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Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 22:03:40 -0700
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From: "Steven Tekell" <tekell@art.unt.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <lightwave@garcia.com>
Subject: NAB...
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Just returned from Vegas.
Well I guess LW 5.0 is olds news now.
If Newtek hadn't shown 5.0 at NAB they would have been left in
the dust by 3DSMAX and SI.
MAX had an impressive showing - nothing I didn't already know
though. Those of you who thought MAX would simply be a empty shell
for plugins were dead wrong - its really powerful!
Softimage had a good show as well. They released SI3.5NT/SGI with
Mental Ray - one of the best render engines with some new
shaders for better volumetric lighting, smoke and hair.
Softimage also demoed Digital Studio - their part of the
Play/Softimage/Sierra Design Trinity project. I was really
impressed with Trinity, but it won't be out until late this
year. It's a real time, uncompressed D1, nonlinear editer.
Digital Studio (SI software for it) was pretty damn cool. All
the nonlinear tools you would expect, plus a vector-paint
program built in, plus multitrack sound with professional
effects and controls,.... You can animate (keyframe)
everything including vector paint strokes, sound levels (just
slide the volume up or down while it plays and it creates keys),
and even composite layer order.
Plays part is the Trinity box itself which is sort of like a
super cool toaster. Sierra design developed the hardware for
real time D1. I think Trinity starts around $10k and goes up to
$40k. Comes with variety of tools including software (SI's DS is sep)
and a Virtual Studio.
Other NAB comments..
WinNT is looking good, it had noticeable momentum of software
and hardware support. With the exception of LW, I don't
remember any significant developments for Apple.
There were alot of virtual studios (you know a blue screen
stage with 3D CGI set) with varying degrees of tracking
available.
Way too many non-linear editers for me to comprehend. I
heard I guy saying he saying he was going to buy one, but after
NAB he was only more bewildered at the numerous options.
NewTek announced (again) a windows version of Toaster, but
wouldn't be out until Q1 of 97 which will probably be too late,
considering the Trinity and all the other options. It sort of
seems like a wast of R&D$s to me. I would rather see all that
go into making LW competitive with MAX and SI. Maybe I wrong,
I did over hear some people after a Toaster demo who wanted one
for windows, but didn't even know what an Amiga was.
