Software | CineD https://www.cined.com/news/software/ Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:41:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 Kessler kOS v5.1 Motion Control App Released – Unreal Engine Integration, and More https://www.cined.com/kessler-kos-v5-1-motion-control-app-released-unreal-engine-integration-and-more/ https://www.cined.com/kessler-kos-v5-1-motion-control-app-released-unreal-engine-integration-and-more/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2024 15:41:22 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=331846 Kessler kOS motion control app (for CineShooter+ or Second Shooter Pro) v5.1 update brings Unreal Engine tracker-less integration, simultaneous adjustment of multiple keyframes, device name selection, and more. The premium version of kOS is available for $9.95 per month.

Roughly three years ago, Kessler launched the kOS app for the first time to provide a control interface for their motion control products, such as the Kessler Second Shooter or the CineShooter. Now, the company has announced a new version v5.1 that brings a few interesting upgrades. Let’s take a quick look at what is new.

Kessler kOS v5.1

The new update of the Kessler kOS app follows the recent launch of the Kessler CineShooter+ motion control system, which introduced several improvements over its predecessor, for instance, an Unreal Engine tracker-less integration. This feature is also included in the recent kOS version v5.1. It will now be possible to synchronize the camera’s motion in the Unreal engine-generated scene with the Kessler motion controller without the need for a tracker. Kessler published a useful tutorial on how this integration works.

Please note that for the Unreal integration, the paid Premium kOS version is required. The full kOS v5.1 release notes include the following:

  • Added support for Unreal Engine (see documentation in app).
  • The horizontal location (time) of multiple key frames on the graph can now be adjusted simultaneously.
  • Device names can now be changed by right-clicking (or long pressing) on a device button.
  • When selecting a Time Lapse or Stop Motion Exposure amount, additional choices have been added in five-second intervals up to two hours.
  • Added support for Logitech Gamepad 310 (Windows version only).
  • Various bug fixes and UI/performance improvements.
Unreal Engine tracker-less support. Source: Kessler

Kessler kOS functionality overview

In case you are not familiar with the Kessler kOS app, here is a brief overview of the supported functions:

  • Movement
    • Live Motion
    • Event Mode
    • Timelapse
    • MultiLapse
    • Stop Motion
    • GigaPixel
    • Analog Control
  • Compositing
    • Repeatable Moves – CineShooter+ is a nodal head with accuracy and repeatability, suitable for visual effects.
    • Same Move, any Duration – You can play the same move for 4 seconds or even 4 months. The move will always be the same.
    • Audio Sync – Easily sync audio with your move with built-in visual features. 
    • Flash Mark/Bloop Align – Use visual or audio-based marks for aligning takes for visual effects.
  • Interactive Graph
    • 20 Keyframes per Axis – With kOS Premium you can program up to 20 keyframes per axis/motor.
    • Bezier Curves- Add and customize ease-ins and ease-outs to every keyframe for smooth moves.
    • Precise Positioning – Input an exact position directly.
    • Looping – Simply select one-time or continuous looping.
    • Bump Buttons – Useful for quickly moving the motors into the desired position.
    • Scrub through Move – Scrub through your move live to preview or to go to a spot on the graph instantly.
  • Other
    • Camera Control – control your camera’s shutter or start and stop recording.
    • Delay – add an amount of time before or after the move or set a specific start time/date.
    • Multiple Tabs – have access to more than one move at a time.
    • Pre & Post Roll – program your camera to start recording before the move starts or to keep recording after the move ends.
    • Load & Go – load your move so that it’s ready to start instantly.
    • Save Moves – save your move for future use.
    • Pre & Post Photos – program your camera to take photos before or after your timelapse move has started or ended.
    • Fast Mode – allows the motors to move at their maximum speed.
    • Quiet Mode – this option automatically limits the motors to run at a low RPM and be quiet when sound is crucial.
    • DragonFrame – Kessler CineShooter+ & Second Shooter Pro support DragonFrame stop motion and live motion.
kOS use on-set. Source: Kessler/Merge

The Kessler kOS app is available for devices running Windows, macOS, or iPadOS systems. It now also supports client mode. This allows CineShooter+ (or Second Shooter Pro, Second Shooter Plus) and your device to connect to a location’s Wi-Fi network rather than connecting directly to the hardware’s own network. This can extend the connected range, and (if your existing network is connected to the internet) allow for easier multitasking.

