Videoguys - Just the FAQs

VIDEOGUYS BLACK FRIDAY 2009 SPECIALS

By videoguys.com | November 25, 2009

VIDEOGUYS BLACK FRIDAY 2009 SPECIALSVALID 11/24 THRU 11:59 PM EDT MONDAY 11/30/2009 Specials on EVERY order: * FREE UPS Ground shipping on all orders in the Continental US. No coupon required. * Cash Bonus! $20 Off any order over $500 with Promo Code BF20 More Promo Codes (all promo codes are stackable!): * $50 Off All Focus DTE Recorders with Promo Code DTE50 FS5 60GB now $949.95, FS5 100GB now $1145.00 FS-H200 Bundle w/16GB card now $949... w/32GB card now $1,049 FS-100 for Panasonic with 160GB now $949.00... 250GB now $1,249.00 * $20 Off Any G-TECH G-RAID Storage Solution with Promo Code GRAID20 G-RAID 1TB now $209, 2TB now $305, 4TB now $535 * $20 Off Any Grass Valley ADVC Converter with promo Code ADVC20 ADVC-110 now $205, ADVC-300 now $419 * $25 Off any Azden 300/325 Series Wireless Mic System with promo Code AZD25 AZD305LT lapel mic system now $359.00, AZD305HT handheld mic system now $459.95 AZD325ULT 2-lapel mic system now $679.00, AZD325ULH system with a lapel & hand mic $829 Black Friday Specials - Expire 11/30 or while supplies last!: * 50% Off Boris FX 9.3 Special Effects Plug-in Software... now $149.50 * 40% Off Telestream Wirecast 3.5 with HDV Plug-in... now $328.80 * 30 Verbatim BDR 25GB Blu-ray Discs for $99.95 * Apple Final Cut Studio 3 Upgrade only $279 with FREE Red Giant QuickLooks Plug-in * 30% Off Adobe Lightroom 2 with Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended Upgrade... now $549.95 * 30% Off Red Giant Trapcode Suite 2009... now $599.95 * Grass Valley NeoHD with AVCHD Booster & Blu-ray Bundle - $499.95... also available with HD SPARK for $699.95 * Matrox RT.X2LE with the full Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 - $995 (only 11 left) * YOUR CHOICE AT $499.95 - Sony Vegas Pro 9 with Blu-ray Disc Bundle or G-RAID Drive PLUS FREE Sony Production Assistant * SPECIAL BUNDLE! 30% Off Bella Advantage Keyboard + HD Mouse... now $99.95 for both * 40% off Sorenson Squeeze 6 .. now $499.95 * $150 Off Roxio Toast 10 Titanium with Pioneer BDR-205 Bundle... now $349.95 * ATTN Sony Cinescore Owners: Save $100 on Sonicfire Pro Scoring Essentials... upgrade now $99.95 * FREE Training DVD with Avid Media Composer 4 Upgrade * Trade-in Avid Mojo or Mojo SDI to the Avid Mojo DX with media Composer 4 Upgrade for $4,995 * FREE HD Cable Kit with Matrox MXO2 Mini * FREE XLR Cable and Carrying Case with Azden 105LT Wireless Lapel Mic System * 35% Off PNY NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 with Elemental Plug-in... now $599 * $50 Off Ikan V5600 Monitor... now $599.95 * 20% Off MXL MicMate Pro XLR to USB microphone adapter... now $79.95... only 8 left * 15% Off EZQuest Thunder RAID Plus... 4TB with PCIe card only $1,299 * Cineform NeoScene AVCHD Editing solution - $99.95 * 60% Off EyeScream Factory DVD Art Professional v1... now $19.95Training DVD Specials! * Save up to 75% on select Class on Demand Training Titles with several options at just $49.95 * Lowest prices ever on Total Training DVDs for Adobe CS4Click here to see all of Videoguys BLACK FRIDAY Deals Read More

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Matrox Announces Windows 7 Support for the Matrox MXO2 Family of Professional I/O Devices

By videoguys.com | November 17, 2009

Matrox Announces Windows 7 Support for the Matrox MXO2 Family of Professional I/O DevicesAlso available with Matrox MAX technology for lightning fast H.264 HD encodingMontreal, Canada - November 17, 2009 - Matrox® Video Products Group today announced Windows 7 support for Matrox MXO2 LE, MXO2 and MXO2 Rack. The Matrox MXO2 family of I/O devices1 streamlines editing with Adobe CS4 Production Premium. These devices provide all the features of an I/O card in a sturdy breakout box with professional audio and video connectivity. The Matrox MXO2 devices are also available with Matrox MAX technology for accelerated H.264 file creation using Adobe Media Encoder."The entire Matrox MXO2 product line is now cross platform - PC and Mac - as well as laptop and desktop, and can easily be moved among the editing stations in a facility or taken on the road," said Alberto Cieri, Matrox senior sales and marketing director. "Not only do these products meet the needs of content creators for input, output, and monitoring, they also speed up delivery to today's digital formats. Creating Blu-ray discs and video for the web and mobile devices is much faster than ever before with Matrox MAX H.264 encoding technology".Key features of Matrox MXO2 LE, MXO2, and MXO2 Rack on the PC * Works with Windows 7 (64-bit), Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows XP (32-bit) laptops and desktops * HD/SD SDI, HDMI, HD/SD analog component, Y/C, and composite inputs and outputs * Genlock - SD analog black burst (bi-level) or HD tri-level sync * Unique Matrox calibration controls for 10-bit HDMI monitoring including blue-only * 10-bit realtime hardware downscaling on output * Professional audio inputs and outputs * Works with all the codecs supported by Adobe Premiere Pro including AVCHD, HDV, DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO, and DV * Captures to HD and SD codecs - 8- and 10-bit uncompressed and highly efficient Matrox MPEG-2 I-frame * Includes Matrox A/V Tools, an easy-to-use application for fast capture/playback of audio, video, and still frames * File-based workflow support - XDCAM, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX, P2, P2HD * RED workflow support * Works with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 4.2 and provides WYSIWYG support for popular motion graphics, animation, and compositing applications * Also available with Matrox MAX technology for accelerated H.264 encoding2 with Adobe Media Encoder CS4 4.2 * Three-year hardware warranty and complimentary telephone supportWindows 7 drivers are available free of charge from the Matrox website for registered owners of Matrox MXO2 Mini, Matrox MXO2 LE, Matrox MXO2, Matrox MXO2 Rack and Matrox CompressHD.For more information on the MXO2 Family of products Read More

