If you don’t know the tool: Sequoia is a Windows only high end DAW from Boris FX for mastering, broadcast and audio post. It focuses on object-based editing, precise routing and reliability rather than trend chasing.

Boris FX has released Sequoia 2026, marking the first major version since the DAW joined the company’s product portfolio. The update focuses on video playback, external control and performance reliability rather than new creative paradigms.

The release targets audio post production, mastering and broadcast environments where Sequoia is typically used alongside picture and external hardware systems. Boris FX describes the update as a consolidation release that combines visible workflow enhancements with under-the-hood engine improvements.

GPU-accelerated video, properly integrated

The most significant change in Sequoia 2026 is a new, fully GPU-accelerated video engine. Boris FX states that the engine supports NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs and is designed to improve playback stability and responsiveness when working to picture.

The engine introduces native decoding for AVC, HEVC and AV1, and adds native Apple ProRes support without requiring external transcodes. Boris FX also states that the video engine provides full resolution monitoring without preview downscaling and supports frame rates up to 60 fps. These performance claims are vendor statements and not independently verified at press time.

The company positions the new video engine as a practical requirement for modern audio post-production, rather than a feature expansion, citing smoother playback and reduced friction when working with contemporary picture formats.

Audio engine refinements for dense sessions

Sequoia 2026 includes updates to its VST3 based audio engine. Boris FX states that multicore CPU distribution has been improved, with smarter allocation across cores and reduced processing load from high latency plugins and AUX sends.

The company also highlights strengthened engine testing and error handling, intended to improve playback reliability during complex mastering and mixing sessions. Additional changes include an updated plugin buffer dialog and overload and noise protection refinements.

A new one click export option allows users to bypass active effects chains during rendering, enabling clean reference exports without altering project setups. These changes are presented as safeguards for critical production and mastering work rather than new functionality.

OSC support and external control

Sequoia 2026 adds native support for OSC, Open Sound Control, enabling remote triggering of recording, editing, mixing and transport functions over a network. Boris FX explicitly references use with broadcast consoles, large format desks, StreamDeck devices and OSC capable applications. The feature is aimed at multi room studios and facilities where DAW control is distributed across operators or locations.

The available documentation does not specify command coverage, mapping depth or latency characteristics. But there is an OSC monitor to check outgoing and incoming strings, and you can use the search field to display the menu ID. The program help contains some examples and suggestions. Facilities planning to rely on OSC control should verify behaviour against their specific hardware and network setups.

Soundly integration inside Sequoia

The release integrates the Soundly cloud-based sound effects library directly into Sequoia. Users can browse, search and preview sounds from within the application and transfer assets directly into projects. According to Boris FX, the library includes thousands of sound effects, Foley recordings, atmospheres and field recordings at multiple sample rates. Organisational features include tagging, favourites and custom libraries.

Routing and fades, incrementally improved

Sequoia 2026 introduces an enhanced FX IO Matrix. The updated matrix allows more detailed multichannel routing through plugins, including channel remapping, side chain setups and a Thru mode for distributing mono or stereo effects across surround and immersive buses.

The Crossfade Editor has also been revised. Boris FX describes improved visual context, quicker access to fade shapes via object handles, real time preview of fade curves and looped auditioning without interrupting playback. These changes are aimed at dialogue, classical music and broadcast editing workflows where precision matters. The underlying object based editing model remains unchanged.

Official onboarding and training material

Alongside the release, Boris FX has published an official introductory walkthrough video. The material focuses on interface navigation and foundational workflows rather than documenting new 2026 features. The walkthrough covers the Arranger, object-based editing, the Object Editor, track-based workflows using the Track Editor and Mixer, VST instrument handling, ASIO driver configuration, project creation, recording and export. It is positioned as an entry point for new users and a refresher for existing ones.

Pricing and availability

Sequoia 2026 is available immediately. It remains a standalone DAW offered via subscription, perpetual licence and upgrade and support plans. Pricing starts at 595 US dollars per year or 95 US dollars per month, according to Boris FX. Customers with an active Sequoia or Boris FX Suite subscription, or a current Sequoia upgrade and support plan, receive the 2026 release as part of their existing entitlement. As always, new releases should be tested carefully before use in real production and mastering environments without assumptions.

