AudioVision Goes Pro Tools by Paul W. Melnychuck In response to Guild members' concern over the future of AudioVision, Paul W. Melnychuck, Director of Corporate Marketing at Digidesign, describes Digidesign's strategy for combining AudioVision and Pro Tools (a process that will happen in stages) in order for people to make an informed choice regarding each system's capabilities, and to plan their investments accordingly: The Best Of Both Worlds AudioVision customers have been requesting Pro Tools functionality and vice versa. In fact there exists at least an 80% overlap in functionality between the underlying software platforms. As they were developed by two separate engineering teams, on two coasts, it became abundantly clear that combining engineering resources to deliver one extremely capable audio-post solution would benefit all. After studying which underlying code base would provide the strongest platform and integrate best with continuing advances, we have chosen to build upon the Pro Tools code base for our new audio-post product. The customer advantages to this approach are immediate. A single code base ensures more timely feature enhancements, cost savings that will be passed on to the user, and is easier to build from and support. We intend to maintain the earnings power of an AudioVision room by enabling its functionality as a high end option. Users will be able to add the appropriate Avid video cards to a Pro Tools system to include video playback and other AudioVision-related capabilities. We will continue to support the AudioVision code base with ongoing maintenance releases; version 4.1 software will be available by the end of May and sent to all registered users. The combined application will be engineered to draw from the best of both worlds, by incorporating such AudioVision features as: the familiar Audio Vision editing paradigm center-play-head graphics (fixed-playhead editing) compatibility with Avid Media Composer Avid Video Resolution (AVR) picture support bin management for access to any audio file used in a project clip editor improved 9-pin control, including track arming and such current Pro Tools features as: TDM effects capabilities, mixing and automation extended track count (up to 64) 24-bit record/play; 48 bit mix precision file/media interchange (including digital dubber support) fibre-channel networking (such as Avid MediaShare F/C) ProControl™ support. wide selection of third-party plug-ins for effects and specialized tasks (e.g. Dolby™ Surround Tools, SyncroArts Vocalign and Titan, etc.) complete automation of all mixing/plug-in parameters (true total recall) TDM integration of sample playback (for sound effects) with SampleCell II MIDI functionality Many users have already become familiar with Pro Tools' rich feature set, as AudioVision 4.0 owners currently have both AudioVision and Pro Tools, which together gives a user the strongest feature set available. We anticipate building on our popular user interface to provide "AudioVision-style" functionality from within this third-generation software environment. Future generations may include an optional product module with such features as advanced autoconform, reverse play, and surround mixing in 5.1 to 8 channel. Most recently Digidesign an-nounced that it was making the Pro Tools session file format available to digital dubber manufacturers. The first company to support this initiative is Tascam, through their MMR-8 recorder that enables a user to import and export Pro Tools files on removable media. Avid/Digidesign is now participating in a broad industry effort through such standards as the Advanced Authoring Format (AAF) and AES-31. Within a short period of time, most digital audio workstations will be supporting true interchange of media, cuts (playlists), cross-fade data, and volume/pan automation. Interchange of other parameters, such as EQ and dynamics, are possible in the long term. The ProControl™ Mixing Surface The addition of a Mackie HUI or Digidesign ProControl™ control surface to a Pro Tools system defines a whole new category of tactile-based digital audio workstations. All functionality that is controlled via keyboard and mouse can now be accessed via the control surface. Only Pro Tools enables a user to start off with a basic core system and add the control surface as needs and budget allows at a later date. ProControl's expandable approach to mixing channels is particularly useful to film and television mixers who must deal with a large number of elements as well as multiple stems, language versions, and surround delivery formats. ProControl™ is expandable to 32 fader channels and is supported by Pro Tools v4.2 software. ProControl™ and HUI will be supported by the new audio-post product. Since Pro Tools is already included with every AudioVision 4.x system, AudioVision users can begin using ProControl™ today! What Do I Do In The Meantime? If you require the features that AudioVision provides, but are unsure of purchasing it for fear of obsolescence, don't be! Consistent with our continuing practice of providing our customers an upgrade path, you can look forward to a similar, generous trade-in policy when the new product becomes available. Further, purchasers of AudioVision today receive Pro Tools hardware and software, so the user is getting two digital audio workstations! We believe Audio Vision and ProTools are the best audio-post solutions available today and, with the strategy outlined above, we will provide our customers flexible, integrated tools for growing into the future of audio post production. Your comments are welcome. Please feel free to contact your local Digidesign office.   Digidesign is a division of Avid Technologies, Inc.   Reprinted from The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter Vol. 19, No. 4 - July/August 1998   Guild Home | Newsletter Home | Top of Page   Copyright © 1998, All Rights Reserved by The Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 776