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Matrox MXO2 Mini FAQ

By videoguys.com | October 23, 2009

Matrox MXO2 Mini - Great Things DO Come in Small Packages!I think it's time to start talking more about one of the most cost effective tools you can add to your HD video editing arsenal - the Matrox MXO2 Mini. There are lots of great features in this mighty mite, and I'm going to use this article to tell you all about them. We've had great success in the past using an FAQ format to better explain new products and technology, so we'll keep at it now.What is the MXO2 Mini?The MXO2 Mini is a portable I/O (input/output) device. It supports both Standard Definition and High Definition footage. On the SD side you get composite, S-Video and Component input and output. For HD you get Component and HDMI in and out. HDMI can of course also be used for SD footage, but I like to think of it as an HD interface.How do I hook up the MXO2 Mini to my computer?The MXO2 Mini is an external device that works with both desktops and laptops. It supports Windows (XP or Vista with Windows 7 drivers coming later this year) and Mac (Snow Leopard drivers now available for free download). The MXO2 Mini comes with your choice of PCIe adapter card for your desktop or ExpressCard/34 card for your laptop.The Mini is flexible and portable. You can easily disconnect the Mini from one machine and attach it to any other, as long as one of the Matrox interface cards are installed in it. This means that you can use it with multiple machines, in different locations, in the field or in the studio. Just add an affordable adapter card (available for just $99.00 each) to any machine. It's that easy and inexpensive!What NLE software does MXO2 Mini Support?On the Mac, the MXO2 Mini supports Apple Final Cut Pro 6 or 7 and all of the apps found in the latest Final Cut Studio 3 bundle as well as the previous FCS2. On the PC, MXO2 Mini supports Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and the Adobe CS4 Production Premium.

Click here for the full MXO2 Mini FAQ Read More

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Pioneer BDR-205 12x Blu-Ray Burner is shipping

By videoguys.com | October 19, 2009

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Pioneer introduces the world's first 12x BD-R/BD-R DL optical drive. The BDR-205 Internal Blu-ray Disc/DVD/CD Writer is the next generation Blu-ray Disc Writer from Pioneer. This revolutionary product will write up to 12x on BD-R (25Gbytes) and BD-R DL (50Gbytes) media. It allows users to author high-definition Blu-ray Disc content while also delivering the ability for high-capacity data storage. One BD-R DL disc will hold the same amount of data as 10 DVDs (single layer). The BDR-205 can read BD-ROM and BD-ROM DL, read/write single and dual layer BD-R & BD-RE discs, read DVD-ROM, and read/write most DVD and CD recordable media formats. * 12x maximum writing speed on BD-R & BD-R DL media * Write up to 50Gbytes on one BD-R DL disc (equal to 10 single layer DVDs) * Also Reads and Writes DVD-R/+R, DVD-RW/+RW, DVD-R/+R (DL), and CD-R/RW media * Serial ATA (SATA) InterfaceThe Pioneer BDR-205 works great with Adobe Production Premium with Premiere Pro and Encore CS4, Avid Media Composer with Avid DVD, Sonic DVDit Pro HD, Roxio Toast, Sony Vegas Pro 9 w/ DVD Architect and the new Final Cut Studio with Final Cut Pro 7. Read More

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It’s Official - Avid Media Composer 4 - Shipping Worldwide

By videoguys.com | October 02, 2009

New! Avid Media Composer 4! Discover storytelling on the cutting edge. With the new Avid Media Composer 4non-linear editing software, you get the speed, flexibility, and confidence youneed to achieve your creative vision and deliver compelling content?"on timeand on budget.Having a rock-solid system that helps you quickly sort through your material andcut together the most engaging video is crucial. Mix and match formats, framerates, and resolutions in the open timeline. Edit XDCAM, P2, and GFCAM mediadirectly with AMA for the fastest HD Workflows. Find the footage you needquickly with Avid's Media Management tools. When you're done Avid's integratedworkflows make publishing to Blu-ray or the web a snap.This complete boxed set includes the DVD installation and manuals for Avid MediaComposer 4 along with the complete Avid Production Suite including the newestversions of Avid DVD by Sonic, Avid FX, Boris Continuum Complete, SmartSoundSonicfire Pro and Sorenson Squeeze.Key Features of the New Avid Media Composer 4 featuring Avid AMA with Mix &Match* The newest Avid Media Access (AMA) plug-in architecture will foreverchange the way you work with tapeless formats such as XDCAM, P2 and now newGFCAM support.* Media Composer 4's new Mix & Match capability let's you combine differentformats, frame rates, and resolutions all in the same timeline!* Accelerate your cuts with ultra-accurate editing tools* Find the best takes fast with ScriptSync* Get real-time HD editing, in mastering picture quality, with Avid DNxHD* Never lose media with the industry's most reliable media management* Work with RED, 3D stereoscopic, and single-frame image files with MetaFuze* Share projects and media for deadline-driven, real-time collaboration* Get the look, effects, and quality you want with powerful production tools* Deliver optimized content for the web or on DVD or Blu-ray Disc* Get capture, editing, monitoring, output, and higher performance by integrating Mojo DX hardwareFor more information on Avid Media Composer 4 and upgrades Read More

