Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/825852
www.postmagazine.com 19 POST MAY 2017 NAB 2017 Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve and more, as well as allowing for easy integration with third-party asset management systems. Major new features in the upcoming version of Avid NEXIS include: High-performance storage groups, with each media pack capable of data rates up to 50 percent faster at 600MB/s, provid- ing the performance needed for high-volume 4K/ UHD, HD and bandwidth-intensive media work- flows; Pro Tools streaming from Avid NEXIS, deliv- ering enhanced audio workflows; capacity to play back over 215 streams of Avid DNxHR-encoded 4K media at high quality, or almost 1,400 streams of Avid DNxHR-encoded 4K media at standard quality; and scalability enhancements that double the capacity of Avid NEXIS | Enterprise systems to support up to 48 media packs across a single scale-out networked system. The Pro Tools software version will be available late Q2; the new version of Avid NEXIS is available in Q2. The latest software updates will also be available to all current Avid NEXIS owners who have an active annual support and software maintenance plan. AUTODESK SHOWCASES FLAME & 3D ANIMATION SOFTWARE Autodesk (www.autodesk.com) showcased the newest versions of its solutions for media and entertainment — which include: Autodesk Flame Family 2018 update 1 for VFX, the Arnold 5.0 ren- derer, Maya 2017 update 3 for 3D animation, per- formance updates for Shotgun production tracking and review software and 3DS Max 2018 software for 3D modeling. Each update contains enhance- ments that simplify the creative process, streamline artist collaboration and equip users for the future of content creation. Autodesk Flame 2018 update 1 includes new action and batch paint improvements, such as 16-bit floating point (FP) depth support, scene detect and conform enhancements. Autodesk Maya 2017 update 3 includes enhance- ments to character creation tools such as interactive grooming with XGen, an all-new UV workflow, and updates to the motion graphics toolset that in- cludes a live link with Adobe After Effects and more. Arnold 5.0 delivers several significant updates, including better sampling, new standard surface, standard hair and standard volume shaders, Open Shading Language (OSL) support, light path ex- pressions, refactored shading API and a VR camera. Shotgun updates accelerate multi-region perfor- mance and make media uploads and downloads faster, regardless of location. Autodesk 3DS Max 2018 offers Arnold 5.0 ren- dering via a new MAXtoA 1.0 plug-in, customizable workspaces, smart asset creation tools, Bézier mo- tion path animation and a cloud-based large model viewer (LMV) that integrates with Autodesk Forge. Flame Family 2018 update 1, Maya 2017 update 3 and 3DS Max 2018 are all available now via Autodesk e-stores and Autodesk resellers. Arnold 5.0 and Shotgun are both available via their re- spective Websites. SIGNIANT LAUNCHES THREE MAJOR PLATFORM ADVANCEMENTS Signiant, Inc. (www.signiant.com) launched three major platform advancements. Focused on aligning with customers' top technical and operational prior- ities, the company showcased new developments in accelerated transport to the cloud, universal access for the entire ecosystem and storage choice. Signiant unveiled what it's calling a "revolutionary" new transport architecture that brings the compa- ny's acceleration technology to standard HTTP(S) transfers. Designed for a cloud-centric, standards-fo- cused world, the recently patented scale-out architecture delivers multi-gbps throughput to cloud storage, over any distance. This standards-based Boris Yamnitsky of Boris FX (www.borisfx.com) speaks with Post's Linda Romanello about the company's new Mocha VR tool, Sapphire 11 and Continuum 11. Canon (www.usa.canon.com) demonstrated a host of new solutions, including the EOS C700, which made its NAB debut. The flagship camera in Canon's Cinema EOS lineup, boasts a Super 35mm 4.5K sensor and 15 stops of dynamic range. The company also announced free firmware upgrades for three of its professional 4K displays — the DP-V1710, DP-V2410 and DP- V2420 in June 2017.