NAB 2007 Announcements: Analysis

Apple released the version 2 of its Final Cut Studio suite. A new software is now part of it, Color, and it illustrates the integration of the recently acquired Pro calibration application "Final Touch".
Hereafter is a summary of the most important features for each software found in the video editing suite "made by Apple":
Final Cut Pro 6:
- Open timeline: This new open format lets you mix and match source material in a wide range of formats and even different frame rates..
- ProRes 422: a new codec from Apple, preserving the quality of a clip HD 10 Bits while having the size of a SD file.
- FXPlug: a new architecture for effects. Filters massively access the GPY resource, and some technology are inherited from Shake such as the famous "smoothcam" (automatic image stabilizer)
One can of course not sum up here all the new features introduced with FCP 6, and you should have a look at its dedicated webpage on Apple website.
Motion 3:
Motion 3 reduce the gap with After Effects, and marks the arrival of the entire 3D universe into the compositing suite from Apple. Plenty of new feature are now available, localization of camera, lights, etc...
Motion 3 is a major evolution as its brings the entire 3D environment to the previously acclaimed Motion 2 and its key features such as particles and behaviors.

Soundtrack Pro 2:
Finally... one can mix sounds in Surround 5.1. Despite Logic Pro, there are not many other applications able to perform such task on Mac. In addition, the sound control panel of Soundtrack Pro 2 is a reference.
Featuring OMF export and import, this new software will be very useful for audio/video pro users.
Compressor 3:
Several new preset files are now available to compress movies, from wmv (windows media), flash, Apple TV, iPod as well as formats dedicated to mobile phones.
Compressing movies is probably one of the most CPU power demanding task, and for sure Pro users who have to deal with such job were very interested to know if the 8 Core Xeon-based Mac Pro would be able to speed up the process. The answer is yes; and Apple claims that the new Mac Pro flagship model is up to 2.8x faster with compressor 3 than with Compressor 2.
To conclude, this new version of the Final Cut Studio is really Professional users-oriented; and aiming to become a reference not only for independent movie editors or producers, but also for larger movie companies, as illustrated by the brand new Final Cut Server.
This software is dedicated to TV channels, with mid or large size production center, and is clearly design to compete with "Unity" from Avid. The integration of all software forming FCS is also improved and becomes almost transparent.
To our point of view, Apple should have updated 2 other key applications, Live Type remains in version 2, and most importantly DVD Studio Pro does not evolved from version 4, for sure DVD Authoring Professional users will be disappointed. Especially when one knows that FCS 2 was already expected to be introduced at the NAB 2006, a year ago; it remains unclear why DVD Studio Pro was not updated. Especially with the new 8 Cores Mac Pro, Apple could have at least released an update to make the application multicore aware... Let's expect that those 2 software will be updated by Apple in a near future.