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Pioneer Launches First 12x Blu-ray Disc Writer

By videoguys.com | October 01, 2009

High-Speed 12x Write Capability Lets Professional Users and Enthusiasts Quickly Test, Author and Preserve High Definition Content LONG BEACH, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces its new BDR-205 Blu-ray Disc® Computer Writer, the industry's first and fastest model to feature up to 12x write speed for single and dual-layer Blu-ray Disc (BD) media*. Ideal for authoring providers and system builders, the Pioneer® BD/DVD/CD Writer provides accurate, rapid performance for demanding professional applications. "The BDR-205 drive represents our ongoing efforts to combine Pioneer's engineering expertise with advanced technologies, and our next generation Blu-ray Disc writer is a great example of our no-compromise approach to optical disc product development," said Steve Cohn, director of optical disc sales for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "We are bringing to market the fastest Blu-ray Disc writer to date, and it is just one of the many 'firsts' that have come to define Pioneer's 30-year heritage in optical disc innovation and leadership." Dynamic Performance for an Array of Professional Users When utilized with a properly configured PC, the drive's Low Vibration Mechanism Design improves overall writing accuracy, especially for those preserving copious amounts of critical data. Designed for maximum flexibility, Pioneer's writer provides significant solutions for multiple user groups, including: * System builders can confidently recommend the sophisticated BDR-205 to their clients, noting the drive's unique design, robust build quality and high grade parts * With 50Gbytes** of storage space on a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc, professional users can utilize the BDR-205 to rapidly test high definition feature films during the authoring process, as well as to back up large volumes of data with ease * Besides up to 12x write speeds for Blu-ray Disc media, Pioneer's new computer drive also provides read and write speed performance up to 16x for DVD and 40x for CD media The new BDR-205 Blu-ray Disc computer writer begins shipping October 2009. The retail version of this product, the BDR-2205, will be available Q1 2010 for $249 MSRP. Pioneer has been an innovator of optical disc technology since it shipped its first LaserDisc products, the precursor to DVD, to the consumer market in 1980. Pioneer went on to introduce the first DVD writer for video authoring use in 1997, the first DVD recorder as a VCR replacement in 1999, the first DVD/CD writer for home computer users in 2001 and the first Blu-ray Disc writer in 2006. Videoguys will be one of the first resellers in America to get stock of this exciting new drive. We have already placed our order with Pioneer and we hope to have BDR-205 units in stock mid October. We will be launching all new Blu-ray bundles featuring the BDR-205 when they ship. Read More

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Videoguys’ Thoughts on Microsoft Windows 7 (Pre-Release)

By videoguys.com | September 30, 2009

We have been getting a ton of emails and phone calls asking us about Windows 7 and compatibility with our latest DIY7 build and all our products. We are going to wait until after Windows 7 ships on October 22nd to officially recommend it, but we are very excited about it.Let's face it, the 32 bit version of Vista was a dog. You have to go back to Windows ME to find a bigger flop. With the introduction of the Intel i7 processor we finally had enough affordable horsepower to run Vista 64-bit, and we did on our DIY7 machine. The advantages of 64 bit processing more then offset the downside of Vista. From the early reports from beta testers and the technology websites we know and trust, Windows7 is a winner! It looks like the new operating system will finally deliver on all the promise of a modern 64 bit operating system.Windows 7 and DIY7Once Windows 7 is released we will perform a fresh install of it on our DIY 7 machine. We are extremely confident that it will not just run great, but we will see a solid up-tick in performance. Why are we saying this? Because we've got dozens of customers all over the world running our DIY 7 build with the Windows 7 Release Candidate and editing video using our most popular software titles.Windows 7 with NLE software and hardwareOnce again, the early reports from beta testers is that Avid Media Composer, Adobe CS4, Sony Vegas Pro 9 and Edius 5 are working well on Windows 7. Some are even reporting increased performance, smoother operations and the ability to handle more HD footage and layers then under Vista64. Until we get the chance to actually run Windows7 on our DIY7 machine we can't confirm these findings, but the engineers and techs at our software vendors are leaking to us that they are also getting great results.Note: These folks are running the NLE software, without any special video hardware. Hardware devices will require Windows7 drivers before they will function properly. We are hopeful that we'll see Windows 7 drivers from our hardware vendors within 4-6 weeks after the official Windows 7 release.What should you do today?Our advice is simple, have your cake and eat it too. If you are thinking about getting a new computer, take advantage of Microsoft's current offer to purchase Windows Vista 64 today with a free upgrade to Windows 7. This will allow you to install and run Vista64 now and keep the upgrade of Windows 7 in your desk until you see that our vendors, and the Videoguys' Techs, have given it the green light. When that time comes just make sure you have Windows 7 drivers for all your hardware and do a clean install of the new and improved operating system.Get as much RAM as you can afford, and make sure that you install identical sticks, 3 at a time, to take advantage of the new triple channel architecture.Tech Note: Running 2,4 or 8 sticks of RAM in a triple channel motherboard will have a serious negative impact on your performance.If you are currently running your NLE workstation under Vista64, you should have no problem migrating to Windows 7 once all your drivers are available. Just remember to do a clean install. Never install a new Windows operating system upgrade over an existing version of Windows. While it may work out, if anything goes wrong it will be a nightmare to troubleshoot and resolve.We can't wait for Windows 7 to ship. We are very confident it will be a must have upgrade for all our NLE solutions. It's just around the corner, and worth waiting for. If you are building a new machine take our advice: Get Windows Vista 64 today with the FREE Windows 7 tomorrow. You get the best of both worlds and you don't have to wait! Read More