Price and availability

kOS app v5.1. Source: Kessler

The price of the Kessler kOS app depends on the type of licensing:

  • Lite version – completely free of charge, but imposes a few limitations (no multi-lapse, Event mode, or Gigapixel, no Dropbox support, a maximum of 1 tab, and others). For the full list of differences, please refer to the Kessler webpage.
  • Premium version – priced at $9.95/month, $99.95/year, or $199 for a perpetual license. It is worth noting that with the purchase of a CineShooter+, you will get 1 free year of kOS Premium.

For reference, the new Kessler CineShooter+ retails for $3,200.

Have you ever used any of the Kessler motion control systems for your work? What do you think about the new CineShooter+ and the kOS app? Do you use Unreal Engine for your productions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section underneath the article.

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Anthropics PortraitPro 24 Version Launched – Now With Generative AI https://www.cined.com/anthropics-portraitpro-24-version-launched-now-with-generative-ai/ https://www.cined.com/anthropics-portraitpro-24-version-launched-now-with-generative-ai/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:01:48 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=329430 Anthropics Technology, the U.K. software research and development company behind the popular photo editing software for portraits, PortraitPro, launched their latest version, the PortraitPro 24. This new version now includes generative AI tech in the editing process, so let’s have a look and see what it can do!

As a photographer, I’ve used PortraitPro for many years to retouch both individual portraits of models and artists, and often to streamline the retouching process for large amounts of photographs. For me, the program’s basic adjustments for skin smoothing and other minor imperfections can be handled much quicker and more efficiently than with Photoshop, for example. It’s been especially useful when time was of the essence and a lifesaver when dealing with large batches of photos – for example, when post-processing school and event photography. I’ve also used it to fix the lighting – something that often needs to be adjusted when a photographer has been taking one portrait after another with no time to tweak the light or camera settings. This program has a wide choice of settings, all of them adjustable, depending on your needs.

Anthropics PortraitPro 24 Version
You can determine just how much or how little you want to enhance the features. – Source: Anthropics Technology

I keep my adjustments to a minimum, but this doesn’t mean the program doesn’t have a lot of capabilities for you to explore. Even before the AI integration in this version, there were intensity sliders for all the feature enhancements (like wider eyes or smaller lips) and presets to alter the lighting and background, essentially transforming a face into someone you might hardly recognize. As expected, you can change hair and eye color, add makeup, and change the background to artsy as well. It’s completely up to you how far you want to take it.

What’s new in PortraitPro 24 – key features

The integration of generative AI modules with this version allows the program to offer some interesting new features.

  • Mouth inpainting & teeth replacer
  • Glasses reflection remover
  • Face recovery
  • Skin and hair masks
  • Improved workflow
  • New gender and age detector

New features in detail

So what is meant exactly by some of these new features? Something that for me is most irritating, for example, is the removal of reflections in eyeglasses, and the program seems to do a pretty good job of it. The use of some of the other features, like restoring and enhancing teeth, which the program also seems to do quite well, will depend on individual preferences, but it’s nice to know it’s there. Skin and hair masks can now be saved as additional channels in TIFF files and the gender and age detector has been refined, all pointing to a more efficient workflow. The improved workflow offers the ability to easily switch between faces in groups, the ability to share presets, and more image save options as well. I’m not at all sure about Face Recovery because to me, it’s either blurry or it’s not, but again, that’s a decision we make for ourselves.

Anthropics PortraitPro 24 Version
Before and after with Glasses Reflection Remover. – Source: Anthropics Technology
Mouth Inpainting & Teeth Replacer. – Source: Anthropics Technology

Availability and pricing

Three separate editions are available for PortraitPro 24 and are as follows:

  • The stand-alone Standard edition is priced at $54.95 and includes AI-powered portrait editing, background replacement, and customer support.
  • The Studio edition is priced at $94.95 and includes everything in the Standard edition, plus RAW and DNG support, Batch dialog, and Photoshop and Lightroom integration.
  • The Studio Max edition is priced at $174.95 and includes everything in the Studio edition, plus fully automatic batch processing.
  • You can purchase an upgrade if you already own a previous version of PortraitPro.

