Due to the software-based nature of NewTek’s video and graphics production tools, we are able to offer you a completely re-modeled Integrated Production Suite on one CD. In this latest update, NewTek has re-vamped the very popular Video Toaster [2] software, and is now shipping VT[3] all Video Toaster [2] customers for only $595. The exhaustive list of new features in this software upgrade includes:

General Changes

• VT[3] requires Pentium 4, Xeon or the AMD Opteron for real-time 3D positioning
  Optimized for Windows XP Professional
• New titanium “look” across all modules
• Mouse wheel support
• Numerous DV Improvements, including:
  • Guaranteed sync with all DV sources and its audio stream
  • DV is now handled internally, reducing memory and CPU usage while improving video quality
  • Unlimited number of DV inputs offers live switching of multiple DV sources
  • Mix DV sources with your SX-8 analog inputs
  • Record multiple DV streams simultaneously!
• All modules now remember their last desktop position and settings.
• Modules now open 10 times faster
• There are now default folders for content. On install, Video VT[3] sets up locations for:
  • My CG Pages
  • My Clips
  • My Projects
• Files are copied asynchronously, you are free to do other things while files are copied or moved
• “Render/Convert” option in File Bin now includes the ability to rip a clip or animation out to the following image types:
  • jpeg
  • Targa
  • tiff
  • BMP
  • WBmp
  • PNM
• Patchable hot-keys provide dedicated control of modules using devices such as the Contour Design ShuttlePRO™ or FutureVideo Media Commander™
• TMPEGEnc™ plug-in allowing you to feed project files directly into the Pegasys Inc. MPEG encoder

File Bin

• Spreadsheet mode now allows you to enter any assets or rename a file or large group of files within the bin.
• If you shift-click a range of clips and rename, it will append them all with a base-name and number

Switcher

• A tabbed interface now allows you to quickly choose between the effects bin, the Proc Amp, the Keyer and the Background Generator.
• Patch tags can be renamed.
• If VT-DDR is in cue with Loop off and in Selection mode, the switcher will AUTOMATICALLY perform a transition before the selected clip “runs out of tape”.

VT-Vision

• Proc Amp controls on VT-Vision allow you to more closely match your computer monitor with your NTSC or PAL reference monitor
• Zebra stripes in VT-Vision show all portions of the video that are above 75 IRE
• ‘ Illegal’ setting will show zebra on VT-Vision all portions of video that exceed 100 IRE
• There is now hardware accelerated video downscaling, for improved onscreen displays

ProcAmp

• Proc Amp can now color calibrate your SX-8 inputs automatically
• Proc Amp can now be fed 75 IRE or 100 IRE colorbars and it will color-tune the VT[3]’s inputs to that known signal (requires the SX-8)
• You can now save and recall 4 separate Proc Amp settings
• Proc Amp can now be used on any computer source! Aura, VT-DDR or VT-Edit can now be adjusted on the way out.
• Advanced Proc Amp settings now allow for gamma control of both computer and analog sources

Keyer

• Thin or expand the outermost pixels of a key
• Both the Chroma Keyer and Cross Keyer can now save and recall 4 separate settings

Digital Disk Recorder

• Mute button added to DDR, so you don’t need to launch audio mixer to kill its audio
• There is now a visual playback speed indicator
• Jog / Shuttle wheel now more responsive
• More responsiveness on Vu Metering
• DDR can import or export an EDL
• You can batch capture DDR Projects
• Per-frame timecode support in DDR to properly display breaks in timecode

Character Generator

• Completely re-written for improved speed and workflow
• Styles and gradients can now be applied on a per-character basis
• Text justification improved
• Grouping of objects improved
• Templates bin added with the following ready-to-broadcast categories included: basic, corporate, religious, news, sports, weather, wedding, birthday, vacation/travel, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween, Seasonal and Education (100 templates in all).
• Gradients Bin added with 30 gradients included

Audio Mixer

• Balance controls now on all inputs and outputs, including computer sources such as VT-DDR and VT-Edit

Record Panel

• Transparently ‘records’ DV sources sent to Program or Preview, but VT[3] is in fact digitally copying the file.
• Bring in an analog source and record that in real-time as a DV clip to disk.

Deck Control

• This module now interfaces with Batch Capture, deck lists and deck configurations
• Fully supports jog and shuttle
• Recording fully supports timecode settings
• Very responsive timecode display

VT-Edit
Overall performance improvements include:

• VT[3] now supports full interactive control and animation of advanced 3D picture-in-picture effects in real-time.
• All effects can be keyframed, with spline smoothing in and out of any keyframe.
• Spline controls organized in a tree view, to show or hide any group of keyframes.
• Splines allow for an unlimited number of nodes, or keyframes, with an unlimited number of influences on any keyframe.
• Intuitive Positioning Panel for rapid setup of any composites, with real-time click-and-drag control over sizing, position, rotation, cropping and soft edges
• The spline parameters include:
  • Speed Ramping is now possible to control clip speeds without affecting overall project length; smoothly bring a clip to a stop or even smoothly reverse its playback
  • Positioning on the X,Y and Z axis
  • Rotation on the X,Y,Z axis
  • Cropping of the entire frame or on a per-border basis
  • Size the frame
  • Softening the edge of the frame, globally or on a per-border basis
  • Shadows positioned independently of the host image, with control over shadow color and softness
  • Background Color is fully adjustable and keyframeable
  • Keying is fully supported, and now includes the ability to add or subtract pixels along the object’s edge
  • Color Correction allows hue control on any clip in VT-Edit or DDR, with additional keyframeable controls over U, V offset, gain, RGB offset and gain, brightness, contrast, and saturation,
  • Noise filter added to allow for separate addition of Chroma or Luma noise for film-grain effects
  • Edit Properties Panel has been optimized and responds more than ten times faster
• Project Codec is a method saving VT-Edit projects as avi files. Loaded into any app that reads avi, you can instantly play or modify projects, or even use entire projects as textures or surfaces on 3D objects.
• Spreadsheet view in VT-Edit, to see and change In, Out, Comments, clip path, or any user-defined string in the clip’s data.
• Background Renders now cache into subprojects
• Tool-chest is a new set of utilities or scripts grouped together to offer high-level tools for globally setting clip lengths, markers, transitions and project reports.
• Ability to save user-defined composite moves that can be recalled with one click of the mouse.
• Print-to-tape functionality to insert any portion of the project onto the master reel
• Per-frame timecode support (including clips with timecode breaks)
• Full Edit Decision List (EDL) import/export
  • Full support for CMX, Grass Valley and text lists
  • EDL’s can be viewed and edited directly in VT-Edit
  • Able to save EDL’s as comma delimited files, for spreadsheet manipulation
• Batch capture is now fully integrated with VT-Edit

Batch Capture

• Deck Manager allows you to set up numerous ‘profiles’ for each deck. This means you can have a BetaSP deck with a profile for RTV captures, and a separate profile for offline-quality MJPEG heavily-compressed captures, when you must digitize many hours of footage to arrive at your final edits.
• RS422 Deck setup
• You can view your batch lists in an easy-to-navigate spreadsheet entry
• Easy-to-use Mark In / Out controls on the front and hotkeys