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Adobe Creative Suite 4 and Snow Leopard (v10.6) FAQ

By videoguys.com | September 04, 2009

Are Adobe Creative Suite 4 products and components compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Yes. Working closely with Apple, Adobe has tested and determined that our Adobe Creative Suite 4 products and components are compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard.Is Snow Leopard (v10.6) important to Adobe Creative Suite 4 customers?Yes. Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) - the latest version of Apple's operating system - delivers a productive computing experience for creative professionals. Adobe and Apple have worked together closely to test that Adobe Creative Suite 4 products and components run reliably and efficiently on Intel-based systems running Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) with optimal performance and user experience. Please see below for known issues we have discovered in our testing. As with any new release of an operating system, there may be additional unexpected issues that arise that may not have been uncovered during our testing efforts.Do Adobe Creative Suite 3 products support Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Adobe has worked closely with Apple throughout the Snow Leopard development and testing process. Adobe has conducted its own additional testing of our Adobe CS3 software on Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and is confident that our CS3 applications will function as expected with Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Adobe did uncover some non-critical issues, which are documented for our customers to review at http://go.adobe.com/kb/ts_cpsid_51215_en-us.Will Adobe continue to test its CS4 applications on Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Yes. Adobe sets high standards of quality, stability, and reliability for our professional products, and we worked closely with Apple to test that Creative Suite 4 products and components run on Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6). Please see below for known issues we have discovered in our testing. As with any new release of an operating system, there may be additional unexpected issues that arise that may not have been uncovered during our testing efforts. If you encounter any issues, please report them by going to http://www.adobe.com/misc/bugreport.html and clicking "Report A Bug". Please note that we do not respond to submissions, however we do review the information closely with the appropriate teams, and continue to test and monitor the user experience.Do any of the Adobe CS4 applications require updates to be compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?If you are running the latest updates for Creative Suite software, your software will operate on Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6). Updates are required for Adobe Acrobat® software, Adobe Reader® software and Adobe Flash® Player: * Adobe Acrobat: Acrobat users need to have version 9.1 or later installed in order to produce Adobe PDF files on Snow Leopard (v10.6). Select the "PDF" button in the Print dialog and choose "Save as Adobe PDF" to access the new feature. * Adobe Flash Player: The initial release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) includes an earlier version of Adobe Flash Player than what is currently available from Adobe. Adobe recommends all users update to the latest version of Flash Player (10.0.32.18) which supports Snow Leopard and is available for download from http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer.We encourage our customers to review other documented issues and information regarding updates at http://www.adobe.com/support.How do I install any of the required updates for Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) compatibility?For Acrobat, users will need to update to version 9.1 or later to operate on Snow Leopard (v10.6). Adobe Flash Player must also be updated to work with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6), and is available for download at http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer Updat.es for Acrobat and other Creative Suite products and components are made available through the Adobe Updater, a utility that is installed with Adobe products or components to manage the download and installation of updates for you. As long as the automated notification feature in Adobe Updater is turned on, you will be alerted automatically when the updates become available. You can then follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the updates. Alternatively, you can open the Adobe CS4 product or component that requires an update, choose Help > Updates to open the Adobe Updater, check all of the updates you want, and click Download and Install Updates. Lastly, you can also visit http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads to monitor when updates are posted, then download and install the updates for each relevant Adobe CS4 product or component.Is Adobe aware of any major issues, bugs or odd user experiences when using Adobe CS4 or Acrobat products or components with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Adobe Creative Suite 4 and Acrobat solutions are thoroughly tested at Adobe in conjunction with Apple to confirm our solutions perform to the high standards and level of performance, quality and user experience our customers expect. In our testing, we did discover a few functional areas that display unusual user experiences. The most notable issues or updates are: * Adobe Acrobat: Please note that Acrobat users need to have version 9.1 or later installed in order to produce Adobe PDF files on Snow Leopard (v10.6). Select the "PDF" button in the Print dialog and choose "Save as Adobe PDF" to access the new feature. Download the latest Adobe Reader at: http://get.adobe.com/reader. * Adobe Flash Player: The initial release of Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) includes an earlier version of Adobe Flash Player than what is currently available from Adobe. Adobe recommends all users update to the latest, most secure version of Flash Player (10.0.32.18) which supports Snow Leopard and is available for download at http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer. * Adobe Drive used with Adobe Version Cue® CS4 Server: At this time, Adobe Drive does not run on Snow Leopard (v10.6). For customers that are dependent on Adobe Drive and Adobe Version Cue, we recommend that they do not upgrade to Snow Leopard at this time. * Adobe CSI Extensions: Users may be unable to update their CSI Extensions via the Connections Panel. The cause is related to interaction between Creative Suite 4 products and Apple's Java™ Runtime Environment (JRE) v.1.6. The update will appear to be complete, but the user will again receive notification that the update is available at every update check interval. Users who have not installed the CSI update v1.0.1 will not be impacted, but they also will not receive notifications about available extension updates. Users who installed the CSI update v.1.0.1 and the corresponding extension updates prior to upgrading to Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) will also not be impacted by the issue. Adobe Extensions affected include the Connections panel itself, the Kuler™ extension, Search for Help, and Share My Screen. Adobe plans to have an additional update for the CSI and related files as soon as possible.Please visit http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/www.adobe.com/support to check the Adobe knowledgebase for the latest information related to Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6).I use a number of plug-ins with my current version of Creative Suite. Are these plug-ins compatible with Creative Suite running Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Adobe has conducted testing that has shown that some 3rd party plug-ins are not compatible with Adobe After Effects® CS4 software running on Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6). Customers are encouraged to check plug-in compatibility by contacting the plug-in vendor before upgrading to Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6). For third-party products, contact the manufacturer for guidance on their support for Snow Leopard.Will Adobe offer technical support for its CS4 products and components running on Max OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Adobe offers support to its Creative Suite 4 customers running Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6) in accordance with our standard customer support policies. Visit http://www.adobe.com/support to check the Adobe knowledgebase for the latest information related to Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6), and for additional information about our complimentary and paid support programs.I am a volume licensing customer. How do I get updates for my Adobe CS4 products or components?Adobe recommends following your company's internal guidelines to manage updates. You may want to contact the IT or technical person who manages your Adobe licenses for information about your corporate policies on updating software. For volume licensing customers, information is available for IT managers on how to silently push installations of Adobe CS4 updates at http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/491/cpsid_49171.html For i.ndividual users, there is an Adobe Updater (choose Help > Updates) to download and install updates for Adobe CS4 products and components for individual system updates.Are the trial versions of Adobe CS4 products and components compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6)?Yes. If a full version of an Adobe Creative Suite 4 product is compatible with Mac OS X Snow Leopard (v10.6), then the trial version of that product is compatible as well. The known issues described in this document also apply to the trial versions.http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/ Read More