Check out their website to compare the details of what is included in each edition. There are also special bundles in their “Anthropics Collection” that include more of their products like LandscapePro and PortraitPro Body. Lastly, you can download a free trial of PortraitPro 24 here, to see if the program is right for you.

What do you think of the capabilities of PortraitPro 24? Do you use it or any of the previous versions? How far do you push your editing when working on portraits? Let us know in the comments below!

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FilmConvert Camera Pack For GoPro HERO12 Black Released https://www.cined.com/filmconvert-camera-pack-for-gopro-hero12-black-released/ https://www.cined.com/filmconvert-camera-pack-for-gopro-hero12-black-released/#respond Wed, 20 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=331016 FilmConvert has recently released a new camera pack for the latest GoPro HERO12 Black action camera. These new camera profiles are available for both the FilmConvert Nitrate film simulation plugin and FilmConvert’s color-matching tool CineMatch. Let’s take a closer look at it!

The GoPro HERO12 Black was launched in September 2023 and is one of the best action cameras in its category, even if the evolution, compared to its predecessor the GoPro HERO11 Black, was not groundbreaking. Regarding video resolution and framerates, the HERO12 still records 5.3K footage at up to 60 frames per second and 4K120p/2.7K240p, identical to the HERO11 Black. However, if you are a content creator and adventure enthusiast, you’ll benefit from the HERO12’s new HDR video recording modes, a vastly improved battery life, a renewed flat 10-bit GP-Log picture profile, wireless timecode, as well as an optional revamped Max Lens Mod 2.0 wide-angle lens.

FilmConvert continues to release and update their camera pack library. After the GoPro HERO11 Black, FilmConvert has just released specifically designed packs for the GoPro HERO12 Black.

GoPro HERO12 Black
HERO12 Black action camera. Source: GoPro

FilmConvert camera pack for the GoPro HERO12 Black

FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch are color correction and color grading plugins compatible with the most popular video editing software, such as Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects. We use them regularly at CineD to speed up our personal and professional projects.

CineMatch is a powerful plugin that simplifies the process of color-matching multiple cameras. With a few clicks, you can select your source camera model and your desired target model and let the plugin work its magic. The results are incredibly precise, thanks to FilmConvert’s meticulous collection of camera sensor data in their lab. Meanwhile, Nitrate utilizes this same data for color grading, allowing you to add popular film stock looks to your footage and achieve a professional-grade finish within minutes.

HERO12 Black action camera with Max Lens Mod 2.0. Source: GoPro

The team at FilmConvert has worked tirelessly over the years to individually profile a vast range of camera models, including cinema and mirrorless cameras, smartphones, and drones. With new models regularly added, they have recently added the GoPro HERO12 to their impressive list. This means you can now easily color match and color grade your GoPro footage to other action cameras, mirrorless/DSLR cameras, and even cinema cameras in just a matter of minutes using CineMatch and Nitrate.

HERO12 Black action camera. Source: GoPro

Pricing and availability

All camera pack updates are always free if you’re already a FilmConvert CineMatch or Nitrate user. To get the new GoPro HERO12 Black camera profile, Nitrate users can head over to the camera pack downloader within the plugin. For CineMatch users, you can simply download the latest version of the plugin from this link.

10% off for CineD readers

CineD readers can use our affiliate links to get up to 10% off CineMatch and Nitrate plugins. Individual plugins can be purchased for Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or FCPX, but bundles are also available if you use multiple NLEs.

What do you think about this new FilmConvert camera pack for the GoPro HERO12 Black? Did you upgrade from the GoPro HERO11 Black to the newest HERO12 Black version? Have you already tried one of FilmConvert’s plugins? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

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EVRapp ChronoX 2 Launched – Measure Final Cut Pro Export Times Accurately https://www.cined.com/evrapp-chronox-2-launched-measure-final-cut-pro-export-times-accurately/ https://www.cined.com/evrapp-chronox-2-launched-measure-final-cut-pro-export-times-accurately/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:18:00 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=327915 EVRapp recently launched the second version of their Final Cut Pro export measuring tool: ChronoX 2. This updated version is more precise, supports more file formats, you can automatically open the rendered file when the export is complete, and it is easier to install. So, let’s take a closer look at it!

EVRapp is an Italian post-production software company founded by Antonio Marogna, a one-man-band photographer and filmmaker. At the core of their mission, EVRapp aims to improve “the accessibility and utility of metadata for media files within video editing platforms.”

