Tricaster 2.0 Update

Got some semi-firm information on the upcoming TriCaster 2.0 upgrade.

All TriCasters will end up with the same feature set with the exception of the TriCaster 100 (the original). It looses the LiveSet functions, doesn't get the Waveform monitor and a couple of minor user interface things. I'll post a link to the final list once it's approved for release.

Some feature highlights:

Play MPEG 1, MPEG2, MPEG4, Quicktime, and SpeedHQ files
Render iPod, PSP, DVD, Flash, Macintosh compatible files
Native recording of MPEG2
Push and Flash streaming
Title Template editor
LiveSets and LiveMatte on all models except TriCaster 100
RealTime database updates of Titles
SpeedEdit based editor
16:9 Support
Selectable user interface resolution

The TriCaster 2.0 upgrade will ship on a usb flash drive on or about May 29.

Today's Eye Candy

NewTek TV

Next Gen VT Wishlist

I've posted this to the NewTek Dealer Forum and sent it in as a feature request. What do you think?

HD – 720p 1080i 1080p - goes without saying but I'll say it anyway.

A Better Name - no one knows what a VT is and has trouble understanding it on the phone DT? VP? Tie it into the TriCaster line if you like.

Straight ahead, multiple, down-stream keys - I want lower thirds and a bug over my transitions.

Expandable input channels – the current VT hardware supports only three input channels I want to be able to add more. This would be great for:

Internal Routing Matrix – I might want to capture without the keys, I might want to capture an iso'd input, I want to feed a camera to two inputs on the switcher at the same time.

Sub Switchers – Route the output of one switcher into an input of another. I want to do DVEs between lower thirds and do a full switch for my PIP.

Expandable output channels – Maybe I want a main out, an out sans keys, an out of just the keys, maybe DVI maybe SD analog let me configure a system to the customers needs.

I/O via ethernet with alpha – Let me dedicate a machine to CG and feed it into the DSK of another machine. This would also work great with the sub-switcher concept.

Modular Audio Hardware – Most users use one stereo pair for input and one for output so why buy the rest. On the other hand if the mixer were robust enough some would pay for a mondo audio BOB (and with the ethernet I/O it could run on a dedicated machine if necessary - can you say audio plugins?

No analog audio hardware inside the computer - keep it out and keep it quiet.

Well documented, full featured, third party developer interface – So when the new CG still doesn't work :) there is hope that a third party can develop a well integrated replacement.

Integrated MIDI Machine Control - Both send and receive

With dual core machines dropping to sub $1000 prices it would be nice to spread the production process out across multiple machines/operators and stop having to make excuses about the VT hardware limitations. Not enough resources? then throw another card in the machine or stick another machine on the network.

New NewTek Pricing

NewTek has re-shuffled the TriCaster and add-on pricing with the introduction of the TriCaster 2.0 upgrade and new controllers so here are the new list prices.

As always Digital Arts' prices are too low to publish so give us a call at 1-800-692-6442 to get a quote. There are also educational and government prices available on many products. The VT product line pricing hasn't changed.

NAB Specials good until 5/30/08
Purchase LiveText and receive the 2.0 Software Upgrade FREE $995
Purchase TimeWarp and receive the 2.0 Software Upgrade FREE $995
Purchase both and receive the 2.0 Software Upgrade FREE $1495 (Save $500)

Upgrade Pricing:
TriCaster 2.0 Software Upgrade for Tricaster, ProFX and Studio $495
TriCaster 2.0 Software Upgrade for TriCaster PRO $995 (Upgrades to ProFX feature set)

TriCaster Add-On Prices:
TimeWarp for PRO, ProFX, Studio or Broadcast (Req. 2.0) $995
LiveText for all Tricasters (Req. 2.0) $995
LightWave 3D v9 Companion Upgrade $395
3D Arsenal Companion Upgrade $395

Content:
Sports Ammo Pack for Arsenal $295
Sports LiveSet Pack $395
Sports Graphics Pack Volume 1 $195
Sports Graphics Pack Volume 2 $195

Production Van

Rick Vanderwielen over at Hometown Sports just got his new production van. Digital Arts is the proud supplier of it's VT systems.

From a post over at NewTek's forums

HomeTown Sports of Noblesville, Indiana has recently converted a 2008 Dodge Sprinter van into a new field production studio based on the VT5 system by Newtek. The van was modified by Sportsmobile of Huntington Indiana with a new 2.8KVA propane generator, a 2000 watt puresine inverter, A/C, heat and insulation. HomeTown installed all racks & electronics including 2 complete VT5 systems, SX84 interfaces and an additional Newtek Tricaster Studio. Digital Arts of Bloomington Indiana was the systems provider. Other items include a Compix CG unit, 6 - Camplex Pro-X1 camera interfaces, 2 s-video balun interfaces, 6 - Panasonic Showstopper replay decks, and a wall of 19 LCD monitors. Game clock for sports is added by the PIP2 unit by Keywest video and a remotely controlled GL2 camera by Grizzly Pro.

About HomeTown: HomeTown Sports is a division of HomeTown Television and is Indiana's most prolific producer of play-by-play sports for television. Recent productions have included the 2008 Boys and Girls IHSAA Basketball State Championship, the Horizon League Basketball Tournament and the Colt League World Series. HomeTown produces over 100 High School and College Soccer, Football, Basketball, Baseball and Softball games yearly.

Take a look at all the pictures here

NAB Best Vaporware Award

OK the one thing that impressed me the most at NAB was the RED Digital Cinema Camera Company Scarlet Camcorder. It's not scheduled to ship until 2009 so it's most assuredly vaporware.

3k resolution $3k. That's over twice the resolution of HD for less than a crappy HDV camera.

$3k includes a lens.

Records to dual compact flash cards. Has HDMI, HD-SDI, Firewire 800 and USB ports. It's beautifully made of machined cast aluminum, can take many Red accessories and is so incredibly cool it hurts. I will own one of these.

Top Ten Dealer Dinner

NewTek hosted a dinner for their top ten dealers last night at Lawry's Prime Rib. Kris and I were fortunate enough to be seated at a table with Tim Jenison (founder) and Chuck Silber (SVP Worldwide Sales)of NewTek. We spent most of the evening reminiscing along with Varto of Varto Technologies and his wife about the old days of the Amiga and the Video Toaster. Turns out that even Chuck, who's only worked for NewTek for a few weeks, got started with a Digiview and Digipaint and eventually was a Video Toaster dealer before he ended up at Avid. It's a small world.

It was a lot of fun, Thanks Tim!