TriCaster New Feature Preview from NAB

NewTek previewed some upcoming new features for some of the TriCaster models.Some highlights:

The TriCaster 8000 will be getting new animated frame stores. This will allow you to apply a video clip or animation to many elements in a VirtualSet.

TriCaster 40 will be getting animation store transitions and an improved multiviewer along with some new record formats. In fact the 40 is getting enough new features I'm surprised they didn't call it 2.0 and charge a bundle for it.

The Virtual Set editor gets the prize for the "Blow the Top of Your Head Off New Feature. Take a quick "shot" of a location with your smartphone (or presumably a real camera) and convert it to a virtual set with just a few mouse clicks.  Now we aren't talking about just a static background but a full pan, tilt and zoomable virtual set. The demo I saw even placed elements like a guard rail in front of the talent being placed in the virtual environment. Pretty amazing. I'm not sure how this is going to translate into sets for the TriCasters below the 8000 but I'll see what I can find out.

The really cool thing is these are all free upgrades. NewTek just rocks.