The first version of the EVRapp ChronoX was launched back in 2020. The primary purpose of this tool is to measure your Final Cut Pro exporting times precisely. Indeed, as a benchmark tool, this is not a tool you would use every day. However, it can come in handy to optimize your computer and external drives/GPU, so your editing system is faster.

Last year, Apple introduced Final Cut Pro 10.7 with many workflow and performance improvements, including a scrolling timeline, voice-over recording and stabilization for the iPad version, and much more. One of the missing pieces within Final Cut Pro since its launch is the ability to properly check your render times/pieces of information when you have clicked “export.” To solve that problem, EVRapp launched version 2 of their ChronoX tool.

EVRapp ChronoX 2
EVRapp ChronoX 2. Image credit: EVRapp

EVRapp ChronoX 2 – features

When you click the Export button, ChronoX 2, via a proprietary algorithm, can identify the exact moment Final Cut Pro started exporting your timeline. According to the company, it provides accurate timing down to the second. So, what is new within ChronoX 2?

  • More precise: ChronoX 2 can measure export times very precisely, down to the centisecond.
  • Expanded file format support: ChronoX 2 now supports MOV/M4V/MP4 and MXF files.
  • Additional export options: automatically open the exported file directly within QuickTime Player or any other compatible application.
  • Easier to install: ChronoX 2 is easier to install than its predecessor.
EVRapp ChronoX 2 standard and professional version features
EVRapp ChronoX 2 standard and professional version features. Image credit: EVRapp

Two versions of ChronoX 2 are available: a standard and a professional version. The standard version only displays the elapsed export time in a pop-up window. If you want more information about your exports, the professional version can export automatically up to three times. Also, the pro version generates CSV reports with CPU/GPU information, storage media, and macOS/FCP versions.

EVRappChronoX2_03
Image credit: EVRapp

Pricing and availability

The EVRapp ChronoX 2 tool is now available in standard (free) and professional versions for €9.99.

For more information, please visit EVRapp’s website here.

What do you think about this export tool for Final Cut Pro? Do you feel it would be helpful to optimize your editing workflow configuration? Do you wish similar tools were available for other NLEs? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

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Magix, Producer of Vegas Pro, Files for Insolvency https://www.cined.com/magix-producer-of-vegas-pro-files-for-insolvency/ https://www.cined.com/magix-producer-of-vegas-pro-files-for-insolvency/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:54:26 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=330495 German software producer Magix, the producer of Vegas Pro which is based in Berlin but also operates subsidiaries in the USA and Canada, has filed for insolvency. 

According to their press release, the company comprising 200 employees, intends to sustain their operations until a new investor is secured. They aim to finalize a deal within the next two to three months.

Sinking revenue due to complex portfolio

Magix, which is known mostly for their Magix Video deluxe and VEGAS Pro NLE applications (which it bought from Sony in 2016), as well as their Music Maker software, has reported that revenue fell dramatically from thirty-two million Euros in 2021 to twenty million Euros in 2023. A complex product portfolio in the last years has mostly been blamed – this has led to confusion amongst customers. 

Magix offered four versions of Video deluxe, three of Vegas Pro, and two of Magix Video Pro. These were priced from €60 to €400 and offered vastly different sets of functionalities. 

The user interface of the latest version of Vegas Pro – Image credit: Magix

This complex portfolio not only confused customers but also led to problems in product development, harming core products and their features. The company also blamed the slow adaptation of cost structure and a failure to use modern e-commerce methods for their problems. It has announced restructuring measures – which usually means layoff of personnel – in the near future. 

Focus on Vegas

Now the company wants to focus on Vegas, although Video deluxe will continue. Instead of three or four versions, only two versions of each product will be available. Releases already planned will go ahead as scheduled, the company said. 

Difficult market with free version of DaVinci Resolve

I think it’s fair to say that NLE software isn’t an easy market to be in, with a powerful software such as Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve being available for free in its standard version. Full disclosure, I am a certified Blackmagic trainer, but even our recent poll on the subject of NLEs showed how much of the market Blackmagic has already taken – see a screenshot of the current results below.

Results of CineD’s poll on “Which editing software are you currently using”?

