Everyone talking Pablo

Everywhere you turned at NAB, someone would be talking up Quantel’s 4K color-correction software Pablo, which made its U.S. debut. Pablo’s powerful image processor allows it to facilitate 4K resolution with realtime ‘pan and scan’. Also drawing heavy traffic on the convention floor was a new version of Quantel’s graphics hardware Paintbox, which it says works twice as fast for both HD and SD.

Kodak embraces digital workflow

Kodak rolled out its enhanced Vision2 HD system, which allows for film capture combined with digital workflow. The system includes a new scan-only negative film, the Vision2 HD digital processor v2.0, and related software. Kodak’s theater demos showed how the system has enhanced storage capacity, and lets users easily switch among different telecines and suites.

Arri dishes out HD

Another traditional film company that is adapting to the digital landscape is German camera-making giant Arri, which displayed its Arriflex D-20 film-style digital camera in both HD and data configurations. The HD mode, when used with Arri’s FlashMag, offers up to 10 cable-free minutes of recording with an uncompressed 4:4:4, or 15 minutes of 4:2:2 HD signal. In data mode, the camera offers the option to output processed images as 2K files, and is DI ready.

Panasonic shows AJ-HDX900

There was considerable buzz on the floor around Panasonic’s forthcoming AJ-HDX900, a cost-efficient, multi-format DVCPRO HD camera that Panasonic Canada product manager David Craig says will be widely available in July. Panasonic also introduced its AK-HC1500G, a lightweight, switchable 1080i/720p HD camera, borrowing variable frame-rate functions and other features from the company’s popular VariCam line, making it an easy option for use during live sports events and video conferences.

Avid makes play with Interplay

In addition to launching Interplay – which brings together workflow automation, asset management and security control in one package – Avid also introduced its DS Nitris v.8.0 with enhanced HD and 4K digital intermediate finishing capabilities, as well as version 7 of its Liquid Chrome HD editing system.

Adobe: better, faster

Adobe vigorously demoed its After Effects 7 FX software. The new version features a new Graph Editor, providing the capability for more precise animations, a mask renderer said to be 100% faster than in previous versions, and HDR color and 32-bit audio support. The firm also touted its new Adobe Production Studio, offering a complete audio/video post-production package combining After Effects 7.0, Premiere Pro 2.0, Photoshop CS2, Audition 2.0, and other Adobe products.

NewTek’s AIM is true

TriCaster PRO, an update of NewTek’s lauded live presentation system, proved such a popular product launch at NAB that it won an AIM award in the content management heat. Tricaster PRO allows for live, multi-camera usage mixed with pre-edited video and overlays, with the option of simultaneous output to projectors, the Net and video. New PRO features also include component video in and out, and automatic camera calibration.