3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space
Published by 4th WAVE, Inc.
Issue #708 4/17/97
****SPECIAL NAB ISSUE****
CONTENTS
To Our Readers
The last issue was focused on WinHEC and its length would have exceeded a single issue if combined with NAB. We are sending this special issue with our NAB coverage along with the news received in the last week.
Four Eidos Titles "Rendition Ready"
[April 7]
Rendition Inc. has announced that four top titles from Eidos Interactive are now "Rendition Ready" by providing support for Rendition's HAL, RRedline. The four titles are Flying Nightmares II, Team Apache, Terracide and Deathtrap Dungeon.
http://www.eidosinteractive.com
[April 14]
Chromatic Research and STB Systems have announced that STB will use Mpact media processor technology to provide a DVD PC add-in card for OEMs. The PCI-based cards are available in sample quantities today and will be available in volume in May (pricing TBD). Features include 30 fps MPEG-2 video, full 6-channel Dolby Digital audio decoding, SRS TruSurround audio spatialization for Dolby Digital, CSS (Content Scrambling System) license for the decryption of copy-protected content and sub-picture decoding. The STB DVD card uses the Mpact/3600 media processor with Mpact Mediaware 1.6.
MaK Awarded Marine Contract for Assault Video Game
[April 14]
MaK Technologies has been awarded a Marine Corps contract for the design and construction of a Marine amphibious assault video game, tentatively titled MEU-31. It is the first video game to be co-funded and co-developed by the DoD and entertainment industry. The project has a funding ceiling of $800,000 and will be used by the Marine Corps for training and education in the areas of command and control, maneuver, firepower and logistics.
Vogue 3D To Use Real3D Chipset
[April 15]
Vogue 3D, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parallax Solution Inc., have announced that they will use Real3D's R3D/100 chipset in their upcomming graphics accelerator. The new board, which will be released in May 1997, will be targeted at the CAD/CAM and other high-end markets.
Tel: (972) 881-1579
S3 and Intervista Ally With Black Sun
[April 15]
S3 Inc. and Intervista Software have formed a strategic alliance with Black Sun Interactive. The relationship will integrate Black Sun Community technology with the S3d Worldview VRML 2.0 browser. It is compatible with S3's RIO (Redistributed Internet Objects) platform, which stores graphics and audio data on user's hard drive rather than relying on downloads. Texture and audio databases are distributed with the software as well as six sample VRML worlds.
WSCG '98 Int. Conference on Computer Graphics and Visualization
What: The Fifth International Conference in Central Europe on Computer Graphics and Visualization 98 (WSCG '98) When: February 9-13, 1998 Where: Plzen at the University of West Bohemia close to Prague, the capital of Czech Republic
Paper contributions are currently being solicited with the contribution deadline on Sept. 30. A wide range of topics will be covered, including fundamental algorithms, rendering and visualization, VR, animation and multimedia, medical imaging, and much more. In addition, the WSCGAE98 Exhibition will be held in parallel, showcasing the top European companies active in computer graphics, virtual reality and multimedia.
708.3 New Company - Quantum3D by John Latta
A new company has been formed to provide 3D accelerators for the visual simulation, PC based coin-op and location based entertainment markets. The company begins operations immediately by being the exclusive distributor of the 3Dfx Obsidian family of graphic cards. This will allow 3Dfx to focus exclusively on the chip business while Quantum 3D, a card company, moves one level up the integration chain. Ross Smith, VP of Sales and Marketing at 3Dfx, has moved from this position to hold the same position at Quantum. Chief Scientist is Charles "Herb" Kuta and Gordon Campbell is the chairman of Quantum 3D.
The first product, Obsidian3Ds, has been announced. It includes the Obsidian 50-4220 with 4MB of texture memory and 4MB of frame buffer memory and a special version of Datapath's Realistorm plug-in for $995. This allows users to have a two monitor system to manipulate objects, view animations, and control 3D rendering features in real time. One monitor is used for construction and the other for real time viewing.