Are you using Magix products? Will you be making the switch to other applications now? Let us know in the comments below!

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CREWMATE Camera Prep App to Be Launched Soon – Crowdfunding is Now Open https://www.cined.com/crewmate-camera-prep-app-to-be-launched-soon-crowdfunding-is-now-open/ https://www.cined.com/crewmate-camera-prep-app-to-be-launched-soon-crowdfunding-is-now-open/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:18:54 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=329727 Built on the success of the now-discontinued Camlist app, CREWMATE is a completely redesigned application that promises to facilitate professionals working in the camera department during the delicate phases of pre-production. The team behind it has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support it through the final stages of development.

A few years ago, we brought Camlist to your attention. Launched in 2019, this mobile app was designed specifically to help camera assistants in the creation of easily readable camera lists. It included a massive database of equipment, a worldwide list of rental houses, and even collaborative tools.

However, as its founder Thomas Albert puts it, with 5,000+ active users, Camlist ended up becoming “a victim of its own success”. Indeed, the app required a complete re-write of its source code, but the small Camlist team could not bear this burden alone. Long story short – Camlist was removed from the App Store in 2023 but is now coming back in a new guise.

CREWMATE camera prep app launch banner
Image credit: CREWMATE

CREWMATE – The “new” Camlist is prepping for launch

If you are not familiar with Camlist, I highly recommend reading our previous article here. It provides a pretty extensive overview of the main functionalities of the discontinued app. In a nutshell, these included generating camera lists, browsing through the inventory of global rental facilities, consulting gear tech specs, providing suggestions for camera accessories, exporting .PDF lists, collaborating with other members of the camera department, and more.

Preview of CREWMATE camera prep app
Preview of CREWMATE camera prep app. Image credit: CREWMATE

Currently, there aren’t many details on the features of the upcoming CREWMATE app. What’s certain, however, is that the development team intends to go way beyond the camera department: 

We are developing Crewmate with future evolutions in mind, which is crucial in establishing a universal, stable, and solid structure. Thus, although Crewmate will initially be aimed at camera assistants and directors of photography, we will subsequently welcome other technical departments, such as sound, lighting, machinery, photography, or video/broadcast.

The CREWMATE team
Camlist was used to prep 13,000 productions worldwide
Camlist was used to prep 13,000 productions worldwide. Image credit: CREWMATE

However, the company needs a little bit of financial help to get going. Currently, they’re raising funds to make it through the final stages of development. These include refining the UI, expanding the gear database, improving collaboration features, ensuring data security, and making sure CREWMATE is bullet-proof upon launch.

Price and availability

The launch of the new CREWMATE camera prep app is scheduled for the first half of 2024. Initially, the application will only be available for iPhone, but the team plans to develop an iPad version as well. There’s currently no information regarding the price of the app.

If you’d like to support this project, you can do so by choosing a reward from CREWMATE’s crowdfunding campaign webpage. Depending on the amount of your donation, you can get early access to the beta version of the app, gain a 1-year or lifetime license, or even become a strategic advisor for project development.

We say this at the end of every crowdfunding-related article: Be aware of the risks when backing a project on a crowdfunding platform. Please read the platform’s terms of use and keep in mind that there can be significant delays when delivering the product/service. Some projects even don’t get delivered at all.

For more information, please visit CREWMATE’s crowdfunding campaign here.

Have you ever used Camlist when prepping a shoot? How do you create camera lists during pre-production? Do you think CREWMATE can assist you during prep? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Adobe Premiere Pro 24.2 Released – Enhance Speech, Simplified Proxies, and Sony BURANO Support https://www.cined.com/adobe-premiere-pro-24-2-released-enhance-speech-simplified-proxies-and-sony-burano-support/ https://www.cined.com/adobe-premiere-pro-24-2-released-enhance-speech-simplified-proxies-and-sony-burano-support/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:17:29 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=329680 Adobe has recently rolled out the February 2024 update for their non-linear editing software, Premiere Pro 24.2. It brings the AI-powered “Enhance Speech” function out of its Beta testing phase, adds TikTok to the list of supported platforms for direct-to-social publishing, streamlines proxy workflows, and brings support for the new Sony BURANO.

In one of our recent polls, our dear readers elected DaVinci Resolve as their editing software of choice. To fight back against this mass migration towards Blackmagic Design’s suite of tools, Adobe is constantly trying to improve their historical NLE with periodical, incremental updates.

