6.5 is out there…

[Daniel Frome]

This is Avid we’re talking about: they don’t come guns blazing with a new paradigm. That being said…

Here is a shortlist of the main additions/changes:

New codecs:
1) DNx80 and DNx100 for DSLR or other 4:2:0 sources or whatever you want

2) jpeg2000 (aka j2k): 10bit 4:2:2 visually lossless at any broadcast resolution. 30-50Mbits for SD. 90-150Mbits for HD. This is a favourite codec for me: since very often 1080p/23.98 material hovers around the 100Mbits data rate and it is better than ProResHQ in terms of quality (which is twice the bitrate).

Under the hood improvement:
– way faster AMA–>transcode processes. Transcoding will now often smother your CPU usage, especially if using the new J2K codec — flatlines even 12 core workstations – and transcodes multitudes faster than real-time (on multicore systems). In general, a quad core i7 will still see slightly faster transcodes into DnxHD than j2k, where as 8 and 12 core machines will see dramatic speed increases in favour of j2k.

– improved quicktime h264 cpu/speed: H264 exporting now uses 4 to 5 cores on average – often finishes 1080p/23.98 renders at about 80% of real-time (single pass, quality-based exports). Also far less crashes when exporting long sequences.

– improved performance with most 3rd party video IO devices, especially blackmagic devices.
overall much snappier response on the timeline, more similar to v5.5 snappiness (there is 1 known bug with ‘fast scrub’ that is being addressed in a 6.5.1 patch, but it is not major).

UI/Workflow additions:
– Avid can now “search and find” batches of AMA clips and automatically relink them, similar to how FCP does this.
– You can now select multiple non-adjacent clips and move them around as a unit, without needing to select the filler between them.

– The Relink window now offers more options for relinking to files of different of metadata.
– You can now turn off automatic AMA volume mounting (but still have AMA enabled).
– You can still use classic XDCAM and P2 import functions while AMA is on.
– full Redcolor 3 and Redgamma 3 support

[Neil Goodman]

whats the fast scrub bug with bm i/o? and what drivers are you using for it? im on desktop video 9.5.3 which were the most solid for me on 6.0.3

the only thing holding me back from jumping in is the compatibility with Black Magic. The current combo of sw/drivers im using now is the best its been, so unless its indeed better im gonna stick with this for now.

Neil Goodman: Editor of New Media Production – NBC/Universal

[Denise Quesnel]

Hi Daniel, do you know of any changes they have made to stereoscopic 3d? I looked through Avid’s content sheet but there was very little info on it.

Stereo 3D Post Production Specialist, adjunct researcher at the S3D Centre in Vancouver, BC.
The S3D Centre is a premiere research, curriculum/training, production and post-production facility.
https://www.s3dcentre.ca

[Michael Phillips]

There as no added functionality in the stereo 3D feature set that I have seen. There may have been some fixes to EDL Manager for stereo 3D timelines.

Michael

[Don Greening]

Pardon my ignorance but is this a free update if you already have MC6 or Symphony 6?

TIA

– Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[Miłosz Koziol]

No it isn’t. In europe is 500 euro (quite a lot if you ask me )

[Don Greening]

Okay thank you. You’re quite right. The upgrade cost is rather pricey. I don’t even have my Symphony 6 installed yet because my new computer isn’t going to be here until next week. It’s the cost of doing business I guess. Sill, it’s upsetting to think that I’ll probably have to pay another $1000.00 dollars just for the upgrade. It sounds like the upgrade is worth it though, because the transcoding process within the program is supposed to be quite a bit faster on multi-processor machines, more so than in version 6.0.

– Don

Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com

[John Pale]

None of this info is in the Read Me. With all the complaints about the cost of the upgrade..because it appears minor, based on the official Avid info…you would think they would be shouting about this..l

[Neil Goodman]

Regarding Black Magic I/O

what driver are you using, cuase with 9.5.3 things are pretty bad on 6.5

works ok in 6.0.3 still not nearly as snappy as is in SW only wide.

This is a big step back imo.

Neil Goodman: Editor of New Media Production – NBC/Universal

[Daniel Frome]

Hey Neil –

Whoops, looks like I worded that statement wrong. I meant that in general (in software mode) things are snappier. I’m surprised to hear you say that things aren’t working out with your blackmagic I/O. Sorry about making that sound misleading.