Quantum3D
1200 Crossman Ave., Suite 200
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
(408)747-1020
(408)747-1510 FAX
708.4 Conference Report - NAB by John Latta and David Lohse
Adobe - After Effects for Windows
Adobe has unveiled After Effects 3.1 for Windows 95 and Windows NT. After Effects, formerly available on the Macintosh, is a tool for digital compositing, 2D animation and special effects. After Effects 3.1 for Windows will be available in late spring 1997 - the standard version, which includes 60 special effects plug-ins will be available for $995; the Production Bundle, which includes more advanced motion controls, keying and distortion plug-ins, will be available for $1,995.
Intergraph - High-End Compositing on StudioZ
Intergraph has announced that their StudioZ Media Production Workstations now offer optimal performance for Adobe's After Effects compositing software. After Effects achieves optimal performance through native support of StudioZ's digital video codec, allowing users to perform compositing without file conversion.
Intergraph - ViZfx Plug-In Realeased
The release of ViZfx, a collection of over 50 unique multithreaded, OpenGL-accelerated special effects for video post-production was announced. The special effects include geometry transformations, color transitions, alpha operations, particle manipulations, glows, shines, and A-to-B transitions. ViZfx is currently available as a plug-in for Adobe After Effects and in:sync Speed Razor for $399.
Intergraph announced the release of version 2.0 of RenderGL, their OpenGL-based rendering API. RenderGL has already been adopted by Kinetix, Softimage, NewTek, and Nichimen Graphics and has been licensed by IBM for their IntelliStation Z Pro workstations. RenderGL 2.0 offers speed enhancements and new features including ray tracing, quick transparency, additional lighting realism and reflective textures.
Intergraph - Professional Desktop Video Systems
Intergraph announced new strategic partnerships with Truevision, Avid and D-Vision to provide turnkey desktop video systems based on Intergraph's TD-200DV Desktop Video Station. The TD-200DV is configured with Truevision's RTX video I/O, along with the choice of Avid, D- Vision, Adobe or in:sync video editing software. The workstations start at $7,500.
Digimation - 17 New 3DS MAX Plug-Ins
Digimation has announced 17 new plug-ins for 3D Studio MAX in addition to their current 10.
MultiGen/Mountain Top - Realtime 3D Terrain for Broadcast Use
MultiGen and Mountain Top Computing have announced that MultiGen II Pro is the terrain database of choice for Mountain Top's new EarthMaker application. The collaboration will allow users to create real-time 3D terrain models for a wide range of applications including broadcast use.
Accom has announced several new virtual set products, including ELSET LIVE-NT, which utilizes the Real3D Pro-1000 graphics engine. ELSET LIVE-NT is the on-air companion to ELSET POST-NT, providing broadcast- quality real-time virtual sets at up to 60 Hz performance.
Matrox - Dual Desktop Controller
Matrox Video Products Groups has announced DigiDesktop, a PCI-based controller that provides a dual-screen high-resolution Windows NT desktop with multiple video-in-a-window displays. Designed specifically for non-linear editing, DigiDesktop offers desktop workspace for timelines, icon-based slot lists and multiple live 601 video editing windows.
Matrox - DigiTools Video Software
Matrox announced the shipment of DigiTools, an ActiveMovie-based application bundled with DigiSuite. It provides uncompressed-quality video capture and playback, frame-accurate machine control and alpha- channel keying of graphics and animations over live video.
STB showed their new Quartet video server technology and Digital Video Subsystems (DVS) products. Quartet is a PCI-based adapter that can receive, decompress and output up to four independent channels of MPEG- 2 data. STB expects Quartet to be used for on-site training for medical and airline employees, video-on-demand applications, in-flight entertainment systems, corporate video systems and small to medium- sized video production units.
OZ Interactive - Support For DirectX
OZ Interactive has announced their support of Microsoft's DirectX technology for two-way 3D interactive channels. DirectX will be used to enhance OZ Virtual 2.0.