Back in January, the company announced a new Beta version of Premiere Pro with a very sharp focus on audio workflow improvements. Now, although with only minimal changes, a new official release is here – so let’s take a quick look at what’s new in Premiere Pro 24.2!

"Enhance Speech" is now available inside the Essential Sound panel in Premiere Pro
“Enhance Speech” is now available inside the Essential Sound panel. Image credit: Adobe

Adobe Premiere Pro 24.2 – what’s new?

To start, the previously-in-Beta “Enhance Speech” function is now publicly available in Premiere Pro. This helpful repair tool, which you can find inside the Essential Sound panel, uses AI to help you remove noise from your audio recordings, making voices sound clearer and more crisp. You can see it in action in this tutorial.

Direct-to-social TikTok publishing option in Premiere Pro
Direct-to-social TikTok publishing option. Image credit: Adobe

On top of that, if you use Premiere Pro to create content for TikTok, you can now export directly from the NLE to the social media platform. This option, which sits under “Destinations” in the “Export” tab, also allows you to package your post with text, captions, hashtags, and keywords before publishing to social media.

New "Frame size" dropdown menu under "Create Proxies" in Premiere Pro
New “Frame size” dropdown menu under “Create Proxies”. Image credit: Adobe

Another small improvement involves the “Create Proxies” dialogue window, which now displays a new “Frame size” dropdown menu. From there, you can choose to create proxies at exactly the same, half, or quarter of your original media’s resolution. Alternatively, you can choose the “Custom” option and manually dial in your desired resolution. Moreover, the list of proxy format presets has been updated to include the following:

  • H.264 in .mp4 container
  • H.264 in .mov container
  • ProRes
  • Cineform
  • DNxHR VR Monoscopic
  • DNxHR VR Stereoscopic
  • Custom
New color font options in Premiere Pro 24.2
New color font options in Premiere Pro 24.2. Image credit: Adobe

Furthermore, new color font options can be synced from Adobe Fonts and installed in the Essential Graphics panel, while emojis are now fully supported on Mac machines. This can be useful if you often work on social media content.

Premiere Pro 24.2 now fully supports emojis on Mac
Premiere Pro 24.2 now fully supports emojis on Mac. Image credit: Adobe

Lastly, as the Sony BURANO is now shipping, professional video editors will soon see their timelines populate with X-OCN and XAVC clips recorded with the new CineAlta camera. All flavors of both formats are now natively supported in Premiere Pro, including:

  • X-OCN (LT)
  • XAVC H Intra HQ
  • XAVC H Intra SQ
  • XAVC H Long
  • XAVC Intra
  • XAVC Long
The new Sony Burano CineAlta camera
The new Sony Burano CineAlta camera. Image credit: CineD

Price and availability

If you already have an active subscription, you can now update to Premiere Pro 24.2 for free within the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app. Otherwise, if you’re new to Premiere Pro, you can subscribe on Adobe’s website, starting at $22.99/month.

For more information, please visit Adobe’s website here.

Are you an Adobe Premiere Pro user? What do you think of these updates? What features would you like to see in Premiere Pro in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch Camera Profile for Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX Available Now https://www.cined.com/filmconvert-nitrate-and-cinematch-camera-profile-for-panasonic-lumix-s5-iix/ https://www.cined.com/filmconvert-nitrate-and-cinematch-camera-profile-for-panasonic-lumix-s5-iix/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:48:34 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=328960 FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch now support the Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX since the company has added the camera profile to the existing list of cameras. The new profile is available for free for existing users. Let’s take a look!

As you will already know if you follow us, FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch are two color grading plugins from FilmConvert, compatible with Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and After Effects. We have written a lot about them because the company constantly updates them with new camera profiles. 

Now supporting the Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX

This time, Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX users who grade their footage with FilmConvert Nitrate or CineMatch will now find the camera profile available to finish their projects. The LUMIX S5 II and S5 IIX have become popular tools among hobbyists and professionals due to their capabilities and reasonable price, especially if we compare their features with other brands’ cameras in the same price range. Thanks to their full-frame sensor, L-Mount, IBIS, and professional recording options in the Lumix S5 II series, the cameras put Panasonic back in the game after the release of the LUMIX S5 in 2020. 

