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Post Haste 2.5 Beta 2 released - Kollaborate Server support and more

We've just released a new beta of Post Haste 2.5 for Mac, alongside a minor update to the stable version that adds Adobe Premiere Pro CC project templates.

Post Haste is a free project management tool that allows you to create new projects from templates. Version 2.5 adds Kollaborate integration, allowing you to create cloud projects and upload folder structures.

Beta 2 has been updated to be compatible with the latest Kollaborate API and now works with Kollaborate Server. All of our Kollaborate apps share the same settings so you don't need to login or configure anything if you're already using Kollaborate Transfer or Preference Manager.

By popular demand, this version also allows you to choose whether to create a project locally, in the cloud or both.

Post Haste 2.5 Beta 2 is a free download available here.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jul 12 2013 to DR News, Front Page News, Utilities
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Pro Maintenance Tools 2.0.15 released - Adobe Creative Cloud compatibility and more

We've just launched Pro Maintenance Tools 2.0.15, a minor update to our suite of tools for maintaining, optimizing and troubleshooting your editing system.

Adobe Creative Cloud compatibility

Pro Maintenance Tools is now fully compatible with Adobe Premiere Pro CC. Plugin Manager will now display Creative Cloud plugins and Project Repair will repair the new Premiere Pro CC project file format.

Preference Manager 4.0

Preference Manager 4 is now included with Pro Maintenance Tools, offering cloud backups via Kollaborate, support for Adobe Creative Cloud, Pro Tools support and many more features.

Crash Analyzer improvements

As well as the usual updated crash definitions and error messages, we've made significant tweaks to the crash log analysis function which has resulted in more detailed analysis of Adobe Premiere Pro crash logs (for both CC and prior versions).

View the entire list of changes in this version here.

Pro Maintenance Tools is an essential toolkit for fixing problems and ensuring you make your deadline. It is used worldwide by studios and freelancers alike. To find out more, view the feature list, watch the overview video, read the user manual or download the free 15-day trial.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jul 11 2013 to DR News, Front Page News, Utilities
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Announcing Preference Manager 4 - cloud backups, Pro Tools support and more

We're pleased to announce the launch of Preference Manager 4.0. This is a major new update to our free app for managing preferences for your editing system.

Cloud backups

Preference Manager is now integrated with Kollaborate to store backups in the cloud. This provides redundancy and allows preferences to be easily transferred to another computer.

When creating a backup you'll now be asked if you want to create a local backup, a cloud backup or both. Cloud backups will be uploaded to Kollaborate and you'll be able to access the backup on any other computer by logging into your Kollaborate account in the Preferences window. It even supports Kollaborate Server for companies that need complete control over their data.

Improved Adobe support

As well as adding support for Adobe Creative Cloud, applications are now organized into suites where appropriate. Unlike previous versions of Preference Manager, multiple copies of Adobe Creative Suite will now appear as individual options for trashing, backing up or restoring. This allows you to trash preferences for the version of Premiere you are using without having to trash them for every copy of Premiere on your computer.

We're also now supporting Adobe Audition, Encore, Media Encoder and Prelude.

Pro Tools support

Preference Manager now supports Pro Tools 9.0 and higher.

Improved project handling

The project handling feature designates Preference Manager as the default application for launching project files from the Finder. This allows you to link a backup to a project so that it is restored before the project is loaded.

This was previously limited to Final Cut Studio only but we have now expanded it to Adobe projects and Pro Tools sessions.

This is just an overview of the changes - you can see the full list here.

Preference Manager is a popular and essential tool for troubleshooting and managing your user settings. Download it free today.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jul 10 2013 to DR News, Front Page News, Utilities
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Pro Versioner 2.0.10 released

We've just released Pro Versioner 2.0.10, a minor update to our project backup tool.

The changes in this version are as follows:

  • Improved compatibility with network volumes
  • Improved helper app performance
  • Fixed an issue that could cause duplicate backups if multiple copies of the helper were running
  • Various fixes, tweaks and polish

Pro Versioner is an essential tool for data security and peace of mind. It will work with any type of file including Avid projects and bins, Adobe CC projects, Final Cut Pro 7 projects and FCPX projects and events.