E & S - Virtual Set Announcements
Evans & Sutherland was showing their virtual set products called MindSet. Four configurations were announced that range in price from $99,500 to $510,000. E&S claims that that their lowest priced system compares to a $250,000 SGI system. The E&S configuration , at the low end, is in a single rack and includes: camera tracker, mindset Graphics Supercomputer; NT based workstation; preview channel and Video delay. They are also offering Virtual Prop Shop, a series of standardized content options designed to support MindSet virtual set users. Another capability supports electronic off-line storyboarding and rehearsal functionality.
A partnership with Full Sail (a school for training media professionals), was also announced where the two companies will work together to create a curriculum for instructing students in the development of virtual environments for film and video production.
NewTek - LightWave 3D Version 5.5
Sporting a new user interface in Version 5.5 is a feature to do real- time texture mapping. The software now supports OpenGL, Direct3D and QuickDraw3D. 3D acceleration hardware is now also supported. A new feature is Morph Gizmo which supports sophisticated character animation. In the rendering area a new engine is present to support volumetric rendering and lighting. It is now possible to create effects such as fog, explosions, light cones, dust and smoke.
The software will ship Q2 for Windows NT (Intel and Alpha) or Windows 95, PowerMac and SGI workstations. Upgrades on PCs will cost $495 while the SGI upgrade is $1,495. New systems cost $1,995 on PCs and $3,995 on SGI.
Apple - QuickTime 3.0 for Windows and Mac OS
QuickTime 3.0 now supports playback, editing and integration of QuickTime, MPEG, AVI, OMF, DVCAM and OpenDML video file formats. Audio formats supported include: Wave, AIFF, Sound Designer II, AU and MPEG Layer 2. A significant extension in 3.0 is the addition of a Media Abstraction Layer. This version will be available late in Q2 and can be downloaded from the QuickTime site. A white paper is also available.
http://www.quicktime.apple.com
Play - Trinity Shown with a Price of $4995
Playing to packed observers, Play was showing Trinity, an all-in-one video editing suite including 2D digital effects, switching, character generation, virtual sets, still stores and tools for painting, animation and compositing. Also shown were real-time 3D digital effects which included reflection mapping. Play stated that 29 new custom chips had to be developed. The price for a complete Trinity was announced at $4995.
Truevision - MADRAS: Intelligent Hub for Audio and Video
MADRAS (Multiformat Analog/Digital Rackmount Adapter System) is an intelligent hub for interfacing audio and video signals to and from TARGA based non-linear editing workstations. MADRAS transcodes all standard analog and digital audio and video formats in real time including SMPTE 259M and DV/1394. The pricing is expected to be $6,995 for a standalone unit and $15,995 when sold with a TARGA 2000 SDX. Shipments begin in June. Kinetix and Truevision announced that Truevision VARs will be able to sell Kinetix software, including 3D Studio MAX, with Truevision products.
Pinnacle Systems - Windows NT Product Announcements and More
DVEXTREME, claimed to be the first 3D digital video effects generator with full broadcast quality and multiple channel support, was announced for use in Windows NT-based systems. Up to 3 video manipulation channels are supported with 10-bit video processing. Pinnacle's proprietary effects, ParticleFX and PainterlyFX, are supported. 3D effects include: rotation, perspective, global channel manipulation, warps and more. Each of the three video channels has an independent key channel. ITU-R601 serial digital video is supported along with optional Analog I/O. A dual channel DVEXTREME starts at less than $50,000.
NLE Deko is a software plug-in which complements Windows NT based non- linear editors. Shown at NAB was NLE Deko with In-Sync's Speed Razor. NLE Deko provides edge treatments, drop shadows, frames and more. The host editor provides the timeline and NLE Deko fits within the editor's software package.
TypeDeko is an on-line character generator for Windows NT systems. Based on software originally developed by Digital GraphiX, a recently acquired company, there are now over 600 units installed. Version 3.0 of the software supports cell animation, keyhole shading and edging features.
Lightning is a multiple channel real-time video storage and retrieval system which is also Windows NT-based. Recall time can be 1/2 second locally and 1 second over a network. Lighting features built in 3D video effects for on-air integration of store video sequences. The system is available now and is priced at $26,000.
