KB Covers Announces Keyboards for Media Applications

Supplementing its keyboard cover, KB Covers has added a line of keyboards, based on Apple’s keyboard, but with customized keys, for a variety of media applications.

KB Covers is dedicated to providing the finest quality keyboard covers and keyboards for Apple/Mac desktop and laptop computers. All our covers are ultra-thin and made with the highest quality silicone available. Our keyboard covers are made with stringent Quality Assurance methods, which help to ensure a tight fit, long-lasting durability, no paint cracking/chipping, a soft-feel, and ultimately a happy customer.

Click here for more information.

Panasonic Ships New, Lower Cost 16 GB and 32 GB E-Series P2 Cards

Panasonic announced the immediate availability of its new 16GB (model AJ-P2E016X) and 32GB (model AJ-P2E032X) E Series P2 cards at low costs of $420 and $625 respectively. The E Series P2 cards provide high quality recording for an average of five years with normal operation.

Incorporating a newly-developed memory technology, E Series P2 cards transfer recorded content at a faster rate (up to 1.2Gbps) than professional solid-state memory cards offered by other manufacturers. For example, users can transfer a full 16GB E Series card’s content (any format) in less than two minutes. E Series cards offer the same high-quality recording and capacity as standard Panasonic P2 solid-state memory cards, and feature Panasonic’s signature aluminum die cast casing for exceptional durability compared to plastic-based memory card products.

Unlike other disc-based or solid-state recording systems, P2 cards are a high-speed bit bucket, offering high-quality video recording and optimum flexibility, including reliable performance, instant access to content and compatibility with all P2 camcorders, P2 recorders and workflow tools and all major nonlinear editors and servers. P2 cards store content in the complete range of P2-supported frame rates and formats, from high definition to standard definition and from DVCPRO to AVC-Intra 100. P2 cards offer recording of video, audio, and metadata in any environment, even in challenging conditions of extreme temperature.

E Series P2 cards are reusable for up to five years when recorded on once daily, at full capacity (100%); when used at half capacity (50%), the cards can continue to record for up to 10 years. A notification is given (in the camcorder’s LCD/viewfinder or the card reader’s display) as the card approaches the end of its life cycle.

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New Century Accessories for Sony HVR-Z5U and HDR-FX1000

Schneider Optics introduces Century HD accessories for the new HVR-Z5U and HDR-FX1000 camcorders. Many of the Century lens add-ons created for Sony’s HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U are also a perfect match for the HVR-Z5U and HDR-FX1000.

Attaching neatly to the camera’s lens front, Century Pro Series HD accessories are designed to help the user shoot wider, reach further, and move in closer than the lens alone will allow. These state-of-the-art optics produce crisp, high-resolution images with low distortion, and superior contrast edge to edge. Multi-coated glass elements provide sharp images free of unwanted distortion or chromatic aberration. Most units are equipped with a bayonet mount for quick, secure installation and easy removal.

Century HD accessories that are compatible with the HVR-Z5U/HDR-FX1000 include the .6X HD Wide Angle Adapter, .75X HD Wide Angle Converter, Fisheye HD Adapter, 1.6X HD Tele-Converter, and Achromatic Diopters in strengths of +2.0 and +3.5.

U.S. List price starts at $490.00.

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K-Tek Introduces Kwiksock

K-Tek introduces the Kwiksock. This fast and easy-to-use method of wind noise reduction is specifically designed for recording scenarios when it is not possible to carry or there is no time to locate a bulky, full-size windscreen. What’s more, the Kwiksock can be used to provide an additional layer of wind protection underneath an existing Zeppelin. Featuring a short-hair faux fur exterior and lined with top-quality fleece, the Kwiksock rolls up tightly and packs easily into a small bag or pocket for easy carrying. Each unit comes with a convenient carrying pouch. Available in short, medium and long sizes, the K-Tek (K-WIK) comes in either 21mm diameter (wide) or 19mm diameter (narrow) to fit most shotgun microphones.

U.S. MSRP price for the K-WIK is $55.00 (carrying pouch included).

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Adobe Releases Major Updates for CS4

Digital Production BuZZ spoke with Dave Helmly, North American DMO Technical Sales Manager at Adobe, about the new Adobe CS4 updates to After Effects 9.02, Premiere Pro 4.1, and Adobe Media Encoder 4.1.

