will include hands-on demo stations equipped with Avid's Profile and SC48 systems, and will feature live-sound technology demonstrations focusing on the future of VENUE and Pro Tools integration, featuring SC48 recording 32 channels into Pro Tools via FireWire.
The WFX event is presented by Church Production and Worship Facilities Magazines, the most authoritative sources on facility design and use and technology.
Avid will be showcasing our solutions on Booth 1132.
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Avid Sponsors Back to School Southern NY Tour with The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Posted 10/3/2011 8:22:00 AM
Back to school season for hundreds of New York Metro area students and teachers came with some special music and video surprises thanks to Avid and The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The Lennon Bus visited schools that are part of both Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and Southern Westchester BOCES.
The first NY stops on the tour were in Eastern Suffolk County, Long Island. The visits were hosted by BOCES chief operating officer, Gary Bixhorn, and Barbara Egloff, divisional administrator for career, technical and adult education. At the Edward J. Milliken Technical Center in Oakdale, hundreds of students toured The Bus, a select group of students created a music video.
The visit also included a special guest appearance by Avid Pro Tools artist Alex Skolnick from Testament and the Alex Skolnick Trio:
You can read more local media coverage from the Oakdale visit here.
The Bus then moved on to Riverhead to the H.B. Ward Technical and Academic Center in Riverhead, where students created another music video. Hands-on Pro Tools 9 training sessions also occurred for students.
Special visitors included Joeph Loschaivo, BOCES board member, and NY State Legislator Daniel P. Losquadro.
On September 26 and 27 the next stop was the Southern Westchester Center for Career Services in Valhalla.
Every student and faculty member on campus toured The Lennon Bus and a group of students, with staff member Wayne Cobham, created an incredible music video.
Avid Education Customer Advisory Board member Sarah Martabano, BOCES regional and distance learning hosted the visits along with Sandra Simpson, Southern Westchester BOCES chief operating officer. See more local media coverage about the Valhalla John Lennon Bus visit here.
The John Lennon Bus continues it's journey across the east coast with upcoming stops in the Boston area soon. Stay tuned for more news and highlights from the road!
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Avid at IFP Film Week: Art of the Guillotine Interviews Jeremy Chilnick, Producer – Warrior Poets – POM Wonderful Presents, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Freakonomics
Posted 9/27/2011 8:00:00 AM
Last week we were thrilled to host a panel at IFP Independent Film Week in New York City--which featured noted independent film editors and producers, including : Jeremy Chilnick (Producer – Warrior Poets – POM Wonderful Presents- The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Freakanomics); Andrew Weisblum, A.C.E. (Editor – Black Swan, The Wrestler, The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom); Matthew Parker (Producer – Higher Ground, Restless City); and Michael Phillips (Editor/Producer – Prince of Providence). The group sat down with Meagan Keane from Avid Artist Relations to discuss how independent post-production is evolving, and explored the creative and affordable solutions that can help support workflows that incorporate on-set production running concurrently with shooting.
Following the panel, Gordon Burkell from Art of the Guillotine interviewed panelist Jeremy Chilnick as well as Angus MacKay from Avid for an engaging and insightful podcast that you can listen to here: http://www.artoftheguillotine.com/index.php?page=list_full_media&article_id=7620
Hear from Jeremy about how he’s approached post workflows for documentary production and managed large amounts of footage (> 600hrs) on films like POM Wonderful Presents, The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, as well as how a collaborative, Avid-integrated workflow helped everyone work in concert to ease production. In addition, you’ll learn how they are able to keep on track while editing concurrently, and how Avid PhraseFind has “blown his mind” as a time saver as well as other features that they rely on in Media Composer.
During the conversation Angus notes how we’re making Media Composer more accessible than ever for independent professionals by enabling very portable systems and workflow options for documentary filmmakers as well as highlighting key features in Media Composer like AMA, Mix and Match, among others that help accelerate the editing process. In addition, for those editors looking to work with Media Composer, he reminds listeners about a range of forums and tutorials we have available to help them get started fast.
Last, but certainly not least ... when asked, “What’s your favorite guilty pleasure film to watch???” … Well, you’ll have to listen to find out!
Check out Media Composer for yourself through our free 30-day trial or, there are still a few more days left to take advantage of our limited-time $995 FCP Crossgrade Promotion (offer expires Sept. 30, 2011), so don’t delay!
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Avid in the News