To find out more check out the overview video, read the user manual or download the free trial.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jul 9 2013 to DR News, Front Page News, Utilities
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Kollaborate Server released, also double storage for cloud users

We're pleased to announce the launch of Kollaborate Server, a version of our Kollaborate cloud workflow system that businesses can run in-house on their own servers and storage.

This allows businesses to store large quantities of data without being subject to storage limitations and be in charge of the security of their data.

Kollaborate Server has all of the features of the cloud version and will even work with our Kollaborate-optimized apps such as Kollaborate Transfer, Cut Notes and CinePlay. You can get these apps to work with Kollaborate Server by pointing them to the URL of the server in their preferences dialog / settings bundles.

We have three packages available, designed for various-sized businesses, or you can opt for the Unlimited edition which has no user limitations. To purchase you'll need a free Kollaborate account which you can sign up for here.

We've tried to make the installation process as painless as possible with installation scripts and detailed instructions, but we still recommend it is installed and hardened by someone experienced with web server administration. Kollaborate Server is designed for businesses so users with lower storage and user requirements should opt for the cloud version.

We've also streamlined our package offerings for cloud users. We are no longer offering cloud packages for large businesses and recommend Kollaborate Server instead for those users. This has freed us up to double storage space for freelancers and small businesses on the cloud version and lower the price of storage add-ons.

We're excited to reach this much-requested milestone for Kollaborate and we have lots of great features coming soon. To find out more about Kollaborate, both as a cloud service and local server, visit kollaborate.tv.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jul 2 2013 to Kollaborate, DR News, Front Page News
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Weekend Reads - 6-30-13

Avid Media Composer 7 ships - here's 25 new features

Scott Simmons gives a summary of several new features in MC7.

MC 7 is out! What Avid won't tell you about Spanned Markers

There are still some kinks in the new Spanned Markers feature. (Btw, we're glad Avid introduced them because we can now do some great stuff with Kollaborate.)

A Simple Way to Keep a Hard Drive Spinning with FCP

Ingeniously simple idea for stopping drives from spinning down in FCP 7 and presumably Adobe Premiere.

Avid respond to some plug-in feature omissions in Pro Tools

Candid explanation by an Avid developer about certain feature omissions in the AAX plugin spec.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jun 30 2013 to Weekend Reads
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Bugs of the Week - 6-30-13

Here's another installment of critical, useful or bizarre bugs in your NLE that you should know about.

Adobe Premiere


Multicam edits switch angles when relaunching a project in Premiere CC (probably best to do multicam edits in CS6 for now)

More multicam quirks

Update 7-1-13: Adobe has posted a candid response to the multicam bugs.

Match frame may not match to the correct clip

New NVIDIA Quadro driver can improve Lumetri effects processing (Windows)

Keyboard Shortcut panel is blank

Audio dropouts, possibly due to image sequences

Pressing M twice in the source panel adds a second marker instead of editing the first

Visual corruption when playing XDCAM media

Several reports of Effects Panel lag

Premiere CC still losing render files

Timecode is not preserved when sending to SpeedGrade

Labels can disappear in CS6

Importing media files first and then importing an XML can prevent freezes for large XML files


Avid


Media Composer 7 released

Not all AMA plugins are compatible with MC7. Here's a list

You may need to start background services manually for them to work

You may need to refresh autosequenced clips that have LUTs on them for the LUTs to show

Cannot scroll timeline horizontally with mouse wheel / trackpad

Reports of trim lag continue in MC 7

Scaled audio meter shows incorrect values

Media Composer 7 doesn't apply proper pulldown when converting frame rates

Dynamic Media Folders do not work correctly with audio files

Matrox Mini / MXO2 aren't officially supported in MC7 yet but they appear to still work

MC7 still can't export native ProRes media to an AAF

RED AMA plugin installer lacks a .pkg extension

Mark In / Out keys go to in and out points instead of marking them


Adobe Media Encoder


AME will pause encoding if Premiere starts playing


After Effects


After Effects is not compatible with OS X 10.9

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jun 30 2013 to Bugs of the Week, Video Editing, Software
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Kollaborate now out of beta

We're pleased to announce that Kollaborate is now out of beta.

Kollaborate is a cloud workflow platform for video professionals that offers file review and approval, task management and tight integration with Digital Rebellion products.

