Archive notice: This article was originally published on April 10, 2018. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Open Beta of DaVinci Resolve 15
At NAB 2018, the update to the well-known grading and editing program shines above all with more than 250 compositing and paint tools from Fusion 9, which have been integrated into the new version. These also include tracking and retiming functions that in this form had previously only been found in the high-end Fusion Studio itself.
Furthermore, Resolve 15 offers a new LUT browser, improved HDR grading tools, and updates to editing and the Fairlight audio mastering toolset. Blackmagic Design seems to have made an effort there.
The future replacement for Fusion?
The generous integration of Fusion tools naturally raises the question of at what point Fusion itself will become superfluous. How far it will actually affect Fusion’s right to exist remains to be seen until the features built in so far have been sufficiently tested. Blackmagic Design has, however, confirmed in any case that a standalone version of Fusion will continue to be available.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Blackmagic responded to the demand for 4K resolution with the Pocket and was happy to grant this wish. Far superior to DSLR cameras with its 4K images, it even surpasses professional digital cinema cameras, and at a substantially lower price. It will still this year worldwide at all specialist retailers for €1,369.
Among the things found under the hood: a full 4/3 HDR sensor, dual native ISO values with a maximum value of 25,600 and alleged top performance in very low light, as well as a dynamic range of 13 stops.
URSA Broadcast
Both a broadcast camera and a 4K 16mm digital cinema camera, the URSA Broadcast is suitable both for corresponding studios and for appropriate outdoor use. Equipped with a B4 lens, a simple zoom button can cover everything between wide and telephoto. What the good piece does not possess, however, is black balance, which would be quite practical for matching a shot with three cameras, for example. Overall, the camera is a good all-rounder choice, provided it is not used for the darkest night shots – it is not particularly light-sensitive, after all. In this case, others clearly score better.
ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K
It may not be the largest switcher, but it is the most powerful. This is a live production switcher for Ultra HD with an integrated hardware control panel. Through eight 12G-SDI inputs with standards converters, any HD or Ultra HD source can be connected and converted to the switcher’s video standard. Each input also has a 12G-SDI program output to route signals to cameras, thereby also enabling use with an integrated talkback converter.
Other innovations also include the Cintel Scanner 2, the Mini Converter UpDownCross HD, Multiview 4 HD, Mini Converter Optical Fiber 12G and the Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI. Anyone who would like to learn more details about the individual components can find more detailed information HERE.