If you have already used them as we do, CineMatch allows you to match footage from different cameras automatically just by selecting your source and target, while Nitrate adds film simulations to your creations in a straightforward interface. Both plugins use camera sensor data collected in FilmConvert’s lab for precise results. 

CineMatch, FilmConvert CineMatch, Panasonic LUMIX S5 IIX
CineMatch offers controls to fine-tune your images after matching cameras. – Source: FilmConvert

Price and availability 

The new pack is available at no charge for existing users of FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch. FilmConvert Nitrate users can access the LUMIX S5 IIX pack through the camera pack downloader within the plugin. To do so, first, make sure you’re using the latest version. CineMatch users can find the latest version of the plugin here to access the new LUMIX pack.

There is a special discount for CineD readers with 10% off both plugins by following this link for FilmConvert Nitrate and this link for CineMatch. For more information, please visit FilmConvert’s website here.

What do you think about FilmConvert Nitrate and CineMatch? Have you used any of these plugins to grade your footage? Let us know in the comments below!

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Lightricks LTX Studio – AI Video Generator with Most Extensive ‘Manual’ Controls Yet https://www.cined.com/lightricks-ltx-studio-ai-video-generator-with-most-extensive-manual-controls-yet/ https://www.cined.com/lightricks-ltx-studio-ai-video-generator-with-most-extensive-manual-controls-yet/#comments Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:01:40 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=328306 Famous for their clever and innovative AI-based filters, Lightricks has come up with something that even sci-fi hardly predicted. The visual tech company just redefined the world of AI-generated video content by releasing their LTX Studio. Under the rather dramatic slogan “storytelling transformed” LTX Studio is an AI engine, but unlike its current peers, it provides a level of control we’ve never seen before.

The justified buzz around OpenAI’s SORA still lingers as Lightricks ups the game with their revolutionary new tool – LTX Studio. While SORA seems to be more realistic and visually refined at first glance, LTX Studio possesses a much more significant trait. It gives the user unprecedented control over the final video.

LTX Studio solves one of the more prominent problems of AI-based content creation – selective control. At its core, the creative process follows the basic rule of AI generators: Text to video. You simply type a text specifying your creative vision and the machine spews out a video. Most generators won’t go much further. You’ll be able to repost the prompt and the AI will generate a new video, but precise or selective control is a pretty rare feature. At this point LTX Studio parts away from their peers, letting you specifically select, edit, or add multiple items.

Specific changes are now available. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

Firestarter for each visual process

So you have your general idea for your next blockbuster. Once you type in some relevant keywords, the LTX Studio will turn them into a rudimentary script, and once this script is fed into the AI, it will generate a video based on it. This part alone can speed up every ideation or inspirational process, but it’s what comes next that makes this system unique because, unlike most current AI generators, you’ll get more than a video. You’ll get footage to work with.

LTX Studio workspace. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

As you can see in this early workspace screenshot, the video is split into cuts with a specific synopsis for each. These cuts may be switched, replaced, cut, or expanded (by generating continuous “footage”).

Complete editing suite

LTX Studio provides you with a complete editing suite. Music, VFX, voice-over, cuts, and transitions will all be available to fine-tune in the final video. This feature (and others – so keep reading) makes the LTX Studio potentially revolutionary, and sets it aside from the AI crowd. But there’s more.

Complete editing suite. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

Character consistency

Character consistency stands as one of the major hurdles in the Turing tests of our time. AI generators seem to struggle with this kind of continuity, creating ever so slightly different character renderings that are highly apparent to the human eye. LTX Studio claims to have this issue covered. The system allows for the generation of distinct characters that encompass both appearance and personality traits, aiming to emulate characters that feel more relatable and “authentic.”

Character consistency. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

3D perception

The LTX Studio cam also “perceives” three-dimensional objects. While not a 3D application per se, this perception allows for some interesting features. The user will be able to control camera movement and angles, characters or object movement, and lighting positions. This also allows for different styling, atmosphere, ambient lighting conditions, and other modifications while keeping the main characters unchanged.

Lighting adjustments are available at the click of a button. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

Casting

Just as we can change the ambient atmosphere, every character can be changed, edited, and fine-tuned to perfectly fit the creative vision. You can have the exact same scene and then switch the character’s hairdo, clothes, or makeup. But why stop there? Ethnicities, gender, height, or species – all are subject to your will.

