Products of Interest U & I Software VTrack 1.5 Multi- MPEG, AVI, and DV, with a number 128 sources can be used. Effects are track Video Tool of codec and frame rate options. processed in real-time on all formats. VTrack runs on Mac OS X using A new Dynamic RT (real-time) sys- U & I Software’s VTrack is an eight- CarbonLib 1.3 or later and can run on tem can be set by the user to adjust track video editor/sequencer and ef- Macintosh OS 9 as long as CarbonLib image quality and frame rate in real- fects application that can be used to is installed. A VTrack demonstration time according to CPU power usage. mix QuickTime movies, DV streams, version is available from the U & I Also new in this version is support still images, sounds, and ArtMatic Software Web site. for 24 channels of 24-bit audio sam- structures. ArtMatic, also from U & VTrack is listed for US$ 299. Along pled at 96 kHz. I, is a graphics and animation synthe- with ArtMatic and MetaSynth, vari- Although audio mixing is available sizer that allows users to easily create ous combination and upgrade discounts in Final Cut Pro 5, Soundtrack Pro complex digital art using graphics are available. Contact: U & I Software; with its roots in Apple’s Soundtrack functions and filters. The combina- electronic mail ui_public@uisoftware and Logic Pro applications provides tion of video-mixing with ArtMatic .com; Web www.uisoftware.com/. additional plug-in, effects, and features makes VTrack a useful post- recording/editing utilities. More than production tool as well as an applica- 50 effects plug-ins and 5,000 Apple tion for creating art and music videos. Apple Final Cut Studio with Final Loops, with a range of both musical A VTrack project consists of a Cut Pro 5 and Soundtrack Pro sounds and sound effects, are in- number of events of different types cluded. A set of noise removal and arranged across eight tracks on a Final Cut Studio is a suite of Apple audio cleaning utilities are available, tempo-based grid. A number of differ- software for the professional video and AppleScript is supported. Audio ent types of transport modes can be market. The centerpiece of this col- sequences can be transferred from the used to specify how the layers of lection is Apple’s Final Cut Pro 5 audio editor of Final Cut Pro for more events are combined. Events in video editing software with new High detailed editing. VTrack can be picture, movie, Art- Definition (HD) support. Soundtrack Motion 2 is a real-time graphics Matic, or simpler graphic events cre- Pro is included for audio editing and application with support for MIDI ated with the VTrack graphic editor. mixing, Motion 2 for real-time mo- controllers. Featuring graphics pro- A project library of events for pos- tion graphics, and DVD Studio Pro 4 cessing units (GPU) accelerated 32- sible use can hold 96 pictures and to prepare and burn videos to DVD. bit float rendering, motion graphics movies, and 64 images. A set of 3,000 Soundtrack Pro is a new product but with improved quality even at low ArtMatic presets are provided. More the other applications are all up- bit rates, no banding artifacts, and than one project can be opened at the grades of previous releases with pow- very accurate colors, are possible. same time so the user can copy and erful new features. Collectively, they New to Motion is the Replicator paste between them. A separate offer the video producer a profes- Tool, an automated tool for creating soundfile can be associated with the sional product that covers the entire multiple copies of particular graphic project to act as a soundtrack. It is video production process from start features with user-defined behaviors. also possible to associate a soundfile to finish. A set of more than 50 filters, effects, with a particular picture or ArtMatic Final Cut Pro 5 is a comprehensive and particle presets are included. Fil- file so that each time the graphic video editing and mixing application ter and transform parameters can be event appears, the sound is played. with support not only for Digital mapped to MIDI controllers for dy- Special effects, fades, transitions, Video and Standard Definition film, namic response to multiple inputs. and title sequence features, along but also for a variety of High Defini- Finally, DVD Studio Pro 4 can be with powerful ArtMatic features, tion (HD) formats, including uncom- used to burn SD or HD videos to mean that VTrack can be used as a pressed, HDV, DVCPRO HD (a DVD. Distributed encoding can be standalone video editor and se- Panasonic DV format), and newer for- used to speed up the process. A Dolby quencer or can be used to create mats. Among the new features