New Singular Software Presto application automates the daunting task of piecing together presenter and slideshow, yielding professional videos that are easy to share

Singular Software, a developer of workflow automation applications for digital media markets, announced the availability of Singular Software Presto, a revolutionary new tool for creating presentation videos. Ideal for conference presentations, training sessions, and workshops, Singular Software Presto leverages sophisticated computer vision and audio synchronization techniques to automate the assembly of presenter footage, slideshow, and audio elements, creating a professional-looking video package in minutes instead of hours.

The Singular Software Presto step-by-step wizard lets users of all skill levels zip through the creative process, with simple output options to publish presentation videos to YouTube, iPad, DVD, and more. Users need only record video of the presenter and the projection screen, obtain the original slides, and optionally capture higher quality audio from the presenter’s microphone. In just minutes, Singular Software Presto automatically creates an attention-grabbing presentation that combines sharp and bright original slide images with a closely tracked inset of the presenter for a polished and engaging video.

Singular Software Presto Key Capabilities

Face-tracking technology keeps the presenter within an inset without requiring laborious manual tracking during the presentation; the camera recording the presenter can often be locked down.

Slideshow image-matching technology ensures that the slide transitions are timed exactly as they were during the presentation when Singular Software Presto replaces the imported projection screen video footage with high-quality slideshow images.

Singular Software Presto works with presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and other programs.

A wide range of customizable slide transition effects and layout options are available to spice up the video.

Users can easily navigate through the finished video using markers that are automatically placed at each slide transition.

Singular Software Presto integrates with Singular Software PluralEyes to automatically synchronize the presenter video, projection screen video, and audio tracks.

Simple output options make it easy to prepare the video for distribution in all popular formats, including YouTube, iPad, iPod, and DVD.

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Canon added a pair of new pro camcorders that should bring high-bitrate video to a more affordable price grade. Together, the XF100 and XF105 record at 1080p30 and use the newer XF Codec of the XF300 series to produce accurate video output. The standard gives them 50-megabit, 4:2:2 sampling MPEG-2 that should both produce better accuracy than HDV and suit itself well to chromakeying or other effects where distinct colors are important. Most of their sacrifices are inlenses, which use less ambitious 10X (30.4-304mm) lenses versus the 18X glass on the higher-end models.

Both models have 3.5-inch LCDS to go with their electronic viewfinders and even have assists for 3D and infrared shooting, such as a lens shift mode to coordinate two same-model cameras and both infrared reception as well as an emitter to produce the expected result even when no light exists to help the shot.

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ToolsOnAir, makers of QuickTime-based applications for broadcast video production professionals, has announced the release of the version 1.2 update to just:play, a part of their highly acclaimed Broadcast Suite. The new update incorporates a host of innovative features that place the already powerful program even further into a class of its own.

The new just:play update includes enhancements to the program’s intuitive timeline-based interface, including improvements to drag-and-drop functionality and color coding options for easier organization. Version 1.2 also includes video-with-alpha support, making it easy to drop video clips from the library into a graphic track.

The just:play file menu now includes support for importing from Final Cut Pro’s XML playlist, creating a playlist file from any XML file saved in Final Cut. The program’s “Live Input” video offers a new Infinite Length option that can be enabled in the Inspector, as well as n+1 redundancy function that enables sharing a single redundant engine between multiple channels.

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Switronix, Inc., a supplier of batteries and charging solutions in the professional film and video industry, has released the XP-ZOOM-5. The XP-ZOOm-5 is a Powertap to Zoom H4n connection 5V regulator cable. The cable allows the user to no longer be dependent on AA batteries to run the H4n. Simply plug the XP-Zoom-5 into one of the two powertaps on the PowerBase 70 anhd get nearly limitless runtime (the battery alone can run the H4N for 14hrs.)

Alongside the introduction of the XP-ZOOM-5, Switronix has released the PB70-24. The PB70-24 is a PowerBase 70 unit with a 24″ cable, making the PowerBase 70 more adaptable to various rig setups

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YoYotta will introduce the new version of YoYo – the company’s flagship postproduction workflow management system at IBC 2010 in Amsterdam, Sept. 10-14. Originally designed as a conform i/o interface for Pandora colour correctors, the YoYo v.3 software suite offers a comprehensive toolset for managing postproduction workflows for a fraction of the cost of other systems. With YoYo, facilities can ingest, transcode, conform and output just about every standard video- or data-based file format, thus freeing up creative suites for creative work.

New features in YoYo v.3 include encoding and decoding of MXF files, easing preparation of offline and online material for Avid editing systems, integration with file-based image processors from Cintel, control of Spirit DataCine via an onscreen GUI or a wireless iPad application, and audio support for WAV, BWAV, AAC, AIFF and MP3 files. Also enhanced is the creation of logos and graphics for dailies material.

Already widely deployed in London’s SOHO district for a variety of work in film, television and commercials, YoYo is comprised of three core applications – YoProject, YoCapture and YoSource. YoProject manages file-based data. YoCapture allows users to ingest video sources, and YoSource is designed for conforming and outputting video masters.

In the commercials sector, YoYo is ideal for conforming and outputting deliverables, freeing up the colourist, (and an expensive colour grading suite), for more creative work. In television, the system is being used to ingest and prep video source material for editorial, while in the film world, it can be deployed as a cost-effective system to manage a dailies workflow, or restoration projects.

In addition to its high-speed transcoding capabilities, YoYo offers primary colour correction and colour management allowing for the creation of accurate digital dailies, or for precise colour space adjustments at any stage of postproduction. The system can process virtually any file or video format into a single master and play out to disk or tape. Stereo deliverables can also be created in various 3D formats.