The response from our customers has been very positive and we're glad to reach this milestone. Here's a summary of some of the changes in version 1.0.

App Storage

We've laid the foundations for cloud projects and preferences across our product range and will be updating our apps to take advantage of this soon.

New Messages and Team interfaces

We've overhauled Messages to be cleaner and easier to use. We've also overhauled the process of adding a new team member to the Team page so it's quicker and simpler.

New billing system

We now have a new billing system that gives customers much greater control over their account, particularly when it comes to ramping up storage and users on a temporary basis. Customers on our existing billing system do not need to do anything - you can keep using it without interruption, but if you want to make changes to your account let us know and we'll transition you over to the new system.

Kollaborate Transfer

Kollaborate Transfer is also out of beta today and allows you to quickly and easily upload files to Kollaborate.

New in this release is the ability to automatically retry a failed upload. It will also remember the last settings used when adding a new file to save time, as well as displaying Growl / Notification Center alerts when files successfully upload.

What's next?

Very soon we will be releasing Kollaborate Server to let you run Kollaborate in-house on your own hardware, as well as adding Kollaborate integration to more of our apps. We've built a solid foundation that allows us to do a lot of exciting things and we can't wait to release what we've been working on.

To find out more about Kollaborate, check out the overview video on the homepage, view the feature list or sign up for the free trial.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jun 25 2013 to Kollaborate, DR News, Front Page News
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Weekend Reads - 6-22-13

Tandem GPUs = Faster Pro Rendering... Sometimes

Resolve really flies on a dual-GPU system, which bodes well for the new Mac Pro.

Eight Media Composer Settings You Must Change Today

Useful tips for setting suitable defaults to speed up common tasks.

Encore CS6 & Creative Cloud

Sadly, Adobe killed Encore in the latest version without prior notice, but it is still available as part of the CS6 cloud download.

OS X 10.9 Mavericks boost for post production

There is speculation that OS X 10.9 may introduce Thunderbolt as a networking protocol.

Audio for Video: 5 EQ Tips for Filmmakers

Useful tips for improving your audio.

Pro Tools 11 brings great new features for post sound

Summary of some of the post sound-related features in Pro Tools 11.

AAPLJ90,1 vs Mac Pro (Mid 2012)

Rumored comparison benchmark between 2012 Mac Pro and 2013 model.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jun 23 2013 to Weekend Reads
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Bugs of the Week - 6-22-13

After a bit of a hiatus, Bugs of the Week is back again.

Premiere


Like any major software update, Premiere Pro CC has several new and exciting bugs.

Fix for CC applications crashing immediately

Adjustment Layers may not affect nested multicam sequences

Color Curve Tool clips luma at 100%

Matrox Mini is not yet supported in Premiere CC

Changing the compatibility mode to Vista could fix situations where Premiere won't load (Windows)

Trick for installing Adobe apps in multiple languages

Audio gets cut off at the end of a clip

Audio waveform sync doesn't work with one camera angle and multiple audio files. Here's a workaround.

The CC installer doesn't not contain Functional Content

Adobe Encore is not part of Creative Cloud but here's how to get it if you don't have a perpetual license of CS6

Fix for Cineform clips being the wrong duration (Windows)

Premiere may not boot for some Windows users with old graphics drivers

Premiere CC no longer creates a new sequence with a new project (this is probably a good thing but it's causing some confusion)

Cannot sort clips by creation date

Clip Mixer levels can reset when stopping playback


Avid


Media Composer 6.5.3 released with lots of fixes

Media Composer 6.0.4 released. Among the usual bug fixes, it also includes a new XML export option for markers.

Workaround for failure rotation stabilizer failure in the 3DWarp effect

Repeated frames on QuickTime imports

Performing a mixdown instead of transcoding can sometimes prevent gamma shifts

Dongle Manager may not launch if permissions are incorrect


OS X


Apple finally fixed a bug we reported a year ago that prevented certain apps from opening QuickTime movies that did not have a chapter marker on the first frame. We've been working around it but it is now fixed in OS X 10.8.4 so we recommend updating.

Posted by Jon Chappell on Jun 23 2013 to Bugs of the Week, Video Editing, Software
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