in Fi- Digital Professional (AC3) encoder whole videos or video clips for fur- nal Cut Pro is support for multiple and General Parameters (GRPM) for ther processing and editing in other cameras, allowing editors to switch storing viewer history and making applications. Video output from angles from shot to shot and auto- appropriate changes to the playing of VTrack can be in a number of for- matically combine video sequences the DVD, are also included. mats, including QuickTime Movie, based on time-of-day timecode. Up to Detailed application specifications Products of Interest 99 Downloaded from http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/014892605775179883 by guest on 26 September 2021 Figure 1. Mackie Control Universal with XT exten- der and control C4. and system requirements are avail- able on the Apple Web site. Final Cut Studio is listed for US$ 1,299. Purchased individually, Final Cut Pro is listed for US$ 699, Soundtrack Pro for US$ 299, Motion 2 for US$ 299, and DVD Studio Pro for US$ 499. Upgrade discounts and educational pricing are available. Contact: Apple, Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California 95014, USA; telephone (+1) 408-996-1010; Web the master section. The MCU con- cial curriculum of the Apple Pro www.apple.com/finalcutstudio. nects to the computer by means of a Training and Certification Program.” MIDI interface. This series includes volumes for The MCU can be extended by the learning how to work with Final Cut Mackie Control Universal and Mackie Control Universal XT, an Express/Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Logic, Control C4 MIDI Controllers eight-channel extension similar to Shake, and Motion. Mary Plummer the MCU but lacking the master has added to the list with her book The Mackie Control Universal section. on Soundtrack (softcover, 2004, (MCU) is a touch-sensitive control The final device in this control sur- ISBN 0-321-24690-X) (see Figure 2). surface that now offers support for face collection is the Mackie Control No doubt, an updated version will Apple’s Final Cut Pro 5 and Sound- 4, a controller for plug-ins with sup- soon be out to address the Sound- track Pro. The MCU has eight 100- port for Logic Pro 7, Logic Express 7, track Pro upgrade. mm motorized touch channel faders Sonar 4, and Tracktion 2. The con- In addition to the Getting Started and a master fader (see Figure 1). troller features the same 55 × 2 back- section, the 458-page book is organ- There is no limit to the number of lit LCD as the MCU with 32 V-pots ized into nine lessons, followed by banks that can be used and therefore with LED indicators that give access an appendix (“Apple Professional no limit to the number of channels. to 32 plug-in parameters. The pots Products Integration”) and index. Each channel has a rotary V-pot with are grouped into sets of eight with a These lessons are laid out as follows: an LED surround displaying the cur- further 55 × 2 LCD display beneath 1. Working with the Interface; 2. Ar- rent controller value. Each channel each group acting as a scribble strip. ranging a Song; 3. Editing, Mixing, also has dedicated buttons for record The C4 can be used as a standalone and Effects; 4. Creating and Exporting arm, solo, mute, channel select, and unit or in conjunction with the MCU a Temporary Score; 5. Using Ad- signal present. The most noticeable and MCU XT. vanced Editing and Mixing Tech- feature of the control surface is the The MCU is listed for US$ 1,299, niques; 6. Scoring Techniques for 55 × 2 backlit LCD that is incorpo- the XT for US$ 1,099 and the Control Multimedia Projects; 7. Distributing rated into the design. The display can C4 for US$ 1,299. Contact: Mackie, and Managing Soundtrack Files; 8. be used for various parameters in- Inc., 16220 Wood-Red Road N.E., Recording Audio in Soundtrack; and cluding track name, channel meter- Woodinville, Washington 98072, USA; 9. Using the Soundtrack Loop Utility. ing, plug-ins, I/O assignments, and is telephone (+1) 425-487-4333; fax (+1) The book comes with a DVD-ROM, complemented by a seven-segment 425-487-4337; Web www.mackie.com/ containing all the files necessary to LED timecode display. The master products/msu/index.html. follow the lessons, along with guide- section is labeled for Logic Pro but as lines for downloading a 30-day trial the controller supports Pro Tools, Fi- version of the software. nal Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, Nuendo, Apple Pro Training Series: Soundtrack: Create Original Cubase SX, Adobe Audition, and Soundtrack by Mary Plummer Scores for Video, DVD, and the Web Cakewalk Sonar, among others, is listed for US$ 39.99.