After final delivery, YoYo allows facilities to manage various storage tiers. Projects can be archived while maintaining a visual online audit for ongoing maintenance.

YoYo runs on the Apple Mac Pro, which allows for cost-effective installations on a powerful off the shelf workstation.

For more information click here.

Red Giant released Knoll Light Factory 2.7. This important update includes support for Adobe CS5/64 bit processing along with new tools that make this industry standard plug-in even more amazing.

Created by John Knoll, Photoshop co-creator and Star Wars effects guru, Knoll Light Factory is one of the industry’s most popular motion graphics tools. It is most famous for its high-fidelity simulations of light effects called flares, which simulate reflections from a very bright light source as seen through a camera’s lens. Knoll Light Factory is Hollywood’s go-to tool for adding interest to text or logos or extra pop to FX explosions.

What’s New?

New Lens Designer for Adobe CS5

10 new custom lenses

Knoll 3D Flare to easily create Lens Flares in After Effects 3D space

Knoll Unmult for removing black backgrounds and generating mattes

Support for Adobe CS5 and native 64-bit operation

Free Update for Knoll Light Factory Pro 2.5 and 2.6 Users

Owners of a license of Knoll Light Factory Pro version 2.5 or later, qualify for a FREE update to Knoll Light Factory 2.7. This is Red Giant’s way of showing how much it values returning business and to thank customers for being loyal and devoted.

For more information click here.

Atlona Technologies adds to their Wireless Accessory Line for a whole new user experience with a wireless KVM extender for PCs using Ultra Wide Band (UWB) to extend DVI signal, along with USB, and stereo audio up to 30 feet away.

Atlona Technologies has been a driving force behind innovative AV systems, making any connection possible. After the success of the wireless USB to VGA to HDMI adapter with Audio, the HDAiR, this leading solutions based manufacturer of Audio Video accessories has continued to advance with the wireless trend once again with the release of the all new AT-PCLink. This Wireless KVM Extender is designed as a solution for Windows enabling Notebooks, as well as other PC owners alike, to enjoy a whole new user experience with the ability to use their keyboard and mouse away from their computers without the hassle of wires.

Atlona is excited to unveil the AT-PCLink to PC users looking to conveniently create remote working environments. AT-PCLink is a great solution for those looking to wirelessly use their computer in a separate part of a room and for netbook users who want a larger keyboard and screen for day to day tasks. In addition, users viewing images and video on a smaller laptop can now view the same exact image on a conveniently larger monitor, wirelessly. The PC Link offers many other solutions for PC users everywhere such as the ability to transmit to up to 4 receiver modules, extend desktop images from a laptop to a larger monitor, and mirror a desired display onto a second monitor. This new Wireless KVM Extender solution allows PC users to connect to a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers, via a single wireless link with a single adapter that connects to a USB port. The AT-PCLink will wirelessly send video signal and audio at distances up to 30ft at resolutions up to 1440×1050. Users will love the simple installation of this unit with the ease of plug and play, requiring no network installation. There have been so many wired solutions recently and in the past that have served as a very costly solutions to make sure a simple application work; however now Atlona’s PCLink is a viable and extremely cost-effective option for users with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows7. In addition, this unit is fully Mac Compatible. With the ability to output DVI signal for common connectors on all new digital displays, this unit is perfect for both consumer and commercial wireless applications including surfing the web and watching streaming videos.

For more information click here.

MPEG LA said that it will continue to offer a royalty-free license for the H.264 video codec for video sites that offer free video streams to consumers “during the entire life of this (l)icense.” In other words: Web sites like YouTube will be free to use H.264 for its streams without having to fear they’re eventually going to have to pay massive royalties to MPEG LA.

The company, which has assembled a patent pool for H.264 patents, had previously said that it would offer H.264 streaming for free until 2016. That announcement was met with skepticism, with Mozilla CEO John Lilly at the time tweeting that this was “like 5 more years of free to lock you in 4ever.”

Mozilla has refused to add H.264 to the codecs supported by Firefox’ HTML5 video streaming capabilities, and today’s announcement isn’t likely to change this. Open-source and open-video advocates take issue with the fact that MPEG LA is still charging for H.264 encoders and decoders, as well as for the use of H.264 in a number of other areas, including paid video streams and downloads.

Firefox has since thrown its support behind WebM, the video format that was open-sourced by Google in May. WebM is completely license royalty free, and it’s backed by a number of hardware vendors as well as three of the five major browser makers. However, MPEG LA has threatened to assemble a patent pool that could be used to force companies using WebM to pay up.

Still, one has to wonder whether MPEG LA’s decision wasn’t in part also motivated by the growing support for WebM. Both Chrome and Firefox recently added WebM support to their beta versions, and a YouTube spokesperson told us earlier this month that the site already has “millions of videos available in the WebM format.”

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Boris FX, a developer of integrated effects technology for video and film, today announced that Boris AAF Transfer Version 1.0.5 is now available. The new Version 1.0.5 release supports Avid DS.

Editors can use Boris AAF Transfer to transfer an entire live Apple Final Cut Pro program sequence with media, markers, cuts, dissolves, filters, and audio preserved. The transferred sequence can be edited and finished in the Avid Media Composer or Avid DS timeline without returning to Final Cut Pro. In addition, Final Cut Pro sequences with Boris Continuum Complete FxPlug filters can be seamlessly transferred to Avid Media Composer or Avid DS. BCC FxPlug filters are translated to corresponding BCC AVX filters – including all of the keyframed changes.

For more information click here.