Just how fast the digital revolution is sweeping the audio-visual sector is amazing. A demonstration of Cybercinema took place in the IFC on the 14th of October which showed the use of satellite technology to broadcast high definition images to theatres across Europe simultaneously which are then decoded directly into a LCD projector along with the correct language dialogue. Earlier this year 'The Last Broadcast', a low budget feature film made for $900 using digital video, Hi8 and celluloid combined with an off-the-shelf computer editing package was shown in five cities across the US using the same technology. Digital cameras are already in wide spread use and Cybercinema gives an idea of the distribution mechanisms available (apparently the Chinese government is already very interested).
But what about the digital studio itself. There are many editing and effects packages out there, from the relatively low cost 'off the shelf' variety for the low budget film-maker, to high end non-linear systems to create, edit and finish films. But one system, SoftImage/DS, can take a project from start to finish with functions that would normally take multiple high end systems and software to accomplish. IFTN contacted the sole SoftImage resellers in Ireland, Multimedia Solutions Ltd., which can be found at www.multimedia.ie to see what SoftImage has to offer as a digital studio. SoftImage is a comprehensive, duel-stream, non-linear production (NLP) system for creating, editing and finishing and where non-compressed D1 (ITU-R 601) pictures and digital audio editing meet painting, compositing, titling, image treatment and special effects. Linked by a common interface, extensible through open architecture and scalable via Windows NT, it removes the barriers and limitations of traditional post-production. To say that it is an impressive package is an understatement.
Earlier this year a $285 million deal between Avid and SoftImage merged the dominant force in digital non-linear editing with the effects house which provided content for seven major films including 'Titanic'. The deal gave Microsoft, the parent company of SoftImage, an initial 9.1% in Avid, rising to 12% if all options are exercised. Moshe Lichtman at the time said that the "whole digital creation market - not just TV but also games and interactive content, commercials and films - is the target market of the company". Microsoft said that the deal solidifies its Windows NT technology as the platform of choice for computerised production and editing. Avid accounts for 70% of the professional film and television editing market with a base of about 40,000 customers. The desired goal of both companies was a complete digital studio which would allow users to move through all production stages, storyboard, slide shooting, recording, 3D animation, editing and the composition and finishing in a non-linear fashion.
SoftImage launched SoftImage/DS version 2.0 at NAB'98. The latest version of this uncompressed, non-linear production system dramatically expanded the capabilities of this turn-key system for Windows NT. SoftImage went looking for hardware that could handle the huge amounts of data used in uncompressed video, and linked up with a company called Intergraph Computer Systems for which DS has been optimised, although SoftImage intends to release DS by itself. This first release is targeted at high-end, short-form users with an emphasis on flexibility using one or two monitors the system can be set up for editing or composition and can be used as a stand alone system or as part of a collaborative, distributed environment. The system also allows each user configuring the interface to suit their style of working.
For editing, SoftImage is a non-linear editor capable of working on either non-compressed, or compressed images, with features which include full-screen editing and playback using separate source and record viewers, a versatile timeline, and unlimited levels of undo/redo. Material can be edited in NTSC or PAL, and at multiple resolutions of media within the same project. The system has real-time mixing and effects with up to 16 tracks of simultaneous audio playback, and support for frame or sample-accurate editing. Support for OMF, QuickTime and a variety of industry-standard EDL formats ensure that projects offlined on other systems can be auto-conformed quickly and accurately. The Unique Activeness feature of SoftImage/DS allows multiple versions of media to be maintained and viewed on the timeline, even when they do not contribute to the final edit. An unlimited number of tracks can also be used to organise, switch and composite media.
With SoftImage/DS, it is possible to composite an unlimited number of layers and each layer can contain unlimited Boolean operations. There is a choice of keyers for complex object extraction. Sophisticated effects can be produced with a wide range of tools such as Painterly, Impressionist effects and 3D Warp. Motion tracking and stabilisation can be used to adjust camera movements or these can be combined with colour correction tools to realistically merge physical and synthetic elements. Animation and editing paint strokes, creating titles and effects can be done with frame accuracy. There are numerous ways to create mattes with a selection of hundreds of preset brushes, styles, effects and textures. Titles can be generated with precise control over animation, kerning, leading, transparency, rolls and crawls.
One of the main fears for buyers of any software is that it will become obsolete or lack flexibility and so DS is created to hedge against runaway technology inflation by using a scalable resolution-independent architecture. DS has a independent hardware abstraction layer, making the system easily portable to any or all other platforms. The company has also made its API public, inviting other software developers to write extensions to the system. Software developers can use the Software development kit (SDK) to create feature plug-in extensions or entire toolsets using the same interface and programming tools. Companies such as 5D, P.E. PHOTRON, Ultimatte, The Foundry, Digital Video and Artel have been able to create software extensions which seamlessly integrate into the SoftImage/DS environment. This will allow very high-end facilities where a lot of the effects software is propriety to write their own extensions or integrate existing effects and use them transparently within the DS interface. The company is also planning full interoperability between DS and the new version of its 3D application.
Turnkey SoftImage/DS systems with multistream capability are priced at approximately St. £81,000 and a single-stream systems are available for approximately St. £68,000. Not exactly pocket change but considering the target market and relative cost of competing systems it actually quite cheap and has reduced quite significantly since the introduction of the Windows NT platform. This package leads the way for software in the complete digital studio stakes and has set the standard for others to follow. For some idea of what this package is capable of check out Multimedia Solutions Website below.
The sole SoftImage resellers in Ireland are
Multimedia Solutions Ltd.
97 St. Stephens Green,
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 475 3560
WWW: www.multimedia.ie
Michael McMahon 29/10/98
