Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 17, 2014. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Assimilate today presents an update for Scratch 8 – version 8.2 is available and brings new metadata, codecs, VR modules, and Live View GRading. In addition, there is "Scratch WEB", a cloud-based review tool.
Metadata
Metadata can now be edited directly as in a table – even across multiple shots. Parameters that collect the data and prepare it for various other systems are also possible. Export works via XML or ALE (how to handle this will be explained in the next DP 15:02). Furthermore, the metadata update is now also able to match 3dls, LUTs, CDLs, and metadata from audio tracks internally – allowing the information from the set to be assigned conveniently.
Live View
The new Live View function can also take signals directly from the camera, together with the camera’s metadata, and thus create initial looks and grading preparations during the shoot. All changes and adjustments entered can also be prepared immediately for later points in the pipeline.
Vanguard H.264 Encoding on Mac and Windows
Scratch also has a new H.264 encoder – from Vanguard, which is almost ideal for previews in terms of the ratio of bitrate, file size, and image quality – and this codec is available across systems in its implementation, and thus also available to Mac users.
Oculus Rift Support
Scratch can now also handle *.v360 files, and thus cylindrical, plate carrée (equi-rectangular), and cube formats for output on a second monitor or on an Oculus Rift DK I or DKII. If a Rift is connected, this content is mapped to the headset in real time, including head tracking. Output can also take place "normally" on a second monitor – and thus VR shots can be graded directly in real time, both with and without Rift.
Further Features
- Conforming from multiple sources: File wrangling can be simplified and streamlined through a background process,
- AJA Kona 4 and Scratch now get along perfectly.
- New camera formats, including: Panasonic RAW, Magic Lantern (*.raw and *.mlv), BMD Pocket Camera (OSX), updates for XAVC and XAVC-S
- Shaper LUT inside a cube LUT
- Final Cut X 1.4 support for conforming.
Price
Scratch (and Scratch Lab) are available now at http://www.assimilateinc.com. Scratch now also offers rental licences, starting at around €50 per month (with monthly cancellation).
SCRATCH Web
Also new is "Scratch WEB", which allows cloud-based review sessions to be set up over encrypted connections – directly from Srcatch. In contrast to the normal review process with its various steps, according to Assimilate everything here is intended to work "with one click". Artists can share both individual clips and complete CONstructs – including all metadata – without leaving Scratch. Artists (who are registered with MyASSIMILATE) thereby publish to a secure Sratch web channel, and the reviewer can look over it in any browser (the invitation is sent by email). A public channel – for showreels, for example – is also possible.
Scratch Web Channels are available at http://www.assimilateinc.com; 20GB of storage costs 79 US dollars per month, and the "Extended Subscription" with 100GB costs 249 dollars per month. For anyone who wants to take a look: A free test account is available to every maintenance/support customer.
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