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AJA Ki Pro is Now Shipping!

By videoguys.com | September 04, 2009

Ki Pro Bridges Gap Between Camera Acquisition and Post, Recording Directly to Apple ProRes 422 CodecGrass Valley, CA (September 3, 2009)-AJA Video Systems, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, today released Ki Pro, a portable tapeless video device that records files to the Apple ProRes 422 codec directly from camera. AJA will be demonstrating Ki Pro at IBC 2009 from Sept. 11-15, 2009 at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam in Hall 7, Stand F-11.Ki Pro provides a new way of connecting production and post with its extensive analog and digital connectivity; virtually any video and audio source can be fed into Ki Pro to record pristine 10-bit ProRes 422 media that is then immediately available to edit within Apple's Final Cut Studio."We have had unprecedented interest in this product, and remarkable pre-release sales coming off of our recent 24-city Ki Pro global road show," said Nick Rashby, president, AJA Video Systems. "We're pleased to be shipping a very robust 1.0 version, and will be supporting our customers with frequent software updates and additions. Ki Pro provides significant workflow efficiencies for everyone from cinematographers and filmmakers to editors and post professionals."Ki Pro allows filmmakers, broadcasters, video professionals and prosumers to skip the process of re-rendering to an editing codec by giving immediate access to full raster edit-ready Apple ProRes 422 files directly from camera. Ki Pro records hours of media to a removable storage module. The device is a small, portable unit that can sit on a table, in a bay or mounted between a camera and tripod. Ki Pro is also ideal for on-set monitoring, providing instant access to multiple display devices simultaneously. Core Ki Pro Features: * Record hours of pristine Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime media to a removable storage module that offers built-in FireWire 800 for immediate editing and file access on OSX. * Record natively to Apple ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ for full raster 10-bit 4:2:2 HD and SD. * Bridge proprietary compression schemes by recording to the edit-friendly Apple ProRes 422 codec. * Connect any digital camera via SDI or HDMI, or any analog camera with multiple input options. * Convert in real time from SD to HD, or 720 to/from 1080, in full 10-bit quality. * Extend client review capabilities with simultaneous recording to camera and to Ki Pro. * Extend productive life of existing cameras and embrace future workflows with powerful conversion capabilities. * Built-in WiFi and Ethernet for complete control via a web-browser, or iPhone.As you would expect, we've put together bundles with KiPro and the new FCS3 to get things launched. Videoguys.com Ki Pro Bundles Read More

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AJA Video Announces KONA Support for New Apple Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Pro 7

By videoguys.com | August 05, 2009

This should come as no surprise to anyone. AJA is the first hardware vendor to release drivers for Final Cut Studio 3 and Final Cut Pro 7.Not just drivers that work with FCS3, but drviers that include support for the 3 new flavors of ProRes [Apple ProRes 422 (LT), Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy)? and Apple ProRes 4444] for all Kona cards. Great job AJA!!

(Grass Valley, California--July 29, 2009) AJA Video Systems, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, has released a new software version for its popular KONA line of video playback and capture cards: KONA LSe, LHe, LHi and the top-of-the-line KONA 3.The KONA family is AJA's line of 10-bit uncompressed capture and playback cards for video and audio input and output on the Mac platform. The version 6.5 software provides support for the new Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Pro 7 as well as Apple's new ProRes 422 (LT), ProRes 422 (Proxy), and ProRes 4444 formats, and is available for download free of charge to current KONA users."We are incredibly pleased to be able to offer this new software upgrade to KONA users," said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video. "AJA's collaborative partnership with Apple has allowed the company to keep up with customer demands for support for the newest creative tools and digital file formats." New KONA 6.5 Software Upgrade Features: Closed Captioning support for Final Cut Pro 7, MacCaption, VTR Xchange and AJA TV via QuickTime Closed Captioning Tracks (KONA 3, LHe, LHi and LSe) Full VANC data capture and playback support on a per-frame basis for all Apple ProRes formats Support for new Apple ProRes formats (requires Final Cut Pro 7): ?- All KONAs support new Apple ProRes 422 (LT), Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy)? and Apple ProRes 4444 ?- KONA 3 additionally supports 10bit RGB/Dual Link capture and playback? path using Apple ProRes 4444 Expanded KONA LHi support:? - Display of timecode in the Control Panel - HDMI/DVI detection of colorspace/protocol?? - Downstream Keyer added (DSK)? - LTC input implemented? - Analog audio output monitoring selection implemented?? - HDMI audio input channel selection? - HDMI input/output auto-detection? - 8 Channel HDMI audio output? Support for Avid DNxHD QuickTime file playback and video output ?(KONA 3, LHi and LHe) Support for AVC-Intra QuickTime file playback and video output ?(KONA 3, LHi and LHe) Support for Cineform 3D QuickTime file playback and video output ?(KONA 3)Follow this link for the full press release and more details on the 6.5 drivers. I'm very curious to know just what that line about support for Avid DNxHD means. Could we see Kona cards working with Media Composer sometime in the future?!?! We've put together some great bundles with the Kona LHi card and FCS3 upgrade and full version. Read More

