Sony's Catalyst Production Suite Gets an Update

Sony has just announced the details of their upgraded Catalyst Production Suite video editing software, promising faster, simpler, more flexible, and more functional features. The Catalyst Production Suite includes new versions of Catalyst Prepare and Catalyst Edit, available for Mac OS X and Windows. Since its introduction, the Catalyst Production Suite has readily become an important time-saving link for professional video producers. The suite offers powerful media preparation and fast, focused editing capabilities for 4K, RAW, and XAVC content. The update is designed for the challenges of modern video editing.

“This new version is based directly on customer input and provides solutions to both common workflow needs and the unique challenges of the latest 4K and RAW video innovations,” said John Freeborg, VP Sony Creative Software. “We’ve simplified the content preparation workflow and added flexibility that customers asked for in Catalyst Prepare. With Catalyst Edit, customers wanted expanded editing functionality and industry standard video FX plug-in support. We’ve added all of that and more to enable a much wider range of projects to be efficiently created. Together these improvements make the Catalyst Production Suite an even more integral part of the modern post-production workflow.”

Catalyst Prepare The new, interface makes file management, importing, backup, transcoding, cloud collaboration, offloading with verification, and media management faster than ever before. Adjust and monitor colors, export storyboards, repair clips with flash bands, and more.	Catalyst Edit Focused, fast editing has become even more powerful with video OpenFX plug-in support from major 3rd party vendors. Timeline editing and performance enhancements speed up post-production work and processing. Add in an expanded collection of editing tools and capabilities, and you've got a next-generation editing application.

New features in the Catalyst Production Suite include:

Catalyst Prepare

• Simplified user interface: A streamlined workflow provides direct access to media for efficient clip management.
• Easier file management: Readily copy, backup, organize, rename, and transcode clips into NLE-friendly formats.
• Transcoding: Supports all the key formats from Sony (AVC, XAVC, XDCAM, SStP, and Sony RAW), Apple (ProRes for Mac), AVID (DNxHD), and more.
• Storyboard EDL exporting: Supports formats for Apple Final Cut Pro (*.fcpxml), Adobe Premiere (*.prproj), AVID Media Composer (*.aaf), and Vegas Pro (*.txt).
• Offload: Simultaneously back up multiple camera cards with verification.
• Efficient importing: Quickly preview clips and metadata before copying to save time and space. Set in/out points for multiple clips and only copy those sections of footage you want.
• Cloud collaboration: Upload directly to the Sony Media Cloud Services Ci for fast worldwide collaboration and stakeholder review.
• Flash band correction: Repair clips with flash bands from events with flash photography; no need to reshoot.

Catalyst Edit

• Robust video FX plug-in support: Catalyst Edit now includes over 40 built-in GPU accelerated video FX and supports the OpenFX (OFX) industry plug-in standard. Users can enhance their projects with special effects, filters, media generators, transitions, and more from GenArts, RE:Vision Effects, NewBlueFX, Tiffen, FXhome, Digital Film Tools, and others.
• Dependable color: By supporting the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), Catalyst Edit ensures an industry standard color accurate workflow regardless of source format.
• Expanded editing tools and capabilities: Looped playback, partial or full-project rendering, re-link missing media or replace with different files, J and L cut creation, roll editing, clip playback rate control for fast or slow motion and freeze frame looks, picture-in-picture control, crop and zoom control, clip volume envelopes, and audio channel re-routing at render.
• Improved performance: Close collaboration with Sony camera scientists provides supercharged 4K RAW processing, GPU optimization and hardware acceleration leveraging Intel® Quick Sync Video as included in 6th Generation Intel® Core Processors.

“Our customers have made it clear that the increased demands of emerging video formats and technologies such as 4K and RAW call for more robust production tools,” said Freeborg. “The new features in the Catalyst Production Suite respond directly to the unique challenges of modern video production.”

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Click here for more information and to purchase the suite.