Newtek’s VT5 - Press Release
NewTek Unveils VT[5]™ The Next Generation TV
Studio-in-a-Box
The first public demonstration of new integrated production suite includes live virtual set technologies and HD post production capabilities at IBC 2007 Exhibition
Amsterdam, Netherlands- IBC – September 8, 2007 — NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading video and 3D animation products, today announced that the company will publicly showcase it¹s new VT[5]™ Integrated Production Suite at IBC 2007 (booth 7.102). The VT[5] system features live switching and web streaming of up to 24 cameras, and now includes LiveSet™, NewTek¹s revolutionary new live virtual set technology, VT[5] also includes advanced new keying capabilities, integrated SDI switching support and automated clip playback, with simultaneous output to video, projector and web stream. VT[5]¹s extensive HD post production capabilities include sophisticated real-time non-linear editing, video painting and a full-featured animated character generation package. VT[5]¹s real-time, uncompressed video processing with component and SDI output delivers unsurpassed video quality. The optional Serial Digital switcher adds an additional eight SDI inputs and SDI routing functionality to the new VT[5] system.
VT[5] now includes LiveSet™ , a proprietary new technology that allows our customers to implement multi-channel virtual sets in a live environment with unprecedented realism and video quality,” said Dr. Andrew Cross, Executive Vice President of Software Engineering. “This groundbreaking technology, integrated into a live production environment, fundamentally changes the quality and the power of the tools available for video producers.”
Live Virtual Sets
NewTek’s proprietary LiveSet™ system in VT[5], allows separate virtual sets to be assigned independently to all switcher inputs, including all cameras and DDRs. In addition, each input has an independent LiveMatte™ matting module eliminating the need for expensive hardware for each source connected to the system. Each virtual set supports virtual cameras with multiple angles and zoom levels with support for secondary video sources for on-set virtual monitors. All effects are rendered with unprecedented photo-realism, including reflections, refractions, shadows, bump maps, and sophisticated filtering. Additionally, the advanced new keying capabilities included in the LiveMatte technology allows refined preview of mattes that allow for the precise isolation of color, edge and spill for the sharpest possible results.
Features of VT[5] include :
• 24 input live switching with composite, component, S-Video and SDI inputs and per-input time-base and color correction.
• 32 channel LiveSet photo-realistic 3D virtual set system and LiveMatte advanced matting technology.
• Integrated multi-format DDRs with alpha channel support.
• Advanced multiple input switcher effects and transitions with hundreds of effects included.
• Real time live web-streaming to Flash, Real and Windows Media streams.
• Sophisticated real-time SpeedEDIT non-linear editing system with HD support.
• High quality full-field-rate on-screen monitoring of video sources and waveform monitor/vector-scopes.
• Animated Character Generator.
• Video painting technology.
• Ability to record video inputs and outputs to a wide variety of destinations, including integrated DVD authoring.
• Includes plug-ins that allow a wide variety of third party applications to be used with VT[5].
• Provided tools allow you to create your own virtual sets, effects and transitions.
• Extensive file format support including HDV, DV, MPEG, DVCProHD, AVI, MXF, QuickTime, Uncompressed and many more.
• NOTE: Current VT customers should check the NewTek website for a detailed list of changes and additions from previous versions.
The retail price of VT[5] is increasing, so the new price for the card and software will be $4,995US. Considering what VT[5] brings to the table for video producers, it’s still very inexpensive. There’s nothing on the market that does live virtual sets like VT[5] for anything even close to this price. The price of the upgrade is also going up. It’s $995 until Oct 15th, and after that it goes up to $1495. Of course, we had many, many customers here in North America that pre-upgraded over the past year and this increase will have no impact on them.
Product Description Retail Price
VT[5] Full with Software $4,995US
VT[5] Software Upgrade $1,495US ($995US special upgrade price until Oct 15th)
Second, and something that isn’t explicitly stated in the press release, is that we will no longer be including LightWave with NEW VT[5] units. By not including LightWave, this will allow you to offer your customers either LightWave or 3D Arsenal to stay within their budget and/or software needs. If you have a customer who has purchased the pre VT[5] Software Upgrade with v9 for $995, they will get the latest version, which includes a dongle and helps them avoid the issue with 3rd party plug-ins that base their copy protection on our dongle, and don’t work with the VT version of LightWave. NOTE: This does not apply to our free upgrade customers, or customers you pre purchased VT[5] at the $595 price. Their upgrade will include LightWave 8.5 as it has in the past.
Product Description How your customer may be effected…
VT[5] Full with Software No LightWave included
VT[5] Software Upgrade No LightWave included
Pre VT[5] Software Upgrade with LightWave v9 Will receive a full stand alone copy of LightWave v9 with a dongle
Pre VT[5] Software Upgrade with LightWave 8.5 No change
Free VT[5] Software Upgrade No change
Remember, for those customers who would like to purchase LightWave today, they may purchase the LightWave/SpeedEDIT Bundle for $895US.
Written by Jonathan Holbrook
http://www.dvgear.com
DVGear's Manager of Operations is Jonathan Holbrook who is also the founder of award-winning production company, Tall Taurus Media. Holbrook is a recipient of the bronze Telly Award for a commercial produced for Catholic Comm. Services of Western Washington; Best Feature at the NW Projections Film Festival and Official Selection at the NY International Independent Film Festival for the film Customer 152. Being a multimedia producer himself, Holbrook has an advantage knowing what the DVGear clients are looking for and will be able to find the perfect fit for their needs. After all, creative minds think alike!