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There’s Gold in them old copies of Premiere!

By videoguys.com | July 22, 2009

There's Gold in them old copies of Premiere!The other day I was poking around the closet next to the edit suite. I found 4 old copies of Adobe Premiere, going back to 5.1!! As a long time digital videographer I'd been through all the old Pinnacle, Matrox and Canopus cards that came bundled with Premiere. Cards like the Miro DC30, Pinnacle DV500 & DC1000, Matrox RT2000, 2500 and then RTX.100, Canopus DV Raptor and DV Storm and even an old Truevision Bravado and Digital Origin MotoDV. I've had them all. While some I got via upgrade / trade-up programs, the bulk of them came bundled with Good Ole Premiere.So what can you do with an old copy of Premiere you ask? Use it to upgrade to Premiere Pro CS4 for under $300 or even better, upgrade to the full Adobe Production Premium CS4 for around $1,000!! That's right, any full version of Premiere going back to 5.x (Or even older) can be used to unlock a CS4 upgrade. No need to install it, you just use the serial number as part of the installation process for CS4.I hear all the time how Final Cut Editors are frustrated that Apple won't give them Blu-ray support. I agree it's a problem. What you probably didn't realize is that you've got a solution! That old copy of Premiere can be used to upgrade to Premiere Pro CS4, which includes Encore CS4. It doesn't matter that your old copy of Premiere was for Windows, it can be used to unlock either the Mac or PC version.I also hear from Avid and FCP guys saying they want to add After Effects or Photoshop to their workflow, but the cost of the full CS4 Production Premium (MSRP $1699) is more then their budget will allow. Once again, Adobe has a solution. They offer a point product upgrade to the full CS4 Production Premium for around $1,000. Your serial number from any old version of Premiere can be used to unlock this upgrade. Once again, it doesn't matter if you want the PC or Mac version of the point product upgrade, your old Premiere serial number will get the job done. Not only does Premiere Pro CS4 include Encore CS4, you also get On Location CS4. With On Location you can capture directly to your laptop - which saves you time and money. Get critical monitoring information while you record directly to disk with Adobe OnLocation CS4, now cross-platform with a new Adobe-standard interface. Save time and take the tedium out of logging with shot lists and metadata-based project intelligence.In this tough economy we are all looking for deals and ways to save money. Turning your old copies of Premiere into new CS4 versions is like spinning straw into gold! Read More

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Avid Media Composer & Boris FX - The perfect match

By videoguys.com | July 14, 2009

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Over the past few weeks I've found several great tutorials on using Avid & Boris FX together. Some of them have already been posted on PVC, some haven't. I wanted to put them all together into one place. Media Composer ships with both Avid FX (a special Avid version of Boris Red) and Continuum Complete. When you put it together it makes for an extremely powerful compositing and FX solution.Now that Boris has released Boris Continuum Complete 6 AVX for Avid, it seemed like the perfect time to post the links.Using Avid FX or Boris FX Engine for Avid Media ComposerAll retail versions of Avid Media Composer ship with a program called Avid FX. When you see Avid FX think Boris FX , that's because it's the same exact program. I'll warn you, if you plan on regularly using the Avid FX plugin, you'll want to make sure that you have a beefy machine with plenty of RAM. Avid FX is much more than a software plugin, it's an entire compositing program. When it comes to building complex effects Avid FX is extremely useful. However, one issue you may run into is the amount BCC Chroma Keying Workflow in Avid Media ComposerAchieving a convincing chroma key composite is more than just slapping in a background and keying a foreground. It requires the use of integration techniques to marry the image elements together to give the impression they were shot with the same camera at the same time. This five-part tutorial demonstrates how to build a chroma key composite using Boris Continuum Complete (BCC) AVX plug-ins inside Avid Media Composer. Compositing tips will be shared and you will see just how easy it is to nest and pass a matte to multiple BCC effects in your segment. The end result will be a seamless composite.Boris FX - Rockin' with BCC6Boris FX is one of the most prolific producers of plug-in filters and compositing applications. Factor in all the host applications covered by the Boris products - like Boris Continuum Complete, plus the hosted and standalone versions of Boris Red, Blue, FX and Graffiti - and you can easily see how so much video is touched by this talented team of developers.Tutorials for Continuum Complete @ Boris FXLooking to improve your Boris skills? The tutorials below can can help you achieve your goals and improve your video effects projects.Overview of the BCC Glow, BCC Colorize Glow, and BCC Glow Alpha Edges filtersWorking with the Optical Stabilizer FilterCorner Pin Compositing Inside AvidWorking with the BCC AVX Motion Key FilterCreating Precise Keys in Continuum Complete AVXApplying Multiple Filters to Avid TitlesThere you go. A bunch of tutorials about using Boris FX and Avid. As an Avid editor, you owe it to yourself to take the time to get familiar with these great tools that are included in your Media Composer.Gary Read More

