This IS the Avid L2: Re: [Avid-L2] MC 8.1 launched today

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Re: [Avid-L2] MC 8.1 launched today

For me, the new features mentioned here are really cool, and seem to be an unqualified affirmation of a commitment to the high-end feature film market. No surrender there, that's for sure. Yes, I understand, that's a relatively small slice of the pie. But for Avid (and for those of us in that particular niche), it's important. Do I want sample based sound editing? Yes? Do I want snappier wave-form redraw (although it's been improved)? Yes. But the below features really tie us feature off-liners more tightly together with the movie finishers. I like.

On Jul 30, 2014, at 10:10 AM, tcurren@aol.com [Avid-L2] <Avid-L2@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Media Composer | Software (v8.1) - Launching Today
We are pleased to announce that the new Media Composer | Software (v8.1) is available as of 12:30 pm ET on the Avid Video Download Center (login and password are required).
New Features and Functionality:   As mentioned previously the Media Composer | Software (v8.1) is the first release since v8.0 where we announced the Perpetual, Subscription and Floating license model. This v8.1 update adds exciting new features that customers can use to improve and accelerate their workflows while taking advantage of some really cool powerful new tools.
64-bit AAX plug-in support: Create higher quality sound effects/mixes and gain full access to the latest generation of Avid and third-party audio plug-ins with support for 64-bit AAX plug-ins, making it easy to share plug-ins between Pro Tools® and Media Composer systems for seamless interoperability
Multiple audio mixdown generation: Create different versions of a final project's audio mix all in one step
Integrated DPX workflows: Read DPX files directly in Media Composer—no transcoding required
Export of MXF OP1a DNxHD and J2K: Get more flexibility and streamline broadcast workflows between Avid and third-party products with the ability to export DNxHD or J2K media wrapped as MXF OP1a interleaved files
Multicam editing in 3D: Create groups from stereoscopic clips for multicam editing
Enhanced and more responsive multicam performance: Get more responsive scrubbing and better timeline navigation when working with simultaneous video streams across both Avid and third-party Open I/O hardware devices
Support for ARRI AMIRA camera color transformations: Get the ability to have embedded Color Decision Lists (CDL's) and/or 3D Look-up Tables (LUT's) applied automatically
Enhanced timeline manipulation tools:
o Quickly add and remove trim rollers by Shift-clicking anywhere in an adjoining segment
o Easily see which tracks have reached their beginning or end points when trimming with new "end of trim" indicators
o Choose whether to select or not select filler with segment tools
o Toggle clips and tracks on and off in the timeline to easily compare variations of a sequence
o Copy any segment by dragging and dropping it to a desired location
o Create and save titles directly to a track in the timeline

ReadMe, Whats New Guide and Install Guide:
The three documents were attached to Community Alert #102 and they have not changed.  Again, I recommend that the Mod Squad read ALL the information thoroughly so you are aware of the fixes and can assist the community and social channels next week . If any changes are made to the ReadMe prior to launch, you will be notified in advance.

Download Center:  The Media Composer | Software (v8.1) updates ( Mac and PC) are located on the Download Center (login and password required).

Installers:   The installers are full installers for Mac and Windows.

Important Note for current Avid ExpertPlus and Avid Elite Support customers upgrading to Media Composer | Software 8.1:   The FlexVersioner is NO longer supported for this release. All current support customers upgrading to Media Composer | Software (v8.1) will obtain their software and dongle license updates from the My Products and Subscriptions section of their Master Account.  For details, see Software Licensing Upgrade Process for Avid Advantage Support Plan Customers
How will customers obtain Media Composer | Software (v8.1):   Customers that are already using Media Composer | Software (v8) and have an Avid Support plan, or if they have purchased the Avid Support/Upgrade for Media Composer, Symphony, or NewsCutter, the upgrade to Media Composer | Software (v8.1) will be automatically deposited into their Avid Master Account when available. It will take a period of time for the upgrades to percolate and populate that many Avid Master Accounts (Worldwide ) but we expect to start Wednesday July 30th, 2014.

Customers will simply log in to their account and then select Support Upgrades.

Trial Mode issue: Please note the following Knowledge Base article: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/troubleshooting/Application-Manager-says-Buy-instead-of-Update-when-you-have-an-active-subscription-or-valid-license
Important - if a dongle or floating license customer was at some point in Trial Mode they may see "Buy" instead of "Update" in Application Manager. As a workaround, they should get the update from the avid.com Download Center and install the old fashioned way. This will be fixed in an Application Manager update that will be released shortly.
Options: Existing Symphony Option and NewsCutter Option activations will continue to function with the Media Compsoer | Software (v8.1) lienses.