Beta release 3.0.1 for Matrox MXO2 I/O devices and the new Matrox Mojito MAX card is now available on our user forum. This software update adds broadcast monitoring support with the recent Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3 update. Broadcast monitoring in Final Cut Pro X 10.0.3 allows video and audio output to a variety of external monitors and other equipment using the SDI, HDMI or analog video outputs from Matrox products.

Beta release 3.0.1 also provides support for Apple Compressor 4 with all MAX-enabled Matrox MXO2 devices and the Mojito MAX card.

To download the new beta driver visit the Matrox user forum:

Matrox MXO User Forum

Avid had launched an iPad version of it's consumer video editing application called Studio for the iPad. Available for the first 30 days for just $4.99 ($7.99 after that) at the Apple App store, Studio for iPad will work on both iPad 1 and iPad 2 using iOS5.

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As reported by Computerworld, Seagate said that the hard disk drive (HDD) shortage would continue through 2012. It predicted that the year would end with a shortfall of 150 million units.

Via Computerworld

Special Offer on Matrox Mojito MAX, Matrox MXO2 LE MAX, and Matrox Rack MAX

For a limited time, purchases of selected Matrox products qualify for significant savings:

· Matrox Mojito MAX – Save $100 - Shop Now
· Matrox MXO2 LE MAX – Save $100 - Shop Now
· Matrox MXO2 Rack MAX – Save $400 - Shop Now

Final Cut Pro X has just just been updated to version 10.0.3 and now includes many features that were deemed missing from the original release. 

Included in the new release are:

• Multicam – up to 64 cameras!
• Advanced Chroma Keying
• Media Relink
• Import Layered Adobe Photoshop Graphics
• XML 1.1
• Broadcast Monitoring (beta)

While this seems to address a number of shortcummings of Final Cut Pro X, it should be noted that the broadcast monitoring is listed as beta, and it is just monitoring - not capture. Also. there is now support for going from legacy Final Cut Pro 7 projects using the third-party 7toX app ($10) via the Apple App store.

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The current generation of Mac Pros from Apple date back to August of 2010: to say that a new version of the Mac Pro is overdue is an understatement. While some have speculated that Apple will kill off the Mac Pros and focus their computer efforts on the iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs, other feel that...

Blackmagic Design has announced a new version of the HyperDeck Shuttle.  This new version, called the HyperDeck Shuttle 2, supports the Avid DNxHD format at the same low price of $345 MSRP.

Release 2.4 (Mac) Now Available for MXO2 Family, Mojito MAX and CompressHD

Release 2.4 (Mac) for MXO2 Family and Mojito MAX provides updates to improve overall stability with Final Cut Studio, and addresses minor audio issues with Final Cut Pro 7. For CompressHD, it provides updates to improve overall stability and addresses some minor issues.

In order to download the latest drivers, you must register your Matrox product and log into the Matrox site.

Blackmagic Design today announced that the specification of the ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher has changed to reflect the feedback received for more SDI inputs. As a professional product likely to be used in broadcast and larger multi camera productions the main need is for SDI.

There are now 16 simultaneous SDI inputs on the 2 M/E. Input 1 can be switched from SDI to provide an HDMI input. To get more SDI inputs into the unit the analog component input and outputs have been removed and there is now the 1 switchable HDMI input rather than the 4 independent ones.

 It is expected the 2 M/E Production Switcher will begin shipping in February.

Today at CES in Las Vegas, Blackmagic Design announced a new version of Intensity Shuttle with Thunderbolt technology.  Company representatives stated that the reason for this new version of Intensity Shuttle is that it addresses some of the main customer demands for capture and playback of video using Thunderbolt since it is 10-bit and will work with faster formats up to 1080p60; and it’s a modern, more appealing design with inline connections for inputs and outputs so customers don't need additional cables and adapters.  It's also incredibly lightweight and weighs under a 1lb.

Intensity Shuttle will continue to be available in the USB 3.0 version so now customers will be able to choose the technology they prefer. The Intensity Shuttle with Thunderbolt support is expected to begin shipping at the end of February.

No, this isn’t something you put on top of your ice cream, it’s a new software by Flavoursys that allows you to easily share projects and media between Avid, FCP or Adobe from DV to 4K across Mac and Windows clients. Strawberry was developed by editors and directors at an operational television station to optimize your workflow whether you're working in a broadcast environment, a film or video post-production facility or an educational facility. Check it out!

Market Changes in the NLE world

This has been a very interesting year for the NLE market, primarily due to the release of Final Cut Pro X. As you probably already know, the current version of Final Cut Pro X isn’t usable for most professionals, as it doesn’t support capture cards and you can’t monitor a true video signal, to name a few items. While it’s unclear if Apple will ever add in the features necessary to accommodate the pro market, every other NLE manufacturer has taken advantage of the situation and upped their game in significant ways.

So what are the options if you’re thinking about moving on from FCP? Here are some to consider:

 Avid Media Composer 6

With the release this week of MC6, Avid is showing its commitment to the pro market on a number of fronts: the biggest news is that for the first time MC6 now supports third party cards – just like the ones you’ve been using with FCP. This makes switching from FCP to MC6 much less costly, as you can keep the hardware that own and simply purchase the software. As an added bonus, Avid has a special upgrade price for Final Cut Studio users: $1,495 vs the full price of $2,495. Next, MC6 is full 64 bit, meaning it will take advantage of just about as much RAM as you can put into your system and operates much more efficiently than 32 bit applications.

 Premiere Pro CS 5.55 deal for $1,199.000.

Media 100and Boris RED for just $5955 – that’s a $400 savings off the regular price. If you haven’t checked out Media 100 lately, there’s never been a better time.

 Final Cut Pro X

Are professionals using Final Cut Pro X? There are a few, but there are many gotcha’s, so before you make the plunge, we’d recommend doing some web surfing so you know exactly what the pros and cons are.

Final Cut Studio 

In an interesting twist, Final Cut Studio is still available. When Final Cut Pro X was released, Apple, true to form, immediately discontinued the ‘old’ Final Cut Studio. After the less than warm reception of FCP X, Apple has made Final Cut Studio available, but only to those that call Apple at 800-MYAPPLE and request it; it’s not available on-line or through and Apple dealers.

Avid Media Composer 6 Now Shipping  - Today Avid announced Media Composer 6 is now shipping for both Mac and Windows platforms. The 64 bit software features a new but familiar interface and support for Blackmagic Design and Matrox capture and playback hardware.

Matrox Introduces Mojito Max Capture Card  Today Matrox introduced the Mojito MAX, an SDI/HDMI/analog HD/SD video and professional audio I/O card that includes an onboard Matrox MAX H.264 encoding accelerator. Matrox also announced that its entire line of MXO capture and output devices now support Avid Media Composer 6 software.

Avid introduces Media Composer 6  Today Avid announced Media Composer 6 which features a new but familiar interface and support for Blackmagic Design and Matrox capture and playback hardware.

Today we're pleased to flip the switch on our new web site. We’ve rebuilt our web site from the ground up and are constantly adding and updating products. Let us know what you think and if there are any ways that we can make it better!

If you haven’t heard yet, the floods in Thailand are causing massive hard drive shortages. As a result, hard drives are already in short supply and prices are expected to rise for up to the next six months. In the last two weeks we have had three price increases from manufacturers. Thailand is the second-largest manufacturer of drives in the world where a significant portion of Western Digital, Hitachi, Seagate, Toshiba and Samsung hard drives are produced. If you are planning to add to your storage, we’d recommend purchasing sooner rather than later.