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Now Shipping! Focus Enhancements FS-H200 Solid-State Direct To Edit Recorder

By videoguys.com | July 01, 2009

When I first heard the news from Focus about this new version of their Firestore technology, I was BLOWN AWAY! This was what so many of our customers had been asking for. All of the advantages of the FS-5 (light weight, small footprint, silent operation, long running times) combined with swappable solid state storage. Since HDV footage requires 13GB per our, you'll get over an hours worth on a single 16GB card. Because of the demands of video, you will need the more expensive Type 1, UDMA, 266x minimum Compact Flash Cards. Today you can get 16GB for about $125, while 32GB will cost you $250. Of course these prices will tumble over time. New FS model brings rugged, inexpensive Compact Flash media and QuickTime file formats to DV or HDV camcordersThe FS-H200 is the first portable Direct To Edit ("DTE") recorder for use with DV or HDV cameras that features removable solid-state media allowing for easy swap-out of industry standard Compact Flash ("CF") cards. Once recorded, user supplied CF cards can be easily mounted to both Windows and Mac systems either via USB 2.0 from the FS-H200 itself or via standard memory card readers for Direct To Edit workflow with popular NLE systems. Designed for use in the most extreme conditions including high temperatures (up to 50 degrees C / 122 degrees F), high altitudes, and extreme shock environments, the FS-H200 performance is outstanding."We have been frequently asked by our customers for an acquisition device that provided the DTE workflow they rely on together with the many advantages of solid-state media," said Matt McEwen, director of product management for Focus Enhancements. "We believe that Compact Flash has now reached the required capacities, performance and low-cost that our customers are demanding to make this a viable choice for our award winning FS recorder family."Highlights of FS-H200:- Support of popular DTE formats such as QuickTime and M2T for HDV and RawDV, AVI Type 1, AVI Type 2, Matrox AVI and Canopus AVI for DV- Side located, removable Compact Flash slot that accepts standard Type 1, 266x Compact Flash Cards (currently available up to 32GB)- Polymer dust cover for shock and moisture protection- Record over 2.5 hours of 720p or 2.2 hours of 1080i HDV on a single 32GB card- 6-pin FireWire interface to DV or HDV cameras- Fast USB 2.0 interface to Mac or Windows based NLE systems- Supports large file sizes with UDF disk format on CF cards- Ultra compact design weighs only 12 oz and features silent fanless operation- Color back-lit LCD for menu navigation and status- Back-lit scroll wheel for easy menu navigation- Removable 3-hour (record time) Li-Ion battery pack- 12V power input and supplied AC adapter for more info Read More

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Matrox MXO2 Mini Now Supports Cineform

By videoguys.com | July 01, 2009

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Right after NAB I reached out to the folks at Matrox and Cineform urging them to work together. It's a perfect combination. I am so excited that they were able to get this working so quickly. Still to come will be support for direct capture via HDMI or analog inputs of MXO2 Mini into Cineform CODEC. Down the road we hope to see both companies full product lines supported and working together. Matrox MXO2 Mini Now Provides Inexpensive HDMI Monitoring for AVCHD Editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 and CineForm NeoScene(Montr©al, Canada--June 29, 2009) Matrox® Video Products Group today announced Matrox MXO2 Mini support for the popular CineForm NeoScene editing workflow that streamlines AVCHD editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 on the PC.The Matrox MXO2 Mini I/O device provides inexpensive HDMI monitoring with 10-bit 4:2:2 color precision. It turns an HDMI screen into a professional-grade video monitor with Matrox's unique color calibration tool. Controls for hue, chroma, contrast, brightness, and blue-only are provided. Users get accurate color representation so that an inexpensive HDMI monitor can be used even for color grading. Matrox MXO2 Mini even provides 1:1 pixel mapping on HDMI displays that support this feature so video will not be stretched and distorted by the monitor."CineForm users appreciate the high visual fidelity and realtime editing capability NeoScene brings to their AVCHD workflow but until now, they have not been able to enjoy full-screen previews of their work," said Francesco Scartozzi, Matrox sales director. "Matrox MXO2 Mini provides an affordable, high-quality, video output solution that greatly improves the AVCHD editing experience.""The AVCHD camera format is designed for recording, not editing, but now with a few simple steps editors can benefit from professional realtime editing performance," said David Taylor, CineForm co-founder and CEO. With NeoScene, users can easily convert difficult-to-edit AVCHD files into CineForm's professional 10-bit Wavelet compression format for faster editing performance, plus conversion to 24p (24 progressive frames) for users who desire a cinematic presentation. We're excited about our collaboration with Matrox because of the enhanced editing experience that results; users can now drop their CineForm content on a CS4 timeline using a Matrox project preset and enjoy realtime playout through MXO2 to their preferred monitor or television.Key features of Matrox MXO2 Mini * Works with Mac and PC, laptops and desktops * Small, lightweight, external box that's easily connected to cameras and monitors * Capture high definition video via HDMI or analog component; NTSC and PAL via analog component, S-Video, or composite * Playback high definition video via HDMI and analog component; NTSC and PAL via HDMI and analog component or HDMI and S-Video and composite * Output HD and SD video simultaneously * Turns an HDMI screen into a professional-grade video monitor with color calibration tools including blue-only * High-quality 10-bit hardware scaling engine for realtime upscaling, downscaling, and cross conversion on capture and playback * Stereo RCA and up to 8 channels of HDMI audio input and output * 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound monitoring on the HDMI output * Easily edit AVCHD footage by capturing into an edit-friendly compressed or uncompressed format * Works with leading applications including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and many more * Also available with Matrox MAX™ technology for faster than realtime H.264 encoding * Three-year hardware warranty and complimentary telephone supportFor more info Read More