Scheduled for release Friday morning, the new updates include:

  • Major speed improvements for Adobe Media Encoder
  • New RED R3D workflow & Raw setting panel
  • Avid Import & Export
  • Edit DVD VOB blocks directly, without having to convert first.
  • Improved AVCHD playback
  • Improved project loading
  • New Frame Export
  • Click here for more information.

    Cycore Systems Announces CycoreFX HD 1.6.5 update

    Cycore Systems, the creators of Final Effects and Cult Effects, today releases new and improved CycoreFX HD 1.6.5. The update contains two brand new plug-ins and 15 plug-ins that support 32 bpc (float) and is available for After Effects CS4, CS3 and 7.0 on Mac (Universal Binaries) and Windows.

    This update features 2 new plug-ins, Rainfall and Snowfall, extending the HD package to a total of 73 plug-ins with 16 bpc support. Upgrading from the bundled CycoreFX version means an additional 12 plug-ins. Also included in this update are 15 plug-ins with 32 bpc (float) support.

    CC Rainfall

    Rainfall allows to easily and quickly create “real-looking” rain when there is no time to get into a complex particle generator. Create anything from gentle summer rain to a torrential downpour.

    CC Snowfall

    Snowfall allows to easily and quickly create “real-looking” snow when there is no time to get into a complex particle generator.

    Click here for more information.

    Panasonic Releases P2 Card Updates

    According to Abel CineTechnica, If you own a P2 based camera or other device then this is a must read. Panasonic is releasing their E-Series (Economy Series) P2 cards and while they are designed to work with all P2 devices, many will require a firmware upgrade to work perfectly. Without the upgrade the devices may have problems recording clips over multiple cards (Spanned Clips). Also a “REC Warning Error” may occur when recording in variable frame rates at 720/24PN/25PN/30PN. This error may also occur when shooting DV or DVCPRO (not DVCPRO HD) in Loop, Interval, or even Normal record modes. So these updates are a must if you’d like to use the E-Series cards. An upgrade is NOT needed for the following cameras: VariCam 3700, VariCam 2700, AJ-HPX3000, AJ-SPX800, AJ-SPC700 and AJ-SPD850.

    Panasonic has posted a chart which shows which cameras need the update and when the firmware will be available for free download.

    Click here for more information.

    Canon to update the 5D Mark II with manual controls

    Canon announces a free downloadable update to the EOS 5D Mark II camera that enables manual exposure controls while shooting video. This includes ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

    Click here for more information.

    Ross Video Announces Blackmagic Design to Support OpenGear Framework

    openGear is an open-architecture, 2 RU modular frame system designed by
    Ross Video and supported by more than 20 different terminal equipment
    manufacturers. openGear offers clients the freedom to choose the best
    technology from a wide range of manufacturers’ products to meet the needs
    of a broadcast, production, or distribution facility while maintaining a
    compatible openGear frame infrastructure.

    The Ross DashBoard Remote Control and Monitoring System and companion SNMP
    plug-in enables unified control over all openGear cards in a system as well
    as for openGear to tie in with 3rd party SNMP based systems. The openGear
    modules offered from Ross include a broad selection of audio and video
    products for distribution, analog conversion, Up/Down/X format conversion,
    fiber, switching, keying and synchronization, as well as backward
    compatibility with a suite of solutions from the RossGear 8000 series.

    Click here for more information.

    Panasonic Releases FREE Downloadable Scene Files For The New AG-HPX300 P2 HD Camcorder

    Panasonic Broadcast announced the availability of a wide range of scene files for the popular AG-HPX300 P2 HD shoulder-mount camcorder with AVC-Intra recording. The downloadable scene files provide a user with an array of new “looks” to increase his creativity. They are available at www.panasonic.com/scenefiles.

    P2 HD scene files allow users to move quickly from one preferred look to another without having to make manual setting adjustments to tone and color in the camera. The scene files feature creative looks suited for shooting sports, independent films, news, beauty, music videos, night scenes and more. The new scene files can be easily downloaded onto an SD card and read from the camera’s built-in SD card slot.

    Instructions to download the HPX300 scene files are available at www.panasonic.com/scenefiles.