Change your cast at any point of the creative path. Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

It seems like the possibilities are limitless, which they probably are. We are, of course, far from covering every one of them in this article, and as always with AI, it’s just the beginning. However, as powerful as this new tool is (and IT IS), there still are some shortcomings.

Still missing

As of now, the video renders coming out of the LTX Studio bear the visual signature associated with AI-generated content. They don’t look as (scaringly) refined as SORA’s output, but will definitely hold in various use cases. Furthermore, it seems the AI can’t quite generate speech. It does away with voice-over, but I haven’t seen a character talk with lip-sync and vocal audio to match. There are also some issues with hands and with “unsynced” motion (when, for example, a man moves faster than his feet, “sliding” on the pavement, etc.). As testing ensues, we’ll probably spot more shortcomings, but those are vastly outweighed by the disruptive nature of this product.

Is it democratization? Image credit: Lightricks / LTX Studio

What does the future hold?

At this point, I wouldn’t dare to prophesize. Last month brought such exorbitant advancement to this field, and the same goes for the last couple of years. Perplexing times indeed. I’ll wait to see if and how Lightricks incorporates this powerful tool into other existing (and future) tools. Also – we’ll see if the company chooses to work with authentication initiatives such as C2PA. Imagine editing your first feature film or independent documentary with these kinds of tools. Imagine readjusting the camera or lighting in post, or testing different styles and vibes on the same scene. Imagine adding those few extra frames based on your own footage so it perfectly aligns with the music. Imagine adapting the same commercial video to different audiences at the click of a button. What a time to be alive. LTX Studio has a waiting list open for requests.

Do you believe tools like this will take over visual motion content and filmmaking in years to come? How are you preparing yourself for the foreseeable future in this regard? Let us know in the comments.

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DropOff by Hedge Announced – A Web-Based File-Sharing App for Creative Workflows https://www.cined.com/hedge-dropoff-announced-a-web-based-file-sharing-app-for-creative-workflows/ https://www.cined.com/hedge-dropoff-announced-a-web-based-file-sharing-app-for-creative-workflows/#comments Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:32:03 +0000 https://www.cined.com/?p=328123 Hedge has just introduced DropOff, a web-based file-sharing app for creative workflows that offers storage, security, and speed. The app allows users to send and receive files without incurring monthly fees, opting instead for a pay-per-GB model. Let’s take a look!

Hedge is a Dutch software company founded in 2016 and responsible for, among others, the Offshoot and Canister platforms. On this occasion, they have launched DropOff, a web-based file-sharing platform for creators. This app lets users send and receive files through their LucidLink Filespace.

DropOff at a glance

These are DropOff’s main characteristics:

  • Sending files. DropOff allows users to send files by creating a link for the specific files. This link gives direct access to the files without having access to the user’s LucidLink Filespace.
  • Receiving files. We can also create links to allow collaborators to send files that the users receive into their LucidLink Filespace set up in DropOff. As in the previous process, the sender has no direct access to the user’s Filespace.
DropOff has a clean interface to make things easy for the users. – Source: Hedge.
  • No monthly fees. Hedge decided not to charge via standing fees or periodic subscriptions. Aside from that, there are no file types, size limits, or expiration dates for the data sent or received. As an alternative, DropOff uses a flexible pay-per-GB model that is adaptable to the creators’ exact needs.

Although DropOff has a visually simple interface, Hedge ensures that the programming behind it integrates perfectly with LucidLink’s security measures. Hedge started this partnership with LucidLink after creating the PostLab Drive app. This collaboration means that DropOff currently works exclusively with LucidLink to receive files into Filespaces or share them via a secure DropOff location. New users must sign up for a LucidLink account or add their existing credentials. 

You will need to enter your LucidLink credentials when setting up DropOff. – Source: Hedge.

Price and availability

For new DropOff users, Hedge is offering 20GB for free so they can test the app. After that, they can top up at $0.50 per GB. You can sign up for DropOff here.  

As you will require a LucidLink Filespace when setting up, you can try LucidLink here for 14 days. After that, you have different options starting at $20. You can check them by visiting this link. 

What do you think about Hedge DropOff? Would you give it a try for sharing your projects? Let us know in the comments below!

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