The post Sequoia 2026 gives audio post a video engine first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the tool: SynthEyes by Boris FX is a dedicated 3D camera tracking and matchmoving software used across film, VFX, and advertising production. It interfaces smoothly with Nuke, After Effects, Fusion and other DCC applications, delivering fast, precise solves for integration of CG into live action. Part of the Boris FX Suite, SynthEyes sits alongside tools such as Mocha Pro, Continuum, Sapphire, and Silhouette, forming a tightly integrated pipeline of visual effects and finishing plugins.

Free matchmove mastery – for a limited time

Boris FX has announced SynthEyes Essentials, a new training series designed to teach both the conceptual foundations and practical workflows of matchmoving in SynthEyes. The package, usually priced at USD 95, is available as a free premium download until 31 December 2025.

The offer includes over three hours of professional instruction, spread across eighteen videos, with accompanying project files and sample footage. The series is taught by Boris FX product specialist Christoph Zapletal, a long-time VFX artist and trainer – and Digital Production’s own Compositing, Flame and Star trek Author.

Topics include matchmove theory, camera solving, AI-assisted workflows, roto masking, lens distortion management, mesh generation, and object tracking. Boris FX positions the series as a comprehensive, concept-driven training rather than a feature-by-feature tutorial. If you want to learn what you are doing, and not just which button to press, this is the course for you.

What do you get?

Across eighteen lessons and twelve blocks, SynthEyes Essentials builds a structured learning path from theory to application. It starts with conceptual understanding, progresses through tracking, solving, calibration, and ends with practical export and integration workflows. Each block is designed to be modular, allowing artists to focus on specific parts of the matchmove process or follow the series sequentially for a full onboarding to SynthEyes.

Foundations and Core Concepts

The course opens with an Introduction and a clear explanation of the Underlying Concepts of matchmoving. These first lessons establish the theoretical foundation of what camera solving actually does, namely mapping 2D image data into a consistent 3D coordinate space. Christoph outlines how SynthEyes interprets motion, focal length, and parallax, giving artists a solid base before they begin working hands-on. This section sets the tone for the entire training: conceptual understanding first, tools second.

Tracking Workflows

Once the principles are clear, the series moves into practical tracking. Lessons on Automated Tracking and Supervised Tracking demonstrate SynthEyes’ two primary approaches to extracting tracking data. Automated tracking covers point generation and solving for shots that can be processed algorithmically. The supervised section focuses on when and how to step in manually: tuning track points, correcting drift, and controlling motion paths when the automated system struggles. Together, these chapters establish a complete understanding of tracking strategies for real production footage.

Solving and Refinement

The next stage is “The Solver Room”, where all the accumulated tracking data is converted into a working 3D solve. The solver section demonstrates how SynthEyes interprets the camera’s path and reconstructs the scene’s geometry. The training then introduces Roto Masking, showing how to isolate moving foreground elements or exclude unwanted regions from the tracking process. This not only improves accuracy but also keeps solves stable in complex or occluded shots.

Lens and Calibration

Zapletal then focuses on optical parameters in three consecutive chapters: Lens Distortion, Lens Calculation, and Lens Calibration. These lessons explain how real-world lenses introduce distortion, how SynthEyes models and compensates for it, and how to calculate or calibrate lenses from footage or reference data. This block is particularly useful for artists working with varying cameras or mixed-format source material, where lens data is inconsistent or missing.

Coordinate Systems and Scene Setup

The two lessons titled Coordinate Systems Part 1 and Part 2 explain how SynthEyes handles scene orientation, scale, and alignment. Understanding coordinate spaces is crucial when exporting solves to downstream 3D applications such as Nuke or Maya. These chapters ensure that solved data lines up correctly with CG scenes and compositing environments, avoiding scale and rotation mismatches in later stages of production.

Mesh Generation

The Mesh Generation Part 1 and 2 chapters explore SynthEyes’ built-in mesh tools. Artists learn how to create proxy geometry that helps verify solves, anchor objects in space, and visualise tracking quality. These lessons demonstrate both automated and manual mesh workflows, preparing users for typical use cases like ground plane setup or background modelling for compositing reference.