Electric Image - Software Moves to SGI and Windows
At NAB Electric Image announced that it is porting it entire ElectricImage product line to O2 and OCTANE SGI workstations. ElectricImage Broadcast was announced at $2,995. Windows NT ports of the Electric Image Animation System, Broadcast, 3D Modeler and Radiosity Render were disclosed. The Modeler will be available Q2 for $995, the Animation System for $7,495 and Broadcast for $2,995.
Avid and Pluto Technologies International announced that they are jointly developing a DV-native editing and playback system for broadcast news. As part of this agreement Avid will develop a DV-native version for Windows NT. Pluto Technologies International will develop a multichannel playback server and supply this technology to Avid under an OEM agreement. This DV NewsCutter system will be compatible with many DV cameras and decks. Availability is to be Q1 1998 with pricing announced later.
Elastic Reality 3.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT is now shipping. This latest version includes: Warping and Morphing, Assisted Tracing tool, Compositing and Matte Making, Color Correction and Hierarchical 2D Animation and Image Transforms. It is priced at $1,299.
Alias/Wavefront - Rendering on Windows NT Announced
A new rendering option for PowerAnimator 8.5 was announced where SDL output files can be rendered on systems running Windows NT. PowerAnimator 8.5 will include layers, Spline Inverse Kinematics, ToonShader and Lasso Pick. 8.5 will begin shipping in Fall 1997 and prices begin at $9,995. The NT based render will ship at the same time. Pricing will be announced when it ships.
Macromedia - Final Cut Announced
The long awaited video production product from Macromedia was previewed at NAB. This is positioned as the only cross-platform video software to use open system media layers for digital video editing, compositing and effects. The software will be available the first half of 1998 for Windows 95, NT and PowerMac systems. Pricing was not disclosed.
SGI - New Video Products Announced
SGI announced its Origin video computing platform. This platform encompasses Origin servers, digital video options, digital asset management and third party solutions. This is a scalable platform which can support uncompressed HDTV, playback of film resolution, and more than 100 streams of MPEG-2. The platform can also support video delivery for Web based intranets. In addition, the capability is present for station automation, ad insertion, near-video-on-demand and intranet video-on-demand. SGI offers a wide variety of input, graphics and server options. Also announced was the software StreamCaster 2.0 for the management of multi-channel digital broadcast playout. This is capable of scaling to 100 output streams and more than 1,000 hours of compressed video content. One application of StreamCaster is to schedule and manage Near Video on Demand which includes movies and special events for cable companies. The software will be available in Q2 for CHALLENGE servers with license fees beginning at $100,000.
Softimage - Digital Studio Released in Beta and More
The long awaited Digital Studio was shown at NAB to packed audiences. Scheduled for release in late summer 1997 it is described as a comprehensive online environment for creating and finishing high-end video content. The key to Digital Studio is the level of integration of tools for picture and audio editing, compositing, paint, image treatment, special effects, titling and content management. Using Windows NT this provides an open-architecture and open-platform for Digital Studio.
Softimage 3D Version 3.7 is now shipping for Windows NT and IRIX platforms. Softimage 3D is $7,995 and Softimage Extreme is $13,995. The stand-alone rendering software, Mental Ray, is priced at $2,495 per seat.
Toonz Version 4.1 for Windows NT is now shipping. This 2D cell animation package was available only for SGI. It was also announced that the developer of Toonz, Digital Video Srl (Italy), will develop a 2D cel animation plug-in for Digital Studio. Toonz for Windows NT sells for $12,995. An DEC Alpha version is also available.
SDK Version 1.7 has been released. This version allows developers greater access to the internals of the Softimage 3D architecture including access to custom shaders and channel drivers. There are three toolkits: SAPPHIRE (special effects), Mental Ray (custom shader) and CDK (channel driver). Over 100 developers have or are creating plug- ins.
Copyright 1997 4th WAVE Inc.
May be redistributed in full for individual readership and posted to newsgroups, Web, and FTP sites. May not be reprinted or redistributed for profit. Short quotes are permitted but must be attributed to the WAVE Report on Digital Media.