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H.264 encoding accelerator - Matrox MXO2 with MAX now shipping

Matrox MXO2 Product Line Now Available with Matrox MAX Technology for Faster Than Realtime High Definition H.264 File Creation

By videoguys.com | June 15, 2009

Encoding your HD video to H.264 gives you the very best possible quality video on Blu-ray and Flash. Unfortunately H.264 encoding takes lots of time. How much time? Right now a fully loaded 8-core Mac Pro tower will take several hours to encode one hour of ProRes HD video to H.264 - with the Matrox MAX Technology it will take less then an hour! That's right faster then real-time encoding - even on a slower Mac. Montreal, Canada - June 15, 2009 - Matrox® Video Products Group today announced that versions of its popular I/O devices for the Mac (Matrox MXO2, Matrox MXO2 Rack, and Matrox MXO2 Mini), are now available with Matrox MAX technology1 for faster than realtime high definition H.264 file creation. The unique Matrox MAX technology uses a dedicated hardware processor to accelerate the creation of H.264 files for Blu-ray, the web, and mobile devices. By using specialized hardware acceleration, jobs are finished with amazing speed2 and system resources are liberated for other tasks. Quality and flexibility are ensured through direct integration with Apple Compressor on the Mac. As an added benefit, the Matrox MAX technology allows direct export to higher-quality H.264 Blu-ray compliant files from Compressor."Content creators today need to deliver material in resolutions ranging from HD to iPod and H.264 has become their codec of choice due to its high-quality and low bandwidth requirement," said Wayne Andrews, Matrox product manager. "By incorporating Matrox MAX technology into our popular MXO2 devices, we are providing our customers with the extra productivity boost they need to profit from today's most popular workflows on laptops as well as towers."Key features of Matrox MAX Technology * Faster than realtime creation of H.264 files, for resolutions ranging from iPod to HD, at bitrates up to 50 Mbps * A specialized, dedicated hardware processor liberates system resources for other tasks * Accelerated encoding for Blu-ray, PS3, Apple TV, YouTube, Flash, web formats, and mobile devices including iPhone and iPod from various video sources including 2K files * Direct integration with Apple Compressor3 on the Mac to simplify workflow * Creation of Blu-ray H.264 files that can be authored in Adobe Encore CS4 and Roxio Toast 10 then burned without re-encoding * Support for Apple Qmaster to take advantage of multiple systems with a Matrox MAX processing engine for distributed encoding across a network * Works with Intel-based MacBook Pros, Mac Pros, and Apple Xserve systemsPrice and availabilityThe Matrox MXO2 product line is available through a worldwide network of authorized dealers. Matrox MXO2 Mini with the MAX option is priced at $849 US (£644, €758). Matrox MXO2 with the MAX option is priced at $1,995 US (£1,495, €1,695). Matrox MXO2 Rack with the MAX option is priced at $2,395 US (£1,749, €1,995) not including local taxes. Read More

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Blu-ray burning bundle for Mac

By videoguys.com | June 08, 2009

Question: How do I burn Blu-Ray discs on a MacAnswer: This has been one of the most frustrating issues for Mac editors. In fact a couple of petitions have started up on the web urging Apple to add Blu-ray support with the next version of Final Cut Studio. Unfortunately no one really knows when FCS3 is coming or what new features will be in it. We've been listening to these complaints, listening to our customers editing HD video on a Mac, and listening to our manufacturer's and I'm happy to say that we've put together a bundle that works great and is available TODAY! Now, you may continue editing with Apple Final Cut Studio 2 and burn your final production to Blu-ray disc using Roxio's Toast 10 Titanium Pro software. You'll also need to add a Blu-ray disc burner to your Mac like the Pioneer BDR-203. There are solutions and cables available to install the Blu-ray disc burner in a Mac Pro or you can take the easier route like we did in our exclusive Videoguys Mega Bundle and install the drive in an external housing that simply connects to an eSATA or USB2 port. Either solution will work great and give you the ability to burn your high-definition discs.With this solution you can edit your video on your Mac and burn it on Blu-ray. It's not high end authoring and it doesn't have all the Blu-ray goodies, but it allows you to deliver your HD content to your HD customer. All for under $400. Check out Allan's review on PVC here. Read More

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Videoguys.com Introduces “Just the FAQs” to the Pro Video Coalition Community

Welcome to "Just the FAQs" a column from our on-staff technicians at Videoguys.com written for the Pro Video Coalition Community

By Jim Bask | June 03, 2009

Videoguys.com is a family owned and operated business that has proudly served videographers and producers like you for the past 25 years. For three generations, we have been shooting footage of our growing families and have spent countless hours editing. We actually install and use the equipment we sell and we love to share our experience and expertise with you. Over the years we've heard just about every question that might be asked about how to edit and produce great looking videos and about the products we use. And, as you might guess, there are some questions that get asked a lot! The combination of our own experiences and our relationships with the top product designers from Avid, Adobe, Apple, Matrox, G-Tech, Focus and others make us uniquely qualified to answer these questions - or at least know where to find the answers.<p>We hope you find these FAQs and other posts helpful and if you have any suggestions for questions you'd like answered please send us an e-mail to videoguy@videoguys.com. Be sure to include PVC FAQs and your PVC member name in your e-mail. We'd be happy to help in these areas (and more): Video editing & production equipment and products Technology questions related to HD, DV, MPEG2, MPEG4, HDV, P2, DVCPro HD, XD Cam, AVCHD and more. Video delivery including Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and multimedia video including video for the web, YouTube and iPods. System recommendations, storage requirements for post-production workstations and compatibility issues Read More

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