Object Tracking

Next, Object Tracking Part 1 and Part 2 move beyond camera solves to show how SynthEyes handles independent object motion. This section is key for shots with multiple moving elements—cars, props, or handheld devices. It explains how to isolate and track objects independently while maintaining a consistent world space between multiple solves.

Export and Integration

The final three chapters deal with transferring the finished solve to other applications. Zapletal demonstrates exporting cameras, point clouds, meshes, and nulls to standard 3D and compositing packages. Topics include export format choices, scaling conventions, and verification of data integrity. The course closes with best practices for integrating SynthEyes results into downstream VFX or editing pipelines.

Availability and next steps

Artists can download SynthEyes Essentials for free via the Boris FX webshop until the end of December 2025. From 1 January 2026, it will be priced at USD 95 for the premium download, though the videos will remain freely viewable on the Boris FX website. As with any training-based workflow adoption, users are advised to validate techniques and settings against their own production data before deploying in critical pipeline stages, but, after we have seen a few of the videos, this one will be useful for pretty much everybody.

The post SynthEyes Essentials Training is here and Free for the Holidays first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

Boris FX built its reputation on video plugins for compositing, matchmoving, rotoscoping, and tracking. The company’s Sapphire, Mocha, and Continuum suites are standard in film and television post-production. With the acquisition of Sequoia, Samplitude, and Music Studio, Boris FX extends its reach into professional audio. The move widens the toolset available to editors and artists, giving them both image and sound environments under one roof.

Sequoia: High-End Audio for Broadcast and Mastering

Sequoia is a professional digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for high-level recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. It is widely used in broadcast studios and classical music production. The software supports object-based editing, allowing users to edit individual sound events directly in the project window without destructive changes. Advanced mastering functions include spectral editing for cleaning up noise, loudness metering compliant with international standards, and DDP image creation for professional CD mastering.

For immersive audio workflows, Sequoia offers full Dolby Atmos support and an integrated ADM (Audio Definition Model) editor. In broadcast environments, the DAW connects with content management systems and automation platforms, enabling live production and playout. The software also supports extensive hardware control surfaces and third-party plugins, keeping it adaptable to a wide range of studio setups.

Samplitude: Studio Production with Speed and Precision

Samplitude comes in standard and Suite editions and targets musicians, producers, and post-production editors. The platform provides a full DAW environment with multitrack recording, virtual instruments, MIDI editing, and integrated mastering tools. Its object-oriented workflow lets users apply effects, fades, and edits directly to clips, reducing the need for additional tracks and buses.

The 2025 release focuses on performance improvements: projects load up to 17 times faster, file sizes are significantly smaller, and memory usage is reduced by nearly two-thirds. New range markers streamline export options, while expanded ARA2 plugin support allows tight integration with software like Melodyne. The Suite edition adds advanced tools, including Dolby Atmos support, a 3D convolution reverb, and bundled software such as SOUND FORGE, Acon Digital Acoustica Premium, and CrumplePop restoration plugins. Samplitude is optimised for 4K HDPI displays, making it suitable for detailed editing on modern monitors.

Music Studio: Entry-Level Creativity

Music Studio is aimed at beginners or hobbyists who want an accessible entry point into music production. It includes a library of loops, samples, and virtual instruments across genres, offering users a simple way to sketch out arrangements or produce full tracks. Despite its low entry cost—$35 per year—it retains a streamlined DAW structure, with track-based editing, mixing tools, and basic mastering features. While it lacks the broadcast and immersive audio functions of Sequoia and Samplitude, it serves as a learning platform and lightweight production environment.

More Tools, More Coverage

For years, Boris FX was synonymous with image processing. Adding professional DAWs does not deepen its VFX technology but expands the overall scope of its toolset. For post-production teams, this means the same vendor can now provide both high-end visual effects plugins and industry-standard audio environments. The range covers everything from entry-level music production to full-scale broadcast mastering. As always, new releases should be tested carefully in controlled conditions before use in production pipelines.

The post Boris FX Turns Up the Volume first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.